An OEF may only transact business with Public Customers if such Participant also is a member of another registered national securities exchange or association with which the Exchange has entered into an agreement under Rule 17d-2 under the Exchange Act pursuant to which such other exchange or association shall be the designated options examining authority for the OEF. Eligibility to transact business with the public shall be based upon an OEF's meeting the general requirements set forth in this Options 10 and the net capital requirements set forth in Exchange Act Rule 15c3-1 (Net Capital Requirements). Such approval may be withdrawn if any such requirements cease to be met.

Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).

No OEF shall be approved to transact options business with the public until those associated persons who are designated as Options Principals have been approved by and registered with the Exchange. Persons engaged in the management and supervision of the OEF's business pertaining to options contracts shall be designated as Options Principals and shall have responsibility for the overall oversight of the OEF's options related activities on the Exchange.

Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).

(a) No OEF shall be approved to transact business with the public until those persons associated with it who are designated representatives have been approved by and registered with the Exchange.

(b) Persons who perform duties for the OEF which are customarily performed by sales representatives or branch office managers shall be designated as representatives of the OEF. A person accepting orders from non-Member customers (unless such customer is a broker-dealer registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission) is required to register with the Exchange and to be qualified by passing the General Securities Registered Representative Examination (Series 7).

Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).

The Exchange or BX Regulation may discipline, suspend or terminate the registration of any registered person for violation of the Rules of the Exchange or the Rules of the Clearing Corporation.

Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).

(a) Every OEF approved to do options business with the public under this Options 10 shall file with BX Regulation and keep current a list of each of its branch offices showing the location of each such office and the name of the manager of each such office.

(b) No branch office of an OEF shall transact options business with the public unless the manager of such branch office has been qualified as a Registered Options Principal or General Securities Sales Supervisor; provided, that this requirement shall not apply to branch offices in which not more than three (3) representatives are located so long as the OEF can demonstrate to the satisfaction of BX Regulation that the options activities of such branch offices are appropriately supervised by a Registered Options Principal or.

Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039); amended September 14, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-041).

(a) Approval Required. No OEF shall accept an order from a Public Customer to purchase or write an options contract unless the Public Customer's account has been approved for options transactions in accordance with the provisions of this Rule.

(b) Diligence in Opening Account. In approving a Public Customer's account for options transactions, an OEF shall exercise due diligence to learn the essential facts as to the Public Customer and his investment objectives and financial situation, and shall make a record of such information, which shall be retained in accordance with SEC Rule 17a-4 under the Exchange Act. Based upon such information, the branch office manager or other Options Principal shall approve in writing the Public Customer's account for options transactions; provided, that if the branch office manager is not an Options Principal, his approval shall within a reasonable time be confirmed by an Options Principal.

(1) In fulfilling its obligations under this paragraph (b) with respect to options Public Customers that are natural persons, an OEF shall seek to obtain the following information at a minimum (information shall be obtained for all participants in a joint account):

(A) investment objectives (e.g., safety of principal, income, growth, trading profits, speculation);

(B) employment status (name of employer, self-employed or retired);

(C) estimated annual income from all sources;

(D) estimated net worth (exclusive of primary residence);

(E) estimated liquid net worth (cash, securities, other);

(F) marital status;

(G) number of dependents;

(H) age; and

(I) investment experience and knowledge (e.g., number of years, size, frequency and type of transactions for options, stocks and bonds, commodities, other).

(2) In addition to the information required in subparagraph (b)(1) above, the Public Customer's account records shall contain the following information, if applicable:

(A) the source or sources of background and financial information (including estimates) concerning the Public Customer;

(B) discretionary trading authorization, including agreement on file, name, relationship to Public Customer and experience of person holding trading authority;

(C) date(s) options disclosure document(s) furnished to Public Customer;

(D) nature and types of transactions for which account is approved (e.g., buying, covered writing, uncovered writing, spreading, discretionary transactions);

(E) name of representative;

(F) name of the Options Principal approving account;

(G) date of approval; and

(H) dates of verification of currency of account information.

