I. Introduction and Procedural History

On September 9, 2019, MEMX LLC (“MEMX” or “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) a Form 1 application under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”), seeking registration as a national securities exchange under Section 6 of the Act.^[1] On October 23, 2019, MEMX submitted Amendment No. 1 to the application.^[2] Notice of the application, as amended, was published for comment in the Federal Register on November 6, 2019.^[3] In a letter dated January 31, 2020, MEMX consented to an extension of time for up to an additional 30 days from the date of publication of notice of its Form 1 application.^[4] On February 26, 2020, MEMX submitted Amendment No. 2 to the application.^[5] On March 3, 2020, MEMX consented to another 30-day extension of time.^[6] The Commission received three comments on the application, along with two response letters from MEMX.^[7] On March 26, 2020, MEMX consented to another 30-day extension of time.^[8] On April 27, 2020, MEMX submitted Amendment No. 3 to the application.^[9]

The Commission has reviewed the Exchange's registration application, as amended, together with the comment letters received, in order to make a determination whether to grant such registration. For the reasons set forth below, and based on the representations set forth in MEMX's Form 1, as amended, this order approves MEMX's Form 1 application, as amended, for registration as a national securities exchange.

II. Statutory Standards

Pursuant to Sections 6(b) and 19(a) of the Act,^[10] the Commission shall by order grant an application for registration as a national securities exchange if the Commission finds, among other things, that the proposed exchange is so organized and has the capacity to carry out the purposes of the Act and can comply, and can enforce compliance by its members and persons associated with its members, with the provisions of the Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, and the rules of the exchange.^[11]

As discussed in greater detail below, the Commission finds that MEMX's application, as amended, for exchange registration meets the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. Further, the Commission finds that the proposed rules of MEMX are consistent with Section 6 of the Act in that, among other things, they are designed to: (1) Assure fair representation of the exchange's members in the selection of its directors and administration of its affairs and provide that, among other things, one or more directors shall be representative of investors and not be associated with the exchange, or with a broker or dealer; ^[12] (2) prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, promote just and equitable principles of trade, foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating, clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating transactions in securities, and remove impediments to and perfect the mechanisms of a free and open market and a national market system; ^[13] (3) not permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, or dealers; ^[14] and (4) protect investors and the public interest.^[15] The Commission also finds that the proposed rules of MEMX are consistent with Section 11A of the Act.^[16] Finally, the Commission finds that MEMX's proposed rules do not impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.^[17]

III. Discussion

A. Governance of MEMX

MEMX will be owned directly or indirectly by MEMX Holdings LLC (“MEMX Holdings”), a Delaware limited liability company. Specifically, MEMX Holdings will directly own 99.5% of the equity of MEMX and indirectly hold the remaining .5% of the equity of MEMX through its 100% ownership of MEMX SubCo LLC (“SubCo”). In turn, MEMX Holdings is owned by a group of investors that include broker-dealers and banks.

1. MEMX Board of Directors

The board of directors of MEMX (“Exchange Board”) ^[18] will be its governing body and will possess all of the powers necessary for the management of its business and affairs, including governance of MEMX as a self-regulatory organization (“SRO”).^[19] Specifically:

• The Exchange Board initially will be composed of 10 directors; ^[20]

• one director will be the Chief Executive Officer of MEMX; ^[21]

• the number of Non-Industry Directors ^[22] will equal or exceed the sum of the Industry Directors ^[23] and Member Representative Directors; ^[24]

• at least two of the Non-Industry Directors shall also qualify as Independent Directors; ^[25]

• at least one of the Non-Industry Directors shall be representative of issuers and investors and not associated with an Exchange Member, a broker, or a dealer; and
• at least 20% of the directors on the Exchange Board will be Member Representative Directors.^[26]

The initial directors of the Exchange Board will be appointed by MEMX Holdings and will serve until the first annual meeting of Company Members.^[27] The first annual meeting of Company Members will be held within 90 days after the Commission grants MEMX's exchange registration.^[28]

In addition, MEMX Holdings will appoint the initial Nominating Committee and Member Nominating Committee, consistent with each committee's compositional requirements, to nominate candidates for election to the Exchange Board.^[29] The Nominating Committee and Member Nominating Committee, after completion of their respective duties for nominating directors for election to the Board for that year, will recommend candidates to serve on the succeeding year's Nominating Committee or Member Nominating Committee, as applicable.^[30] MEMX members will have rights to nominate and elect additional candidates for the Member Nominating Committee pursuant to a petition process.^[31]

The Nominating Committee will nominate candidates for election to the Board.^[32] For Member Representative Director positions, the Member Nominating Committee, composed solely of Member Representative Committee or Panel Members,^[33] will solicit input from MEMX members and members may submit petition candidates.^[34] If no candidates are nominated pursuant to a petition process, then the initial nominees approved and submitted by the Member Nominating Committee will be nominated as Member Representative Directors by the Nominating Committee.^[35] If a petition process produces additional candidates, then the candidates nominated pursuant to the petition process, together with those nominated by the Member Nominating Committee, will be presented to MEMX members for election to determine the final designees for any open Member Representative Director positions.^[36] In the event of a contested election, the candidates who receive the most votes will be selected as the Member Representative Director designees by the Member Nominating Committee.^[37]

The Commission believes that the MEMX governance provisions are consistent with the Act. In particular, the Commission believes that the requirement that the number of Member Representative Directors must be at least 20% of the Board and the means by which they will be chosen by MEMX members provides for the fair representation of members in the selection of directors and the administration of MEMX and therefore are consistent with Section 6(b)(3) of the Act.^[38] As the Commission has previously noted, this requirement helps to ensure that members have a voice in an exchange's self-regulatory program, and that an exchange is administered in a way that is equitable to all those who trade on its market or through its facilities.^[39]

In addition, with respect to the requirements that the number of Non-Industry Directors equal or exceed the sum of the number of Industry Directors and Member Representative Directors, that at least two Non-Industry Directors shall also qualify as Independent Directors, and that at least one of the Non-Industry Directors shall be representative of issuers and investors and not associated with an Exchange Member, a broker, or a dealer, the Commission believes that the proposed composition of the Exchange Board satisfies the requirements in Section 6(b)(3) of the Act,^[40] which require in part that one or more directors be representative of issuers and investors and not be associated with a member of the exchange, or with a broker or dealer. The Commission previously has stated that the inclusion of public, non-industry representatives on exchange oversight bodies is an important mechanism to support an exchange's ability to protect the public interest. ⁴¹ ( printed page 27453) Further, the presence of public, non-industry representatives can help to ensure that no single group of market participants has the ability to systematically disadvantage other market participants through the exchange governance process. The Commission believes that public directors can provide unbiased perspectives, which may enhance the ability of the Exchange Board to address issues in a non-discriminatory fashion and foster the integrity of the Exchange.

