Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend the Exchange's Rules Regarding the Trading of Flexible Exchange Options, and Move Those Rules From the Currently Effective Rulebook to the Shell Structure for the Exchange's Rulebook That Will Become Effective Upon the Migration of the Exchange's Trading Platform to the Same System Used by the Cboe Affiliated Exchanges

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”), and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, notice is hereby given that on October 2, 2019, Cboe Exchange, Inc. (the “Exchange” or “Cboe Options”) 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 Exchange. The Exchange filed the proposal as a “non-controversial” proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder. 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

Cboe Exchange, Inc. (the “Exchange” or “Cboe Options”) proposes to amend the Exchange's Rules regarding the trading of flexible exchange options “FLEX Options” and moves those Rules from the currently effective Rulebook (“current Rulebook”) to the shell structure for the Exchange's Rulebook that will become effective upon the migration of the Exchange's trading platform to the same system used by the Cboe Affiliated Exchanges (as defined below) (“shell Rulebook”). The text of the proposed rule change is provided in Exhibit 5.

The text of the proposed rule change is also available on the Exchange's website ( http://www.cboe.com/AboutCBOE/CBOELegalRegulatoryHome.aspx ), at the Exchange's Office of the Secretary, 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

In 2016, the Exchange's parent company, Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (formerly named CBOE Holdings, Inc.) (“Cboe Global”), which is also the parent company of Cboe C2 Exchange, Inc. (“C2”), acquired Cboe EDGA Exchange, Inc. (“EDGA”), Cboe EDGX Exchange, Inc. (“EDGX” or “EDGX Options”), Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (“BZX” or “BZX Options”), and Cboe BYX Exchange, Inc. (“BYX” and, together with Cboe Options, C2, EDGX, EDGA, and BZX, the “Cboe Affiliated Exchanges”). The Cboe Affiliated Exchanges are working to align certain system functionality, retaining only intended differences between the Cboe Affiliated Exchanges, in the context of a technology migration. Cboe Options intends to migrate its trading platform to the same system used by the Cboe Affiliated Exchanges, which the Exchange expects to complete on October 7, 2019. In connection with this technology migration, the Exchange has a shell Rulebook that resides alongside its current Rulebook, which shell Rulebook will contain the Rules that will be in place upon completion of the Cboe Options technology migration.

As part of this effort, the Exchange is reorganizing its Rules within the shell Rulebook to, among other things, include all rules regarding the Exchange's trading hours in a single rule, include all rules related to listing of options products within one chapter, and include all rules related to trading of all products within one chapter. The Exchange has provided market participants with notice of this change in advance of the system migration. Subject to regulatory review, these proposed rule changes will be in effect October 7, 2019, in conjunction with the system migration. For example, rules related to the classes and series of FLEX Options the Exchange may list for trading will be in the same chapter as the rules related to the classes and series of equity options and index options the Exchange may list for trading. Additionally, the rules related to the manner in which FLEX Options may trade will be in the same chapter as the rules related to the manner in which all other types of options may trade. The shell Rulebook will clearly identify the Rules that apply to the trading of FLEX Options.

Chapter XXIVA of the current Rulebook sets forth the Rules applicable to the trading of FLEX Options on the Exchange's hybrid trading system (i.e., trading in both open outcry and electronically). Trading of FLEX Options is subject to all other Rules applicable to the trading of options on the Exchange, unless otherwise specified in Chapter XXIVA of the current Rulebook (proposed Chapter 5, Section F in the shell Rulebook). A Trading Permit Holder (a “TPH”) may trade FLEX Options if the Exchange has approved the TPH to trade FLEX Options on the Exchange; such a TPH is referred to as a “FLEX Trader.” Currently, FLEX Options trade on the Exchange's FLEX Hybrid Trading System, which is the Exchange's trading platform that allows FLEX Traders to submit electronic and open outcry request for quotes (“RFQs”), FLEX quotes in response to those RFQs, and FLEX Orders into the electronic book. Upon the Exchange's trading platform migration, FLEX trading will occur on the same Exchange System as all other options trading occurs on the Exchange.

Pursuant to current Rule 24A.3, there are no trading rotations in FLEX Options, either at the opening or at the close of trading. The proposed rule change moves the provision that states there is no opening rotation in FLEX Options to Rule 5.71(a) of the shell Rulebook. The proposed rule change deletes the provisions from current Rule 24A.3 regarding the absence of closing rotations for FLEX Options, as closing rotations do not occur in any class of options on the Exchange.

Currently, FLEX Options open for trading at a randomly selected time within a number of seconds after 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Currently, the Exchange has set that number of seconds at one. Proposed Rule 5.71(b) states the times when FLEX Traders may begin submitting FLEX Orders into an electronic FLEX Auction pursuant to proposed Rule 5.72(c), a FLEX AIM pursuant to proposed Rule 5.73, or a FLEX SAM pursuant to proposed Rule 5.74, or initiate an open outcry FLEX Auction the Exchange's trading floor pursuant to proposed Rule 5.72(c). Specifically, FLEX Traders may begin submitting FLEX Orders (a) with respect to the Regular Trading Hours (“RTH”) trading session, after the System's observation after 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time of the first disseminated (1) transaction on the primary market in the security underlying an equity option or (2) index value for the index underlying an index option, and (b) with respect to the Global Trading Hours (“GTH”) trading session, after 3:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

As discussed further below, while the Exchange currently has an electronic book for orders for FLEX Options, it has only been used in recent months by one customer for limited purpose, and for a minimal amount of FLEX volume. Because of the limited usage of an electronic book for FLEX Orders, the Exchange has determined there will be no electronic book of resting orders for FLEX Options available following the technology migration, which lack of availability of a FLEX Book is consistent with current Exchange authority. Additionally, because there will also be no opening rotation, at the time at which FLEX Trading opens, there will be no automatic executions. Therefore, being “open” for FLEX trading merely means that FLEX Traders may submit FLEX Orders into one of the various FLEX Auctions, at the conclusion of which executions in FLEX Auctions may occur (which are all discussed below). Because market participants incorporate transaction prices of underlying securities or the values of underlying indexes when pricing options (including FLEX Options), the Exchange believes it will benefit investors for FLEX Options trading to not be available until that information has begun to be disseminated in the market. Additionally, the proposed trigger events occur for many underlying securities or indexes within one second of 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time (which is consistent with the current time at which the Exchange has determined to open FLEX Option classes), and the majority occur within ten seconds. Therefore, pursuant to the proposed rule change, the opening of FLEX Options for trading may occur over a longer timeframe, which would further reduce any potential market impact of the change to the opening time for FLEX Options. While the Exchange believes it is important to open series for trading as soon as possible, the Exchange also believes the proposed rule change will permit it to manage the number of FLEX Option series that may begin to trade during a short time period to ensure a fair and orderly opening in all options listed on the Exchange. The Exchange also notes that FLEX Options trading volume currently represents approximately 1.5% of total trading volume on the Exchange, and therefore the Exchange believes any potential market impact of this change would be de minimis.

The proposed rule change moves the provision in current Rule 24A.3 that states a new FLEX Option series may be established on any business day prior to the expiration date and opened for trading pursuant to the procedures and principles for trading as provided in other rules within current Chapter XXIV, to proposed Rule 4.21(a)(2). As described below, other current rules have the same provision, and the Exchange does not believe they also need to be in the rule regarding the opening of trading, but rather in the rules regarding permissible series. The Exchange moves these provisions to the shell Rulebook as set forth below. The Exchange also makes nonsubstantive changes to provisions moved from current Rule 24A.3 to proposed Rule 5.71, including changes to make the language more plain English, update cross-references, update times to Eastern Time, and incorporate defined terms.

Current Rule 24A.4 (and other Rules in current Chapter XXIVA) sets forth the terms of FLEX Options. The Exchange moves these provisions to Chapter 4, Section C of the shell Rulebook. The Exchange moves the provisions that state the Exchange may authorize for trading a FLEX Option class on any equity security or index if it may authorize for trading a non-FLEX Option class on that equity security or index pursuant to Rules 4.3 and 4.10, respectively, of the shell Rulebook, even if the Exchange does not list that non-FLEX Option class for trading, from current Rule 24.4A(b)(1) and (c)(1) to proposed Rule 4.20. Because the provisions related to FLEX Index Options and FLEX Equity Options provide the Exchange with the same authority with respect to each type of FLEX Options, the proposed rule change combines them into a single one.

The proposed rule change moves the following provisions regarding the terms of FLEX Option series from the current Rulebook to the shell Rulebook. In addition to the substantive changes described below, the proposed rule change makes additional nonsubstantive changes to these Rules, including to make the rule text plain English, simplify the rule provisions, use consistent language throughout the Rules, use active voice, incorporate defined terms, update cross-references and paragraph numbering and lettering, and eliminate redundant provisions.

Pursuant to Rule 5.6(a) in the shell Rulebook, the Exchange may make order types, Order Instructions, and Times-in-Force available on a class basis. Pursuant to that authority, which authority the Exchange currently has pursuant Rule 6.53 in the current Rulebook, the proposed rule change adopts Rule 5.70(a) in the shell Rulebook to state that it may make the following order types, Order Instructions, and Times-in-Force available for orders submitted in FLEX Options (“FLEX Orders”):

• Order Types—limit orders
• Order Instructions—All Sessions, Attributable, Direct to PAR, Electronic Only, Non-Attributable, Not Held, and RTH Only
• Times-in-Force—Day

Given that FLEX Orders will only be eligible to trade following an electronic or open outcry FLEX Auction and not rest in an electronic book or route away (for which most Order Instructions and Times-in-Force set forth in Rule 5.6 in the shell Rulebook are relevant), the Exchange believes these are appropriate designations for FLEX Orders. Because there is no existing market for FLEX Options, and thus no price protections available to ensure execution of FLEX Orders at reasonable prices, the Exchange believes it is appropriate to only permit FLEX Options be submitted as limit orders. The Direct to PAR and Electronic Only Order Instructions permit a FLEX Trader to determine whether it wants a FLEX Order to be eligible for electronic execution or subject to manual handling for execution in open outcry on the Exchange's trading floor. Additionally, as set forth in Rule 5.1(c) of the shell Rulebook, following the migration the Exchange may designate certain FLEX Option classes as eligible for trading during the Global Trading Hours sessions, and the All Sessions and RTH Only designations will permit a FLEX Trader to determine in which trading session(s) it wants a FLEX Order to be eligible for execution. While not specified in the Rules, FLEX Traders may designate a FLEX Order as Attributable (pursuant to the Exchange's authority pursuant to current Rule 6.53, which permits the Exchange to make certain order types available on a class basis). FLEX Orders not designated as Attributable will be Non-Attributable.

