[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 122 (Tuesday, June 25, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29889-29892]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-13411]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-86145; File No. SR-BOX-2019-21]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; BOX Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing 
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Rules 
Regarding the Give-Up and Clearance of Exchange Transactions

June 19, 2019.
    Pursuant to 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 June 5, 2019, BOX Exchange LLC (the ``Exchange'') filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission (``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 from 
interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to amend BOX Rule 7190 (Clearing Participant 
Give-Up), and BOX Rule 7200 (Submission for Clearance), in order to 
codify that for each transaction in which an Options Participant \3\ 
participates, the Options Participant may indicate, at the time of the 
trade or through post trade allocation, any OCC number of a Clearing 
Participant \4\ through which the transaction will be cleared (``Give 
Up''), and to establish a new ``Opt In'' process by which a Clearing 
Participant can restrict one or more of its OCC numbers and thereafter 
designate certain Options Participants as authorized to Give Up a 
restricted clearing number. The text of the proposed rule change is 
available from the principal office of the Exchange, at the 
Commission's Public Reference Room and also on the Exchange's internet 
website at http://boxoptions.com.
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    \3\ The term ``Options Participant'' means a firm, or 
organization that is registered with the Exchange pursuant to the 
Rule 2000 Series for purposes of participating in trading on a 
facility of the Exchange. See Exchange Rule 100(41).
    \4\ The term ``Clearing Participant'' means an Options 
Participant that is self-clearing or an Options Participant that 
clears BOX Transactions for other Options Participants of BOX. See 
Exchange Rule 100(13).
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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 these statements may be examined at 
the places specified in Item IV below. The self-regulatory organization 
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 the 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    The Exchange proposes to amend its requirements in BOX Rule 7190 
and Rule 7200, related to the give up of a Clearing Participant by an 
Options Participant on Exchange transactions. This proposed rule change 
is submitted in order to follow an industry-wide initiative and align 
the Exchange with other exchanges in the industry. The proposed rule 
change is based on several recently-approved rule changes submitted by 
other options exchanges.\5\
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    \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-85883 (May 17, 
2019) (Order Approving SR-ISE-2019-14); See also Securities Exchange 
Act Release No. 34-84981 (February 14, 2019) (Order Approving SR-
Phlx-2018-72), Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-85871 (May 16, 
2019) (Order Approving SR-NYSEArca-2019-32), Securities Exchange Act 
Release No. 34-85392 (March 21, 2019) (Order Approving SR-MIAX-2019-
05), Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-85397 (March 22, 2019) 
(Order Approving SR-PEARL-2019-04), Securities Exchange Act Release 
No. 34-85875 (May 16, 2019) (Order Approving SR-NYSEAMER-2019-17).
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    By way of background, to enter transactions on the Exchange, an 
Options Participant must either be a Clearing Participant or must have 
a Clearing Participant agree to accept financial responsibility for all 
of its transactions. Additionally, Rule 7190 currently provides that 
when an Options Participant executes a transaction on the Exchange, it 
must give up the name of a Clearing Participant (the ``Give Up'') 
through which the transaction will be cleared (i.e. ``give up'').
    Recently, certain Clearing Participants, in conjunction with the 
Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (``SIFMA''), 
expressed concerns related to the process by which executing brokers on 
U.S. options exchanges (``Exchanges'') are allowed to designate or 
`give up' a clearing firm for the purposes of clearing particular 
transactions. The SIFMA-affiliated Clearing Participants have recently 
identified the current give up process as a significant source of risk 
for clearing firms, and subsequently requested that the Exchanges 
alleviate this risk by amending exchange rules governing the give up 
process.\6\
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    \6\ See id.
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Proposed Rule Change
    Based on the above, the Exchange now seeks to amend its rules 
regarding the current give up process in order to allow a Clearing 
Participant to opt in, at the Options Clearing Corporation (``OCC'') 
clearing number level, to a feature that, if enabled by the Clearing 
Participant, will allow the Clearing Participant to specify which 
Options Participants are authorized to give up that OCC clearing 
number. As proposed, Rule 7190 will be amended to provide that for each 
transaction in which an Options Participant participates, the Options 
Participant may indicate, at the time of the trade or through post 
trade allocation, any OCC number of a Clearing Participant through 
which the transaction will be cleared (``Give Up''), provided the 
Clearing Participant has not elected to ``Opt In'', as defined in 
paragraph (b) of the proposed Rule, and restrict one or more of its OCC 
number(s) (``Restricted OCC Number''). An Options Participant may Give 
Up a Restricted OCC Number provided the Options Participant has written 
authorization as described in proposed paragraph (b)(2) (``Authorized 
Participant''). The Exchange believes that this proposal would result 
in the fair and reasonable use of resources by both the Exchange and 
the Options Participant. In addition, the proposed change would align 
the Exchange with competing options exchanges that have proposed rules 
consistent with this proposal.\7\
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    \7\ See supra, note 5.
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    Proposed Rule 7190 provides that Clearing Participants may request 
the Exchange restrict one or more of their OCC clearing numbers (``Opt 
In'') as described in subparagraph (b)(1) of proposed Rule 7190. If a 
Clearing Participant Opts In, the Exchange will require written 
authorization from the Clearing Participant permitting an