2. Interim Board

MEMX Holdings will hold a special meeting to appoint Interim Directors of the Board (“Interim Board”), which will include Interim Member Representative Directors.^[42] Upon appointment of the Interim Directors, the Interim Board will meet the Board composition requirements set forth in the MEMX LLC Agreement.^[43] The Interim Board members will serve only until the first annual meeting of Company Members, which will be held within 90 days after the Commission grants the Exchange's registration as a national securities exchange.^[44] The Exchange represents that it will complete the full nomination, petition, and voting process set forth in the MEMX LLC Agreement, which will provide persons that are approved as MEMX members after the date that the Commission grants the Exchange's registration as a national securities exchange with the opportunity to participate in the selection of Member Representative Directors as promptly as possible after the effective date of the MEMX LLC Agreement.^[45]

3. Exchange Committees

MEMX has proposed to establish several named committees of the Exchange Board, including: An Appeals Committee ^[46] and a Regulatory Oversight Committee,^[47] as well as the Nominating Committee and Member Nominating Committee, discussed above.^[48]

The Appeals Committee will consist of two Independent Directors, and one Member Representative Director.^[49] Each member of the Regulatory Oversight Committee must be an Independent Director.^[50]

The Commission believes that the MEMX proposed named committees, which are similar to the named committees maintained by other exchanges,^[51] are designed to help enable the Exchange to carry out its responsibilities under the Act and are consistent with the Act, including Section 6(b)(1), which requires, in part, an exchange to be so organized and have the capacity to carry out the purposes of the Act.^[52]

B. MEMX Holdings and Regulation of the Exchange

When MEMX commences operations as a national securities exchange, it will have all of the attendant regulatory obligations under the Act. In particular, MEMX will be responsible for the operation and regulation of its trading system and the regulation of its members. The Commission believes that certain provisions in both the MEMX and MEMX Holdings governing documents are designed to facilitate the ability of MEMX to fulfill its regulatory obligations and to help facilitate Commission oversight of MEMX. The discussion below summarizes some of these key provisions.

1. Ownership Structure; Ownership and Voting Limitations

As stated above, MEMX will be owned directly or indirectly by MEMX Holdings. The proposed Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of MEMX Holdings (“MEMX Holdings LLC Agreement”) includes restrictions on the ability to own and vote units representing a fractional part of the interest in MEMX Holdings (“Units”).^[53] These limitations are designed to prevent any party to the MEMX Holdings LLC Agreement from exercising undue control over the operation of the Exchange and to ensure that the Exchange and the Commission are able to carry out their regulatory obligations under the Act.

In particular, for so long as MEMX Holdings shall control, directly or indirectly, MEMX, no person,^[54] either alone or together with its related persons,^[55] will be permitted to beneficially own, directly or indirectly, of record or beneficially, shares constituting more than 40% of any class of Units.^[56] A more restrictive condition will apply to the broker-dealer members of the Exchange, who will be prohibited from beneficially owning, directly or indirectly, either alone or together with their related persons, more than 20% of any class of Units.^[57] If any party to the MEMX Holdings LLC Agreement purports to transfer ^[58] any Units or Unit Equivalents ^[59] in violation of these ownership limits, MEMX Holdings will be required (to the extent funds are legally available) to redeem the Units in excess of the applicable ownership limit.^[60]

In addition, no person, alone or together with its related persons, may, directly, indirectly, or pursuant to any agreement, vote or cause the voting of Units or give any consent or proxy with respect to Units representing more than 20% of the voting power of the then issued and outstanding Units (“Voting Limitation”).^[61] Further, no person, either alone or together with its related persons, under circumstances that would result in the Units that are subject to such agreement, plan, or other arrangement not being voted on any matter or matters or any proxy relating thereto being withheld, where the effect of such agreement, plan, or other arrangement would be to enable any person, either alone or together with its related persons, to vote, possess the right to vote, or cause the voting of Units that would represent more than 20% of the voting power of the then issued and outstanding Units.^[62]

The MEMX Holdings Board will be permitted to waive the 40% ownership limitation and the 20% Voting Limitation pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the MEMX Holdings Board by Supermajority Board Vote,^[63] if it makes certain determinations.^[64] Any such waiver will not be effective unless and until approved by the Commission.^[65]

Any person that proposes to own Units in excess of the 40% ownership limitation, or to vote or grant any proxies or consents with respect to Units constituting more than 20% of the voting power of the then outstanding Units, will be required to deliver written notice to the MEMX Holdings Board of its intention.^[66] The notice must be delivered to the MEMX Holdings Board not less than 45 days (or any shorter period to which the Board expressly consents) before the proposed ownership of such Units or the proposed vote.^[67]

The MEMX Holdings LLC Agreement also contains provisions that are designed to further safeguard the ownership and voting limitations described above, or are otherwise related to direct and indirect changes in control. Specifically, any person that, either alone or together with its related persons beneficially owns, directly or indirectly (whether by acquisition or a change in the number of Units outstanding), of record or beneficially 5% or more of the then outstanding Units will be required to notify the MEMX Holdings Board in writing of such ownership.^[68] Thereafter, such persons will be required to update MEMX Holdings of any increase or decrease of 1% or more in their previously reported ownership percentage.^[69] Further, in the event of a merger or affiliation between MEMX Holdings members, the surviving member or surviving affiliated group will (1) if both such members had nominated a director that is serving on the MEMX Holdings Board at the time of their merger or affiliation, remove or cause the removal of one of such directors effective upon the consummation of such merger or affiliation, and (2) thereafter have the right to nominate only one director and the number of directors shall be reduced accordingly.^[70]

The Exchange's LLC Agreement does not include the same change of control provisions that are present in the MEMX Holdings LLC Agreement because the MEMX LLC Agreement instead explicitly identifies its owners (MEMX Holdings and SubCo) by name as the Company Members of MEMX.^[71] Thus, any changes in the ownership of MEMX would require the MEMX LLC Agreement to be amended. Any amendment to the MEMX LLC Agreement, including to ownership of the Exchange, would constitute a proposed rule change under Section 19(b) of the Act ^[72] and Rule 19b-4 ^[73] thereunder that will be required to be filed with, or filed with and approved by, the Commission.^[74] Moreover, pursuant to the MEMX LLC Agreement itself, any transfer of limited liability company interests of MEMX will be subject to prior approval by the Commission pursuant to the rule filing procedure under Section 19 of the Act.^[75]

Although MEMX Holdings is not directly responsible for regulation, its activities with respect to the operation of MEMX must be consistent with, and must not interfere with, the self-regulatory obligations of MEMX.^[76] As described above, the provisions applicable to direct and indirect ( printed page 27455) changes in control of MEMX Holdings and MEMX, as well as the voting limitation imposed on owners of MEMX Holdings who also are MEMX members, are designed to help prevent any owner of MEMX Holdings from exercising undue influence or control over the operation of the Exchange and to help ensure that the Exchange retains a sufficient degree of independence to effectively carry out its regulatory obligations under the Act.