Current Rules 24A.4(a)(2) and 24A.5, Interpretation and Policy .01 contemplate the availability of complex orders for FLEX trading. Proposed Rule 5.70(b) explicitly states the Exchange may make complex orders, including security future-option orders and stock-option orders, available for FLEX trading. Complex FLEX Orders may have up to the maximum number of legs determines by the Exchange. Each leg of a complex FLEX Order:

• Must be for a FLEX Option series authorized for trading with the same underlying equity security or index;

• must have the same exercise style (American or European); and
• for a FLEX Index Option, may have different settlement types (a.m.-settled or p.m.-settled), except each leg must have the same settlement type if designated as Asian-settled or Cliquet-settled.

The Exchange believes requiring the legs of a FLEX Option complex order to have the same exercise style is appropriate given the conflict that would arise with legs with different exercise styles. Similarly, the Exchange believes requiring the legs of a FLEX Option complex order to have the same settlement type for Asian-settled and Cliquet-settled FLEX Index Options is appropriate given the complex nature of those settlement types. The Exchange believes this may alleviate any potential difficulties that may arise if the market needed to price such complex strategies. The Exchange notes it has not receive any complex orders at least within the last year that have legs with difference exercise styles, or that have legs that are Asian-settled and Cliquet-settled with other legs that have a different settlement types.

Proposed Rule 5.70(c) states a FLEX Trader may enter a FLEX Order into the System during the times set forth in Rule 5.7 of the shell Rulebook. This proposed rule change merely applies the rule that sets forth the times at which the System is available to receive orders to FLEX Orders. The System only available for receipt of a FLEX Order at the times at which the System is available for all other orders.

A FLEX Trader must designate a FLEX Order entered prior to the opening of the applicable trading session or during a trading halt as Direct to PAR; the System rejects a FLEX Order designated as Electronic Only prior to the opening of the applicable trading session or during a trading halt. As discussed below, there will be no electronic book in which FLEX Orders may rest, and FLEX Orders may only be submitted for electronic execution into a FLEX auction. Therefore, a FLEX Order designated for electronic execution would have nowhere to rest if submitted when trading on the Exchange is not open. Because a FLEX Order designated as Direct to PAR (like any order designated as Direct to PAR) would rest on a PAR workstation and be available for manual handling by a Floor Broker after the opening of trading, there is not risk of execution of such an order submitted to the Exchange while trading is not available on the Exchange.

Proposed Rule 5.72 describes the procedures for FLEX trading on the Exchange following the migration. As noted above, trading of FLEX Options is subject to all other Rules applicable to the trading of options on the Exchange, unless otherwise provided in proposed Chapter 5, Section F of the shell Rulebook. Because there will be no electronic book available in which FLEX Orders may rest, a FLEX Option series is only eligible for trading if a FLEX Trader (the “Submitting FLEX Trader”) (a) submits a FLEX Order for that series into an electronic FLEX Auction pursuant to proposed Rule 5.72(c) (as described below); (b) represents the FLEX Order in an open outcry FLEX Auction pursuant to proposed Rule 5.72(d) (as described below); or submits the FLEX Order to a FLEX AIM or SAM Auction pursuant to Rule 5.73 or 5.74, respectively, of the shell Rulebook.⁴⁶ This is consistent with current Rule 24A.5(a), which states the current RFQ process is required to open trading in a new series (unless the auction process in current Rules 24A.5A or 24A.5B (current Rules describing FLEX AIM and SAM Auctions, respectively) is used to open trading in a new series), which RFQ process may be conducted through the System or in open outcry. The proposed rule change only makes nonsubstantive changes, including to update rule cross-references and conform terminology to the proposed trading procedures.

The proposed rule change makes explicit the requirements for both simple and complex FLEX Orders:

• A FLEX Order for a FLEX Option series submitted to the System must include all terms for a FLEX Option series set forth in Rule 4.21 (including that a non-FLEX Option series with identical terms is not listed for trading), size, side of the market, and a bid or offer price, subject to the order entry requirements set forth in Rule 5.7 of the shell Rulebook.

• A FLEX Order for a FLEX Option complex strategy submitted to the System must satisfy the criteria for a complex FLEX Order set forth in proposed Rule 5.70(b) (see discussion above) and include size, side of the market, a net debit or credit price, and a bid or offer price for each leg of the FLEX Order, which leg prices must add together to equal the net price. Additionally, each leg of the FLEX Option complex strategy must include all terms for a FLEX Option series set forth in Rule 4.21 (including that a non-FLEX Option series with identical terms is not listed for trading), subject to the order entry requirements set forth in Rule 5.7 of the shell Rulebook.

These proposed order requirements are consistent with current Rule 24A.4(a)(2), 24A.4(a)(3)(iv), and 24A.4(a)(4). Those current provisions state every RFQ Order must contain one element from each contract term category and the same transaction specifications as the related RFQ (and any additional trade conditions, which as discussed below, will no longer be available following migration), and that every RFQ Order must contain the quote type and form sought (i.e., the RFQ order must specify whether it seeks bids or offers, the size of the order, whether it seeks responses as a dollar amount or percentage, and contingencies and trade conditions (which will no longer be available following migration)). Additionally, with respect to complex orders, the current rules add that each component series in a multilegged FLEX RFQ or FLEX Order must include all terms of a FLEX Option series. As discussed above, pursuant to the proposed rule change, bids and offers for a FLEX Option series must be expressed in dollars and decimals, if the exercise price of the series is a fixed price, or as a percentage, if the exercise price of the series is a percentage of the closing value of the underlying equity security or index. Therefore, the proposed rule change does not require the submission of a FLEX Order to identify whether it seeks bid and offer responses in the form of a dollar amount or percentage, as that is dictated by the format of the exercise price of the FLEX Option series in the FLEX Order. Rule 5.7 of the shell Rulebook includes provisions that apply to all order submitted to the Exchange, including FLEX Orders. Therefore, the proposed rule change makes no substantive changes to the required information for a simple FLEX Order, and makes only nonsubstantive changes to the language in the proposed provision.

Current Rule 24A.5 describes how electronic and open outcry trading in FLEX Options may occur on the Exchange today. To initiate an electronic RFQ, a TPH (the “Submitting TPH”) submits an RFQ with the terms of a FLEX Option series, as well as whether the Submitting TPH is requesting a bid, offer, or both. The System then communicates the terms of the RFQ to FLEX Traders. Only one electronic RFQ may be ongoing at a given time in a series, and electronic RFQs may not overlap or queue. During the RFQ Response Period (which is the period of time during which FLEX Traders may provide bids and offers in response to RFQs), FLEX Traders (including the Submitting TPH) may then submit bids and offers in response to the RFQ, which they may withdraw during that period. Current Rule 24A.5(a)(1)(ii)(A) does not permit options market-makers from another options exchange to enter bids and offers (currently referred to in the Rules as FLEX Quotes (see current Rule 24A.1(k)) in response to an RFQ. The Exchange does not believe this restriction is necessary and proposes to delete it, and therefore permit all FLEX Traders to provide liquidity in electronic FLEX auctions. The Exchange believes permitting additional participants to submit responses to FLEX Auctions will provide the opportunity for additional liquidity in these auctions, which could lead to additional price improvement opportunities.

Currently, the Submitting TPH may designate the length of the RFQ Response Period when initiating the RFQ, which time must be within a time range established by the Exchange and not less than three seconds. During the RFQ Response Period, the System calculates and disseminates the then-current market given current FLEX orders and quotes. At the conclusion of the RFQ Response Period, the Submitting TPH may accept or reject the bids and offers submitted during the RFQ Response Period within an RFQ Reaction Period, the length of which the Exchange determines on a class-by-class basis and may not be more than five minutes. During the RFQ Reaction Period, FLEX Traders may continue to submit or cancel responses, and the Submitting TPH may accept bids and offers or cancel the RFQ (or let it expire). During the RFQ Reaction Period, the System calculates and disseminates the then-current market given current FLEX orders and quotes.

If the Submitting TPH chooses to trade, it may enter the RFQ Order to trade with one side of the market provided by the RFQ. The FLEX Order will trade with contra-side interest first at the best prices. If there are multiple bids or offers available at the same price, then the FLEX Order is allocated as follows:

• Bids and offers for the account of public customers and non-TPH broker-dealers in time priority;
• bids and offers of a FLEX Appointed Market-Maker if the Exchange has applied a participation entitlement; and

• all other bids and offers in time priority.

Any remaining balance of the FLEX Order would enter the FLEX Book (if the Exchange made a FLEX Book available) or be cancelled (if there was no FLEX Book). The Submitting TPH has no obligation to accept any FLEX bid or offer.

