General 2 Organization and Administration
Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).
(a) The Board of Directors shall have the power (i) to establish, assess and levy
such fees, dues and other charges (including, without limitation, any extraordinary assessments) upon
members and any other persons using the facilities or services of the Exchange, and upon applicants for and
persons being admitted, registered, qualified and/or initiated to any such status, in each case as the Board
of Directors may from time to time establish by resolution or in the Rules of the Exchange (which shall be
deemed to include any schedule of fees, dues, other charges and penalties as may be in effect from time to
time), (ii) to establish rebates, credits and discounts with respect to any of the foregoing, (iii) to
establish programs whereby the Exchange shares or permits any person to participate in any identified source
of revenues (less any expenses or other charges as the Exchange shall determine) of the Exchange, (iv) to
provide for the direct reimbursement to the Exchange of any cost, expense or category thereof, and (v)
except insofar as otherwise specified or provided for in the By-Laws, to establish and assess penalties for
failure to pay any fees, dues or charges owed to the Exchange, including, without limitation, termination of
membership (which membership may be reissued) and forfeiture of all rights as a member. The Board of
Directors may authorize any committee thereof or the Chair of the Board of Directors to exercise any powers
of the Board of Directors with respect to the assessment of fees, dues, other charges and penalties
authorized in accordance with this Rule.
(b) Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the By-Laws, the Board of
Directors may, from time to time, fix and impose charges upon members, measured by their respective net
commissions on transactions effected on the Exchange. Such charges shall be payable at such times and shall
be collected in such manner as may be determined by the Board of Directors.
(c) The obligation of members to abide by the provisions of these By-Laws and the
Rules of the Exchange shall include, without limitation, the obligation to pay all applicable fees, dues and
other charges imposed thereon by these By-Laws or the Rules of the Exchange.
(d) The Board of Directors or their designee may suspend or terminate, after due
notice, any permit or rights of any member or employee thereof using facilities or services of the Exchange,
or enjoying any of the privileges therein, who shall not pay dues, fees, other charges, other monies due and
owed the Exchange, fines and/or other monetary sanctions in accordance with the Rules of the Exchange.
Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).
Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).
(a) No member or person associated with a member shall be the beneficial owner of
greater than twenty percent (20%) of the then-outstanding voting securities of Nasdaq, Inc.
(b) For purposes of this Rule, any calculation of the number of shares of common
stock outstanding at any particular time shall be made in accordance with the last sentence of SEC Rule
13d-3(d)(1)(i)(D). The term "beneficial owner" shall have the meaning set forth in the Restated Certificate
of Incorporation of Nasdaq, Inc.
Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).
(a) The Exchange and FINRA are parties to the FINRA Regulatory Contract, pursuant
to
which FINRA has agreed to perform certain functions described in the Equity Rules on behalf of the Exchange.
Equity Rules that refer to the Exchange's Regulation Department, Regulation Department staff, Exchange
staff, and Exchange departments should be understood as also referring to FINRA staff and FINRA departments
acting on behalf of the Exchange pursuant to the FINRA Regulatory Contract.
(b) Notwithstanding the fact that the Exchange has entered into the FINRA
Regulatory
Contract with FINRA to perform some of the Exchange's functions, the Exchange shall retain ultimate legal
responsibility for, and control of, such functions.
(c) In addition, the Exchange has incorporated by reference
certain FINRA rules. Exchange members shall comply with these rules and interpretations as if such rules and
interpretations were part of the General Equity and Options Rules.
Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039); amended March 8, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-006), operative Jan. 24, 2022.
(a) The General Equity and Options Rules and Equity Rules shall apply to all
members
and persons associated with a member. Persons associated with a member shall have the same duties and
obligations as a member under the Equity Rules.
(b) The 9000 Series and General 6 of these Rules and the Grandfathered
Rules shall
apply to all former BOX Options Participants and associated persons for activities that occurred during the
time that BOX was a facility of the Exchange. The Grandfathered Rules shall also apply to activities of
members, members organizations, persons associated with members, and other persons subject to the
jurisdiction of the Exchange that occurred prior to the adoption of the Equity Rules.
(c) A member or person associated with a member, who has been expelled, canceled or
revoked from membership or from registration or who has been barred from being associated with all members,
shall cease to have any privileges of membership or registration. A member or person associated with a
member who has been suspended from membership or registration shall also cease to have any privileges of
membership or registration other than those under the Code of Procedure as set forth in the Rule 9000
Series. In neither case shall such a member or person associated with a member be entitled to recover any
admission fees, dues, assessments or other charges paid to the Exchange.