In addition, these limitations are designed to address the conflicts of interests that might result from a member of a national securities exchange owning interests in the exchange. As the Commission has noted in the past, a member's ownership interest in an entity that controls an exchange could become so large as to cast doubt on whether the exchange may fairly and objectively exercise its self-regulatory responsibilities with respect to such member.^[77] A member that is a controlling shareholder of an exchange could seek to exercise that controlling influence by directing the exchange to refrain from, or the exchange may hesitate to, diligently monitor and conduct surveillance of the member's conduct or diligently enforce the exchange's rules and the federal securities laws with respect to conduct by the member that violates such provisions. As such, the Commission believes that these requirements are designed to minimize the potential that a person or entity can improperly interfere with or restrict the ability of the Exchange to effectively carry out its regulatory oversight responsibilities under the Act.

As noted above, the Commission received two comment letters on MEMX's Form 1 application, one of which addressed the regulatory independence of MEMX. The commenter “welcomes the prospect of MEMX's entry” but expressed that it “hopes and expects that MEMX will [serve the interests of its member-owners] without compromising the broader interest of market participants and, ultimately, of investors.” ^[78] The commenter said that it expects the Commission “will hold the `Members' Exchange' to the same regulatory standard to which is holds other SROs—which is to act for the benefit of all market participants and investors—rather than for the primary or exclusive benefit of its members.” ^[79] In response, MEMX explained that it “is committing significant resources to its regulatory program by investing in experienced personnel and proven surveillance technology” and that it “fully expects that the Commission will regulate MEMX consistent with other SROs and in accordance with the federal securities laws.” ^[80]

Potential conflicts of interest arise across different types of exchange ownership structures. Broker-dealer ownership and control of an exchange, which is not novel, presents inherent conflicts of interest when exchanges both regulate their members and serve the commercial interests of their member-owners.^[81]

The Commission has recognized that “to be effective, an SRO must be structured in such a way that regulatory staff is unencumbered by inappropriate business pressure” that could “inhibit effective regulation and discourage vigorous enforcement against members.” ^[82] To help ensure independent and empowered SRO regulatory operations, MEMX has, among other things, adopted a governance structure designed to mitigate the inherent conflict. Specifically, MEMX has an independent Chief Regulatory Officer that oversees the exchange's regulatory operations and that reports to an independent Regulatory Oversight Committee of the exchange board of directors. In addition, MEMX has a majority independent board of directors with other key independent board committees, such as the Regulatory Oversight Committee.^[83]

Ownership and voting limits in the governing documents of the exchange and/or its holding company further protects the status of SRO independence. The provisions that MEMX has proposed, which are consistent with those in place across all exchanges today, are designed to prevent any direct or indirect owner from exercising control over the operation of the exchange as well as to ensure that the exchange and the Commission are able to carry out their regulatory obligations under the Act. These provisions impose limits on voting and ownership of exchange holding companies, with more stringent ownership limits imposed on member owners.^[84]

As a registered exchange, MEMX will be subject to the same regulatory standards applicable to any other exchange regardless of the identity of the ultimate owners of that exchange. As discussed above and further below, MEMX has proposed to adopt industry-standard protections in a governance structure for itself and its holding company that is designed to preserve MEMX's self-regulatory independence by protecting MEMX from inappropriate business pressures, and the Commission believes these protections address the concerns raised by the commenter.

Finally, one commenter urged the Commission to consider whether it is “incongruous” for the Commission “to freely permit” large banks and broker-dealers, which, the commenter says, “control much of the order flow . . . and which in many cases own or operate their own alternative trading systems,” to own and operate an exchange without also permitting exchanges to own or operate broker-dealer venues on the same terms as banks and broker-dealers.^[85] In response, MEMX noted that it has not proposed to own or operate an alternative trading system.^[86] And whether exchanges should be permitted to own or operate broker-dealer venues on the same terms as banks and broker-dealers is beyond ( printed page 27456) the scope of this order, which concerns MEMX's Form 1 application.

The Commission believes that MEMX's and MEMX Holdings' proposed governance provisions are consistent with the Act, including Section 6(b)(1), which requires, in part, an exchange to be so organized and have the capacity to carry out the purposes of the Act.^[87] In particular, these requirements are designed to minimize the potential that a person could improperly interfere with or restrict the ability of the Commission or the Exchange to effectively carry out their regulatory oversight responsibilities under the Act.

2. Regulatory Independence and Oversight

Although MEMX Holdings will not itself carry out regulatory functions, its activities with respect to the operation of MEMX must be consistent with, and must not interfere with, MEMX's self-regulatory obligations. In this regard, MEMX and MEMX Holdings propose to adopt certain provisions in their respective governing documents that are designed to help maintain the independence of the regulatory functions of MEMX. These proposed provisions are substantially similar to those included in the governing documents of other exchanges that recently have been granted registration.^[88] Specifically:

• The directors, officers, employees, and agents of MEMX Holdings must give due regard to the preservation of the independence of the self-regulatory function of MEMX and to its obligations to investors and the general public and must not take actions which would interfere with the effectuation of decisions by the Exchange Board relating to its regulatory functions (including disciplinary matters) or which would interfere with MEMX's ability to carry out its responsibilities under the Act.^[89]

• MEMX Holdings must comply with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and must cooperate with the Commission, MEMX, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), and any other SROs of which MEMX Execution Services LLC (“MEMX ES”) is a member, pursuant to and to the extent of their respective regulatory authority.^[90] In addition, MEMX Holdings' officers, directors, employees, and agents must comply with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and are deemed to agree to cooperate with: (1) The Commission and MEMX in respect of the Commission's oversight responsibilities regarding MEMX and the self-regulatory functions and responsibilities of MEMX; and (2) FINRA, any other SROs of which MEMX ES is a member, and MEMX ES in respect of FINRA's and any such other SRO's oversight responsibilities regarding MEMX ES.^[91] MEMX Holdings must take reasonable steps necessary to cause its officers, directors, employees and agents to so cooperate.^[92]

