No Member shall engage in acts or practices inconsistent with just and equitable principles of trade. Persons associated with Members shall have the same duties and obligations as Members under the Rules of this Options 9.

Supplementary Material to Options 9, Section 1

.01 It will be a violation of this Rule for a Member to have a relationship with a third party regarding the disclosure of agency orders. Specifically, a Member may not disclose to a third party information regarding agency orders represented by the Member prior to entering such orders into the System to allow such third party to attempt to execute against the Member's agency orders. A Member's disclosing information regarding agency orders prior to the execution of such orders on the Exchange would provide an inappropriate informational advantage to the third party in violation of this Rule. For purposes of this paragraph .01, a third party includes any other person or entity, including affiliates of the Member. Nothing in this paragraph is intended to prohibit a Member from soliciting interest to execute against an order it represents as agent (a "solicited order"), the execution of which is governed by Options 3, Section 22(e) and paragraph .02 of Supplementary Material to Options 3, Section 22.

.02. It may be considered conduct inconsistent with just and equitable principles of trade for any person associated with a Member who has knowledge of all material terms and conditions of:

(i) an order and a solicited order,

(ii) an order being facilitated, or

(iii) orders being crossed;

the execution of which are imminent, to enter, based on such knowledge, an order to buy or sell an option for the same underlying security as any option that is the subject of the order, or an order to buy or sell the security underlying such class, or an order to buy or sell any related instrument until (i) the terms of the order and any changes in the terms of the order of which the person associated with the Member has knowledge are disclosed to the trading crowd, or (ii) the trade can no longer reasonably be considered imminent in view of the passage of time since the order was received. The terms of an order are "disclosed" to the trading crowd on the Exchange when the order is entered into the System, the Facilitation or Solicited Order Mechanisms.

[Adopted June 6, 2019 (SR-ISE-2019-17).]

No Member shall engage in conduct in violation of the Exchange Act, the By-Laws or the Rules of the Exchange, or the Rules of the Clearing Corporation insofar as they relate to the reporting or clearance of any Exchange Transaction, or any written interpretation thereof. Every Member shall so supervise persons associated with the Member as to assure compliance therewith.

[Adopted June 6, 2019 (SR-ISE-2019-17).]

No Member, without the prior written consent of the Exchange, shall establish or maintain wire connections or office sharing arrangements with other Members or with non-Member broker-dealers.

[Adopted June 6, 2019 (SR-ISE-2019-17).]

(a) No Member shall engage in or facilitate disruptive quoting and trading activity on the Exchange, as described in subsections (A) and (B) of this Rule, including acting in concert with other persons to effect such activity.

(1) For purposes of this Rule, disruptive quoting and trading activity shall include a frequent pattern in which the following facts are present:

(A) Disruptive Quoting and Trading Activity Type 1:

(1) a party enters multiple limit orders on one side of the market at various price levels (the "Displayed Orders"); and

(2) following the entry of the Displayed Orders, the level of supply and demand for the security changes; and

(3) the party enters one or more orders on the opposite side of the market of the Displayed Orders (the "Contra-Side Orders") that are subsequently executed; and

(4) following the execution of the Contra-Side Orders, the party cancels the Displayed Orders.

(B) Disruptive Quoting and Trading Activity Type 2:

(1) a party narrows the spread for a security by placing an order inside the NBBO; and

(2) the party then submits an order on the opposite side of the market that executes against another market participant that joined the new inside market established by the order described in paragraph (b)(1).

(b) Applicability. Unless otherwise indicated, the order of the events indicating the pattern does not modify the applicability of the Rule. Further, disruptive quoting and trading activity includes a pattern or practice in which of the quoting and trading activity is conducted on the Exchange as well as a pattern or practice in which some portion of the quoting or trading activity is conducted on the Exchange and the other portions of the quoting or trading activity are conducted on one or more other exchanges.

