Document ID: SEC-2019-0941-0001
Agency: sec
Document Type: Notice
Title: Self-Regulatory Organizations; Proposed Rule Changes: NYSE American, LLC
Posted Date: 2019-07-03T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 3, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31946-31951]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-14158]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-86212; File No. SR-NYSEAMER-2019-25]

Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE American LLC; Notice of 
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Change To Amend the NYSE 
American Options Fee Schedule

June 27, 2019.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 (the ``Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby 
given that, on June 12, 2019, 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, 
II, and III 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
    \3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    The Exchange proposes to amend the NYSE American Options Fee 
Schedule (``Fee Schedule''). The Exchange proposes to implement the fee 
change effective June 12, 2019.\4\ The proposed change is available on 
the Exchange's website at www.nyse.com, at the principal office of the 
Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ The Exchange filed to amend the Fee Schedule for 
effectiveness on June 3, 2019, (SR-NYSEAmer-2019-23) and withdrew 
such filing on June 12, 2019.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

[[Page 31947]]

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

1. Purpose
    The purpose of this filing is to encourage ATP holders that are not 
currently NYSE American Options Market Makers (each a ``Market Maker'') 
to register as a Market Maker on the Exchange (each a ``Newly Enrolled 
MM''). The Exchange proposal would modify the Fee Schedule to reduce 
rates on certain fixed costs for a Newly Enrolled MM. The Exchange 
proposes to implement the fee change effective June 12, 2019.
Background
    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.'' \5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51808 (June 9, 
2005), 70 FR 37496, 37499 (June 29, 2005).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    There are currently 16 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.\6\ Therefore, no exchange possesses significant pricing power 
in the execution of multiply-listed equity & ETF options order flow. 
More specifically, in the first quarter of 2019, the Exchange had less 
than 10% market share of executed volume of multiply-listed equity & 
ETF options trades.\7\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ The Options Clearing Corporation (``OCC'') publishes options 
and futures volume in a variety of formats, including daily and 
monthly volume by exchange, available here: https://www.theocc.com/market-data/volume/default.jsp.
    \7\ Based on OCC data, see id., the Exchange's market share in 
equity-based options declined from 9.82% for the month of January to 
8.84% for the month of April.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proposed Fee Change
    The Exchange currently charges Market Makers certain fixed costs 
related to their market-making business on the Exchange, including 
monthly ATP Fees and Premium Product Fees. Monthly ATP Fees are charged 
to all ATP Holders and are differentiated based on the role of the ATP 
Holder on the Exchange. Market Makers are charged a range of monthly 
ATP Fees that are based on the number of ATPs that are required by a 
Market Maker in creating their appointment for those option classes for 
which they want to submit electronic quotations to the Exchange.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ See Fee Schedule, III.A., Monthly Trading Permit, Rights, 
Floor Access and Premium Product Fees (describing monthly ATP Fees, 
which are priced based on a sliding scale where the cost per ATP 
decreases as the number of ATPs increases--i.e., ranging from $8,000 
for the first ATP down to $500 for the tenth ATP or ATP in excess of 
ten), available here: https://www.nyse.com/publicdocs/nyse/markets/american-options/NYSE_American_Options_Fee_Schedule.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange also charges a Premium Product Fee, which levies a 
monthly fee to any Market Maker in the ten options with the highest 
trading volume on the Exchange (i.e., SPY, AAPL, IWM, QQQ, BABA, BAC, 
EEM, FB, USO, and VXX).\9\ For purposes of this filing, the Exchange 
proposes to collectively refer to both the monthly ATP Fees applicable 
to Market Makers and the Premium Product Fee as the ``Covered Fees.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ See id., Fee Schedule, III.D., Monthly Trading Permit, 
Rights, Floor Access and Premium Product Fees (describing Premium 
Products Fees, which subjects each Market Maker that transact in 
these issues to a fee of $1,000 per product traded with a monthly 
cap of $7,000 for each Market Maker firm).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange proposes to offer introductory, reduced pricing to a 
Newly Enrolled MM on its Covered Fees for up to six months. The 
proposed reduced fees would be available beginning the first month that 
a Newly Enrolled MM registers as such on the Exchange.
    This proposed fee change is targeted at potential Market Makers and 
relates only to the Covered Fees, which are fixed monthly costs. Market 
Makers serve a crucial role in the options markets by providing 
liquidity to facilitate market efficiency and functioning. The 
Exchange's fees are constrained by intermarket competition, as Market 
Makers can register on any or all of the 16 options exchanges. Thus, 
ATP Holders that are also members of other exchanges have a choice of 
where they register as Market Makers.
    An ATP Holder that seeks to become a Market Maker must incur a 
number of additional costs that are unique to their role as a Market 
Maker, including developing market-making trading strategies, risk 
monitoring, and surveillance programs to monitor their own compliance 
with applicable market-making requirements. When an ATP Holder first 
begins trading in the capacity of a Market Maker, the success of its 
strategies may not yet be known and it can take time before such 
strategies are fully realized.
    The Exchange proposes to amend the Fee Schedule by adding the 
following note after both the chart describing ATP Fees (Section III.A) 
and the chart describing the Premium Products Fees (Section III.D). As 
proposed, the new text would provide:

    An ATP Holder that is not currently an NYSE American Options 
Market Maker (``Market Maker'') and enrolls to operate as a Market 
Maker on the Exchange may be entitled to introductory pricing on its 
[ATP Fees/Premium Products Fees] for up to six months, beginning the 
first month in which it registers (each a ``Newly Enrolled MM''). 
For the first three months (i.e., months 1-3), the Exchange will 
waive the [ATP Fees/Premium Product Fees] for a Newly Enrolled MM. 
For latter three months (i.e., months 4-6), the Exchange will 
discount such [ATP Fees/Premium Product Fees] by 50%, unless the 
Newly Enrolled MM achieves a monthly ADV \10\ equal to at least 
0.05% of TCADV, at which time the Exchange would charge the Newly 
Enrolled MM 100% of its [ATP Fees/Premium Product Fees] for the 
remaining months, regardless of the Newly Enrolled MM's monthly ADV 
in subsequent months. An ATP Holder may qualify for this 
introductory pricing only once in a 24-month period, which period 
begins in the first month the ATP Holder registers on the Exchange.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ The term ``ADV'' means average daily volume.

    As described above, for the first three months (i.e., months 1-3), 
the Exchange would waive the Covered Fees for a Newly Enrolled MM. For 
the latter three months (i.e., months 4-6), the Exchange would discount 
the Covered Fees by 50%. However, if in any of the months 4-6, the 
Newly Enrolled MM is trading 0.05% or more a month of TCADV,\11\ the 
Newly Enrolled MM would no longer be eligible for the 50% discount of 
the Covered Fees.\12\ In such case, the Newly Enrolled MM would be 
charged the

[[Page 31948]]