(3) Refusal of a Public Customer to provide any of the information called for in this paragraph (b) shall be so noted on the Public Customer's records at the time the account is opened. Information provided shall be considered together with other information available in determining whether and to what extent to approve the account for options transactions.

(c) Verification of Public Customer Background and Financial Information. The background and financial information upon which the account of every new Public Customer that is a natural person has been approved for options trading, including all of the information required in paragraph (b)(ii) of this Rule, unless the information is included in the Public Customer's account agreement, shall be sent to the Public Customer for verification or correction within fifteen (15) days after the Public Customer's account has been approved for options transactions. A copy of the background and financial information on file with the OEF shall also be sent to the Public Customer for verification within fifteen (15) days after the OEF becomes aware of any material change in the Public Customer's financial situation. Absent advice from the Public Customer to the contrary, the information will be deemed to be verified.

(d) Agreements to Be Obtained. Within fifteen (15) days after a Public Customer's account has been approved for options transactions, an OEF shall obtain from the Public Customer a written agreement that the account shall be handled in accordance with the Rules of the Exchange and the Rules of the Clearing Corporation and that such Public Customer, acting alone or in concert with others, will not violate the position or exercise limits set forth in Options 9, Section 13 and 15 of these Rules.

(e) Options Disclosure Documents to Be Furnished. At or prior to the time a Public Customer's account is approved for options transactions, an OEF shall furnish the Public Customer with one (1) or more current options disclosure documents issued by the OCC in accordance with the requirements of Options 10, Section 13 (Delivery of Current Options Disclosure Documents and Prospectus).

(f) Every OEF transacting business with the public in uncovered options contracts shall develop, implement and maintain specific written procedures governing the conduct of such business that shall at least include the following:

(A) specific criteria and standards to be used in evaluating the suitability of a Public Customer for uncovered short options transactions;

(B) specific procedures for approval of accounts engaged in writing uncovered short options contracts (which for the purposes of this Rule shall include combinations and any transactions that involve naked writing), including written approval of such accounts by an Options Principal;

(C) designation of a specific Registered Options Principal(s) as responsible for approving accounts that do not meet the specific criteria and standards for writing uncovered short options transactions and for maintaining written records of the reasons for every account so approved;

(D) establishment of specific minimum net equity requirements for initial approval and maintenance of Public Customer uncovered options accounts; and

(E) requirements that Public Customers approved for writing uncovered\short options transactions be provided with a special written description of the risks inherent in writing uncovered short options transactions, at or prior to the initial uncovered short options transaction pursuant to Options 10, Section 13 (Delivery of Current Options Disclosure Documents and Prospectus).

Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039); amended September 14, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-041).

(a) Duty to Supervise - General. Each Member that conducts a public customer options business shall ensure that its written supervisory system policies and procedures pursuant to FINRA Rules 3110, 3120, 3130 and 3170 adequately address the Member's public customer options business.

(b) Duty to Supervise — Non-Participant Accounts. Every OEF shall develop and implement a written program for the review of the its non-Participant Public Customer accounts and all orders in such accounts, insofar as such accounts and orders relate to options contracts.

(c) Duty to Supervise — Uncovered Short Options. Every OEF shall develop and implement specific written procedures concerning the manner of supervision of Public Customer accounts maintaining uncovered short (written) options positions (which for the purposes of this Rule shall include combinations and any transactions that involve naked writing) and specifically providing for frequent supervisory review of such accounts.

(d) Maintenance of Public Customer Records. Background and financial information of Public Customers who have been approved for options transactions shall be maintained at the principal supervisory office having jurisdiction over the office servicing a Public Customer's account, or shall have readily accessible and promptly retrievable, information to permit review of each Public Customer's options account on a timely basis to determine:

(A) the compatibility of options transactions with investment objectives and with the types of transactions for which the account was approved;

(B) the size and frequency of options transactions;

(C) commission activity in the account;

(D) profit or loss in the account;

(E) undue concentration in any options class or classes; and

(F) compliance with the provisions of Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board.

Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).

(a) Every OEF, Options Principal or representative who recommends to a Public Customer the purchase or sale (writing) of any options contract shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the recommendation is not unsuitable for such Public Customer on the basis of the information furnished by such Public Customer after reasonable inquiry as to his investment objectives, financial situation and needs, and any other information known by such OEF, Options Principal or representative.