• MEMX Holdings, and its officers, directors, employees, and agents must submit to the jurisdiction of the U.S. federal courts, the Commission, and MEMX, for purposes of any suit, action or proceeding pursuant to the U.S. federal securities laws, and the rules and regulations thereunder, arising out of, or relating to, MEMX activities.^[93]

• All books and records of MEMX reflecting confidential information pertaining to the self-regulatory function of MEMX (including but not limited to disciplinary matters, trading data, trading practices, and audit information) must be retained in confidence by MEMX and its personnel, directors, officers, employees, and agents, and will not be used by MEMX for any non-regulatory purposes and shall not be made available to any person (including, without limitation, any MEMX member) other than to personnel of the Commission, personnel of another self-regulatory organization performing regulatory services on behalf of MEMX, the processor operating pursuant to an effective national market system plan (i.e., the Consolidated Audit Trail processor), and those personnel of MEMX, members of committees of the Exchange Board, members of the Exchange Board, or hearing officers and other agents of MEMX, to the extent necessary or appropriate to properly discharge the self-regulatory responsibilities of MEMX.^[94] Similar provisions apply to MEMX Holdings and its directors, officers, employees, and agents.^[95]

• The books and records of MEMX and MEMX Holdings must be maintained in the United States ^[96] and, to the extent they are related to the operation or administration of MEMX, MEMX Holdings' books and records will be subject at all times to inspection and copying by the Commission and MEMX.^[97]

• Furthermore, to the extent they are related to the operation or administration of MEMX, the books, records, premises, officers, directors, employees, and agents of MEMX Holdings will be deemed to be the books, records, premises, officers, directors, employees, and agents of MEMX, for purposes of, and subject to oversight pursuant to, the Act.^[98]

• MEMX Holdings will take reasonable steps necessary to cause its officers, directors, employees, and agents, prior to accepting a position as an officer, director, employee or agent (as applicable) with MEMX Holdings to consent in writing to the applicability of ( printed page 27457) provisions regarding non-interference, confidentiality, books and records, compliance and cooperation, jurisdiction, and regulatory obligations, with respect to their activities related to MEMX.^[99]

• The MEMX Holdings LLC Agreement requires that, so long as MEMX Holdings controls MEMX, any changes to that document must be submitted to the Exchange Board for approval, and, if such change is required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 19(b) of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, such change shall not be effective until filed with and effective by operation of law, or filed with, and approved by, the Commission.^[100]

The Commission believes that the provisions discussed in this section, which are designed to help ensure the independence of MEMX's regulatory function and facilitate the ability of MEMX to carry out its regulatory responsibilities under, and operate in a manner consistent with, the Act, are appropriate and consistent with the requirements of the Act, particularly with Section 6(b)(1), which requires, in part, an exchange to be so organized and have the capacity to carry out the purposes of the Act.^[101]

One commenter questioned whether the indirect owners of MEMX would be able to access the trading and regulatory records of MEMX.^[102] The commenter asserted that access by such member-owners to such records could pose “significant conflicts of interest” because they “directly compete with other exchange members.”^[103] In response, MEMX stated that Section 13.1 of the MEMX LLC Agreement expressly provides that confidential information pertaining to the self-regulatory function of MEMX “shall not be made available to any person (including, without limitation, any Exchange Member) . . . .” ^[104] MEMX stated that this language means that “no member of the Exchange, including members that indirectly own the Exchange, will have access to regulatory and trading records of the Exchange.” ^[105] Further, MEMX noted that other exchanges have identical confidentiality language in their governing documents.^[106] The Commission believes that MEMX has appropriately addressed the commenter's concern, as the proposed governing documents will prohibit MEMX's ultimate owners from accessing the trading and regulatory records of MEMX.

Further, Section 19(h)(1) of the Act ^[107] provides the Commission with the authority “to suspend for a period not exceeding twelve months or revoke the registration of [an SRO], or to censure or impose limitations upon the activities, functions, and operations of [an SRO], if [the Commission] finds, on the record after notice and opportunity for hearing, that [the SRO] has violated or is unable to comply with any provision of the Act, the rules or regulations thereunder, or its own rules or without reasonable justification or excuse has failed to enforce compliance . . . ” with any such provision by its members (including associated persons thereof). If the Commission were to find, or become aware of, through staff review and inspection or otherwise, facts indicating any violations of the Act, including without limitation Sections 6(b)(1) and 19(g)(1),^[108] these matters could provide the basis for a disciplinary proceeding under Section 19(h)(1) of the Act.

Even in the absence of the governance provisions described above, under Section 20(a) of the Act,^[109] any person with a controlling interest in MEMX would be jointly and severally liable with and to the same extent that MEMX is liable under any provision of the Act, unless the controlling person acted in good faith and did not directly or indirectly induce the act or acts constituting the violation or cause of action. In addition, Section 20(e) of the Act ^[110] creates aiding and abetting liability for any person who knowingly provides substantial assistance to another person in violation of any provision of the Act or rule thereunder. Further, Section 21C of the Act ^[111] authorizes the Commission to enter a cease-and-desist order against any person who has been “a cause of” a violation of any provision of the Act through an act or omission that the person knew or should have known would contribute to the violation. These provisions are applicable to MEMX Holdings.

3. Regulatory Oversight Committee

The regulatory operations of MEMX will be monitored by the Regulatory Oversight Committee of the Exchange Board. As mentioned above, the Regulatory Oversight Committee will consist only of Independent Directors.^[112] The Regulatory Oversight Committee will be responsible for overseeing the adequacy and effectiveness of MEMX's regulatory and SRO responsibilities, assessing MEMX's regulatory performance, and assisting the Exchange Board (and committees of the Exchange Board) in reviewing MEMX's regulatory plan and the overall effectiveness of MEMX's regulatory functions.^[113]

Further, the Chief Regulatory Officer (“CRO”) of MEMX will have general supervision over MEMX's regulatory operations, including responsibility for overseeing MEMX's surveillance, examination, and enforcement functions and for administering any regulatory services agreements with another SRO to which MEMX is a party.^[114] The Regulatory Oversight Committee, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer of MEMX, will be responsible for establishing the goals, assessing the performance, and fixing the compensation of the CRO and for recommending personnel actions involving the CRO and senior regulatory personnel.^[115]

4. Regulatory Funding and Services

As a prerequisite for the Commission's granting of an exchange's ( printed page 27458) application for registration, an exchange must be organized and have the capacity to carry out the purposes of the Act.^[116] Specifically, an exchange must be able to enforce compliance by its members, and persons associated with its members, with the federal securities laws and rules thereunder and the rules of the exchange.^[117] The discussion below summarizes how MEMX proposes to conduct and structure its regulatory operations.