(d) A member or person associated with a member who has been suspended from
membership or from registration shall be considered as a non-member during the period of suspension for
purposes of applying the provisions of the Equity Rules which govern dealings between members and
non-members. However, such member or person associated with a member shall have all of the obligations
imposed by the Equity Rules.
Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039); amended Oct. 9, 2018 (SR-BX-2018-048), operative Apr. 12, 2022.
(a) In furtherance of the independence of the Exchange's regulatory functions from
its commercial operations, the Exchange shall ensure that, unless it obtains prior Commission approval, the
regulatory functions subject to the FINRA Regulatory Contract shall at all times continue to be performed by
FINRA or an affiliate thereof or by another independent self-regulatory organization.
Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039); amended June 4, 2020 (SR-BX-2020-007).
Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039); amended December 21, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-051), operative December 31, 2021.
The Secretary of the Exchange shall keep a currently accurate and complete membership roll, containing the
name and address of each Exchange member, and the name and address of the executive representative of each
Exchange member. In any case where a membership has been terminated, such fact shall be recorded together
with the date on which the membership ceased. The membership roll of the Exchange shall at all times be
available to all members of the Exchange, to all governmental authorities, and to the general public;
provided, however, that the names and address of executive representatives shall not be available to the
general public. For the purpose of complying with pertinent Rules, a member shall be entitled to rely on
such membership roll.
Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).
Each Exchange member shall appoint and certify to the Secretary of the Exchange one "executive
representative" who shall represent, vote, and act for the Exchange member in all the affairs of the
Exchange; provided, however, that other representatives of an Exchange member may also serve on the Exchange
Board or committees of the Exchange or otherwise take part in the affairs of the Exchange. If an Exchange
member is also a member of FINRA or Nasdaq, the Exchange executive representative shall be the same person
appointed to serve as the FINRA or Nasdaq executive representative. An Exchange member may change its
executive representative or appoint a substitute for its executive representative upon giving notice thereof
to the Exchange Secretary via electronic process or such other process as the Exchange may prescribe. An
executive representative of an Exchange member or a substitute shall be a member of senior management. Each
executive representative shall maintain an Internet electronic mail account for communication with the
Exchange and shall update firm contact information as prescribed by the Exchange. Each member shall review
and, if necessary, update its executive representative designation and contact information in the manner
prescribed by General 2, Section 11.
Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).
(a) Each member shall report to the Exchange all contact information required by
the
Exchange via the FINRA Contact System.
(b) Each member shall update its required contact information promptly, but in any
event not later than 30 days following any change in such information. In addition, each member shall review
and, if necessary, update its required contact information, via such means as the Exchange may specify,
within 17 business days after the end of each calendar year.
(c) Each member shall comply with any Exchange request for such information
promptly, but in any event not later than 15 days following the request, or such longer period that may be
agreed to by Exchange staff.
Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).
With respect to the Exchange's business continuity and disaster recovery plans, including its backup systems,
the Exchange shall:
(a) Establish standards for the designation of those Members and Options
Participants that the Exchange reasonably determines are, taken as a whole, the minimum necessary for the
maintenance of fair and orderly markets in the event of the activation of such plans. Such standards may
include volume-based and/or market share-based criteria, and may be adjusted from time to time by the
Exchange. The Exchange will provide public notice of the standards;
(b) Designate Members and Options Participants pursuant to the standards
established
in paragraph (a) of this Rule and require participation by such designated Members and Options Participants
in scheduled functional and performance testing of the operation of such plans, in the manner and frequency
specified by the Exchange, provided that such frequency shall not be less than once every 12 months. The
Exchange will provide at least six months prior notice to Members and Options Participants that are
designated for mandatory testing, and participation of such Members and Options Participants is a condition
of membership.
Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).
(a) In order to enhance the physical security of the facilities, systems, data, and
information of the Exchange and its affiliates (collectively, the "Exchange Entities"), it shall be the
policy of the Exchange Entities to conduct a fingerprint-based criminal records check of (i) all prospective
and current employees of the Exchange Entities, (ii) all prospective and current independent contractors who
have or are anticipated to have access to facilities of the Exchange Entities for ten business days or
longer, and (iii) all prospective and current temporary employees who have or are anticipated to have access
to facilities of the Exchange Entities for ten business days or longer. The Exchange Entities shall apply
this policy in all circumstances where permitted by applicable law.
(b) The Exchange Entities shall submit fingerprint cards obtained pursuant to the
foregoing policy to the Attorney General of the United States or his or her designee for identification and
processing. The Exchange Entities shall at all times maintain the security of fingerprint cards and
information received from the Attorney General or his or her designee.