applicable Covered Fees without a discount going forward, if its 
subsequent monthly volumes (i.e., in months 5 and/or 6) fall below this 
threshold). In other words, once this threshold is achieved, the Newly 
Enrolled MM would no longer be eligible for the reduced fees even if 
subsequent monthly volumes fall below the 0.05% threshold. The Exchange 
believes that if a Newly Enrolled MM achieves trading volumes equal to 
0.05% or more of TCADV, such Newly Enrolled MM would be trading at a 
level consistent with more established Market Makers and therefore has 
likely realized the potential of its market-making strategies and no 
longer merits a discount relative to longer established Market Makers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ The term ``TCADV'' refers to Total Industry Customer equity 
and ETF option average daily volume. TCADV includes OCC calculated 
Customer volume of all types, including Complex Order transactions 
and QCC transactions, in equity and ETF options.
    \12\ Throughout the Fee Schedule, the Exchange uses percentage 
of TCADV as a proxy for measuring an ATP Holder's relative volume 
contribution to the Exchange.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    An ATP Holder may qualify for this introductory pricing for its 
Covered Fees only once in a 24-month period, which period begins in the 
first month the ATP Holder registers on the Exchange. In other words, 
an ATP Holder may not be considered a Newly Enrolled MM more than once 
every 24 months. For example, if a Newly Enrolled MM registers in June 
2019, that ATP Holder would not be eligible for the introductory 
pricing for a Newly Enrolled MM before June 2021. The Exchange has 
found that it is not uncommon for a trading team to separate from a 
particular firm or for a firm to cease a market making strategy and for 
the separated group or firm to seek to re-enter/re-enroll as Market 
Makers on the Exchange. Thus, the limit is designed to acknowledge that 
certain firms may cease operating as a Market Maker on the Exchange for 
legitimate reasons only to return at a later date, while at the same 
time reducing improper gaming of the discounted pricing by a single ATP 
Holder firm.
    The Exchange believes the proposed reduced Covered Fees would 
benefit Newly Enrolled MMs by reducing (for a limited time) some of the 
fixed, start-up costs associated with establishing a market making 
strategy. By encouraging such new entrants, the Exchange would attract 
more liquidity to the Exchange. The Exchange does not believe Market 
Makers that are already operating on the Exchange would be 
disadvantaged by this proposal because the proposed fee discount is 
temporary and would end after three months if a Newly Enrolled MM meets 
specified volume thresholds.
    In addition, existing Market Makers (as well as non-Market Makers) 
stand to benefit from an increase in liquidity on the Exchange that 
would result from additional Market Makers on the Exchange, which, in 
turn, facilitates tighter spreads and enhances price discovery, which 
may lead to a corresponding increase in order flow from other market 
participants. Market Makers add additional value beyond other market 
participants through continuous quoting and the commitment of capital. 
Because Market Makers have obligations and regulatory requirements that 
are not applicable to other market participants, the Exchange believes 
that offering the proposed reduced Covered Fees to each Newly Enrolled 
MM is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory in light of their 
obligations and the costs associated therewith.
    The Exchange cannot predict with certainty whether any ATP Holder 
that is not currently a Market Maker is planning to register as a 
Market Maker and thus would avail themselves of this proposed fee 
change. Decisions about how to operate an ATP Holder are under the 
control of such ATP Holder. However, based on feedback from more than 
one ATP Holder that has expressed an interest in registering as a 
Market Maker on the Exchange, the Exchange believes that the proposed 
fee change would reduce the upfront financial risk for such ATP Holders 
as they work to develop profitable Market Making strategies on the 
Exchange.
    The Exchange further notes that while the proposed fee change would 
result in different Covered Fees being charged to Newly Enrolled MMs as 
compared to existing Market Makers, the proposed fee change has been 
designed to mitigate any differences in treatment. As discussed above, 
if in the second three months, the Newly Enrolled MM meets specified 
thresholds, i.e., functions as a Market Maker at levels similar to 
existing Market Makers, the proposed fee reductions would end. In 
addition, the proposed reduction in Covered Fees ends, at the latest, 
after the first six months of operation.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with Section 6(b) of the Act,\13\ in general, and furthers the 
objectives of Sections 6(b)(4) and (5) of the Act,\14\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \14\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The proposal to offer the proposed discounts on Covered Fees for a 
period of up to six months to Newly Enrolled MMs provides for the 
equitable allocation of reasonable dues and fees and is not unfairly 
discriminatory for the following reasons. First, 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\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51808 (June 9, 
2005), 70 FR 37496, 37499 (June 29, 2005).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    There are currently 16 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.\16\ Therefore, no exchange possesses significant pricing power 
in the execution of multiply-listed equity & ETF options order flow. 
More specifically, in the first quarter of 2019, the Exchange had less 
than 10% market share of executed volume of multiply-listed equity & 
ETF options trades.\17\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ See supra note 6.
    \17\ Based on OCC data, see supra note 6, in 2019, the 
Exchange's market share in equity-based options declined from 9.82% 
for the month of January to 8.84% for the month of April.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Second, the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is an 
equitable allocation of reasonable dues and fees because the proposal 
to waive the Covered Fees for the first three months and to discount 
such fees in the latter three months is designed to reduce the initial 
cost of entry for ATP Holders to register as Market Makers on the 
Exchange. Market Makers serve a crucial role in financial markets by 
providing liquidity to facilitate market efficiency and price 
discovery.
    The Exchange is constrained by intermarket competition, as Market 
Makers are free to register on any one of the 16 option exchanges. The