a. Regulatory Funding

To help ensure that MEMX has and will continue to have adequate funding to be able to meet its responsibilities under the Act, MEMX represents that, if the Commission approves MEMX's application for registration as a national securities exchange, MEMX Holdings will allocate sufficient assets to MEMX to enable the Exchange's operation.^[118] Specifically, MEMX represents that MEMX Holdings will make a cash contribution to MEMX of $5,000,000, “in addition to any previously-provided in-kind contributions, such as legal, regulatory, and infrastructure-related services.” ^[119]

MEMX also represents that such cash and in-kind contributions from MEMX Holdings will be adequate to operate MEMX, including the regulation of the Exchange, and that MEMX Holdings and MEMX will enter into an agreement that requires MEMX Holdings to provide adequate funding for the Exchange's operations, including the regulation of the Exchange.^[120]

Further, any “Regulatory Funds” received by MEMX will not be used for non-regulatory purposes or distributed to MEMX Holdings, but rather will be applied to fund the regulatory operations of MEMX, or, as applicable, used to pay restitution and disgorgement to customers.^[121] Any excess non-regulatory funds, as solely determined by MEMX, will be remitted to MEMX Holdings in accordance with the MEMX LLC Agreement.^[122]

b. Regulatory Contract with FINRA

Although MEMX will be an SRO with all of the attendant regulatory obligations under the Act, it has represented to the Commission that it intends to enter into a regulatory services agreement (“RSA”) with FINRA, under which FINRA as a regulatory services provider will perform certain regulatory functions on MEMX's behalf.^[123] Specifically, MEMX expects that such services will include performance of investigation, disciplinary, and hearing services.^[124] Notwithstanding the RSA, MEMX will retain legal responsibility for the regulation of its members and its market and the performance of FINRA as its regulatory services provider. Because MEMX anticipates entering into an RSA with FINRA, it has not made provisions to fulfill the regulatory services that will be undertaken by FINRA. Accordingly, the Commission is conditioning the operation of MEMX on a final RSA that specifies the services that will be provided to MEMX.

The Commission believes that it is consistent with the Act for MEMX to contract with FINRA to perform certain examination, enforcement, and disciplinary functions.^[125] These functions are fundamental elements of a regulatory program, and constitute core self-regulatory functions. The Commission believes that FINRA has the expertise and experience to perform these functions for MEMX.^[126] However, MEMX, unless relieved by the Commission of its responsibility, bears the self-regulatory responsibilities and primary liability for self-regulatory failures, not the SRO retained to perform regulatory functions on MEMX's behalf.^[127] In performing these regulatory functions, however, FINRA may nonetheless bear liability for causing or aiding and abetting the failure of MEMX to perform its regulatory functions.^[128] Accordingly, although FINRA will not act on its own behalf under its SRO responsibilities in carrying out these regulatory services for MEMX, FINRA may have secondary liability if, for example, the Commission finds that the contracted functions are being performed so inadequately as to cause a violation of the federal securities laws or rules thereunder by MEMX.^[129]

c. Rule 17d-2 Agreements

Section 19(g)(1) of the Act,^[130] among other things, requires every SRO registered as either a national securities exchange or national securities association to comply with the Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, and the SRO's own rules, and, absent reasonable justification or excuse, enforce compliance by its members and persons associated with its members.^[131] Rule 17d-2 of the Act permits SROs to propose joint plans to allocate regulatory responsibilities amongst themselves for their common rules with respect to their common members.^[132] These agreements, which must be filed with and declared effective by the Commission, generally cover areas where each SRO's rules substantively overlap, including such regulatory functions as personnel registration and sales practices. For example, the Commission recently declared effective a plan to allocate regulatory responsibilities between FINRA and the Long-Term Stock Exchange, Inc. (“LTSE”) pursuant to which FINRA assumes examination and enforcement ( printed page 27459) responsibility for broker-dealers that are members of both FINRA and LTSE with respect to the rules of LTSE that are substantially similar to the applicable rules of FINRA, as well as certain specified provisions of the federal securities laws.^[133]

A Rule 17d-2 plan that is declared effective by the Commission relieves the specified SRO of those regulatory responsibilities allocated by the plan to another SRO.^[134] MEMX has represented to the Commission that it will join all applicable plans, including Rule 17d-2 plans for the allocation of regulatory responsibilities.^[135] Similar to other exchanges, the Commission understands from MEMX that it will enter into a bilateral Rule 17d-2 agreement covering common members of MEMX and FINRA. This agreement will allocate to FINRA regulatory responsibility, with respect to common members, for specified regulatory and enforcement matters arising out of specified common rules and specified provisions of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. In addition, the Commission is conditioning operation of MEMX as an exchange on MEMX first joining the applicable multilateral Rule 17d-2 plans, including the multi-party Rule 17d-2 plan for the allocation of regulatory responsibilities with respect to certain Regulation NMS and Consolidated Audit Trail Rules and the multi-party Rule 17d-2 plan for the surveillance, investigation, and enforcement of common insider trading rules.^[136]

Because MEMX anticipates entering into these Rule 17d-2 agreements, it has not made provision to fulfill the regulatory obligations that will be undertaken by FINRA and other SROs under these agreements with respect to common members.^[137] Accordingly, the Commission is conditioning the operation of MEMX on approval by the Commission of a Rule 17d-2 agreement that allocates the above specified matters to FINRA, and the approval of an amendment to the existing multi-party Rule 17d-2 plans specified above to add MEMX as a party.

C. MEMX Trading System

MEMX will operate a fully automated electronic order book, and will not maintain or operate a physical trading floor. Only broker-dealer members of MEMX and entities that enter into market access arrangements with members (collectively, “Users”) will have access to the MEMX system.^[138] Users will be able to electronically submit orders to buy or sell securities traded on the Exchange through a variety of systems.^[139] MEMX will allow firms to register as market makers with affirmative and negative market making obligations.^[140]

Users may submit orders to the Exchange as Limit Orders, Market Orders, or Pegged Orders.^[141] Orders may be submitted with the following time-in-force instructions, as applicable: Immediate-or-Cancel; Day; Fill-or-Kill; Good `til Time, and Regular Hours Only.^[142] Users may submit orders with the display instructions of Displayed or Non-Displayed, but all orders eligible for display will be automatically defaulted to Displayed unless a User elects otherwise.^[143] A Limit Order with a Displayed instruction also may include a Reserve Quantity.^[144] Displayed orders will be displayed on an anonymous basis at a specified price.^[145] Orders may be entered as a Round Lot, Odd Lot, or Mixed Lot.^[146] In addition, a User may attach a Minimum Execution Quantity instruction to the order.^[147] Users also may choose to designate orders as Book Only or Post Only.^[148] MEMX's proposed order types and instructions are similar to order types and instructions approved by the Commission and currently available on other national securities exchanges.^[149]

