Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) ^[1] of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) ^[2] and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,^[3] notice is hereby given that, on October 14, 2026, NYSE American LLC (“NYSE American” or the “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by the self-regulatory organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.

I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

The Exchange proposes to modify the NYSE American Options Fee Schedule (“Fee Schedule”) regarding fees and rebates applicable to Manual transactions. The proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's website at www.nyse.com and at the principal office of the Exchange.

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 self-regulatory organization 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 those 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 parts of such statements.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and the Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose

The Exchange proposes to modify the Fee Schedule to adjust the fees and rebates applicable to Manual transactions. Specifically, the Exchange proposes to (1) amend the fees applicable to Manual transactions in non-Penny issues executed by e-Specialists, Market Makers, and Specialists (collectively, “Market Makers”), and (2) establish a rebate payable to Floor Broker orders that trade with a Market Maker order on the Trading Floor (“Trading Floor” or “Floor”). The Exchange proposes that these changes become effective October 14, 2026.^[4]

With respect to the first proposed change, the Exchange proposes to amend Section I.A. of the Fee Schedule, which sets forth rates for Electronic and Manual transactions in both Penny and non-Penny issues. Currently, a $0.50 per contract fee applies to Market Makers' Manual transactions in non-Penny issues, except for those in MXEA, MXEF, MXUSA, MXWLD, and MXACW. The Exchange proposes to increase this fee to $0.90 per contract and then, effective November 1, 2026, increase the fee to $1.00 per contract. The increase to $1.00 per contract would align the Exchange's fee for Market Maker Manual transactions in non-Penny issues consistent with similar fees adopted and proposed by other exchanges.^[5] The two-tiered increase is necessary to simplify the Exchange's billing process during the transition and to allow market participants sufficient time to adapt.

The Exchange also proposes to establish a rebate of $0.20 per contract payable to Floor Broker orders that trade with Market Maker orders on the Trading Floor. For Floor Brokers that participate in the FB Prepay Program, the proposed rebate would apply in lieu of any rebates earned through the Manual Billable Rebate Program as provided in Section III.E. of the Fee Schedule. The Exchange proposes to add new text to Section III.E. of the Fee Schedule describing the proposed rebate.

The Exchange believes that the proposed rebate for Penny and non-Penny issues would strengthen the Exchange's competitive position for order flow by incentivizing Floor Brokers to participate on the Trading Floor, including when the counterparty to such trading is a Market Maker, rather than routing such orders to other exchanges' trading floors. The Exchange operates in a highly competitive market for order flow, and Floor Brokers may readily direct their order flow to competing exchanges that offer more favorable pricing. Accordingly, the Exchange believes the proposed rebate is a reasonable means of remaining competitive and attracting order flow to its Trading Floor. The Exchange notes that, in August 2026, executions in non-Penny issues represented only 12% of executed Manual volume, underscoring that the proposed fee increase is much smaller in scope than the proposed Floor Broker rebate, which is applicable to executions in both Penny and non-Penny issues.

Taken together with the proposed rebate payable to Floor Broker orders, the Exchange believes that the proposed increase in the Market Maker fee for Manual transactions in non-Penny issues from $0.50 to $0.90 per contract and then to $1.00 per contract beginning on November 1, 2026 would, on balance, not discourage Market Makers from continuing to participate in transactions on the Trading Floor, thereby promoting trading opportunities and competition on the Trading Floor to the benefit of all market participants. Specifically, the Exchange notes that Market Maker participation in non-Penny issues on the Trading Floor has continued to grow since the Exchange's initial fee increase on January 2, 2026. For example, in December 2025, prior to the Exchange's initial filing, Market Makers paid $0.50 per contract for Manual transactions in non-Penny issues and were involved in only 12% of executed Manual volume in non-Penny issues. However, in August 2026, ( printed page 67357) after the fee was raised to $1.00 per contract for Manual executions in non-Penny issues and, subsequently, to $0.90 per contract, Market Makers were involved in 20% of executed Manual volume in non-Penny issues. Despite higher Market Maker fees for Manual transactions, the Exchange has continued to observe elevated Market Maker interest on the Trading Floor, even in non-Penny issues where the fee was specifically increased, demonstrating that this fee has not deterred, and will not deter Market Maker participation.