(c) The Exchange Entities shall evaluate information received from the Attorney
General or his or her designee in accordance with the terms of a written fingerprint policy and provisions
of applicable law. A felony or serious misdemeanor conviction will be a factor in considering whether to
hire a prospective employee, take adverse employment action with respect to a current employee, or deny
prospective or current independent contractors or temporary employees access to facilities of the Exchange
Entities.
(d) All current and prospective employees, independent contractors, and temporary
employees of the Exchange Entities shall be fingerprinted prior to being given access to facilities of the
Exchange Entities that are subject to regulation by the Commission. All other current or prospective
employees, independent contractors, and temporary employees of the Exchange Entities shall be fingerprinted
as soon as practicable, either before or after the commencement of an employment or contracting
relationship. A prospective employee, independent contractor, or temporary employee who refuses to submit to
fingerprinting will be denied employment or access. A current employee, independent contractor, or temporary
employee who refuses to submit to fingerprinting will be denied employment or access following notice and
being given three opportunities to submit.
Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b):
(1) the Exchange or any entity with which it is affiliated shall not, directly or
indirectly, acquire or maintain an ownership interest in, or engage in a business venture with, an Exchange
member or an affiliate of an Exchange member in the absence of an effective filing under Section 19(b) of
the Act; and
(2) an Exchange member shall not be or become an affiliate of the Exchange, or an
affiliate of an entity affiliated with the Exchange, in the absence of an effective filing under Section
19(b) of the Act.
The term "affiliate" shall have the meaning specified in Rule 12b-2 under the Act;
provided, however, that for purposes of this Rule, one entity shall not be deemed to be an affiliate of
another entity solely by reason of having a common director. The term "business venture" means an
arrangement under which (A) the Exchange or an entity with which it is affiliated, and (B) an Exchange
member or an affiliate of an Exchange member, engage in joint activities with an expectation of shared
profit and a risk of shared loss from common entrepreneurial efforts.
(b) Nothing in this Rule shall prohibit, or require a filing under Section 19(b) of
the Act, for:
(1) an Exchange member or an affiliate of an Exchange member acquiring or holding
an
equity interest in Nasdaq, Inc. that is permitted by the ownership limitations contained in General 2,
Section 4, or
(2) the Exchange or an entity affiliated with the Exchange acquiring or maintaining
an ownership interest in, or engaging in a business venture with, an affiliate of an Exchange member if:
(A) there are information barriers between the member and the Exchange and its
facilities, such that the member
(i) will not be provided an informational advantage concerning the operation of the
Exchange and its facilities, and will not be provided changes or improvements to the trading system that are
not available to the industry generally or other Exchange members;
(ii) will not have any knowledge in advance of other Exchange members of proposed
changes, modifications, or improvements to the operations or trading systems of the Exchange and its
facilities, including advance knowledge of Exchange filings pursuant to Section 19(b) of the Act;
(iii) will be notified of any proposed changes, modifications, or improvements to
the operations or trading systems of the Exchange and its facilities in the same manner as other Exchange
members are notified; and
(iv) will not share employees, office space, or databases with the Exchange or its
facilities, Nasdaq, Inc., or any entity that is controlled by Nasdaq, Inc.; and
(B) the Exchange's Regulatory Oversight Committee certifies, on an annual basis, to
the Director of the Division of Trading & Markets that the Exchange has taken all reasonable steps to
implement the requirements of this rule and is in compliance therewith.
(c) Nasdaq, Inc., which is the holding company owning the Exchange and Nasdaq
Execution Services, LLC, shall establish and maintain procedures and internal controls reasonably designed
to ensure that Nasdaq Execution Services, LLC does not develop or implement changes to its system on the
basis of non-public information regarding planned changes to Exchange systems, obtained as a result of its
affiliation with the Exchange, until such information is available generally to similarly situated members
of the Exchange in connection with the provision of inbound routing to the Exchange.
Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).
(a) Exchange Members shall comply with FINRA Rule 4370 as if such Rule were part of
the Exchange's Rules. The Exchange and FINRA are parties to the Regulatory Contract pursuant to which FINRA
has agreed to perform certain functions on behalf of the Exchange. Therefore, Exchange members are complying
with this Rule by complying with FINRA Rule 4370 as written, including, for example, filing requirements and
notifications. In addition, functions performed by FINRA, FINRA departments, and FINRA staff under this Rule
are being performed by FINRA on behalf of the Exchange.
(b) For purposes of this rule references to Rule 4517 shall be construed as references to General 2, Section 16.
Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039); amended March 8, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-006), operative Jan. 24, 2022.
(a) Each member shall report to the Exchange, via such electronic or other means as
the Exchange may specify, prescribed emergency contact information for the member. The emergency contact
information for the member includes designation of two emergency contact persons. Each emergency contact
person shall be a member of senior management and a registered principal of the member.
(b) Each member must promptly update its emergency contact information, via such
electronic or other means as the Exchange may specify, in the event of any material change. With respect to
designated emergency contact persons, each member must identify, review, and, if necessary, update such
designations in the manner prescribed by General 2, Section 11.
Adopted October 23, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-039).
Reserved
Adopted January 29, 2020 (SR-BX-2020-001).
Reserved
Adopted January 29, 2020 (SR-BX-2020-001).
Reserved
Adopted January 29, 2020 (SR-BX-2020-001).
Reserved
Adopted January 29, 2020 (SR-BX-2020-001).
Reserved
Adopted January 29, 2020 (SR-BX-2020-001).
(a) The Exchange shall be
available for entry and execution of orders by Sponsored Participants with
authorized access. Sponsored Access shall mean an arrangement whereby a member
permits its customers to enter orders into the System that bypass the member's
trading system and are routed directly to the Exchange, including routing
through a service bureau or other third party technology provider.
(b) Sponsored Participants. A
Sponsored Participant may obtain authorized access to the BX Market only if
such access is authorized in advance by one or more Exchange members as
follows:
(i)
Sponsored Participants must enter into and maintain customer agreements with
one or more Sponsoring Members establishing proper relationship(s) and
account(s) through which the Sponsored Participant may trade on the BX Market
("Customer Agreement"). Such Customer Agreement(s) must incorporate
the Sponsorship Provisions set forth in paragraph (ii) below.
(ii)
For a Sponsored Participant to obtain and maintain authorized access to the BX
Market, a Sponsored Participant and its Sponsoring Member must agree in writing
to the following Sponsorship Provisions:
(A)
The authorized access must comply with Rule 15c3-5 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.
(B)
Sponsoring Member acknowledges and agrees that
(1)
All orders entered by the Sponsored Participants and any person acting on
behalf of or in the name of such Sponsored Participant and any executions
occurring as a result of such orders are binding in all respects on the
Sponsoring Member and
(2)
Sponsoring Member is responsible for any and all actions taken by such
Sponsored Participant and any person acting on behalf of or in the name of such
Sponsored Participant.
(C)
Sponsoring Member shall comply with the Exchange's Certificate of
Incorporation, By-Laws, Rules and procedures with regard to the BX Market and
Sponsored Participant shall comply with the Exchange's Certificate of
Incorporation, Bylaws, Rules and procedures with regard to the BX Market, as if
Sponsored Participant were an Exchange Member.
(D)
Sponsored Participant shall maintain, keep current and provide to the
Sponsoring Member a list of individuals authorized to obtain access to the BX
Market on behalf of the Sponsored Participant.
(E)
Sponsored Participant shall familiarize its authorized individuals with all of
the Sponsored Participant's obligations under this Rule and will assure that
they receive appropriate training prior to any use or access to the BX Market.
(F)
Sponsored Participant may not permit anyone other than authorized individuals
to use or obtain access to the BX Market.
(G)
Sponsored Participant shall take reasonable security precautions to prevent
unauthorized use or access to the BX Market, including unauthorized entry of
information into the BX Market, or the information and data made available
therein. Sponsored Participant understands and agrees that Sponsored
Participant is responsible for any and all orders, trades and other messages and
instructions entered, transmitted or received under identifiers, passwords and
security codes of authorized individuals, and for the trading and other
consequences thereof.
(H)
Sponsored Participant acknowledges its responsibility to establish adequate procedures
and controls that permit it to effectively monitor its employees', agents' and
customers' use and access to the BX Market for compliance with the terms of
this agreement.
(I) Sponsored Participant shall pay when due all
amounts, if any, payable to Sponsoring Member, the Exchange, or any other third
parties that arise from the Sponsored Participant's access to and use of the BX
Market. Such amounts include, but are not limited to applicable exchange and
regulatory fees.
Adopted Apr. 16, 2015 (SR-BX-2015-021); amended Nov. 4, 2015 (SR-BX-2015-067), operative Dec. 4, 2015;
amended Jan. 29, 2020 (SR-BX-2020-001); amended Apr. 27, 2012 (SR-BX-2021).
Amended Nov. 22, 2022 (SR-BX-2022-024).
Amended Nov. 22, 2022 (SR-BX-2022-024).