The Exchange proposes to replace the current electronic RFQ process with a new electronic FLEX Auction process. Pursuant to proposed Rule 5.72(c), a Submitting FLEX Trader may electronically submit a FLEX Order (simple or complex) into an electronic FLEX Auction for execution. Pursuant to proposed Rule 5.72(c)(1), the Submitting FLEX Trader may initiate a FLEX Auction if all of the following conditions are met:

• The FLEX Order is in a class of options the Exchange is authorized to list for trading on the Exchange. As discussed above regarding proposed Rule 5.72(b), a FLEX Order must be in a FLEX Option series (or FLEX Option complex strategy, each of which consists of a FLEX Option series), which series must be in a FLEX eligible class. The proposed rule change is therefore consistent with current requirements for submission of a FLEX Order into a FLEX Auction.

• There is no minimum size for FLEX Orders. Current Rule 24A.5 includes no restrictions on the size of FLEX Orders that may be submitted for electronic execution. Therefore, the proposed rule change is consistent with current functionality and merely specifies this in the Rules.
• A simple or complex FLEX Order must comply with proposed paragraph (b) above. As discussed above, current Rules require FLEX Orders (and RFQ Orders, which are orders submitted into an electronic FLEX RFQ, which is being replaced by the proposed electronic FLEX Auction) to include the information in proposed paragraph (b), so this proposed rule change imposes no new requirements on the submission of FLEX Orders into an auction. As discussed below, the only difference is that the Submitting TPH must submit the FLEX Order to initiate the electronic FLEX Auction, rather than initiate an RFQ and only submit an order if it chooses to trade following the conclusion of the RFQ Response Period.
• A simple FLEX Order must include a bid or offer price (the “auction price”). A complex FLEX Order must include a net bid or offer price and a bid or offer price for each leg of the FLEX Order, which leg prices must add together to equal the net price (the “auction price”). Because the current process is an RFQ rather than an auction, the Submitting TPH does not include a price on RFQ when initiating an RFQ. Requiring the inclusion of a price on a FLEX Order when initiating an electronic FLEX Auction is consistent with an auction process. As discussed below, the auction price will not be included on the auction notification message disseminated to FLEX Traders, and therefore FLEX Traders will be encouraged to submit their best priced responses in response to the auction as they are today when submitting their markets in response to the RFQ.

• The Submitting FLEX Trader may only submit a FLEX Order for electronic execution in a FLEX Auction after FLEX trading has opened pursuant to proposed Rule 5.71 (as discussed above). This is consistent with current Rule 24A.3, which states only after the open of FLEX trading may FLEX Orders be submitted into a FLEX Auctions pursuant to current Rules 24A.5, 24A.5A, or 24A.5B.
• The Submitting FLEX Trader must designate the length of the “exposure interval,” which must be between three seconds and five minutes. The designated time may not go beyond the market close. Current Rule 24A.4(a)(3)(iii) also requires the Submitting FLEX Trader to designate the length of the RFQ Response Period, the permissible range of which is established by the Exchange but may not be less than three seconds. Currently, the Exchange has set the range at three seconds to ten minutes. The proposed rule change to set the exposure interval between three seconds and five minutes is consistent with the Exchange's current authority in the Rules, as it only requires a minimum of three seconds. The Exchange believes this interval is reasonable, because it is consistent with the lengths designated by FLEX Traders in the current electronic RFQ process. Specifically, the Exchange notes that from January through August of 2019, the average RFQ Response period is less than nine seconds, and the average RFQ Reaction period is approximately three minutes. Therefore, the average length of the electronic RFQ process is within the proposed exposure interval. Additionally, in 2019, only 25 of 3457 (or 0.7%) of electronic FLEX RFQs lasted for a total of more than five minutes in 2019, so the Exchange does not believe capping the length of the proposed electronic FLEX Auction at five minutes will have a significant impact on FLEX trading. In addition, the Exchange believes a shorter maximum time is appropriate based on feedback received from market participants, and because FLEX Traders will only need to submit responses on the opposite side of the auctioned FLEX Order, rather than responses on potentially both sides to create a market. As further discussed below, the Exchange believes a shortened auction process may increase liquidity in the electronic FLEX market on the Exchange.

The System rejects or cancels a FLEX Order that does not meet the conditions in proposed Rule 5.72(c)(1). This is consistent with the concept of eligibility requirements, as well as current Rule 24A.5(a)(1)(i)(A), which states a Submitting TPH may submit a FLEX RFQ using the form, format, and procedures prescribed by the Exchange.

As described in the bulleted paragraphs above, the proposed requirements to initiate an electronic FLEX Auction are substantially similar to the current requirements to initiate an electronic RFQ. The proposed electronic FLEX Auction will be voluntary, just as the current electronic RFQ is voluntary, and all FLEX Traders will be able to initiate an electronic FLEX Auction, just as they are all able to currently initiate an electronic RFQ, if they so choose. However, rather than submit an order in response/following to an RFQ if and when the Submitting TPH determines to trade against RFQ responses, the proposed rule change requires the Submitting TPH to submit a FLEX Order to initiate the electronic FLEX Auction. This is consistent with the Exchange's other electronic auction processes, as the auction will result in automatic execution against any responses (if they satisfy the auction price) at the conclusion of the auction. The unique feature of FLEX Options is the flexibility with respect to their terms, which is why current FLEX Rules, and the proposed FLEX Rules, provide a longer time frame for FLEX Traders to submit bids and offers. As noted above, the proposed exposure interval is consistent with the Exchange's authority under the current Rules, and appropriately shortened given the one-sided nature of the proposed auction. Additionally, as further discussed below, the Exchange believes a generally shorter electronic auction process, combined with the certainty of execution at the conclusion if responses satisfy the price of the auctioned order, may encourage additional market participants to submit FLEX Orders to the Exchange for electronic execution.

Proposed Rule 5.72(c)(2) describes the FLEX Auction process. Upon receipt of a FLEX Order that meets the conditions in proposed subparagraph (c)(1), the FLEX Auction Process commences. As it does today, the System will initiate a FLEX Auction by sending a FLEX Auction notification message to FLEX Traders detailing the FLEX Option series or complex strategy (as applicable). The current RFQ identifies the terms of the FLEX Option (see current Rule 24A.4(a)(2)), which correspond to the series or complex strategy. Additionally, the current RFQ identifies whether a bid, offer, or both are sought (see current Rule 24A.4(a)(3)), and whether a price in dollars or percentage is sought (as discussed above, bids and offers must be in the same format as the exercise price of the FLEX Option series under proposed Rule 5.3(e)(3), and thus there is no need to separately identify whether a price in dollars or percentage is sought, as that will be dictated by the series' exercise price). Because the proposed process is a one-sided auction process, the proposed auction notification message will include the side and size of the auctioned order, which will permit FLEX Traders to focus their responses on the side on which a potential execution may occur. Auction ID, Capacity, the time at which the exposure interval will conclude, and Attribution (if the FLEX Order is designated as Attributable). FLEX Auction notification messages are not disseminated to OPRA.

The FLEX Auction message will not include the price of the auctioned FLEX Order. The Exchange believes not including the auction price in the notification message will encourage FLEX Traders to respond with the best prices at which they are willing to trade against the auctioned FLEX Order. If the message included the price, FLEX Traders may only respond to trade at that price; without the price, FLEX Traders may respond at better prices, which may result in price improvement opportunities for the auctioned FLEX Order. This is consistent with other electronic auctions on the Exchange. This is similar to the current RFQ process today, in which there is no disseminated price, and instead market participants submit bids and offers based on prices at which they are willing to transact in the series subject to the RFQ.

Pursuant to current Rule 24A.5(a)(1)(i)(B), only one electronic RFQ may be ongoing at any given time in a series, and electronic RFQs in the same series may not queue or overlap in any manner. Similarly, pursuant to Rule 24A.5, Interpretation and Policy .01, only one electronic RFQ may be ongoing at any given time for a given complex order strategy, and electronic RFQs may not queue or overlap in any manner. Due to current limitations, the Exchange's System is not currently able to process multiple electronic RFQs at the same time, nor is it able to process an electronic RFQ for a complex strategy if an order in any of the leg series that comprise that complex order is present in the System. However, different types of auctions for the same series or complex strategy may occur at the same time. For example, the Rules do not currently prevent a complex order auction (“COA”) of a complex order from occurring at the same time as an AIM in one of the leg series of the complex order subject to a COA. The System to which the Exchange's trading platform will move upon completion of the technology migration is able to process concurrent auctions for orders in the same series (including auctions for complex strategies and for legs series that comprise those strategies). Therefore, the Exchange believes it is similarly reasonable to permit multiple FLEX Auctions in the same series to occur at the same time. As proposed, one or more FLEX Auctions in the same FLEX Option series or complex strategy (as applicable) may occur at the same time. To the extent there is more than one FLEX Auction in a FLEX Option series or complex strategy (as applicable) underway at the same time, the FLEX Auctions conclude sequentially based on the times at which each FLEX Auction's exposure interval concludes. At the time each FLEX Auction concludes, the System allocates the FLEX Order pursuant to proposed subparagraph (b)(3) (as described below), and takes into account all FLEX responses submitted during the exposure interval. Concurrent auctions will be permitted in various other electronic auctions on the Exchange following migration. If a FLEX Trader attempts to initiate an electronic FLEX Auction in a FLEX Option series while another auction in that series is ongoing, the Exchange believes it will provide that second FLEX Order with an opportunity for execution in a timely manner by initiating another FLEX Auction, rather than requiring the FLEX Trader to wait for the first auction to conclude. The second FLEX Trader may not be able to submit a response to trade in the ongoing FLEX Auction, because the terms may not be consistent with that FLEX Trader's order (for example, there may not be sufficient size, and the FLEX Trader may only receive a share of the auctioned order depending on other responses). Therefore, the Exchange believes providing this functionality for electronic FLEX Auctions may similarly lead to an increase in electronic FLEX Auctions, which may provide additional opportunities for execution of FLEX Orders. Pursuant to proposed Rule 5.72(c)(2)(C), the Submitting FLEX Trader may cancel a FLEX Auction prior to its conclusion. This is consistent with a Submitting TPH's current ability to not accept any FLEX bid or offer, and thus not execute an order for which it requests a market pursuant to an RFQ.