One of MEMX's proposed order instructions is novel and not based on the existing rules of other exchanges. Specifically, in connection with a Limit Order submitted with a Reserve Quantity instruction, a member may attach a Random Replenishment instruction.^[150] In addition to randomizing the size of the refreshed displayed portion, this instruction will allow the User to elect to have the MEMX system randomly replenish the displayed replenishment quantity at different time intervals ranging up to one millisecond following each execution that triggers replenishment.^[151]

The MEMX system will continuously and automatically match orders pursuant to price/time priority. For equally-priced trading interest in time priority, MEMX will give first priority to the portion of a Limit Order with a displayed instruction over Limit Orders with a non-displayed instruction, Pegged Orders, and Reserve Quantity of Limit Orders.^[152] With respect to the price of executions that would occur on MEMX, the MEMX system is designed to comply with the order protection requirements of Rule 611 of Regulation NMS ^[153] by requiring that, for any ( printed page 27460) execution to occur on MEMX during regular trading hours, the price must be equal to, or better than, the Protected NBBO unless an exception to Rule 611 applies.^[154] Orders may be executed on the Exchange during the Market Session or during Pre- and Post-Market Sessions; ^[155] however, some order types and functionality are available only during the Market Session.^[156] Orders also may be entered during the Early Order Entry Session, but are not eligible for execution until the start of the Pre-Market Session or Market Session, depending on the time-in-force instructions.^[157] MEMX will conduct an opening process at the start of its Market Session, and Users who wish to participate in the opening process may enter designated orders for queuing in the system.^[158]

In addition, MEMX's rules are designed to address locked and crossed markets, as required by Rule 610(d) of Regulation NMS,^[159] in that they are designed not to disseminate interest that would lock or cross a protected quote, require Users to reasonably avoid displaying interest that locks or crosses any protected quotation, and are reasonably designed to assure the reconciliation of locked or crossed interest.^[160] One commenter questioned whether MEMX's proposed rules adequately specify how resting orders would be processed when locked or crossed by an away market quote and whether resting depth-of-book orders that have been locked or crossed by an away market and then become the best-ranked orders on MEMX would be transmitted to the securities information processor (“SIP”) at their original price.^[161] In response, MEMX disagreed that its proposed rules are unclear in these regards and noted that its applicable rules are based on the rules of other exchanges.^[162] The Commission believes that MEMX addressed the commenter's first question by stating that, under MEMX Rule 11.6(j)(1)(A)(ii), it “is clear that an order displayed by MEMX would not be re-priced if another market locked or crossed an order displayed by MEMX, as a locking or crossing quote would not allow MEMX to re-rank and display such an order at a more aggressive price.” ^[163] In respect of the commenter's second point, the Commission believes that MEMX addressed the commenter's concern, as MEMX stated that its proposed rules “are clear regarding its dissemination of quotations to the SIP” and noted that it “searched the rules of NYSE and other exchanges for additional language describing such an example or details regarding special handling in such a scenario, but such search has been fruitless.” ^[164]

In addition, MEMX will offer outbound routing functionality though its affiliated routing broker-dealer, MEMX ES.^[165] A member's use of the order routing functionality provided by the Exchange's affiliated routing broker-dealer is entirely optional and members may use other broker-dealers to route out to other market centers.^[166]

The Commission finds that MEMX's trading rules are consistent with the Act and, in particular, the Section 6(b)(5) requirement that an exchange's rules be designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, remove impediments to and perfect the mechanisms of a free and open market and a national market system, and protect investors and the public interest.^[167]

With regard to MEMX's proposed Random Replenishment feature, the rule is largely based on similar functionality offered by other exchanges with the addition of one unique feature.^[168] Specifically, in addition to randomizing the displayed replenishment size, a User also may elect to have the MEMX system replenish the displayed replenishment quantity at different time intervals ranging up to one millisecond following the execution that triggered replenishment. The Commission believes that this feature is consistent with the Act because it is designed to protect investors consistent with the general purpose of Reserve Quantity orders and Random Replenishment functionality, which the Commission has previously approved for use on other exchanges.^[169] Specifically, replenishing the display quantity at random time intervals may make reserve interest harder to detect, which could incentivize investors to rest larger-size reserve interest on the Exchange. Importantly, the non-displayed portion of an order subject to the time interval Random Replenishment will remain fully executable prior to the replenishment of a User's displayed quantity.^[170] Accordingly, to the extent this feature encourages investors to provide more liquidity, other market participants could correspondingly benefit from having access to that additional liquidity.

As noted above, MEMX proposes to offer routing services to its Users through its affiliated broker-dealer, MEMX ES.^[171] The Commission previously has stated that an exchange-affiliated outbound router, as a “facility” of the exchange, will be subject to the exchange's and the Commission's regulatory oversight, and that the exchange will be responsible for ensuring that the affiliated outbound routing function is operated consistent with Section 6 of the Act and the exchange's rules.^[172] For example, in approving an exchange with an affiliated outbound routing broker, the Commission previously noted that “[a] conflict of interest would arise if the national securities exchange (or an affiliate) provided advantages to its broker-dealer that are not available to other members.” ^[173] The Commission further explained that “advantages, such as greater access to information, improved speed of execution, or enhanced operational capabilities in dealing with the exchange, might constitute unfair discrimination under the Act.” ^[174]

MEMX's proposed outbound routing rule is similar to rules the Commission has approved for other exchanges that utilize affiliated routing brokers.^[175] In particular, MEMX's affiliated broker-dealer does not have any structural or informational advantages in its provision of routing services as compared to a third-party broker-dealer member of MEMX performing a similar function for itself or others.^[176] Accordingly, the Commission believes that the outbound routing functionality of MEMX is consistent with the Act and, in particular, the Section 6(b)(5) requirement that an exchange's rules be designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, protect investors and the public interest, and not permit unfair discrimination between customer, issuers, brokers or dealers.^[177]