The Exchange further notes that the amount of the proposed fee for Market Maker Manual transactions in non-Penny issues is within the range of fees currently in place for responses by Market Makers (and other market participants) in non-Penny issues in various electronic paired-order auction mechanisms on other options exchanges, which is largely analogous to the Manual transactions impacted by the proposed fee increase on the Trading Floor. For example, Cboe EDGX Exchange, Inc. (“EDGX”) imposes a $1.05 per contract fee on all market participants (including Market Makers) responding to Automated Improvement Mechanism Auctions (“AIM Auctions”), while charging the paired contra order only $0.02 per contract in non-Penny issues.^[6]

In this example, the large disparity in fees between the auction responder and the paired contra order demonstrates the unique position of the responder to evaluate the full terms of a transaction immediately prior to execution, including size, pricing, and counterparty interest. This position enables responders to EDGX AIM Auctions to exercise discretion in determining whether to engage in a trade under informed conditions. In addition, the responder has a guaranteed participation entitlement of up to 60% of the trade under the relevant rules, even in the absence of price improvement. This allocation represents a meaningful structural advantage, as it ensures a substantial share of order flow once a responder elects to participate. The Exchange believes that Market Makers hold a similar advantageous position in choosing to participate in Manual transactions on the Trading Floor and, therefore, believes that the difference in fees between Market Makers and other market participants for Manual transactions in non-Penny issues is justified.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act,^[7] in general, and furthers the objectives of Sections 6(b)(4) and (5) of the Act,^[8] in particular, because it provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and other charges among its members, issuers and other persons using its facilities and does not unfairly discriminate between customers, issuers, brokers or dealers.

The Proposed Rule Change Is Reasonable

The Exchange operates in a highly competitive market. The Commission has repeatedly expressed its preference for competition over regulatory intervention in determining prices, products, and services in the securities markets. In Regulation NMS, the Commission highlighted the importance of market forces in determining prices and SRO revenues and, also, recognized that current regulation of the market system “has been remarkably successful in promoting market competition in its broader forms that are most important to investors and listed companies.” ^[9]

There are currently 20 registered options exchanges competing for order flow. Based on publicly-available information, and excluding index-based options, no single exchange has more than 16% of the market share of executed volume of multiply-listed equity and ETF options trades.^[10] Therefore, currently no exchange possesses significant pricing power in the execution of multiply-listed equity and ETF options order flow. More specifically, in August 2026, the Exchange had 11.30% market share of executed volume of multiply-listed equity and ETF options trades.^[11] In such a low-concentrated and highly competitive market, no single options exchange possesses significant pricing power in the execution of options order flow. Within this environment, market participants can freely and often do shift their order flow among the Exchange and competing venues in response to changes in their respective pricing schedules.

The Exchange believes that the ever-shifting market share among the exchanges from month to month demonstrates that market participants can shift order flow or discontinue or reduce use of certain categories of products in response to fee changes. Accordingly, competitive forces constrain options exchange transaction fees. Specifically, as it relates to Manual executions, Market Makers, like other market participants, retain the ability to adjust their trading behavior, reduce participation, or reallocate order flow and liquidity-provision activity across competing exchanges in response to fee changes.

The Exchange believes that the proposed rebate is reasonable because, in a highly competitive market where Floor Brokers may readily direct order flow to other exchanges' trading floors, the rebate would strengthen the Exchange's competitive position by incentivizing Floor Brokers to continue directing Manual orders to the Trading Floor, including orders that trade against Market Makers, thereby promoting trading opportunities and competition on the Floor for the benefit of all market participants. The Exchange also believes that the amount of the proposed fee for Market Maker Manual transactions in non-Penny issues is reasonable, as it is (i) narrow in scope, applying only to non-Penny Manual transactions, which represent just 12% of executed Manual volume; (ii) unlikely to discourage Market Maker participation, which has continued to grow after the implementation of the increase; and (iii) consistent with, and more moderate than, comparable fee disparities imposed by another options exchange on responders in analogous electronic paired-order auctions ( e.g., EDGX's AIM Auction).