Proposed Rule 5.72(c)(2)(D) describes the requirements for responses that FLEX Traders may submit to an electronic FLEX Auction. Any FLEX Trader (including the Submitting FLEX Trader if it is seeking to effect a cross) may submit responses to a FLEX Auction that are properly marked specifying the FLEX Option series or complex strategy (as applicable), bid or offer price or net price (respectively), size, side of the market, and the Auction ID for the FLEX Auction to which the User is submitting the response. This information is currently required to be included on response to RFQs (other than an Auction ID), and the proposed rule change merely adds this detail to the Rules. A FLEX response may only participate in the FLEX Auction with the Auction ID specified in the response, which is why the auction notification will include an Auction ID and response must identify the applicable Auction ID. The Exchange proposes to include this given the above proposal that permits concurrent electronic FLEX Auctions in the same series or complex strategy.

A FLEX Trader may submit multiple FLEX responses at the same or multiple prices to a FLEX Auction. This is consistent with current functionality. Current Rule 24A.5(a)(1) contains no restriction on how many responses a FLEX Trader may submit; the proposed rule change merely makes this explicit in the Rules. For purposes of a FLEX Auction, the System aggregates all of a FLEX Trader's FLEX responses for the same Executing Firm ID (“EFID”) at the same price. The System will cap the size of a FLEX response, or the aggregate size of a FLEX Trader's FLEX responses for the same EFID at the same price, at the size of the FLEX Order (i.e., the System ignores the size in excess of the size of the FLEX Order when processing the FLEX Auction). These provisions are new given the potential for an automatic execution at the conclusion of the FLEX Auction (unlike the current process which provides the Submitting TPH with the opportunity to trade or not trade). Additionally, the Exchange proposes to add these provisions given the proposed rule change to apply a pro-rata allocation to responses at the conclusion of an electronic FLEX Auction, as further discussed below. These provisions are consistent with other auction functionality that apply a pro-rata allocation to executions following those auctions. The Exchange believes these proposed changes are reasonable to prevent a User from submitting a response with an extremely large size in order to obtain a larger pro-rata share of the FLEX Order.

FLEX responses must be on the opposite side of the market as the FLEX Order. The System rejects a FLEX response on the same side of the market as the FLEX Order. Unlike the current RFQ process, FLEX Traders will know the side of the market on which the Submitting FLEX Trader is looking to trade, and therefore the Exchange believes this is reasonable given that the purpose of a response is to trade against the FLEX Order in the auction into which the response was submitted. Pursuant to the current RFQ process, the Submitting TPH may request bids and offers on both sides of the market. By only requesting responses on the opposite side of the market, the proposed rule change will allow FLEX Traders to focus on pricing responses that would be eligible to execute (i.e., on the opposite side of the market on which the Submitting FLEX Trader is looking to trade).

FLEX responses are not visible to FLEX Traders or disseminated to OPRA. RFQ responses are also not currently disseminated to OPRA. However, while the Exchange does not disseminate all individual responses to an electronic RFQ, the best market created by responses is intermittently calculated and disseminated during the RFQ Response Period and Reaction Period, during which time FLEX Traders may withdraw those responses. The proposed rule change is consistent with many electronic auctions, in which responses are not visible to the market. Responses to electronic auctions are not firm prior to the conclusion of the auction, and thus are not disseminated to OPRA, because they are not executable until the conclusion of the auction, at which time their price and size are firm. For the same reason as the Exchange does not disseminate the auction price on the auction notification message as discussed above, the Exchange believes it will encourage FLEX Traders to submit their best possible priced-responses if they do not know the prices at which other FLEX Traders are willing to trade. For example, if during a FLEX Auction of a buy FLEX Order, a FLEX Trader submitted a response to sell at $1.05, if another FLEX Trader saw that response, it may merely respond to sell at $1.05, or maybe $1.04, even though it may ultimately be willing to sell at $1.03. Without seeing the other responses, the second FLEX Trader may instead submit a response to sell at $1.03, which could result in price improvement for the auctioned order. The Exchange appreciates that there is no disseminated market in FLEX Options. However, the length of the exposure interval (which, as discussed above, is longer than the interval in typical electronic auctions and consistent with the minimum RFQ response period in the current RFQ process) will provide all FLEX Traders with the same opportunity to submit responses. A FLEX Trader may modify or cancel its FLEX responses during the exposure interval. As noted above, the current Rule permits FLEX Traders to withdraw (which is the equivalent of cancel) a response to a FLEX RFQ, but does not explicitly state that those responses may be modified. A modification of a response is equivalent to a cancellation of an existing response and submission of a new response, but may instead be done through a different message type. Therefore, the proposed rule change permits the same activity that can be done pursuant to the current rule, but merely in a different manner (i.e., modification rather than cancellation and separate entry).

Pursuant to proposed Rule 5.72(c)(3), the FLEX Auction concludes at the end of the exposure interval, unless the Exchange halts trading in the affected series or the Submitting FLEX Trader cancels the FLEX Auction, in which case the FLEX Auction concludes without execution. There are no events that will cause the current RFQ Response Period to conclude early pursuant to current Rule 24A.5(a)(1). While the current Rule does not discuss how a trading halt may impact an ongoing electronic RFQ, the proposed rule change is consistent with current functionality, as the Exchange would not permit any executions to occur during a trading halt.

At the conclusion of the FLEX Auction:

• The System executes the FLEX Order against the FLEX responses at the best price(s), to the price at which the balance of the FLEX Order or the FLEX responses can be fully executed (the “final auction price”). If there are multiple FLEX responses at the same price level, then the contracts in those FLEX responses are allocated proportionally, according to size (in a pro-rata fashion).

• The System cancels an unexecuted FLEX Order (or unexecuted portion).
• The System cancels any unexecuted FLEX responses (or unexecuted portions).

The proposed allocation process is consistent with the electronic pro-rata allocation with no overlays that they Exchange may apply to trading in non-FLEX Options. Unlike the proposed allocation process, the current allocation at the conclusion of an electronic FLEX RFQ provides priority to Priority Customers and non-TPH broker-dealers orders and quotes, the purpose of which was to accommodate TPHs that rely on the “G” exemption from Section 11(a)(1) of the Exchange Act when submitting orders for electronic execution. While certain other electronic auctions available on the Exchange prioritize Priority Customer orders, none prioritize non-TPH broker-dealers, and thus electronic submission of an order into those auctions would not be eligible for the “G” exemption either. Currently, a minimal number of TPHs rely on the “G” exemption. As discussed below, the Exchange believes the proposed electronic FLEX Auction satisfies the “Effect vs. Execute” exemption, and will permit TPHs to rely on that exemption (subject to satisfaction of the requirements of that exemption) when submitting FLEX Orders for electronic execution. A TPH (not acting in a market-maker capacity) could submit an order for a covered account from off of the Exchange's trading floor to an unaffiliated Floor Broker for submission for execution in the FLEX Auction from the trading floor and satisfy the “Effect vs. Execute” exemption (assuming the other conditions are satisfied). However, a TPH could not submit an order for a covered account to its “house” Floor Broker on the trading floor for execution and rely on this exemption. If a FLEX Trader cannot satisfy the “Effect vs. Execute” exemption (for example, because the FLEX Trader submits a proprietary order from on the Exchange's trading floor), it may submit a FLEX Order into the proposed electronic FLEX Auction only if it satisfies another exemption from Section 11(a)(1) of the Exchange Act. Alternatively, a FLEX Trader may execute a FLEX Order in open outcry on the Exchange's trading floor (subject to satisfaction of an exemption—for example, a FLEX Trader may yield priority as necessary to satisfy the “G” exemption, as it may do today). Because there will not be an electronic FLEX Book (as discussed below), there will be no resting Priority Customer orders resting that would receive priority at the conclusion of the Auction (or any resting orders to trade against the auctioned FLEX Order). And because there will be no FLEX Appointed Market-Makers, there will be no participation entitlement at the conclusion of the Auction. Therefore, there will only be responses available at the conclusion of the Auction to execute against the auctioned FLEX Order. The Exchange has determined to apply pro-rata allocation to those responses, rather than time priority (as it does today), because that is the allocation the Exchange applies to the majority of classes on the Exchange, and therefore this will provide additional consistency for market participants. Additionally, the Exchange believes application of pro-rata may encourage FLEX Traders to submit larger-sized responses, because if the responses are at the marketable prices, those responses will receive execution based on size rather than time (as is the case today).

Current Rule 24A.5(b) states the Exchange may make an electronic book available into which FLEX Orders may be entered or remaining balances of FLEX Orders submitted into an RFQ may rest. Currently, while the Exchange makes an electronic book available for FLEX Orders, prior to April 2019, no FLEX Traders were submitting FLEX Orders into the Book in any class. Beginning in April 2019, one FLEX Trader began submitting FLEX orders for a customer into the FLEX Book, and then after the required exposure period passed, that FLEX Trader would submit an order on the opposite side to trade with that resting customer order (in other words, to execute a cross with that resting order). The Exchange understands from this FLEX Trader that it does not submit these orders into an electronic RFQ, because it is difficult for that FLEX Trader to code to that process, given how different it is from other electronic auctions. For the five-month period from April through August 2019, this activity represented approximately 1.2% of total FLEX volume during that time. As noted above, only one FLEX Trader was using the FLEX Book, and only for a limited purpose. While all FLEX Traders have access to the current FLEX Book, they are choosing not to use it. There are no FLEX Traders submitting FLEX Orders into the FLEX Book to rest and wait for another FLEX Trader to submit interest to trade against that resting order, which is the general purpose of an electronic book. Therefore, the Exchange does not intend to make one available following migration, consistent with its current authority under current Rule 24A.5(b). Therefore, the Exchange proposes to delete current Rule 24A.5(b) and all other provisions in its Rules regarding an electronic FLEX Book. As a result, all FLEX executions currently occur following an electronic RFQ or FLEX Automated Improvement Mechanism for electronic execution, and deletion of the Rules regarding an electronic FLEX Book will have no significant impact on FLEX trading given the current limited use of a FLEX Book by one FLEX Trader. The Exchange also notes the Rules currently provide that there is no electronic book for complex FLEX Orders, and therefore the proposed rule change will have no impact on the trading of complex FLEX Orders.

