2021-22684. Self-Regulatory Organizations; MIAX PEARL, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend the MIAX Pearl Options Fee Schedule

October 13, 2021.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) ^[1] and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,^[2] notice is hereby given that on September 30, 2021, MIAX PEARL, LLC (“MIAX Pearl” or “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) a proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.

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

The Exchange is filing a proposal to amend the MIAX Pearl Options Fee Schedule (the “Fee Schedule”).

The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's website at http://www.miaxoptions.com/​rule-filings/​pearl at MIAX Pearl's principal office, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

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

In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.

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

1. Purpose

The Exchange proposes to amend the Add/Remove Tiered Rebates/Fees set forth in Section 1)a) of the Fee Schedule that apply to the Priority Customer ^[3] Origin, to reduce the Maker rebate in Tier 2 (defined below) for options transactions in Penny Classes (defined below) from ($0.40) to ($0.25).

Background

The Exchange currently assesses transaction rebates and fees to all market participants which are based upon the total monthly volume executed by the Member ^[4] on MIAX Pearl in the relevant, respective origin type (not including Excluded Contracts) ^[5] (as the numerator) expressed as a percentage of (divided by) TCV ^[6] (as the denominator). In addition, the per contract transaction rebates and fees are applied retroactively to all eligible volume for that origin type once the respective threshold tier (“Tier”) has been reached by the Member. The Exchange aggregates the volume of Members and their Affiliates.^[7] Members that place resting liquidity, i.e., orders resting on the book of the MIAX Pearl System,^[8] are paid the specified “maker” rebate (each a “Maker”), and Members that execute against resting liquidity are assessed the specified “taker” fee (each a “Taker”). For opening transactions and ABBO ^[9] uncrossing transactions, per contract transaction rebates and fees are waived for all market participants. Finally, Members are assessed lower transaction fees and receive lower rebates for order executions in standard option classes in the Penny Interval Program ^[10] (“Penny Classes”) than for order executions in standard option classes which are not in the Penny Interval Program (“Non-Penny Classes”), where Members are assessed higher transaction fees and receive higher rebates.

Proposal

The Exchange proposes to amend the Maker rebate in Tier 2 for options transactions in Penny Classes for the Priority Customer Origin. Currently, the Exchange offers a Maker rebate of ($0.40) in Tier 2 for options transactions in Penny Classes for the Priority Customer Origin. The Exchange now proposes to decrease the Maker rebate in Tier 2 for options transactions in Penny Classes for the Priority Customer Origin from ($0.40) to ($0.25).

The purpose of this proposed change is for business and competitive reasons. In order to attract order flow to the Exchange, the Exchange initially set its Maker rebates and Takes fees so that they were meaningfully higher/lower than other option exchanges that operate comparable maker/taker price models. The Exchange believes that it is appropriate to further adjust the specified Marker rebate so that it is more in line with other exchanges,^[11] but will still remain competitive such that it should enable the Exchange to continue to attract order flow and maintain market share.

The Exchange has designated this change to be operative on October 1, 2021.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that its proposal to amend its Fee Schedule is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act ^[12] in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(4) of the Act,^[13] in that it is an equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among Exchange Members and issuers and other persons using its facilities, and 6(b)(5) of the Act,^[14] in that it is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, promote just and equitable principles of trade, foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in securities, remove impediments to and perfect the mechanisms of a free and open market and a national market system and, in general, protect investors and the public interest.

The Exchange believes that its proposal provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues and fees and is not unfairly discriminatory for the following reasons. 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.” ^[15] There are currently 16 registered options exchanges competing for order flow. Based on publicly-available information, and excluding index-based options, for the month of September 2021, no single exchange has more than approximately 11-12% of the market share of executed volume of multiply-listed equity and exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) options trades as of September 20, 2021.^[16] Therefore, no exchange possesses significant pricing power in the execution of multiply-listed equity and ETF options order flow. More specifically, as of September 20, 2021, the Exchange had a market share of approximately 3.55% of executed volume of multiply-listed equity and ETF options for the month of September 2021.^[17]