Furthermore, the Exchange believes that assessing a higher fee for Manual transactions on the Trading Floor is reasonable considering the distinct advantages afforded to Floor-based Market Makers. Floor-based Market Makers who, by virtue of their physical presence and participation model, are uniquely positioned to evaluate the full terms of a transaction, including size, pricing, and counterparty interest, immediately prior to execution. This capability enables Floor-based Market Makers to exercise discretion in determining whether to engage in a ( printed page 67358) trade under informed conditions that are not available to off-floor or fully electronic participants. In addition, the Exchange's rules provide Floor-based Market Makers with a guaranteed participation entitlement of up to 60% of the trade for both Solicitation and Facilitation Cross Transactions,^[12] even in the absence of price improvement. This allocation represents a meaningful structural advantage, as it ensures a substantial share of order flow if a Floor-based Market Maker elects to participate.^[13] Together, these features—the ability to assess trading opportunities in real time before committing capital and the certainty of receiving a guaranteed, significant allocation—enhance the likelihood of favorable execution outcomes and revenue opportunities for Floor-based Market Makers.

Accordingly, the Exchange believes it is reasonable to assess higher fees on Market Maker Manual transactions in non-Penny issues. This fee differential is consistent with the fee structure of another options exchange's offerings in its electronic paired-order auction, which similarly differentiate fees based on the trading privileges and informational advantages available to certain participants. For example, EDGX's AIM Auction charges all market participants responding to an auction (including Market Makers) $1.05 per contract, while charging the paired contra order only $0.02 per contract in non-Penny issues—in each case reflecting a substantial fee differential tied to the distinct informational and structural advantages afforded to the responder, largely similar to the advantages afforded to Floor-based Market Makers here. The differential between the fee charged to Market Makers and the fee charged to other participants in non-Penny Manual transactions reflects the enhanced trading privileges, informational advantages, and allocation guarantees uniquely available to Trading Floor-based participants and appropriately aligns fees with the relative value of these benefits as compared to other market participants operating without such advantages.

The Exchange believes that the proposed changes are reasonably designed to incent Floor Brokers to increase the number of Manual orders directed to the Trading Floor, including orders that trade with Market Maker orders. Any increase in trading volume would create more trading opportunities for all market participants and would in turn attract additional order flow to the Exchange, further contributing to a deeper, more liquid market to the benefit of all market participants. The Exchange also notes that the proposed rebate is similar in structure to incentive programs for Floor Brokers offered by competing options exchanges.^[14]

The Exchange further believes the proposed fee increase is reasonable because it is designed to offset the costs associated with the proposed Floor Broker rebate, which, as noted above, is intended to create more trading opportunities on the Trading Floor for all market participants, including Market Makers. As discussed above, Market Maker participation on the Trading Floor has continued to grow even as Market Maker fees for Manual transactions in non-Penny issues have increased, and the Exchange believes the increased order flow generated by the proposed rebate would similarly provide Market Makers with additional trading opportunities that offset the impact of the higher fee. In addition, the Exchange notes that market participants remain free to direct their order flow to competing venues if they believe other markets offer more favorable fees and rebates. Specifically, Market Makers, like other market participants, retain the ability to adjust their trading behavior, reduce participation, or reallocate order flow and liquidity-provision activity across competing exchanges in response to fee changes.

To the extent the proposed rule change attracts greater volume and liquidity by encouraging Floor Brokers to increase their options volume on the Exchange in an effort to earn the proposed rebate, the Exchange believes the proposed changes would improve the Exchange's overall competitiveness and strengthen its market quality for all market participants. Against the backdrop of the competitive environment in which the Exchange operates, the proposed rule change is a reasonable attempt by the Exchange to increase the depth of its market and improve its market share relative to its competitors.

The Proposed Rule Change Is an Equitable Allocation of Credits and Fees

The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is an equitable allocation of its fees and credits. With respect to the proposed rebate, the Exchange believes it is equitable because it is based on the type of business transacted on the Exchange, and Floor Brokers may choose whether or not to seek to earn the rebate based on their own order-routing decisions. The Exchange also believes the rebate is equitable because it is intended to support Floor Brokers' role in facilitating the execution of Manual orders, a function that benefits all market participants on the Trading Floor, including Market Makers.