As a national securities exchange, MEMX will be a trading center whose quotations can be “automated quotations” under Rule 600(b)(3).^[178] MEMX has designed itself to qualify by being an “automated trading center” under Rule 600(b)(4) whose best-priced, displayed quotation will be a “protected quotation” under Rules 600(b)(57) and 600(b)(58), and for purposes of Rule 611.^[179] One commenter requested that MEMX clarify the calculation of its consolidated quote, which would be disseminated by the SIP.^[180] Specifically, the commenter asked whether displayed odd-lot orders at more than one price point on MEMX would be aggregated in the MEMX quote provided to the SIP for dissemination.^[181] In response, MEMX noted that its proposed rule is based on rules of other exchanges, but agreed that additional clarity in the rules could be beneficial and so submitted clarifying rule text in Amendment No. 2.^[182] MEMX will aggregate displayed odd-lot orders on the MEMX order book across price levels for transmission to the SIPs as the MEMX best ranked bid or offer, when applicable.^[183] Specifically, MEMX added paragraph (b)(2) to Rule 11.9 which provides that, pursuant to Rule 602 of Regulation NMS, the Exchange will transmit to the appropriate SIP the highest (lowest) price to buy (sell) wherein the aggregate size of all displayed buy (sell) interest in the MEMX system greater (less) than or equal to that price is one round lot or greater, and that the aggregate size of all displayed buy (sell) interest in the MEMX system greater (less) than or equal to that price will be transmitted rounded down to the nearest round lot.^[184] The Commission believes that MEMX's proposed rule, as revised in Amendment No. 2, is clear and substantially similar to the rules of other exchanges governing aggregation and display of odd-lot orders.^[185]

To meet their regulatory responsibilities under Rule 611(a) of Regulation NMS, other trading centers will be required to have sufficient notice of new protected quotations, as well as all necessary information and technical specifications.^[186] The Commission believes that it would be a reasonable policy and procedure under Rule 611(a) to require that industry participants begin treating MEMX's best bid and best offer as a protected quotation as soon as possible but no later than 90 days after the date of this order, or such later date as MEMX begins operation as a national securities exchange. The Commission has taken the same position with other new equities exchanges.^[187]

D. Discipline and Oversight of Members

As noted above, one prerequisite for the Commission's grant of an exchange's application for registration is that a proposed exchange must be so organized and have the capacity to be able to carry out the purposes of the Act.^[188] Specifically, an exchange must be able to enforce compliance by its members and persons associated with its members with the federal securities laws and rules thereunder and the rules of the exchange.^[189] As also noted above, pursuant to an RSA with FINRA, FINRA will perform many of the initial disciplinary processes on behalf of MEMX.^[190] For example, FINRA will investigate potential securities laws violations, issue complaints, and conduct hearings pursuant to MEMX rules. Appeals from disciplinary decisions will be heard by the MEMX Appeals Committee,^[191] and the MEMX Appeals Committee's decision shall be final.^[192] In addition, the Exchange Board on its own initiative may order review of a disciplinary decision.^[193]

The MEMX LLC Agreement and MEMX rules provide that the Exchange has disciplinary jurisdiction over its members so that it can enforce its members' compliance with its rules and the federal securities laws and rules.^[194] The Exchange's rules also permit MEMX to sanction members for violations of its rules and violations of the federal securities laws and rules by, among other things, expelling or suspending members, limiting members' activities, functions, or operations, fining or censuring members, or suspending or barring a person from being associated with a member, or any other fitting sanction.^[195] MEMX's rules also provide for the imposition of fines for certain minor rule violations in lieu of commencing disciplinary proceedings.^[196] Accordingly, as a condition to the operation of MEMX, a Minor Rule Violation Plan (“MRVP”) filed by MEMX under Act Rule 19d-1(c)(2) must be declared effective by the Commission.^[197]

The Commission finds that the MEMX LLC Agreement and rules concerning its disciplinary and oversight programs are consistent with the requirements of Sections 6(b)(6) and 6(b)(7) of the Act ^[198] in that they provide fair procedures for the disciplining of members and persons associated with members. The Commission further finds that the rules of MEMX provide it with the ability to comply, and with the ability to enforce compliance by its members and persons associated with its members, with the provisions of the Act, the rules and ( printed page 27462) regulations thereunder, and the rules of MEMX.^[199]

E. Trading on MEMX Pursuant to Unlisted Trading Privileges

MEMX does not intend to be a primary listing market for securities. Accordingly, MEMX has not proposed rules that would allow it to primarily list any securities at this time. Instead, MEMX has proposed to trade securities pursuant to unlisted trading privileges (“UTP”). MEMX Rule 14.1 establishes the Exchange's authority to trade securities on a UTP basis. MEMX Rule 14.1(a) provides that MEMX may extend UTP to any security that is an NMS stock that is listed on another national securities exchange or with respect to which UTP may otherwise be extended in accordance with Section 12(f) of the Act.^[200] MEMX Rule 14.1(a) further provides that any such security would be subject to all MEMX rules applicable to trading on MEMX, unless otherwise noted.

MEMX Rule 14.1(b) establishes additional rules for trading of UTP Exchange Traded Products, which are defined in MEMX Rule 1.1. MEMX Rule 14.1(b) provides that MEMX will distribute an information circular prior to the commencement of trading in a UTP Exchange Traded Product that generally would include the same information as the information circular provided by the listing exchange, including (a) the special risks of trading the Exchange Traded Product, (b) the Exchange's rules that would apply to the Exchange Traded Product and (c) information about the dissemination of value of the underlying assets or indices. MEMX Rule 14.1(b)(2) establishes certain requirements for members that have customers that trade UTP Exchange Traded Products.^[201] MEMX Rule 14.1(b)(4) also establishes certain requirements for any member registered as a market maker in an UTP Exchange Traded Product that derives its value from one or more currencies, commodities, or derivatives based on one or more currencies or commodities, or is based on a basket or index composed of currencies or commodities. MEMX Rule 14.1(b)(5) provides that the Exchange's surveillance procedures for Exchange Traded Products traded on the Exchange pursuant to UTP would be similar to the procedures used for equity securities traded on the Exchange and would incorporate and rely upon existing Exchange surveillance systems.

The Commission finds that the Exchange's proposed approach to the trading of securities on a UTP basis, as set forth in MEMX Rule 14.1, is consistent with Section 12(f) of the Act and Rule 12f-5 thereunder.^[202] Rule 12f-5 under the Act requires an exchange that extends unlisted trading privileges to securities to have in effect a rule or rules providing for transactions in the class or type of security to which the exchange extends unlisted trading privileges.^[203] MEMX Rule 14.1 includes a provision that any security traded UTP on the Exchange “shall be subject to all Exchange rules applicable to trading on the Exchange, unless otherwise noted.” The provisions in MEMX Rule 14.1 are substantively the same as the existing rules of NYSE National, Inc.^[204] Accordingly, pursuant to Section 12(f) of the Act and Rule 12f-5 thereunder, MEMX will be permitted to extend unlisted trading privileges to securities of the same class, subject to the trading rules of the Exchange.