(b) No OEF, Options Principal or representative shall recommend to a Public Customer an opening transaction in any options contract unless the person making the\recommendation has a reasonable basis for believing at the time of making the recommendation that the Public Customer has such knowledge and experience in financial matters that he may reasonably be expected to be capable of evaluating the risks of the recommended transaction, and is financially able to bear the risks of the recommended position in the options contract.

Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).

(a) Authorization and Approval Required. No OEF shall exercise any discretionary power with respect to trading in options contracts in a Public Customer's account unless such Public Customer has given prior written authorization and the account has been accepted in writing by a Registered Options Principal.

(1) Each participant shall designate specific Registered Options Principal to review discretionary accounts. A Registered Options Principal other than the Registered Options Principal who accepted the account shall review the acceptance of each discretionary account to determine that the Registered Options Principal accepting the account had a reasonable basis for believing that the Public Customer was able to understand and bear the risks of the strategies or transactions proposed, and the reviewing Registered Options Principal shall maintain a record of the basis for his determination.

(2) Every discretionary order shall be identified as discretionary on the order at the time of its entry into BX Options market.

(3) Discretionary accounts shall receive frequent appropriate supervisory review by a Registered Options Principal who is not exercising the discretionary authority.

(b) Record of Transactions. A record shall be made of every options transaction for an account with respect to which an OEF is vested with any discretionary power, such record to include the name of the Public Customer, options class and series, number of contracts, premium, and date and time when such transaction took place.

(c) Excessive Transactions Prohibited. No OEF shall effect with or for any Public Customer's account with respect to which such Participant is vested with any discretionary power any transactions of purchase or sale of options contracts that are excessive in size or frequency in view of the financial resources and character of such account.

(d) Options Programs. Where the discretionary account utilizes options programs involving the systematic use of one or more options strategies, the Public Customer shall be furnished with a written explanation of the nature and risks of such programs.

(e) Discretion as to Price or Time Excepted. This rule shall not apply to discretion as to the price at which or the time when an order given by a customer for the purchase or sale of a definite number of option contracts in a specified security shall be executed, except that the authority to exercise time and price discretion will be considered to be in effect only until the end of the business day on which the customer granted such discretion, absent a specific, written contrary indication signed and dated by the customer. This limitation shall not apply to time and price discretion exercised in an institutional account, as defined in General 9, Section 30(b)(2) pursuant to valid Good-Till-Cancelled instructions issued on a "not held" basis. Any exercise of time and price discretion must be reflected on the order ticket.

(f) Any participant that does not utilize computerized surveillance tools for the frequent and appropriate review of discretionary account activity must establish and implement procedures to require Registered Options Principal qualified individuals who have been designated to review discretionary accounts to approve and initial each discretionary order on the day entered.

Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039); amended September 14, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-041).

(a) Every OEF shall promptly furnish to each Public Customer a written confirmation of each transaction in options contracts that shows the underlying security, type of options, expiration month, exercise price, number of options contracts, premium, commissions, date of transaction and settlement date, and shall indicate whether the transaction is a purchase or sale and whether a principal or agency transaction.

(b) The confirmation shall, by appropriate symbols, distinguish between Exchange options transactions and other transactions in option contracts though such confirmation does not need to specify the exchange or exchanges on which such option contracts were executed.

Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).

(a) Every OEF shall send to its Public Customers a statement of account showing security and money positions, entries, interest charges and any special charges that have been assessed against such account during the period covered by the statement; provided, however, that such charges need not be specifically delineated on the statement if they are otherwise accounted for on the statement and have been itemized on transaction confirmations.

(b) With respect to options Public Customers having a general (margin) account, the Public Customer statement shall also provide the mark-to-market price and market value of each options position and other security position in the general (margin) account, the total market value of all positions in the account, the outstanding debit or credit balance in the account, and the general (margin) account equity. For purposes of this paragraph (b), general (margin) account equity shall be computed by subtracting the total of the short security values and any debit balance from the total of the long security values and any credit balance.