[[Page 31949]]

Exchange believes that the proposed reduced Covered Fees, which are 
targeted at potential Market Makers not currently operating on the 
Exchange, would benefit Newly Enrolled MMs by reducing (for a limited 
time) some of the start-up costs associated with establishing a market 
making strategy. Specifically, the proposed fee change would provide 
Newly Enrolled MMs an opportunity to gather data as to whether their 
market making strategy is profitable. By encouraging such new entrants, 
the Exchange would attract more liquidity to the Exchange.
    Third, the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change would be 
an equitable allocation of reasonable dues and fees. The proposed 
change is designed to attract potential Market Makers to become Newly 
Enrolled Market Makers by offering limited fees for a reduced time. The 
Exchange believes that this would be an equitable allocation of fees 
among Market Makers because the proposed fee reduction is temporary and 
designed to apply only to Newly Enrolled MMs that would be incurring 
costs to start a market-making business on the Exchange, including 
implementing new strategies and ensuring compliance with the Exchange's 
market making regulatory obligations. Accordingly, Market Makers 
already operating on the Exchange would not be disadvantaged by this 
allocation of fees. Based on the Exchange's experience with new 
entrants to the Exchange that have commenced business as Market Makers, 
the Exchange believes that it could take up to six months for a Newly 
Enrolled MM to begin functioning at the same level as established 
Market Makers. The Exchange proposes to begin charging discounted 
Covered Fees in months four-six of a Newly Enrolled MM in recognition 
that such market-making strategies should be implemented after three 
months of operations, but may not yet be fully realized in terms of 
profitability. However, if by the fourth, fifth, or sixth month of 
trading, a Newly Enrolled MM achieves a minimum threshold of trading 
volume (a monthly ADV equal to at least 0.05% of TCADV), the 50% 
discount on Covered Fees would no longer be available (even if 
subsequent monthly volumes fell below this threshold) because such 
Newly Enrolled MM would no longer be in the early/introductory build 
phase of their strategy and would be functioning on the same level as 
established Market Makers. The Exchange believes this temporary 
discount to Newly Enrolled Market Makers is equitable to encourage new 
entrants that would direct liquidity to the Exchange to the benefit of 
all market participants, including established Market Makers.
    Further, the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change would 
not permit unfair discrimination between Market Makers. The Exchange 
does not believe that Market Makers that are already operating on the 
Exchange would be unfairly disadvantaged by this proposed disparate 
treatment because the proposed fee reduction is temporary and designed 
to apply only to Newly Enrolled MMs that would be incurring costs to 
start a market-making business on the Exchange, including implementing 
new strategies and ensuring compliance with the Exchange's market 
making regulatory obligations. Based on the Exchange's experience with 
new entrants to the Exchange that have commenced business as Market 
Makers, the Exchange believes that it could take up to six months for a 
Newly Enrolled MM to begin functioning at the same level as established 
Market Makers. The Exchange proposes to begin charging discounted 
Covered Fees in months four-six of a Newly Enrolled MM in recognition 
that such market-making strategies should be implemented after three 