Because the proposed auction will result in automatic execution following the exposure interval, there is no period equivalent to the RFQ reaction period in the proposed auction process. The Exchange believes automatic execution will provide FLEX Traders with more certainty regarding executions of their FLEX Orders and responses, as well as more timely executions. The Exchange notes the current maximum time for the Submitting TPH to decide whether to trade against the RFQ Market is five minutes, which is the proposed maximum time for the exposure interval. Additionally, as noted above, in January through August of 2019, the average length of the entire electronic RFQ process (as designated by the Submitting TPH) is just over three minutes (combining the RFQ Response and Reaction periods), during which time FLEX Traders may submit responses, and less than 1% of electronic RFQs lasted more than five minutes. Therefore, pursuant to the proposed electronic FLEX Auction process, the Submitting FLEX Trader may designate an exposure interval duration during which FLEX Traders may submit responses consistent with the average duration, and over 99%, of current electronic RFQs.

The Exchange believes the proposed electronic FLEX Auction simplifies the process pursuant to which FLEX Traders may execute FLEX Orders on the Exchange, as it is similar to other electronic auctions (as noted above) and eliminates the multiple periods in which FLEX Traders may submit responses. Pursuant to the proposed Auction process, an electronic FLEX Auction in which an order is entered and exposed to FLEX Traders, and then automatically executes against best-priced bids and offers at the conclusion of the auction. As discussed above, the proposed range for the auction exposure interval is consistent with the average length of the entire electronic RFQ process. Additionally, while the proposed range of the exposure interval is shorter than the current range designated by the Exchange, the proposed range is consistent with the Exchange's authority under the current Rules, as the Rules only require that the length of the RFQ Response Period be at least three seconds. Because the auction message will identify the side of the auctioned order, and thus responses will only be on the opposite side of that order, the Exchange believes a shorter maximum time is appropriate, as FLEX Traders will not need to determine responses on the side of the market on which there is no potential execution. Therefore, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change will continue to provide FLEX Traders with sufficient time to price FLEX Option series that are auctioned and submit bids or offers at which they would be willing to effect transactions in the series subject to the auction.

As is the case today, market participants will not know the price at which the Submitting TPH is seeking to trade an order (which the Submitting TPH must include a price on the FLEX Order submitted to the auction, it will not be included in the notification message). The Exchange believes not notifying FLEX Traders of the auction price, as well as not permitting FLEX Traders to see prices of other responses, will encourage FLEX Traders to submit responses at the best prices at which they would be willing to trade, as noted above.

The proposed electronic FLEX Auction is similar to other electronic auctions offered by the Exchange, such as the Automated Improvement Mechanism (“AIM”) in Rule 6.74A in the current Rulebook (Rule 5.37 in the shell Rulebook) and the Complex Order Auction (“COA”) in Rule 6.53C in the current Rulebook (which the Exchange intends to move to Rule 5.33 in the shell Rulebook). These electronic auctions do not provide for a request for market, which concept does not currently exist in electronic trading. The Exchange believes implementing a simpler electronic FLEX Auction that is similar to other electronic auctions may encourage TPHs to submit FLEX Orders for electronic execution. Market participants are more familiar with this type of functionality and have their systems coded to conform to these types of auctions. The Exchange has received feedback from market participants indicating the difficulty and additional resources necessary to code to the nonstandard FLEX RFQ process given the multiple intervals. Additionally, the Exchange believes elimination of a reaction period at the conclusion of an electronic FLEX Auction will permit executions of FLEX Orders to be completed in a more timely fashion. As a result, the Exchange believes the proposed auction will permit FLEX Traders to continue to compete vigorously and potentially provide price improvement for FLEX Orders in a competitive auction process, as they do for non-FLEX Orders, and thus will fit more seamlessly into the Exchange's market.

Current Rule 24A.5(a)(2) describes the current open outcry RFQ process for FLEX Orders. Currently, a Submitting TPH may submit to a FLEX Official an RFQ, and then announce the terms of the RFQ to the trading crowd. At that point, FLEX Traders in the trading crowd may respond to the RFQ with bids and offers during an RFQ Response Period, during which time those responses (referred to in the current Rule as FLEX Quotes) may be modified or withdrawn. At the conclusion of the RFQ Response Period, the Submitting TPH announces the best market to the trading crowd. It may then promptly accept or reject the best priced bids and offers, or announce an intention to cross the FLEX order (in which it may receive an entitlement pursuant to Rule 24A.5(b)(3) and (d)(2)). If the Submitting TPH determines to execute the FLEX Order against the responses from the trading crowd (and not cross), the bids and offers are allocated as described below. If the Submitting TPH rejects the BBO or accepts it for less than the entire size requested, all FLEX Traders (other than the Submitting TPH) may match or improve the BBO during the BBO Improvement Interval, after which the Submitting TPH must promptly accept or reject the BBO. If the Submitting TPH indicates an intention to cross, then the Submitting TPH must announce the price to the crowd and permit the rest of the crowd to attempt to improve or match the BBO during the BBO Improvement Interval. At the expiration of the BBO Improvement Interval, the Submitting TPH must promptly accept or reject the BBO, and may execute the order against responses as described below. The Submitting TPH has no obligation to accept any FLEX bid or offer.

Current Rule 24A.5(d)(2)(i) provides that the Exchange may establish a crossing participation entitlement, subject to certain conditions. The Exchange proposes to delete that provision, as the Exchange does not intend to establish any priority overlays, including a crossing participation entitlement, to the proposed FLEX Auctions. The Exchange does not currently establish a crossing participation entitlement for electronic FLEX trading, so this will have no impact on electronic trading. The Exchange has currently established a crossing participation entitlement for open outcry FLEX trading. However, as further discussed below, the Exchange proposes to permit FLEX Trades to be crossed in accordance with general crossing rules for open outcry trading, which provide for a similar crossing procedure and participation entitlement as the current FLEX crossing procedure and entitlement.

Current Rule 24A.5(d)(2)(ii) provides that the Exchange may establish a participation entitlement for a FLEX Appointed Market-Maker. The Exchange currently does not have any FLEX Appointed Market-Makers, and thus does not have a participation entitlement established, and deletes that provision from the Rules.

The highest bid (lowest offer) will have priority at the conclusion of a FLEX open outcry RFQ. If there are multiple bids or offers at the same price, any crossing participation entitlements have second priority, any FLEX Appointed Market-Maker participation entitlements have third priority, all other response have fourth priority (in time sequence), and finally orders resting in the book have last priority.

Proposed Rule 5.72(d) provides that a Submitting FLEX Trader may represent and execute a FLEX Order that complies with paragraph (b) above on the Exchange's trading floor in the same manner as a TPH may represent and execute an order for a non-FLEX Option (which includes systemization of the FLEX Order pursuant to Rule 5.7(f) and routing the FLEX Order to PAR pursuant to Rule 5.82 of the shell Rulebook) on the Exchange's trading floor pursuant to Chapter 5, Section G of the shell Rulebook, except (1) In-Crowd Market Participants (“ICMPs”) will have a reasonable amount of time (which amount of time must be between three seconds (the current minimum for an RFQ Response Period) and five minutes) from the time a FLEX Trader requests a quote in a FLEX Option Series or represents a FLEX Order (including announcing a crossing transaction pursuant to Rule 5.87 in the shell Rulebook) to respond with bids and offers; and (2) FLEX Orders are allocated only to responses from the trading crowd pursuant to Rule 5.85(a)(2)(C) of the shell Rulebook. The proposed time period is consistent with the proposed time period for electronic FLEX Auctions described above, as well as current Rules (which require at last three seconds to pass), and the Exchange believes this will ensure there is sufficient time for the crowd to price a FLEX Option series given its unique terms as well as ensure executions of FLEX Orders take place in a timely manner. Whether a reasonable amount of time has passed before a Submitting TPH determines to represent an order after a request for quotes, or to execute an order after it was represented will be based on facts and circumstances, and will be determined by the Submitting FLEX Trader. This is consistent with general open outcry trading, in which the representing Floor Broker (which will be the Submitting FLEX Trader) determines at what time a market is established and which ICMPs responded at that time and in what order. As set forth in Rule 5.85(a)(2), orders represented in open outcry may also be allocated to Priority Customers resting in the book (which will not apply to FLEX Options since there will be no book), or to certain market-makers if there is a participation entitlement (which there will not be for FLEX Options), or to other orders resting in the book (which, again, will not apply to FLEX Options since there will be no book). Therefore, the only interest against which a FLEX Order may execute in open outcry are bids and offers from the trading crowd.