With respect to the proposed fee applicable to Market Maker Manual transactions in non-Penny issues, the Exchange believes it is equitable for several reasons. First, the fee is designed to offset the costs associated with the proposed rebate while encouraging increased execution opportunities in Manual transactions on the Trading Floor, and an increase in such orders would, in turn, enhance trading opportunities for all market participants. The fee is also consistent with fees charged, and differences allowed, by EDGX, for analogous transactions ( e.g., AIM Auction fees). Assessing Market Makers a higher fee for Manual transactions in non-Penny issues is equitable because Floor-based Market Makers, who account for the majority of Market Maker Manual transaction volume in non-Penny issues, occupy a uniquely advantaged position relative to other market participants—specifically, the exclusive ability to evaluate the terms of a transaction immediately prior to execution, as well as a guaranteed participation allocation of up to 60% of the trade under the Exchange's rules.^[15]

Moreover, the proposal is designed to incent participation on the Trading Floor in an effort to make the Exchange a primary execution venue and to attract more Manual transactions to the Exchange. To the extent that the proposed change attracts more Floor Broker orders to the Exchange, this increased order flow would continue to make the Exchange a more competitive venue for, among other things, order execution. Thus, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change would ( printed page 67359) improve market quality for all market participants on the Exchange and, as a consequence, attract more order flow to the Exchange thereby improving market-wide quality and price discovery.

The Proposed Rule Change Is Not Unfairly Discriminatory

The Exchange believes it is not unfairly discriminatory to modify the fee applicable to Market Maker Manual transactions in non-Penny issues because the proposed change would apply to all similarly situated Market Maker orders equally, regardless of the identity of the Market Maker responding to such orders. The Exchange notes that any participant can become a Floor-based Market Maker on the Exchange and avail themselves equally to all the benefits and obligations that such role entails. As discussed above, the Exchange believes it is not unfairly discriminatory to incent order flow to the Exchange through the proposed rebate, which would enhance liquidity on the Exchange to the benefit of all market participants. The Exchange also believes that the proposed rebate payable to Floor Brokers for a Manual order that trades with a Market Maker order on the Trading Floor is not unfairly discriminatory because it would be available to all similarly situated Floor Brokers on an equal and non-discriminatory basis, based solely on their order flow and trading activity on the Trading Floor.

The Exchange further believes that the proposed rebate is not unfairly discriminatory to other market participants because it is intended to encourage the role performed by Floor Brokers in facilitating the execution of orders via open outcry, a function which the Exchange wishes to support for the benefit of all market participants, including Market Makers, who would benefit from the additional execution opportunities generated by increased Floor Broker participation. In addition, although the proposed change would increase the fee applicable to Market Maker Manual transactions in non-Penny issues, the proposed fee is consistent with fees charged, and differences allowed, by another options exchange for analogous transactions. For example, EDGX's AIM Auction, which charges responders (including Market Makers) $1.05 per contract while charging the paired contra order only $0.02 per contract in non-Penny issues.

The Exchange further believes that Market Makers would not be discouraged from continuing to participate actively on the Trading Floor and would benefit from increased Manual order flow, including from Floor Brokers seeking to earn the proposed rebate. Indeed, as discussed above, Market Maker participation in non-Penny Manual transactions on the Trading Floor grew from 12% in December 2025 to 20% in August 2026, notwithstanding higher Market Maker fees already in effect for much of that period, demonstrating that a fee differential of this magnitude has not discouraged, and is not expected to discourage, Market Maker participation.

The Exchange also believes that the higher fee assessed to Market Makers for Manual transactions in non-Penny issues is not unfairly discriminatory because it reasonably reflects the uniquely advantaged position of Trading Floor-based Market Makers, who account for approximately 95% of such volume, relative to other market participants. In particular, these Trading Floor-based Market Makers possess the exclusive ability to evaluate the full terms of a transaction immediately prior to execution and benefit from a guaranteed participation allocation of up to 60% of the trade under the Exchange's rules.^[16] These features provide Floor-based Market Makers with meaningful informational and allocation advantages that are not available to off-floor or purely electronic participants. The Exchange notes that any participant can become a Floor-based Market Maker on the Exchange and avail themselves equally to all the benefits and obligations that such role entails. Accordingly, the Exchange believes that the differential in fees, which is similar in kind to the differential EDGX charges between AIM Auction responders and the paired contra orders is appropriately calibrated to the distinct structural benefits available to Trading Floor-based Market Makers and therefore does not constitute unfair discrimination. Rather, the higher fee reflects a rational alignment between pricing and the value of the enhanced trading opportunities and execution certainty afforded to these participants. Moreover, to the extent that the exercise of these advantages contributes to increased Trading Floor activity and attracts additional order flow, the proposed fee would enhance overall market quality, deepen liquidity, and promote additional trading opportunities for all market participants on the Exchange.