[[Page 29890]]

Options Participant to Give Up a Clearing Participant's Restricted OCC 
Number. An Opt In would remain in effect until the Clearing Participant 
terminates the Opt In as described in subparagraph (3). If a Clearing 
Participant does not Opt In, that Clearing Participant's OCC number may 
be subject to Give Up by any Options Participant.
    Proposed Rule 7190(b)(1) will set forth the process by which a 
Clearing Participant may Opt In. Specifically, a Clearing Participant 
may Opt In by sending a completed ``Clearing Participant Restriction 
Form'' listing all Restricted OCC Numbers and Authorized 
Participants.\8\ A copy of the proposed form is attached in Exhibit 3. 
A Clearing Participant may elect to restrict one of more OCC clearing 
numbers that are registered in its name at OCC. The Clearing 
Participant would be required to submit the Clearing Participant 
Restriction Form to the Exchange's Membership Department as described 
on the form. Once submitted, the Exchange requires ninety days before a 
Restricted OCC Number is effective within the Trading Host. This time 
period is to provide adequate time for the Options Participant users of 
that Restricted OCC Number who are not initially specified by the 
Clearing Participant as Authorized Participants to obtain the required 
authorization from the Clearing Participant for that Restricted OCC 
Number. Such Options Participant users would still be able to Give Up 
that Restricted OCC Number during the ninety day period (i.e., until 
the number becomes restricted within the Trading Host).
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    \8\ This form will be available on the Exchange's website. The 
Exchange will also maintain, on its website, a list of the 
Restricted OCC Numbers, which will be updated on a regular basis, 
and the Clearing Participant's contact information to assist Options 
Participants (to the extent they are not already Authorized 
Participants) with requesting authorization for a Restricted OCC 
Number. The Exchange may utilize additional means to inform its 
Options Participants of such updates on a periodic basis.
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    Proposed Rule 7190(b)(2) will set forth the process for Options 
Participants to Give Up a Clearing Participant's Restricted OCC Number. 
Specifically, an Options Participant desiring to Give Up a Restricted 
OCC Number must become an Authorized Participant.\9\ The Clearing 
Participant will be required to authorize an Options Participant as 
described in subparagraph (1) or (3) of Rule 7190(b) (i.e., through a 
Clearing Participant Restriction Form), unless the Restricted OCC 
Number is already subject to a Letter of Guarantee that the Options 
Participant is a party to, as set forth in Rule 7190(d).
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    \9\ The Exchange will develop procedures for notifying Options 
Participants that they are authorized or unauthorized by Clearing 
Participants.
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    Pursuant to proposed Rule 7190(b)(3), a Clearing Participant may 
amend the list of its Authorized Participants or Restricted OCC Numbers 
by submitting a new Clearing Participant Restriction Form to the 
Exchange's Membership Department indicating the amendment as described 
on the form. Once a Restricted OCC Number is effective within the 
Trading Host pursuant to Rule 7190(b)(1), the Exchange may permit the 
Clearing Participant to authorize, or remove from authorization for, an 
Options Participant to Give Up the Restricted OCC Number intra-day only 
in unusual circumstances, and on the next business day in all regular 
circumstances. The Exchange will promptly notify the Options 
Participant if they are no longer authorized to Give Up a Clearing 