The Exchange believes the current open outcry RFQ process for FLEX Orders is substantially similar to the current open outcry process for non-FLEX Orders, and therefore believes completely aligning the two processes is appropriate. Currently, in open outcry trading, a Floor Broker can request a market from the crowd. ICMPs may then respond with their markets. There is no formal time frame in which ICMPs may respond with a market, but ICMPs generally respond promptly with their market. This is substantially similar to the current RFQ process described above, in which a FLEX Trader requests a market and provides FLEX Traders in the crowd with at least three seconds to respond with a market. The Exchange believes it is appropriate to ensure there is at least a minimum amount of time FLEX Traders to respond give the unique terms of FLEX Options. The proposed timeframe in which ICMPs that are FLEX Traders must respond is consistent with the current Rule, which as noted above, requires the RFQ Response Period to be at least three seconds long. The proposed rule change also permits a FLEX Trader to initially represent a FLEX Order to the trading crowd, and then receive bids or offers (as appropriate) and trade. Therefore, other than eliminating the formal name of the RFQ Response Period which is not contemplated in non-FLEX Option open outcry trading, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change will have minimal (if any) impact on how a FLEX Trader may request a market on the Exchange's trading floor.

Unlike the current process, which requires a FLEX Trader to submit an RFQ to a FLEX Official, the proposed rule change will require a FLEX Trader to systematize a FLEX Order in the same manner as Floor Brokers systematize non-FLEX Orders, which is to systematize them pursuant to current Rule 6.24 (Rule 5.7(f) in the shell Rulebook). TPHs have familiarity with the systemization process, and the Exchange believes the proposed rule change will result in a more efficient open outcry trading process for FLEX Options, as a FLEX Trader can request a market as soon as it gets that request from a customer rather than first go to a FLEX Official. This may ultimately result in a more timely execution for customers.

Once a Floor Broker has received a market from the crowd, the Floor Broker may then represent its order on the floor (after systematizing it and routing it to PAR, which it must do prior to representing an order on the trading floor) and elect to trade against the best prices or not, or announce an intention to cross at a specific price. As discussed above, this is substantially similar to the current RFQ process, in which a FLEX Trader can elect to trade or not trade with the best prices from the crowd, or announce an intention to cross. Currently, the Exchange has set a crossing entitlement for facilitations and solicitations of FLEX Orders in all classes to be 40%. As set forth in current Rule 6.74(d) (Rule 5.87(f) of the shell Rulebook), the Exchange may similarly set a crossing entitlement on a class-by-class basis up to 40%. The Exchange intends to set this entitlement for FLEX Orders at 40% in all classes, as it does today. Rule 5.87(f) of the shell Rulebook requires a Floor Broker representing an eligible-sized order to request bids and offers for a series. Once the trading crowd has provided a quote, once a reasonable amount of time has passed, there is a significant change in the price of the underlying, or the price of the responses has been improved, the Floor Broker may cross the applicable percentage of the order, after all Public Customer orders in the book or crowd have been satisfied. This is similar to how a FLEX Trader may cross a FLEX Order in open outcry, as noted above. Specifically, a FLEX Trader would request a market, and after a reasonable amount of time has passed, announce an intention to cross, and receive a crossing entitlement after Public Customer interest has been satisfied. Therefore, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change will have a minimal (if any) impact on the crossing of FLEX Orders in open outcry.

The proposed rule change eliminates the formal BBO Improvement Interval. However, pursuant to general open outcry rules regarding crossing, as noted in the previous paragraph, if a FLEX Trader announces an intention to cross a FLEX Order, the FLEX Trader must provide time for the trading crowd to submit bids and offers (which is equivalent to what occurs during the BBO Improvement Interval). Similarly, if there is no intention to cross, but the FLEX Trader elects to not trade or there is insufficient size, the crowd may make subsequent bids and offers in a reasonably prompt manner.

The proposed allocation is substantially similar to the allocation for non-FLEX trading in open outcry, excluding the provisions that are inapplicable to FLEX trading, and to the current allocation for FLEX trading in open outcry (if there were no FLEX Appointed Market-Makers, and if the Exchange determined to not offer an electronic book for FLEX Options pursuant to its authority under the current Rules). With respect to allocation, best-priced responses will continue to have first priority. With respect to responses at the same price, because there will be no electronic Book for FLEX Options, there can be no Priority Customer FLEX Orders resting in the book that would receive first priority at the same price. Additionally, there will be no FLEX Appointed Market-Makers, so there will be no participation entitlement applicable to FLEX trading. The crossing participation will continue to next priority. All other interest in the crowd will continue to then have priority in the sequence in which they were made; to the extent multiple bids or offers were submitted at the same time, or if the Submitting FLEX Trader cannot reasonable determine the sequence in which they were made, priority will be apportioned equally among those bids and offers. As there will be no electronic book of orders for FLEX Options, there will be no non-customer orders in the book that would be eligible for execution after all other interest trades. Therefore, the proposed rule change will have minimal (if any) impact on the allocation of responses in open outcry trades of FLEX Orders.

As is the case regarding the proposed electronic FLEX Auction described above, the proposed rule change simplifies the process pursuant to which FLEX Traders may execute FLEX Orders on the Exchange in open outcry. As demonstrated above, the general open outcry trading rules are substantially similar to the current open outcry RFQ procedure for FLEX Options. However, the proposed rule change eliminates the terminology that applies only to FLEX trading. FLEX Traders are more familiar with the general open outcry trading procedures, and therefore, by aligning the open outcry trading process for FLEX Options with that of non-FLEX Options, and permitting FLEX trading in the same manner as non-FLEX trading on the Exchange's trading floor, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change may encourage TPHs to submit FLEX Orders for execution. The Exchange believes the proposed rule change may reduce confusion regarding how FLEX Orders may trade in open outcry, given that any minor differences between the two processes that exist today are being eliminated. However, as noted above, one difference that will remain is the minimum amount of time that the trading crowd will have to respond to a request for a market or to a represented FLEX Order, which will ensure the crowd has sufficient time to price the unique terms of FLEX Options. The proposed range of a reasonable time that must be three seconds (but no more than five minutes), is consistent with the current Rule, which requires the response period to be at least three seconds. The Exchange believes the maximum time accommodate this pricing while permitting executions of FLEX Orders to be completed in a more timely fashion. As a result, the Exchange believes the proposed auction will fit more seamlessly into the Exchange's market. The Exchange also believes this will encourage FLEX Traders to compete vigorously and potentially provide price improvement for FLEX Orders in a competitive auction process, as they do for non-FLEX Orders.

The proposed rule change deletes current Rule 24A.5(c), which states that acceptance of any bid or offer creates a binding contract under Rule 6.48 in the current Rulebook (which the Exchange intends to move to Rule 5.11 in the shell Rulebook). Current Rule 6.48 applies to all acceptances of bids and offers on the Exchange, including FLEX bids and offers, and thus the Exchange does not believe it is necessary to include a separate provision in the FLEX Rules. This has no impact on the binding nature of the acceptance of bids and offers on FLEX Options pursuant to proposed Rule 5.72.

The proposed rule change moves the provision that states all transactions must be in compliance with Section 11(a)(1) of the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder, including the description of the activity prohibited by Section 11(a)(1), from current Rule 24A.5(d)(4) (as well as current Rules 24A.5(a)(2)(v)(B) and (b)(2)(ii), which are cross-referenced in Rule 24A.5(d)(4)) to proposed Rule 5.72(e). The proposed rule change amends this provision to state that it applies to all executions of FLEX Orders, as this provision is only applicable to FLEX trading. The proposed rule change deletes current Rule 24A.5(d)(4)(i) and (iii) regarding the market-maker exemption and the effect versus execute exemption, respectively. Those exemptions will continue to be available to FLEX Traders with respect to FLEX trading. However, there is nothing unique about the applicability of those exemptions to FLEX trading, as they are available to all market participants with respect to all trading in the same manner. Additionally, the proposed rule change deletes current Rule 24A.5(d)(4)(iv), which states that a TPH may rely on any other exception to comply with the requirements of Section 11(a)(1) and the rules promulgated thereunder. That will continue to be true, and is captured by the introductory language in proposed Rule 5.72(e), which references that an exception to Section 11(a)(1) may apply. Because, FLEX traders may currently rely on the “G” exemption for electronic FLEX trading given the current priority structure but will no longer be able to rely on that exemption with respect to electronic FLEX trading given the proposed priority changes (see discussion above regarding this change), the proposed rule change makes clear that the “G” exemption will only be available for FLEX Orders represented in open outcry, as long as the TPH relying on that exemption yields priority to any bid (offer) at the same price that is represented by all other bids (offers) that have priority over the TPH's order pursuant to proposed Rule 5.72. The proposed rule change also states that a TPH may not submit an electronic FLEX Order pursuant to proposed Rule 5.72(b), Rule 5.73, or Rule 5.74 to effect any proprietary order transactions by relying on the “G” exemption. As discussed below, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 11(a) of the Exchange Act.

The proposed rule change deletes current Rule 24A.5, Interpretation and Policy .03 regarding post-trade verification procedures for electronic RFQs for complex orders. Due to the System updates in connection with the System migration, parties to FLEX transactions will no longer need to take additional steps with respect to executions of complex orders following an electronic FLEX Auction. These procedures require FLEX Traders to input the leg price, exercise price, and/or premium information into the System following execution of a complex FLEX Order. As discussed above, FLEX Traders must submit all of this information upon entry of a FLEX Order. Therefore, pursuant to the proposed rule change, a FLEX Trader will be required to input the same information for each leg of a complex FLEX Order prior to submission rather than following execution. A FLEX Trader may request nullification of a FLEX Option transaction if it did not conform to the terms in proposed Rule 4.21, or update any inaccurate information in a complex FLEX Order in the same manner as any TPH may update any inaccurate information in any order pursuant to current Rule 6.67. Because all FLEX Orders will now be systematized, as discussed above, there is no longer a need for separate procedures regarding the correction of inaccurate information entered for FLEX transactions.