Finally, the Exchange believes that it is subject to significant competitive forces, as described below in the Exchange's statement regarding the burden on competition.

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

In accordance with Section 6(b)(8) of the Act, the Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change would impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. Instead, the Exchange believes that the proposed changes would encourage the submission of additional liquidity to a public exchange, thereby promoting market depth, price discovery and transparency and enhancing order execution opportunities for all market participants. As a result, the Exchange believes that the proposed change furthers the Commission's goal in adopting Regulation NMS of fostering integrated competition among orders, which promotes “more efficient pricing of individual stocks for all types of orders, large and small.” ^[17]

Intramarket Competition. The proposed change is designed to attract additional order flow to the Exchange. The Exchange notes that any participant can become a Floor-based Market Maker on the Exchange and avail themselves equally to all the benefits and obligations that such role entails. The Exchange believes that the proposed change to Market Maker fees for Manual transactions in non-Penny issues, and the proposed rebate payable to the Floor Broker orders that trade against Market Maker orders on the Trading Floor would encourage Floor Broker Manual order flow and would not disincentivize Market Maker activity on the Trading Floor. Greater liquidity benefits all market participants on the Exchange and increased order flow would increase opportunities for execution of other trading interest. The proposed changes would apply and be available to all similarly situated market participants that execute Manual transactions on the Trading Floor, and, accordingly, the proposed changes would not impose a disparate burden on competition among market participants on the Exchange.

Intermarket Competition. The Exchange operates in a highly competitive market in which market participants can readily favor one of the other 19 competing options exchanges if they deem the Exchange's fee levels 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 to the Exchange. Based on publicly available information, and excluding index-based options, no single exchange ( printed page 67360) has more than 16% of the market share of executed volume of multiply-listed equity and ETF options trades.^[18] Therefore, currently no exchange possesses significant pricing power in the execution of multiply-listed equity and ETF options order flow. More specifically, in August 2026, the Exchange had 11.30% market share of executed volume of multiply-listed equity and ETF options trades.^[19]

The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change reflects this competitive environment because it modifies the Exchange's fees in a manner designed to continue to incent participants on the Trading Floor to direct trading interest to the Exchange, to provide liquidity and to attract additional order flow. To the extent that Floor Brokers are encouraged to utilize the Exchange as a primary trading venue for all transactions, all Exchange market participants stand to benefit from the improved market quality and increased opportunities for price improvement. The Exchange notes that it operates in a highly competitive market in which market participants can readily favor competing venues. In such an environment, the Exchange must continually review, and consider adjusting, its fees and credits to remain competitive with other exchanges. For the reasons described above, the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change reflects this competitive environment.

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

No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the proposed rule change.

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

The foregoing rule change is effective upon filing pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) ^[20] of the Act and subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b-4 ^[21] thereunder, because it establishes a due, fee, or other charge imposed by the Exchange.

At any time within 60 days of the filing of such 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 under Section 19(b)(2)(B) ^[22] of the Act to determine whether the proposed rule change should be approved or disapproved.

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 (www.sec.gov/​rules/​sro.shtml); or
• Send an email torule-comments@sec.gov. Please include file number SR-NYSEAMER-2026-93 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-NYSEAMER-2026-93. 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 ( www.sec.gov/​rules/​sro.shtml). Copies of the filing will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. Do not include personal identifiable information in submissions; you should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. We may redact in part or withhold entirely from publication submitted material that is obscene or subject to copyright protection. All submissions should refer to file number SR-NYSEAMER-2026-93 and should be submitted on or before November 16, 2026.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.^[23]