The Exchange believes that the ever-shifting market shares 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 transaction and/or non-transaction fee changes. For example, on February 28, 2019, the Exchange filed with the Commission a proposal to increase Taker fees in certain Tiers for options transactions in certain Penny classes for Priority Customers and decrease Maker rebates in certain Tiers for options transactions in Penny classes for Priority Customers (which fee was to be effective March 1, 2019).^[18] The Exchange experienced a decrease in total market share between the months of February and March of 2019, after the fees were in effect. Accordingly, the Exchange believes that the March 1, 2019 fee change may have contributed to the decrease in the Exchange's market share and, as such, the Exchange believes competitive forces constrain options exchange transaction fees and market participants can shift order flow based on fee changes instituted by the exchanges.

The Exchange believes its proposal to decrease the Maker rebate in Tier 2 for options transactions in Penny Classes for Priority Customers is reasonable, equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because all similarly situated market participants in the same Origin type are subject to the same tiered Maker rebates and Taker fees and access to the Exchange is offered on terms that are not unfairly discriminatory. The Exchange believes it is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory to reduce the Maker rebate to Priority Customer orders in Penny Classes for business and competitive reasons because the Exchange initially set its Maker rebates for such orders higher than certain other option exchanges that operate comparable maker/taker pricing models. The Exchange now believes that it is appropriate to further decrease the specified Maker rebate so that it is more in line with other exchanges,^[19] and will still remain competitive such that it should enable the Exchange to continue to attract order flow and maintain market share.

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

The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule changes will impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.

The Exchange believes its proposal will not impose any burden on intra-market competition because the Exchange believes that its proposal will not place any category of Exchange market participant at a competitive disadvantage. The Exchange believes that its proposal will continue to encourage Priority Customer volume to be executed on the Exchange, which will attract further liquidity to the Exchange and benefit all market participants. Accordingly, the Exchange believes that the proposed changes will continue to attract order flow to the Exchange, thereby encouraging additional volume and liquidity to the benefit of all market participants.

The Exchange believes its proposal will not impose any burden on inter-market competition because the Exchange notes that it operates in a highly competitive market in which market participants can readily favor competing venues if they deem fee levels at a particular venue to be excessive, or rebate opportunities available at other venues to be more favorable. In such an environment, the Exchange must continually adjust its fees to remain competitive with other options exchanges. Because competitors are free to modify their own fees in response, and because market participants may readily adjust their order routing practices, the Exchange believes that the degree to which fee changes in this market may impose any burden on competition is extremely limited. The Exchange believes that the proposed rule changes reflect this competitive environment because they modify the Exchange's fees in a manner that encourages market participants to continue to provide liquidity and to send order flow to the Exchange.

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

Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

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

The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act,^[20] and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) ^[21] thereunder. At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule should be approved or disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:

Electronic Comments

• Use the Commission's internet comment form ( http://www.sec.gov/​rules/​sro.shtml ); or

• Send an email to [e-mail]. Please include File Number SR-PEARL-2021-44 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-PEARL-2021-44. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission's internet website ( http://www.sec.gov/​rules/​sro.shtml ). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for website viewing and printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying information from comment submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-PEARL-2021-44, and should be submitted on or before November 9, 2021.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.^[22]

J. Matthew DeLesDernier,

Assistant Secretary.”

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  “Priority Customer” means a person or entity that (i) is not a broker or dealer in securities, and (ii) does not place more than 390 orders in listed options per day on average during a calendar month for its own beneficial accounts(s). The number of orders shall be counted in accordance with Interpretation and Policy .01 of Exchange Rule 100. See Exchange Rule 100, including Interpretation and Policy .01. See the Definitions Section of the Fee Schedule.

4.  “Member” means an individual or organization that is registered with the Exchange pursuant to Chapter II of the Exchange Rules for purposes of trading on the Exchange as an “Electronic Exchange Member” or “Market Maker.” Members are deemed “members” under the Exchange Act. See the Definitions Section of the Fee Schedule and Exchange Rule 100.