The proposed rule change moves the provisions in Rules 24A.1(i) and 24A.14 in the current Rulebook regarding FLEX Officials to Rule 5.75 in the shell Rulebook. The proposed rule change makes only nonsubstantive changes to this Rule, including to make the Rule plain English, delete redundant language (such as saying any TPH approved to act as a Market-Maker, as pursuant to Rule 8.1 in the current Rulebook, a Market-Maker must be a TPH), incorporate defined terms (including the term “ICMP,” which is an in-crowd Market-Maker, on-floor designated primary market-maker or lead market-maker with an allocation in a class, or a floor broker or PAR official representing an order in the trading crowd on a trading floor ), and update cross-references and paragraph lettering and numbering. FLEX Officials will have the same responsibilities as they do today.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”) and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to the Exchange and, in particular, the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act. Specifically, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Section 6(b)(5) requirements that the rules of an exchange be 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 regulating, clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and 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. Additionally, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Section 6(b)(5) requirement that the rules of an exchange not be designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.

In particular, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change will remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market, and protect investors and the public interest. As described above, the proposed electronic FLEX Auction is closely aligned to the Exchange's other electronic auctions for non-FLEX Options, and the proposed open outcry FLEX Auction is closely aligned with the current open outcry trading process for non-FLEX Options, but are still similar to the FLEX trading processes in place today. The proposed rule change merely eliminates many of the differences between FLEX and non-FLEX trading to eliminate potential confusion for market participants given the current differences, while implementing trading processes with which market participants are more familiar. As a result, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change will have minimal impact on the trading of FLEX Auctions, and possibly increase participation in FLEX Auctions, which could add liquidity to the Exchange's FLEX Market, which ultimately benefits investors. Additionally, with respect to electronic trading, market participants are more familiar with this type of functionality and have their systems coded to conform to these types of auctions. The Exchange has received feedback from market participants indicating the difficulty and additional resources necessary to code to the nonstandard FLEX RFQ process given the multiple intervals.

Additionally, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change will permit executions of FLEX Orders to be completed in a more timely fashion, while providing the crowd with sufficient time to price the unique terms of FLEX Options (as the proposed ranges for the duration of the electronic and open outcry FLEX Auctions are consistent with current Rules). The Exchange believes the proposed auction processes will ultimately benefit investors, as they will provide TPHs with greater harmonization of auction mechanisms on the Exchange. The Exchange believes the proposed auctions will provide mechanisms for more efficient and timely executions of FLEX Options, given participants' familiarity with the trading processes and reasonable durations of the auctions. Additionally, by providing for automatic executions following electronic auctions of FLEX Orders, the Exchange believes there will be more certainty of execution at the end of an auction, unlike today, when a FLEX Trader may reject the market after a period of potentially minutes. The Exchange believes the proposed auctions will encourage FLEX Traders to continue to compete vigorously and potentially provide price improvement for FLEX Orders in a competitive auction process, as they do for non-FLEX Orders, as they will be encouraged to submit their best-priced bids and offers during the auctions to have the opportunity to execute against the FLEX Order.

By permitting FLEX Options to trade in a manner similar to non-FLEX Options, the Exchange believes this further improves a comparable alternative to the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market in customized options. By enhancing our FLEX trading platform and making it similar to trading procedures in non-FLEX options, with which market participants are generally more familiar, the Exchange believes it may be a more attractive alternative to the OTC market. The Exchange believes market participants benefit from being able to trade customized options in an exchange environment in several ways, including but not limited to the following: (1) Enhanced efficiency in initiating and closing out position; (2) increased market transparency; and (3) heightened contra-party creditworthiness due to the role of OCC as issuer and guarantor of FLEX Options.

The Exchange believes the proposed rule change to eliminate the ability for FLEX Traders to specify exercise prices for FLEX Index Options as a method for fixing an index value or dollar amount at the time of a FLEX RFQ or a FLEX Order is traded, or as a percentage of the index value calculated at the time of the trade, and for FLEX Equity Options, as a method for fixing a dollar amount at the time of a FLEX RFQ or a FLEX Order is traded, or as a percentage of the price of the underlying security at the time of the trade will have no impact on FLEX Trading. As noted above, FLEX Traders only designate an exercise price for a FLEX series as a fixed amount or a percentage of the closing value of the underlying security or index, as applicable, on the trade date. Similarly, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change to eliminate the ability for FLEX traders to apply the hedge trade condition to orders will have no impact on FLEX Trading. As noted above, FLEX Traders do not apply this trade condition to FLEX Orders. Because FLEX Traders do not use this functionality, the Exchange believes it will benefit investors if the Exchange does not expend resources to rebuild on a new System functionality that is not in demand, and to not include references to unused functionality in the Exchange's rules. In addition, the current Rules permit the Exchange to make a FLEX Book available on a class-by-class basis. The Exchange currently makes a FLEX Book available; however, FLEX Traders were not submitting orders into that Book until recently (April 2019). Additionally, at that time (and since that time), only one FLEX Trader has been submitting FLEX Orders into the FLEX Book, and only for a limited purpose, as discussed above. The activity in the FLEX Book represented only approximately 1.2% of all FLEX trading from the period of April to August 2019. As a result, the proposed elimination of the Exchange's ability to make a FLEX Book available is consistent with the Exchange's current authority to not make a FLEX Book available, and will also have no significant impact on FLEX trading, given that the vast majority of FLEX trading occurs outside of the book, and given that only one customer has recently been using the book for a limited purpose.

The Exchange believes the proposed rule change to allow multiple electronic FLEX auctions to overlap will benefit investors, as it may lead to an increase in Exchange volume and permit the Exchange to further compete with the OTC market, while providing for additional opportunities for price discovery and execution. Although electronic FLEX Auctions will be allowed to overlap, the Exchange does not believe that this raises any issues that are not addressed through the proposal as described above. For example, although overlapping, each Auction will be started in a sequence and with a time that will determine its processing. Thus, even if there are two Auctions that commence and conclude, at nearly the same time, each Auction will have a distinct conclusion at which time the Auction will be allocated. Additionally, FLEX Orders submitted into an electronic FLEX Auction will be able to execute only against FLEX responses submitted to that Auction. If market participants desire to have interest execute against both FLEX Orders subject to concurring FLEX Auctions, market participants may submit responses to both Auctions.

Additionally, the proposed rule change to permit concurrent auctions is not novel, and is consistent with functionality already in place on other exchanges with respect to other types of auctions. The Exchange does not believe the unique terms of FLEX Options create any additional issues not previously considered by the Commission with respect to concurrent auctions. As described above, the Exchange believes concurrent auctions may increase execution opportunities, and permit more timely executions, of FLEX Orders in a more timely fashion, which would ultimately benefit investors. Additionally, the Rules do not currently prevent a COA of a complex order from occurring at the same time as an AIM in one of the components of a complex order subject to a COA. Therefore, the Exchange believes it is similarly reasonable to permit multiple FLEX Auctions in the same series to occur at the same time.

The proposed rule change to permit all FLEX Traders to respond to electronic FLEX Auctions will benefit investors. Permitting all FLEX traders to submit responses, as opposed to not permitting options market-makers at away exchanges to respond, may result in more FLEX Traders having the opportunity to participate in executions at the conclusion of electronic FLEX Auctions. Additionally, it may increase liquidity in these auctions, which may lead to more opportunities to price improvement and ultimately benefit investors.

The Exchange believes the proposed rule change regarding the time at which trading in FLEX Options will be available will benefit investors. Because market participants incorporate transaction prices of underlying securities or the values of underlying indexes when pricing options (including FLEX Options), the Exchange believes it will benefit investors for FLEX Options trading to not be available until that information has begun to be disseminated in the market. Because the Exchange will have no electronic book of resting orders for FLEX Options, and no opening rotation, at the time at which FLEX Trading opens, there are (and will be) no automatic executions. Therefore, being “open” for FLEX trading merely means that FLEX Traders may submit FLEX Orders into one of the various FLEX Auctions, at the conclusion of which executions in FLEX Auctions may occur (which are all discussed below). Additionally, the proposed trigger events occur for many underlying securities or indexes within one second of 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time (which is consistent with the current time at which the Exchange has determined to open FLEX Option classes), and the majority occur within ten seconds. Therefore, pursuant to the proposed rule change, the opening of FLEX Options for trading may occur over a longer timeframe, which would further reduce any potential market impact of the change to the opening time for FLEX Options. While the Exchange believes it is important to open series for trading as soon as possible, the Exchange also believes the proposed rule change will permit it to manage the number of FLEX Option series that may begin to trade during a short time period to ensure a fair and orderly opening in all options listed on the Exchange. The Exchange further believes aligning the trigger events for the opening of FLEX and non-FLEX Options may eliminate any confusion among market participants regarding when options with the same underlying are open for trading. The Exchange also notes that FLEX Options trading volume currently represents approximately 1.5% of total trading volume on the Exchange, and therefore the Exchange believes any potential market impact of this change would be de minimis.

The Exchange believes the proposed order types and instructions that will be available for FLEX Orders will promote just and equitable principles of trade, and benefit investors, because they will provide FLEX Traders with control over the executions of their FLEX Orders while being consistent with the proposed FLEX trading processes. Instructions that are available for non-FLEX Orders but will not be available for FLEX Orders are consistent with the fact that FLEX Orders will only be eligible to trade following an electronic or open outcry FLEX Auction and not rest in an electronic book or route away, and because there is no market for FLEX Options (for which most Order Instructions and Times-in-Force set forth in Rule 5.6 in the shell Rulebook are relevant). The Exchange believes making these order types, instructions, and times-in-force available for FLEX Orders is consistent with the Exchange's authority to designate availability of orders types on a class-by-class basis. The Exchange believes the proposed rule change will benefit investors by specifying the order types that are available for FLEX trading, as it provides investors with additional transparency.