(c) The Public Customer statement shall bear a legend stating that further information with respect to commissions and other charges related to the execution of listed options transactions has been included in confirmations of such transactions previously furnished to the Public Customer, and that such information will be made available to the Public Customer promptly upon request.

(d) Public Customer statements shall bear a legend requesting that the Public Customer promptly advise the Participant of any material change in the Public Customer's investment objectives or financial situation.

(e) Public Customer statements shall be sent at least quarterly to all accounts having a money or a security position during the preceding quarter and at least monthly to all accounts having an entry during the preceding month.

Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).

Every OEF shall send to each of its Public Customers statements of the Participant's financial condition as required by SEC Rule 17a-5 under the Exchange Act.

Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).

(a) Options Disclosure Documents. Every OEF shall deliver a current options disclosure document issued by the OCC to each Public Customer at or prior to the time such Public Customer's account is approved for options transactions. Where a Public Customer is a broker or dealer, the OEF shall take reasonable steps to assure that such broker or dealer is furnished reasonable quantities of current options disclosure documents, as requested by the broker or dealer, to enable it to comply with the requirements of this Rule.

(1) The term "current options disclosure document" means, as to any category of underlying security, the most recent edition of such document that meets the requirements of Rule 9b-1 under the Exchange Act.

(2) A copy of each amendment to an options disclosure document shall be furnished to each Public Customer who was previously furnished the options disclosure document to which the amendment pertains, not later than the time a confirmation of a transaction in the category of options to which the amendment pertains is delivered to such Public Customer. BX Regulation will advise OEFs when an options disclosure document is amended.

(b) The written description of risks required by this Rule shall be in a format prescribed by the Exchange or in a format developed by the Participant, provided it contains substantially similar information as the prescribed Exchange format and has received prior written approval of the Exchange.

(c) Below is a sample risk description for use by OEFs to satisfy the requirements of paragraph (b) of this Rule:

Special Statement for Uncovered Options Writers.

There are special risks associated with uncovered options writing which expose the investor to potentially significant loss. Therefore, this type of strategy may not be suitable for all Public Customers approved for options transactions.

1. The potential loss of uncovered call writing is unlimited. The writer of an uncovered call is in an extremely risky position, and may incur large losses if the value of the underlying instrument increases above the exercise price.

2. As with writing uncovered calls, the risk of writing uncovered put options is substantial. The writer of an uncovered put option bears a risk of loss if the value of the underlying instrument declines below the exercise price. Such loss could be substantial if there is a significant decline in the value of the underlying instrument.

3. Uncovered options writing is thus suitable only for the knowledgeable investor who understands the risks, has the financial capacity and willingness to incur potentially substantial losses, and has sufficient liquid assets to meet applicable margin requirements. In this regard, if the value of the underlying instrument moves against an uncovered writer's options position, the investor's broker may request significant additional margin payments. If an investor does not make such margin payments, the broker may liquidate stock or options positions in the investor's account with little or no prior notice in accordance with the investor's margin agreement.

4. For combination writing, where the investor writes both a put and a call on the same underlying instrument, the potential risk is unlimited.

5. If a secondary market in options were to become unavailable, investors could not engage in closing transactions, and an options writer would remain obligated until expiration or assignment.

6. The writer of an American-style option is subject to being assigned an exercise at any time after he has written the option until the option expires. By contrast, the writer of a European-style option is subject to exercise assignment only during the exercise period. NOTE: It is expected that you will read the booklet entitled CHARACTERISTICS AND RISKS OF STANDARDIZED OPTIONS available from your broker. In particular, your attention is directed to the chapter entitled Risks of Buying and Writing Options. This statement is not intended to enumerate all of the risks entailed in writing uncovered options.

Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).

(a) No OEF shall lend, either to itself or to others, securities carried for the account of any Public Customer, unless such OEF shall first have obtained a separate written authorization from such Public Customer permitting the lending of the securities.

(b) Regardless of any agreement between an OEF and a Public Customer authorizing the OEF to lend or pledge such securities, no OEF shall lend or pledge more of such securities than is fair and reasonable in view of the indebtedness of the Public Customer to such OEF, except such lending as may be specifically authorized under paragraph (c) of this Rule.