Participant's Restricted OCC Number. If a Clearing Participant removes 
a Restricted OCC Number, any Options Participant may Give Up that OCC 
clearing number once the removal has become effective on or before the 
next business day.
    Proposed Rule 7190(c) will provide that the Trading Host will not 
allow an unauthorized Options Participant to Give Up a Restricted OCC 
Number. Specifically, if an unauthorized Give Up with a Restricted OCC 
Number is submitted to the System, the System will process that 
transaction using the Options Participant's default OCC clearing 
number.
    Furthermore, the Exchange proposes to adopt paragraph (d) to Rule 
7190 to provide, as is the case today, that a clearing arrangement 
subject to a Letter of Guarantee would immediately permit the Give Up 
of a Restricted OCC Number by the Options Participant that is party to 
the arrangement. Since there is an OCC clearing arrangement already 
established in this case, no further action is needed on the part of 
the Clearing Participant or the Options Participant.
    The Exchange also proposes to adopt paragraph (e) to Rule 7190 to 
provide that an intentional misuse of this Rule is impermissible, and 
may be treated as a violation of Rule 3000, titled ``Just and Equitable 
Principles of Trade.'' This language will make clear that the Exchange 
will regulate an intentional misuse of this Rule (e.g., sending orders 
to a Clearing Participant's OCC account without the Clearing 
Participant's consent), and such behavior would be a violation of 
Exchange rules.
    Furthermore, the Exchange proposes to adopt paragraph (f) to Rule 
7190 to codify that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the 
proposed rule, if a Clearing Participant that an Options Participant 
has indicated as the Give Up rejects a trade, the Clearing Participant 
that has issued a Letter of Guarantee pursuant to Rule 7200(b), for 
such executing Options Participant, shall be responsible for the 
clearance of the subject trade.
    Finally, the Exchange proposes to amend Rule 7200(b), which 
addresses the financial responsibility of Exchange options transactions 
clearing through Clearing Participants, to clarify that this Rule will 
apply to all Clearing Participants, regardless of whether or not they 
elect to Opt In, pursuant to proposed Rule 7190. Specifically, the 
Exchange proposes to add that Rule 7200(b) will apply to all Clearing 
Participants who either (i) have Restricted OCC Numbers with Authorized 
Participants pursuant to Rule 7190, or (ii) have non-Restricted OCC 
Numbers.
Implementation
    The Exchange proposes to implement the proposed rule change no 
later than by the end of Q3 2019. The Exchange will announce the 
implementation date to BOX Participants in a Regulatory Circular.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with the 
requirements of Section 6(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(the ``Act''),\10\ in general, and Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\11\ in 
particular, in that it is designed to prevent fraudulent and 
manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable 
principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with 
persons engaged in facilitating transactions in securities, to remove 
impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and 
a national market system, and, in general to protect investors and the 
public interest. In particular, as discussed above, several clearing 
firms affiliated with SIFMA have recently expressed concerns relating 
to the current give up process, which permits Options Participants to 
identify any Clearing Participants as a designated give up for purposes 
of clearing particular transactions, and have identified the current 
give up process (i.e., a process that lacks authorization)