Similarly, the proposed rule change regarding FLEX Order requirements will benefit investors, because it provides investors with additional transparency regarding complex order entry requirements for FLEX Options. As noted above, certain of the proposed requirements are consistent with current rules, while the restrictions on permissible combinations of exercise styles and settlement types on the leg components will have no impact on trading, as FLEX Traders do not currently trade complex orders with legs in the combinations that the proposed rule change proposes to restrict. Additionally, as noted above, the proposed rule change to require FLEX Traders to input the leg prices of complex FLEX Orders upon entry merely moves this requirement to the time of order submission rather than post-trade (as is required today). Additionally, much of the proposed rule change is merely relocating rules from the current Rulebook to the shell Rulebook, including flexible terms (such as settlement type, exercise price, exercise style, and expiration date) and fungibility provisions, and making only nonsubstantive changes, which will therefore have no impact on FLEX trading. The Exchange believes providing a reorganized, holistic rulebook upon migration will also benefit investors.

The proposed rule change to adopt electronic and open outcry FLEX Auctions is also consistent with Section 11(a)(1) of the Act and the rules promulgated thereunder. Generally, Section 11(a)(1) of the Act restricts any member of a national securities exchange from effecting any transaction on such exchange for (i) the member's own account, (ii) the account of a person associated with the member, or (iii) an account with respect to which the member or a person associated with the member exercises investment discretion, unless a specific exemption is available. Examples of common exemptions include the exemption for transactions by broker dealers acting in the capacity of a market maker under Section 11(a)(1)(A), the “G” exemption for yielding priority to non-members under Section 11(a)(1)(G) of the Act and Rule 11a1-1(T) thereunder, and “Effect vs. Execute” exemption under Rule 11a2-2(T) under the Act.

As noted above, FLEX Traders that effect FLEX transactions in open outcry may qualify for the “G” exemption by yielding priority to any bid (offer) at the same price of any other bid (offer) that has priority over those broker-dealer orders under this Rule. However, FLEX Traders may not rely on the “G” exemption to execute proprietary orders in the electronic FLEX Auctions as set forth in proposed Rule 5.72(e). Therefore, a FLEX Trader must ensure it complies with another exemption, such as the “Effect vs. Execute” exemption, when submitting proprietary FLEX Orders for electronic execution.

The “Effect vs. Execute” exemption permits an exchange member, subject to certain conditions, to effect transactions for covered accounts by arranging for an unaffiliated member to execute transactions on the exchange. To comply with Rule 11a2-2(T)'s conditions, a member: (a) Must transmit the order from off the exchange floor; (b) may not participate in the execution of the transaction once it has been transmitted to the member performing the execution; (c) may not be affiliated with the executing member; and (d) with respect to an account over which the member has investment discretion, neither the member nor its associated person may retain any compensation in connection with effecting the transaction except as provided in the Rule. For the reasons set forth below, the Exchange believes that TPHs entering orders into an electronic FLEX Auction would satisfy the requirements of Rule 11a2-2(T).

The Exchange believes the electronic platform component of the electronic FLEX Auction will place all users—both TPHs and non-TPHs on the “same footing” as intended by Rule11a2-2(T). Given the automated matching and execution at the conclusion of an electronic FLEX Auction, no TPH would enjoy any special control over the time of execution or special order handling advances for orders executed electronically following an electronic FLEX Auction, because such orders would be centrally processed for execution by computer, as compared to being handled by a member through bids and offers on the trading floor. Because the electronic trading platform components are designed to prevent any TPHs from gaining any time and place advantages, the Exchange believes the proposed electronic FLEX Auction satisfies the four components of the “Effect vs. Execute” rule as well as the general policy objectives of Section 11(a) of the Act.

In the context of automated trading systems, the Commission has found that the off-floor transmission requirement is met if a covered account order is transmitted from off the floor directly to the Exchange by electronic means. Because the Exchange's electronic FLEX Auction receives, and will continue to receive, orders from FLEX Traders electronically through remote terminals or computer-to-computer interfaces, the Exchange believes that orders submitted to an electronic FLEX Auction from off the Exchange's trading floor will satisfy the off-floor transmission requirement.

The second condition of Rule 11a2-2(T) requires that neither a member nor an associated person of such member participate in the execution of its order. The Exchange represents that, upon submission to an electronic FLEX Auction, an order or FLEX response will be executed automatically pursuant to the Rules set forth for electronic FLEX Auctions. In particular, execution of a FLEX Order or FLEX response sent to the electronic FLEX Auction depends not on the FLEX Trader entering the FLEX Order or FLEX response, but rather on what other orders and responses are present and the priority of those orders and responses. Thus, at no time following the submission of a FLEX Order or FLEX response is a FLEX Trader or associated person of such FLEX Trader able to acquire control or influence over the result or timing of order or response execution. Once the FLEX Order or FLEX response, as applicable, has been transmitted, the FLEX Trader that submitted the order or response, respectively, will not participate in its execution. No FLEX Trader, including the Submitting FLEX Trader, will see a FLEX response submitted into an electronic FLEX Auction, and therefore and will not be able to influence or guide the execution of their FLEX Orders or FLEX responses, as applicable.

Rule 11a2-2(T)'s third condition requires that the order be executed by an exchange member who is unaffiliated with the member initiating the order. The Commission has stated that the requirement is satisfied when automated exchange facilities, such as the electronic FLEX Auction, are used, as long as the design of these systems ensures that members do not possess any special or unique trading advantages in handling their orders after transmitting them to the exchange. The Exchange represents that the electronic FLEX Auction is designed so that no FLEX Trader has any special or unique trading advantage in the handling of its orders after transmitting its orders to the mechanism.

A TPH (not acting in a market-maker capacity) could submit an order for a covered account from off of the Exchange's trading floor to an unaffiliated Floor Broker for submission for execution in the FLEX Auction from the trading floor and satisfy the “Effect vs. Execute” exemption (assuming the other conditions are satisfied). However, a TPH could not submit an order for a covered account to its “house” Floor Broker on the trading floor for execution and rely on this exemption. Because a TPH may not rely on the “G” exemption when submitting a FLEX Order to an electronic FLEX Auction, it would need to ensure another exception applies in this situation.

Rule 11a2-2(T)'s fourth condition requires that, in the case of a transaction effected for an account with respect to which the initiating member or an associated person thereof exercises investment discretion, neither the initiating member nor any associated person thereof may retain any compensation in connection with effecting the transaction, unless the person authorized to transact business for the account has expressly provided otherwise by written contract referring to Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 11a2-2(T) thereunder. The Exchange recognizes that FLEX Traders relying on Rule 11a2-2(T) for transactions effected through the electronic FLEX Auction must comply with this condition of the Rule, and the Exchange will enforce this requirement pursuant to its obligations under Section 6(b)(1) of the Act to enforce compliance with federal securities laws.

Therefore, Exchange believes that the instant proposal is consistent with Rule 11a2-2(T), and that therefore the exception should apply in this case. Therefore, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 11(a) of the Act and the rules thereunder.

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 that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The Exchange does not believe the proposed rule change will impose any burden on intramarket competition, as the proposed rule change will apply in the same manner to all FLEX Orders submitted for electronic or open outcry execution. The trading of FLEX Auctions, and the use of either of the proposed FLEX Auctions, are voluntary for TPHs to use and will be available to all TPHs that register with the Exchange as FLEX Traders. As discussed above, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change should encourage FLEX Traders to compete amongst each other by responding with their best price and size for a particular auction. Because bids and offers in response to an Auction (whether electronic or open outcry) will have the same opportunity to execute against the FLEX Order (which is allocated in a pro-rata manner against bids and offers at the same price), a FLEX Trader will be encouraged to respond to FLEX Auctions with bids and offers at the best and most aggressive prices. The Exchange believes the proposed rule change will encourage FLEX Traders to compete vigorously to provide the opportunity for price improvement for FLEX Orders in a competitive auction process.

The Exchange does not believe the proposed rule change will impose any burden on intermarket competition. The proposed rule change simplifies the FLEX trading principles, and harmonizes the FLEX auction trading procedures with the non-FLEX trading. The Exchange believes aligning FLEX trading processes with non-FLEX trading processes with which FLEX Traders are familiar may further encourage FLEX trading on the Exchange. The Exchange believes this is a further improved and comparable alternative to the OTC market in customized options. By enhancing our FLEX trading platform and making it similar to trading procedures in non-FLEX options, with which market participants are generally more familiar, the Exchange believes it may be a more attractive alternative to the OTC market. The Exchange believes market participants benefit from being able to trade customized options in an exchange environment in several ways, including but not limited to the following: (1) Enhanced efficiency in initiating and closing out position; (2) increased market transparency; and (3) heightened contra-party creditworthiness due to the role of OCC as issuer and guarantor of FLEX Options.

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

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

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

Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not: (i) Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.

A proposed rule change filed pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6) under the Act normally does not become operative for 30 days after the date of its filing. However, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) permits the Commission to designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange has requested that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposed rule change may become operative prior to the proposed Exchange's system migration on October 7, 2019, in order to permit the Exchange to provide FLEX trading functionality to market participants on an uninterrupted basis. In support of its waiver request, the Exchange cites to similarities between its proposed rule and the rules for non-FLEX transactions pursuant to the Exchange's standard auction process. In addition, the Exchange notes similarities to certain functionalities already in place on other exchanges. Additionally, the Exchange states that the proposal relocates certain rules from the current Rulebook to the shell Rulebook, including flexible terms and fungibility provisions, and makes only non-substantive changes to such provisions, which the Exchange believes will have no impact on FLEX trading. The Exchange further notes that it has provided market participants with notice of this change in advance of the system migration. For these reasons, the Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. Accordingly, the Commission designates the proposed rule change to be operative upon filing.

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 will institute proceedings 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 ( http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml ); or
• Send an email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR-CBOE-2019-084 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-CBOE-2019-084. 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-CBOE-2019-084 and should be submitted on or before October 31, 2019.