(c) No OEF shall lend securities carried for the account of any Public Customer that have been fully paid for, or that are in excess of the amount that may be loaned in view of the indebtedness of the Public Customer, unless such OEF first obtains from such Public Customer a separate written authorization designating the particular securities to be loaned.

(d) No OEF shall hold securities carried for the account of any Public Customer that have been fully paid for, or that are in excess of the amount that may be pledged in view of the indebtedness of the Public Customer, unless such securities are segregated and identified by a method that clearly indicates the interest of such Public Customer in those securities.

Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).

(a) No OEF shall execute any transaction in securities or carry a position in any security in which:

(1) an officer or employee of the Exchange, BX Regulation, BX Options or any national securities exchange that is a participant of the Clearing Corporation, or an officer or employee of a corporation in which the Exchange, or such other exchange owns the majority of the capital stock, is directly or indirectly interested, without the prior written consent of the Exchange; or

(2) a partner, officer, director, principal shareholder or employee of another OEF is directly or indirectly interested, without the consent of such other OEF.

(b) Where the required consent has been granted, duplicate reports of the transaction and position shall promptly be sent to the Exchange or OEF, as the case may be.

Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).

No OEF shall guarantee a Public Customer against loss in his account or in any transaction effected with or for such Public Customer.

Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).

(a) No OEF, person associated with an OEF or Options Principal shall share directly or indirectly in the profits or losses in any Public Customer's account, whether carried by such OEF, or any other OEF, without the prior written consent of the OEF carrying the account.

(b) Where such consent is obtained, the OEF, person associated with an OEF or Options Principal shall share in the profits or losses in such account only in direct proportion to the financial contribution made to the account by such person.

Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).

No OEF shall assume for its own account any position established for a Public Customer in a security traded on the Exchange after a loss to the Public Customer has been established or ascertained, unless the position was created by the OEF's mistake or unless approval of BX Regulation has first been obtained.

Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).

Every Options Participant shall expedite the transfer of a customer's account pursuant to General 9, Section 1 and Equity Rule 11870.

Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).

(a) Options Participants and associated persons of Options Participants shall be bound to comply with the Communications with Public Customers rule of the FINRA, as applicable, as though said rules were part of these Rules.

(b) No OEF shall address any communications to a Public Customer in care of any other person unless either: (1) the Public Customer, within the preceding twelve (12) months, has instructed the OEF in writing to send communications in care of such other persons, or (2) duplicate copies are sent to the Public Customer at some other address designated in writing by him.

Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).

Options Participants approved to transact business with the public under these Rules and every Clearing Participant shall comply with all applicable provisions of General 9, Section 39.

Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).

(a) Every OEF conducting a non-Participant Public Customer business shall make and keep current a separate central log, index or other file for all options-related complaints, through which these complaints can easily be identified and retrieved.

(b) The term "options-related complaint" shall mean any written statement by a Public Customer or person acting on behalf of a Public Customer alleging a grievance arising out of or in connection with listed options.

(c) The central file shall be located at the principal place of business of the Participant or such other principal office as shall be designated by the OEF.

(1) Each options-related complaint received by a branch office of an OEF shall be forwarded to the office in which the separate, central file is located not later than thirty (30) days after receipt by the branch office.

(2) A copy of every options-related complaint shall be maintained at the branch office that is the subject of a complaint.

(d) At a minimum, the central file shall include:

(1) identification of complainant;

(2) date complaint was received;

(3) identification of the representative servicing the account, if applicable;

(4) a general description of the subject of the complaint; and

(5) a record of what action, if any, has been taken by the Participant with respect to the complaint.

Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).

Options Participants and associated persons shall comply with all applicable provisions of General 9, Section 5.

Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).

Except with the express written permission of BX Regulation, every registered person shall devote his entire time during business hours to the business of the OEF employing him, or to the business of its affiliates that are engaged in the transaction of business as a broker or dealer in securities or commodities or in such other businesses as have been approved by the OEF's designated examining authority.

Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).

Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).

Amended Nov. 22, 2022 (SR-BX-2022-024).

Amended Nov. 22, 2022 (SR-BX-2022-024).