[[Page 29891]]

as a significant source of risk for clearing firms.
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    \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \11\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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    The Exchange believes that the proposed changes to Rule 7190 help 
alleviate this risk by enabling Clearing Participants to `Opt In' to 
restrict one or more of its OCC clearing numbers (i.e., Restricted OCC 
Numbers), and to specify which Authorized Participant may Give Up those 
Restricted OCC Numbers. As described above, all other Options 
Participants would be required to receive written authorization from 
the Clearing Participant before they can Give Up that Clearing 
Participant's Restricted OCC Number. The Exchange believes that this 
authorization provides proper safeguards and protections for Clearing 
Participants as it provides controls for Clearing Participants to 
restrict access to their OCC clearing numbers, allowing access only to 
those Authorized Participants upon their request. The Exchange also 
believes that its proposed Clearing Participant Restriction Form allows 
the Exchange to receive in a uniform fashion, written and transparent 
authorization from Clearing Participants, which ensures seamless 
administration of the Rule.
    The Exchange believes that the proposed Opt In process strikes the 
right balance between the various views and interests across the 
industry. For example, although the proposed rule would require Options 
Participants (other than Authorized Participants) to seek authorization 
from Clearing Participants in order to have the ability to give them 
up, each Options Participant will still have the ability to Give Up a 
Restricted OCC Number that is subject to a Letter of Guarantee without 
obtaining any further authorization if that Options Participant is 
party to that arrangement. The Exchange also notes that to the extent 
that the executing Options Participant has a clearing arrangement with 
a Clearing Participant (i.e., through a Letter of Guarantee), a trade 
can be assigned to the executing Options Participant guarantor.\12\ 
Accordingly, the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is 
reasonable and continues to provide certainty that a Clearing 
Participant would be responsible for a trade, which protects investors 
and the public interest. Additionally, the Exchange believes that 
adopting paragraph (e) of Rule 7190 will make clear that an intentional 
misuse of this Rule (e.g., sending orders to a Clearing Participant's 
OCC account without the Clearing Participant's consent) will be a 
violation of the Exchange's rules, and that such behavior would subject 
an Options Participant to disciplinary action. For these reasons, the 
Exchange believes that its proposed changes to Rule 7190 and Rule 7200, 
is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act in general, and furthers the 
objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act in particular, in that it is 
designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to 
promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation 
and coordination with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in 
securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanisms of a 
free and open market and a national market system and, in general, to 
protect investors and the public interest, by codifying that for each 
transaction in which an Options Participant participates, the Options 
Participant may indicate any OCC number of a Clearing Participant 
through which the transaction will be cleared, provided the Clearing 
Participant has not elected to Opt In.
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    \12\ See Rule 7200 (providing that each Options Participant 
shall submit a letter of guarantee or other authorization given by a 
Clearing Participant, to the Exchange). See also proposed Rule 
7190(f).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will 
impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in 
furtherance of the purposes of the Act. In this regard and as indicated 
above, the Exchange notes that the rule change is being proposed to 
align the Exchange with other options exchanges.\13\ The Exchange does 
not believe that the proposed rule change will impose an unnecessary 
burden on intra-market competition because it will apply equally to all 
similarly situated Options Participants. The Exchange also notes that, 
should the proposed changes make BOX more attractive for trading, 
market participants trading on other exchanges can always elect to 
become Options Participants on BOX to take advantage of the trading 
opportunities.
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    \13\ See supra, note 5.
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    Furthermore, the proposed rule change does not address any 
competitive issues and ultimately, the target of the Exchange's 
proposal is to reduce risk for Clearing Participants under the current 
give up model. Clearing firms make financial decisions based on risk 
and reward, and while it is generally in their beneficial interest to 
clear transactions for market participants in order to generate profit, 
it is the Exchange's understanding from SIFMA and clearing firms that 
the current process can create significant risk when the clearing firm 
can be given up on any market participant's transaction, even where 
there is no prior customer relationship or authorization for that 
designated transaction.
    In the absence of a mechanism that governs a market participant's 
use of a Clearing Participant's services, the Exchange's proposal may 
indirectly facilitate the ability of a Clearing Participant to manage 
their existing relationships while continuing to allow market 
participant choice in broker execution services. While Clearing 
Participants may compete with executing brokers for order flow, the 
Exchange does not believe this proposal imposes an undue burden on 
competition. Rather, the Exchange believes that the proposed rule 
change balances the need for Clearing Participants to manage risks and 
allows them to address outlier behavior from executing brokers while 
still allowing freedom of choice to select an executing broker.

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

    The Exchange has neither solicited nor received comments on the 
proposed rule change.

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

    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \14\ and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6) \15\ thereunder, the Exchange has designated this proposal as 
one that effects a change that: (i) Does not significantly affect the 
protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) does not impose 
any significant burden on competition; and (iii) by its terms, does not 
become operative for 30 days after the date of the filing, or such 
shorter time as the Commission may designate if consistent with the 
protection of investors and the public interest.
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    \14\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \15\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
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    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.

[[Page 29892]]

IV. Solicitation of Comments

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

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-BOX-2019-21 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-BOX-2019-21. 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-BOX-2019-21 and should be submitted on 
or before July 16, 2019.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\16\
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    \16\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Vanessa A. Countryman,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-13411 Filed 6-24-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P