months of operations, but may not yet be fully realized in terms of 
profitability. However, if by the fourth, fifth, or sixth month of 
trading, a Newly Enrolled MM achieves a minimum threshold of trading 
volume (a monthly ADV equal to at least 0.05% of TCADV), the 50% 
discount on Covered Fees would no longer be available (even if 
subsequent volumes fell below this threshold) because such Newly 
Enrolled MM would no longer be in the early/introductory build phase of 
their strategy and would be functioning on the same level as 
established Market Makers. The Exchange believes this temporary 
discount to Newly Enrolled Market Makers is equitable to encourage new 
entrants that would direct liquidity to the Exchange to the benefit of 
all market participants, including established Market Makers.
    The Exchange believes that the proposed volume threshold for when 
Covered Fees would be charged in full to Newly Enrolled MMs is fair and 
reasonable because that volume level represents the median of 
percentage of TCADV currently achieved by existing Market Makers. The 
proposed reduced fees therefore would not be available if a Newly 
Enrolled MM begins functioning at the same level as an established 
Market Maker beginning in month four. While there are existing Market 
Makers that have monthly ADV equal to a lower percentage of TCADV than 
required for a Newly Enrolled MM to be subject the full Covered Fees, 
the Exchange believes that this proposed rule change would not permit 
unfair discrimination among Market Makers. There are a number of 
reasons why an established Market Maker may have a lower monthly ADV, 
including if such ATP Holder chooses to register as a Market Maker in a 
limited number of appointments. In addition, because the proposed 50% 
discount would be available for at most, three months, and a Newly 
Enrolled MM would be charged the full Covered Fees beginning in month 
seven regardless of how that Newly Enrolled MM is performing, any 
disparate treatment among Market Makers would by definition, be 
temporary. In addition, the proposed fee reduction would only be 
available once during a 24-month period, which is designed to reduce 
the potential for ATP Holders to game this fee change by continually 
dropping and then re-registering as a Market Maker.
    The Exchange further notes that the proposal would benefit all 
Market Makers on the Exchange because additional Market Makers mean an 
increase in liquidity on the Exchange, which, in turn, facilitates 
tighter spreads and enhances price discovery, which may lead to a 
corresponding increase in order flow from other market participants 
that benefits all Market Makers. Market Makers, unlike other market 
participants, add additional value through continuous quoting and the 
commitment of capital and have specified obligations and regulatory 
requirements that are not required of other ATP Holders. The Exchange 
believes that offering the proposed reduced Covered Fees to each Newly 
Enrolled MM is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory in light of 
these unique obligations and related costs associated with operating as 
a Market Maker on the Exchange.
    The Exchange also believes that its proposal would be an equitable 
allocation of reasonable fees that does not permit unfair 
discrimination because it would be uniformly applied to all Newly 
Enrolled MMs for the first three months and in months four through six 
and would apply equally to those Newly Enrolled MMs that achieve the 
minimum volume threshold, which is a uniform, objective, quantitative 
volume amount.
    The Exchange notes that this proposal is similar in substance to 
the reduced pricing that is available to MIAX market makers that 
execute less volume than a