[Adopted June 6, 2019 (SR-ISE-2019-17); amended March 18, 2020 (SR-ISE-2020-11), operative April 17, 2020.]

No Member, person associated with a Member or applicant to become a Member shall make any false statements or misrepresentations in any application, report or other communication to the Exchange, and no Member or person associated with a Member shall make any false statement or misrepresentation to the Clearing Corporation with respect to the reporting or clearance of any Exchange Transaction or adjust any position at the Clearing Corporation in any class of options traded on the Exchange except for the purpose of correcting a bona fide error in recording or transferring the position to another account.

[Adopted June 6, 2019 (SR-ISE-2019-17).]

(a) No Member shall effect or induce the purchase, sale or exercise of any security for the purpose of creating or inducing a false, misleading, or artificial appearance of activity in such security or in the underlying security, or for the purpose of unduly or improperly influencing the market price of such security or of the underlying security or for the purpose of making a price which does not reflect the true state of the market in such security or in the underlying security.

(b) No Member or any other person or organization subject to the jurisdiction of the Exchange shall directly or indirectly participate in or have any interest in the profit of a manipulative operation or knowingly manage or finance a manipulative operation. For the purposes of this paragraph but without limitation:

(1) any pool, syndicate or joint account, whether in corporate form or otherwise, organized or used intentionally for the purposes of unfairly influencing the market price of any security by means of options or otherwise and for the purpose of making a profit thereby, shall be deemed to be a manipulative operation;

(2) the soliciting of subscriptions to any such pool, syndicate or joint account shall be deemed to be managing a manipulative operation; and

(3) the carrying on margin of either a "long" or a "short" position in securities for, or the advancing of credit through loans of money or of securities to, any such pool syndicate or joint account shall be deemed to be financing a manipulative operation.

[Adopted June 6, 2019 (SR-ISE-2019-17).]

No Member shall give any compensation or gratuity in any one year in excess of $50.00 to any employee of the Exchange or in excess of $100.00 to any employee of any other Member or of any non-Member broker, dealer, bank or institution, without the prior consent of the employer and of the Exchange.

[Adopted June 6, 2019 (SR-ISE-2019-17).]

No Member shall circulate, in any manner, rumors of a character which might affect market conditions in any security; provided, however, that this Rule shall not prohibit discussion of unsubstantiated information, so long as its source and unverified nature are disclosed.

[Adopted June 6, 2019 (SR-ISE-2019-17).]

(a) Every Member, other than a lessor that is neither registered, nor required to be registered, as a broker-dealer under Section 15 of the Exchange Act, shall establish, maintain and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably designed, taking into consideration the nature of the Member's business, to prevent the misuse of material nonpublic information by such Member or persons associated with such Member in violation of the Exchange Act and Exchange Rules.

(1) Misuse of material nonpublic information includes, but is not limited to:

(i) trading in any securities issued by a corporation, partnership, or Funds, as defined in Options 4, Section 3(h), or a trust or similar entities, or in any related securities or related options or other derivative securities, or in any related non-U.S. currency, non-U.S. currency options, futures or options on futures on such currency, or any other derivatives based on such currency, or in any related commodity, related commodity futures or options on commodity futures or any other related commodity derivatives, while in possession of material nonpublic information concerning that corporation or those Funds or that trust or similar entities;

(ii) trading in an underlying security or related options or other derivative securities, or in any related non-U.S. currency, non-U.S. currency options, futures or options on futures on such currency, or in any related commodity, related commodity futures or options on commodity futures or any other related commodity derivatives, or any other derivatives based on such currency while in possession of material nonpublic information concerning imminent transactions in the above; and

(iii) disclosing to another person any material nonpublic information involving a corporation, partnership, or Funds or a trust or similar entities whose shares are publicly traded or an imminent transaction in an underlying security or related securities or in the underlying non-U.S. currency or any related non-U.S. currency options, futures or options on futures on such currency, or in any related commodity, related commodity futures or options on commodity futures or any other related commodity derivatives, or any other derivatives based on such currency for the purpose of facilitating the possible misuse of such material nonpublic information.