F. Section 11(a) of the Act

Section 11(a)(1) of the Act ^[205] prohibits a member of a national securities exchange from effecting transactions on that exchange for its own account, the account of an associated person, or an account over which it or its associated person exercises investment discretion (collectively, “covered accounts”) unless an exception applies. Rule 11a2-2(T) under the Act,^[206] known as the “effect versus execute” rule, provides exchange members with an exemption from the Section 11(a)(1) prohibition. Rule 11a2-2(T) permits an exchange member, subject to certain conditions, to effect transactions for covered accounts by arranging for an unaffiliated member to execute transactions on the exchange. To comply with Rule 11a2-2(T)'s conditions, a member: (i) Must transmit the order from off the exchange floor; (ii) may not participate in the execution of the transaction once it has been transmitted to the member performing the execution; ^[207] (iii) may not be affiliated with the executing member; and (iv) with respect to an account over which the member or an associated person has investment discretion, neither the member nor its associated person may retain any compensation in connection with effecting the transaction except as provided in the Rule.

In a letter to the Commission, MEMX requested that the Commission concur with MEMX's conclusion that MEMX members that enter orders into the MEMX trading system satisfy the conditions of Rule 11a2-2(T).^[208] For the reasons set forth below, the Commission believes that MEMX members entering orders into the MEMX trading system could satisfy the requirements of Rule 11a2-2(T).

The Rule's first condition is that orders for covered accounts be transmitted from off the exchange floor. In the context of automated trading systems, the Commission has found that the off-floor transmission condition is met if a covered account order is transmitted from a remote location directly to an exchange's floor by electronic means.^[209] MEMX has represented that MEMX does not have a physical trading floor, and the MEMX trading system will receive orders from members electronically through remote terminals or computer-to-computer interfaces.^[210] The Commission believes that the MEMX trading system satisfies this off-floor transmission condition.

The second condition states that the member and any associated person not participate in the execution of its order after the order has been transmitted. MEMX represented that at no time following the submission of an order is ( printed page 27463) a member or an associated person of the member able to acquire control or influence over the result or timing of the order's execution.^[211] According to MEMX, the execution of a member's order is determined solely by what quotes and orders are present in the system at the time the member submits the order, and the order priority based on the MEMX rules.^[212] Accordingly, the Commission believes that a MEMX member and its associated persons do not participate in the execution of an order submitted to the MEMX trading system.^[213]

The third condition states that the order be executed by an exchange member who is unaffiliated with the member initiating the order. The Commission has stated that this condition is satisfied when automated exchange facilities, such as the MEMX trading system, are used, as long as the design of these systems ensures that members do not possess any special or unique trading advantages in handling their orders after transmitting them to the exchange.^[214] MEMX has represented that the design of the MEMX trading system ensures that no member has any special or unique trading advantage in the handling of its orders after transmitting its orders to MEMX.^[215] Based on MEMX's representation, the Commission believes that the MEMX trading system satisfies this condition.

Fourth, in the case of a transaction effected for an account with respect to which the initiating member or an associated person thereof exercises investment discretion, neither the initiating member nor any associated person thereof may retain any compensation in connection with effecting the transaction, unless the person authorized to transact business for the account has expressly provided otherwise by written contract referring to Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 11a2-2(T) thereunder.^[216] MEMX members trading for covered accounts over which they exercise investment discretion must comply with this condition in order to rely on the rule's exemption.^[217]

G. Exemption From Section 19(b) of the Act With Regard to FINRA Rules Incorporated by Reference

MEMX proposes to incorporate by reference certain FINRA rules as MEMX rules.^[218] Thus, for those MEMX rules, Exchange members will comply with the MEMX rule by complying with the FINRA rule referenced therein. In connection with its proposal to incorporate FINRA rules by reference, MEMX requested, pursuant to Rule 240.0-12,^[219] an exemption under Section 36 of the Act from the rule filing requirements of Section 19(b) of the Act for changes to those MEMX rules that are effected solely by virtue of a change to a cross-referenced FINRA rule.^[220] MEMX represents in its letter that, as a condition to the exemption, it will provide written notice to its members whenever a proposed rule change to a FINRA rule that is incorporated by reference is proposed and whenever any such proposed change is approved by the Commission or otherwise becomes effective.^[221]

Using its authority under Section 36 of the Act,^[222] the Commission is hereby granting MEMX's request for an exemption, pursuant to Section 36 of the Act, from the rule filing requirements of Section 19(b) of the Act with respect to the rules that MEMX proposes to incorporate by reference.^[223] This exemption is conditioned upon MEMX providing written notice to its members whenever FINRA proposes to change a rule that MEMX has incorporated by reference. The Commission believes that this exemption is appropriate in the public interest and consistent with the protection of investors because it will promote more efficient use of Commission and SRO resources by avoiding duplicative rule filings based on simultaneous changes to identical rules of more than one SRO.

H. Conclusion

It is ordered that the application of MEMX for registration as a national securities exchange be, and it hereby is, granted.

It is furthered ordered that operation of MEMX is conditioned on the satisfaction of the requirements below: ( printed page 27464)

A. Participation in National Market System Plans. MEMX must join the Consolidated Tape Association Plan, the Consolidated Quotation Plan, and the Nasdaq UTP Plan (or any successors thereto); the National Market System Plan Establishing Procedures Under Rule 605 of Regulation NMS; the Regulation NMS Plan to Address Extraordinary Market Volatility; the Plan for the Selection and Reservation of Securities Symbols; and the National Market System Plan Governing the Consolidated Audit Trail.

B. Intermarket Surveillance Group. MEMX must join the Intermarket Surveillance Group.

C. Minor Rule Violation Plan. A MRVP filed by MEMX under Rule 19d-1(c)(2) must be declared effective by the Commission.^[224]

D. Rule 17d-2 Agreement. An agreement pursuant to Rule 17d-2 ^[225] that allocates regulatory responsibility for those matters specified above ^[226] must be declared effective by the Commission, or MEMX must demonstrate that it independently has the ability to fulfill all of its regulatory obligations.

E. Participation in Multi-Party Rule 17d-2 Plans. MEMX must become a party to the multi-party Rule 17d-2 agreement concerning the surveillance, investigation, and enforcement of common insider trading rules and the agreement concerning certain Regulation NMS and Consolidated Audit Trail Rules.

F. RSA. MEMX must finalize the provisions of the RSA with its regulatory services provider, as described above, that will specify the MEMX and Commission rules for which the regulatory services provider will provide certain regulatory functions, or MEMX must demonstrate that it independently has the ability to fulfill all of its regulatory obligations.

It is further ordered, pursuant to Section 36 of the Act,^[227] that MEMX shall be exempted from the rule filing requirements of Section 19(b) of the Act with respect to the FINRA rules that MEMX proposes to incorporate by reference into MEMX's rules, subject to the conditions specified in this Order.