5.  “Excluded Contracts” means any contracts routed to an away market for execution. See the Definitions Section of the Fee Schedule.

6.  “TCV” means total consolidated volume calculated as the total national volume in those classes listed on MIAX Pearl for the month for which the fees apply, excluding consolidated volume executed during the period time in which the Exchange experiences an “Exchange System Disruption” (solely in the option classes of the affected Matching Engine (as defined below)). The term Exchange System Disruption, which is defined in the Definitions section of the Fee Schedule, means an outage of a Matching Engine or collective Matching Engines for a period of two consecutive hours or more, during trading hours. The term Matching Engine, which is also defined in the Definitions section of the Fee Schedule, is a part of the MIAX Pearl electronic system that processes options orders and trades on a symbol-by-symbol basis. Some Matching Engines will process option classes with multiple root symbols, and other Matching Engines may be dedicated to one single option root symbol (for example, options on SPY may be processed by one single Matching Engine that is dedicated only to SPY). A particular root symbol may only be assigned to a single designated Matching Engine. A particular root symbol may not be assigned to multiple Matching Engines. The Exchange believes that it is reasonable and appropriate to select two consecutive hours as the amount of time necessary to constitute an Exchange System Disruption, as two hours equates to approximately 1.4% of available trading time per month. The Exchange notes that the term “Exchange System Disruption” and its meaning have no applicability outside of the Fee Schedule, as it is used solely for purposes of calculating volume for the threshold tiers in the Fee Schedule. See the Definitions Section of the Fee Schedule.

7.  “Affiliate” means (i) an affiliate of a Member of at least 75% common ownership between the firms as reflected on each firm's Form BD, Schedule A, or (ii) the Appointed Market Maker of an Appointed EEM (or, conversely, the Appointed EEM of an Appointed Market Maker). An “Appointed Market Maker” is a MIAX Pearl Market Maker (who does not otherwise have a corporate affiliation based upon common ownership with an EEM) that has been appointed by an EEM and an “Appointed EEM” is an EEM (who does not otherwise have a corporate affiliation based upon common ownership with a MIAX Pearl Market Maker) that has been appointed by a MIAX Pearl Market Maker, pursuant to the process described in the Fee Schedule. See the Definitions Section of the Fee Schedule.

8.  The term “System” means the automated trading system used by the Exchange for the trading of securities. See Exchange Rule 100.

9.  “ABBO” means the best bid(s) or offer(s) disseminated by other Eligible Exchanges (defined in Exchange Rule 1400(g) and calculated by the Exchange based on market information received by the Exchange from OPRA. See the Definitions Section of the Fee Schedule and Exchange Rule 100.

10.   See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 88992 (June 2, 2020), 85 FR 35142 (June 8, 2020) (SR-PEARL-2020-06).

11.  The Exchange notes that NYSE Arca Options provides a rebate of $0.27 for similar transactions. See NYSE Arca Options Fee Schedule for 9-1-21, CUSTOMER PENNY POSTING CREDIT TIERS at https://www.nyse.com/​publicdocs/​nyse/​markets/​arca-options/​NYSE_​Arca_​Options_​Fee_​Schedule.pdf. The Exchange also notes that the Nasdaq Options Market provides a rebate of $0.25 for similar transactions. See The Nasdaq Stock Market Fee Schedule, Options 7, Section 2, Rebates to Add Liquidity in Penny Symbols, at https://listingcenter.nasdaq.com/​rulebook/​nasdaq/​rules/​Nasdaq%20Options%207.

12.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

13.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).

14.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(1) and (b)(5).

15.   See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51808 (June 9, 2005), 70 FR 37496 (June 29, 2005).

16.   See MIAX's “The Market at a Glance”, available at https://www.miaxoptions.com/​ (last visited September 20, 2021).

17.   See id.

18.   See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 85304 (March 13, 2019), 84 FR 10144 (March 19, 2019) (SR-PEARL-2019-07).

19.   See supra note 11.

20.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).

21.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).

22.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).