(2) Each Member shall establish, maintain and enforce the following policies and procedures as appropriate for the nature of each Member's business:

(i) all associated persons must be advised in writing of the prohibition against the misuse of material nonpublic information;

(ii) signed attestations from the Member and all associated persons affirming their awareness of, and agreement to abide by, the aforementioned prohibitions must be maintained for at least three (3) years, the first two (2) years in an easily accessible place;

(iii) records of all brokerage accounts maintained by the Member and all associated persons must be acquired and maintained for at least three (3) years, the first two (2) years in an easily accessible place, and such brokerage accounts must be reviewed periodically by the Member for the purpose of detecting the possible misuse of material nonpublic information; and

(iv) any business dealings the Member may have with any corporation whose securities are publicly traded, or any other circumstances that may result in the Member receiving, in the ordinary course of business, material nonpublic information concerning any such corporation, must be identified and documented.

(b) Members that are required, pursuant to Exchange Options 6E, Section 4 (Audits), to file Form X-17A-5 under the Exchange Act with the Exchange on an annual basis only, shall, contemporaneously with those submissions, file attestations signed by such Members stating that the procedures mandated by this Rule have been established, enforced and maintained.

(c) Any Member or associated person who becomes aware of a possible misuse of material nonpublic information must promptly notify the Exchange.

[Adopted June 6, 2019 (SR-ISE-2019-17).]

Every Member shall promptly notify the Exchange in writing of any disciplinary action, including the basis therefor, taken by any national securities exchange or registered securities association, clearing corporation, commodity futures market or government regulatory body against the Member or its associated persons, and shall similarly notify the Exchange of any disciplinary action taken by the Member itself against any of its associated persons involving suspension, termination, the withholding of commissions or imposition of fines in excess of $2,500, or any other significant limitation on activities.

[Adopted June 6, 2019 (SR-ISE-2019-17).]

Whenever the Exchange shall find that a Member has failed to perform on his or its contracts or is insolvent or is in such financial or operational condition or is otherwise conducting business in such a manner that it cannot be permitted to continue in business with safety to customers or creditors or the Exchange, the Exchange may summarily suspend the Member in accordance with Rule 9558 or may impose such conditions and restrictions upon the Member as considered reasonably necessary for the protection of the Exchange and the customers of such Member.

[Adopted June 6, 2019 (SR-ISE-2019-17); amended June 10, 2020 (SR-ISE-2020-22), operative July 10, 2020.]

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (c) below, a Member that clears Market Maker trades is required to notify the Exchange in writing fifteen (15) days prior to any of the following proposed significant business transactions ("SBT"):

(1) the combination, merger or consolidation between the Member and another person engaged in the business of effecting, executing, clearing or financing transactions in securities or futures products;

(2) the transfer from another person of Market Maker, broker-dealer, or customer securities or futures accounts that are significant in size or number to the business of the Member;

(3) the assumption or guarantee by the Member of liabilities of another person engaged in the business of effecting, executing, clearing or financing transactions in securities or futures products, in connection with a direct or indirect acquisition of all or substantially all of the person's assets; or

(4) termination of the Member's clearing business or any material part thereof.

(b) Notification of any of the following SBTs shall be made in writing to the Exchange, not later than five (5) business days from the date on which the SBT becomes effective:

(1) the sale by the Clearing Member of a significant part of its assets to another person;

(2) a change in the identity of any general partner or a change in the beneficial ownership of ten percent (10%) or more of any class of the outstanding stock of any corporate general partner;

(3) a change in the beneficial ownership of twenty percent (20%) or more of any class of the outstanding stock of the Member or the issuance of any capital stock of the Member; or

(4) the acquisition by the Clearing Member of assets of another person that would constitute a "business" that is "significant," as those terms are defined in Section 11-01 of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act.