[[Page 31950]]

certain volume threshold in certain of MIAX's Trading Permit Tier 
levels.\18\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ See MIAX Options fee schedule, Section 3(b), Monthly 
Trading Permit Fee, available here, https://www.miaxoptions.com/sites/default/files/fee_schedule-files/MIAX_Options_Fee_Schedule_05012019.pdf (offering reduced fees of 
$15,500 (down from $17,000 or 22,000) to MIAX market makers that 
execute total monthly volume of less than 0.060% of the total 
monthly executed volume reported by OCC in the market maker account 
type for MIAX-listed option classes for that month). See also 
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82868 (February 28, 2018), 83 FR 
12063 (March 19, 2018) (SR-MIAX-2018-08) (immediately effective fee 
filing introducing lower fees for MIAX market makers based on 
certain executed volume threshold). The Exchange notes that MIAX's 
program is not limited by time, but solely by level of volume 
executed by a market maker, which level would tend to favor smaller-
sized market making operations. The Exchanges proposed pricing 
applies to Newly Enrolled MMs of every size for six months, however, 
those firms that are able to meet the requisite minimum volume after 
the first three months (whether they be large or small operations) 
will size out of the program.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.
    Intramarket Competition. The Exchange does not believe that the 
proposed fee would place other market participants at the Exchange at a 
relative disadvantage compared to Newly Enrolled MMs, which are the 
only market participants eligible for the proposed discounted fees. The 
proposed pricing is designed to attract additional Market Makers (and 
by extension order flow) to the Exchange and provide them with an 
opportunity to temporarily reduce their costs while they are 
establishing their market-making strategies. Greater liquidity benefits 
all market participants on the Exchange by providing more trading 
opportunities and attracting greater participation by Market Makers. 
Thus, the Exchange does not believe the proposed fee would disadvantage 
established Market Makers because an increase in the activity of these 
Market Makers inures to the benefit of all market participants as it 
increases liquidity on the Exchange, which in turn facilitates tighter 
spreads and enhances price discovery. The proposed pricing would be 
available to all similarly-situated participants, and, as such, the 
proposed change would not impose a disparate burden on competition 
among this class of market participants and may, in fact, encourage 
intramarket competition by encouraging ATP Holders to register as 
Market Makers.
    In addition, the proposed disparate fees for Newly Enrolled MMs are 
designed to be temporary and would end either after the first six 
months of operating as a Market Maker or earlier if such Newly Enrolled 
MM achieves specified levels of trading. The Exchange therefore 
believes that the proposed fee change is designed to treat Newly 
Enrolled MMs differently only for the period when they are not 
functioning at the same level as established Market Makers and are 
still realizing their market-making strategies. After such temporary 
period, a Newly Enrolled MM would be subject to the same Covered Fees 
as all other Market Makers on the Exchange and the proposed disparity 
in fees would end.
    The Exchange further notes that Market Makers, unlike other market 
participants, add additional value through continuous quoting and the 
commitment of capital and are subject to unique regulatory obligations. 
Because other market participants do not need to incur the same costs 
to begin trading on the Exchange, the Exchange believes that offering 
the proposed reduced Covered Fees only to Newly Enrolled MM would not 
create an undue burden on non-Market Makers.
    Intermarket Competition. The Exchange operates in a highly 
competitive market in which market participants can readily favor one 
of the 16 competing option exchanges if they deem fee levels at a 
particular venue to be excessive. 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.\19\ Therefore, no exchange possesses 
significant pricing power in the execution of multiply-listed equity & 
ETF options order flow. More specifically, in the first quarter of 
2019, the Exchange had less than 10% market share of executed volume of 
multiply-listed equity & ETF options trades.\20\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ See supra note 6.
    \20\ See supra note 17.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, market participants are not required to register as a 
Market Maker, and if they do, they are not required to register on more 
than one exchange. 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. The Exchange believes that 
the proposed rule change reflects this competitive environment because 
it modifies the Exchange's fees (for a limited time) in a manner 
designed to encourage market participants to register as Market Makers 
on the Exchange, to provide liquidity and to attract order flow. To the 
extent that this purpose is achieved, all the Exchange's market 
participants should benefit from the improved market liquidity.
    The Exchange further believes that the proposed pricing changes 
would increase both intermarket and intramarket competition by 
attracting new entrants to the Exchange at a lower fee for a limited 
time. By offering the reduced Covered Fees, the Exchange believes that 
it would retain and attract Market Makers, which participants are an 
integral component of the option industry marketplace. Further, the 
incentive would be available to all similarly-situated participants, 
and, as such, the proposed change would not impose a disparate burden 
on competition either among or between classes of market participants 
and may, in fact, encourage intermarket competition.

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) \21\ of the Act and subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 
19b-4 \22\ thereunder, because it establishes a due, fee, or other 
charge imposed by the Exchange.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \22\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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) \23\ of the Act to determine whether the proposed 
rule

[[Page 31951]]

change should be approved or disapproved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include 
File Number SR-NYSEAMER-2019-25 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-2019-25. 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-NYSEAMER-2019-25 and should be submitted 
on or before July 24, 2019.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\24\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \24\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eduardo A. Aleman,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-14158 Filed 7-2-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P