(c) A Clearing Member is required to notify the Exchange in writing thirty (30) days prior to a proposed SBT included in paragraph (a) of this Rule, and such SBT shall be subject to the prior approval of the Exchange, if the Member's Market Maker clearance activities exceed, or would exceed as a result of the proposed SBT, any of the following parameters:

(1) fifteen percent (15%) of cleared Exchange Market Maker contract volume for the most recent three (3) months;

(2) an average of fifteen percent (15%) of the number of Exchange Market Makers as of each month and for the most recent three (3) months; or

(3) twenty-five percent (25%) of Exchange Market Maker gross deductions (haircuts) defined by Rule 15c3-1(a)(6) or (c)(2)(x) under the Exchange Act carried by the Clearing Member in relation to the aggregate of such haircuts carried by all other Clearing Members for any month end within the most recent three (3) months.

(d) An SBT that comes within paragraph (c) of this Rule may be disapproved or conditioned within the thirty (30) day period if the Exchange determines that such SBT has the potential to threaten the financial or operational integrity of Market Maker transactions. In making this determination, the Exchange may consider, among other relevant matters, the following:

(1) The effect of the proposed SBT on the capital size and structure of the resulting Clearing Member(s), the potential for financial failure and the consequences of any such failure on the Exchange market as a whole, and the potential for increased or decreased operational efficiencies arising from the proposed transaction.

(2) The effect of the proposed SBT upon overall concentration of Market Makers, including a comparison of the following measures before and after the proposed transaction:

(i) proportion of Exchange Market Maker contract volume cleared;

(ii) proportion of Exchange Market Makers cleared; and

(iii) proportion of Market Maker gross deductions (haircuts) as defined by Rule 15c3-1(a)(6) or (c)(2)(x) under the Exchange Act carried by the Clearing Member(s) in relation to the aggregate of such deductions carried by other Members that clear Market Maker transactions.

(3) The regulatory history of the affected Members, specifically as it may indicate a tendency to financial or operational weakness.

(e) Transactions that come within paragraph (c) of this Rule shall be reviewed according to the following procedures:

(1) A Member must provide promptly, in writing, all information reasonably requested by the Exchange. Any information disclosed by Members pursuant to the requirements of this Rule shall be kept confidential by the Exchange until such information is otherwise publicly disclosed and shall be used only for purposes of reviewing the proposal.

(2) If the Exchange determines, prior to the expiration of the thirty (30) day period, that a proposed SBT may be approved without conditions, the Exchange shall promptly so advise the Member.

(3) All decisions to disapprove or condition a proposed SBT or to impose extraordinary requirements shall be in writing, shall include a statement setting forth the grounds for the decision, and the Member shall be promptly notified of any such decisions by the Exchange.

[Adopted June 6, 2019 (SR-ISE-2019-17).]

(a) Except with the prior permission of the President or his designee, to be confirmed in writing, no Member shall make, for any account in which it has an interest or for the account of any customer, an opening transaction on any exchange if the Member has reason to believe that as a result of such transaction the Member or its customer would, acting alone or in concert with others, directly or indirectly:

(1) control (as defined in paragraph (f) below) an aggregate position in an options contract traded on the Exchange in excess of 25,000 or 50,000 or 75,000 or 200,000 or 250,000 options contracts (whether long or short) of the put type and the call type on the same side of the market respecting the same underlying security, combining for purposes of this position limit long positions in put options with short positions in call options, and short positions in put options with long positions in call options, or such other number of options contracts as may be fixed from time to time by the Exchange as the position limit for one or more classes or series of options; or

(2) exceed the applicable position limit fixed from time to time by another exchange for an options contract not traded on the Exchange, when the Member is not a member of the other exchange on which the transaction was effected.

(b) Should a Member have reason to believe that a position in any account in which it has an interest or for the account of any customer is in excess of the applicable limit, such Member shall promptly take the action necessary to bring the position into compliance.

(c) Reasonable notice shall be given of each new position limit fixed by the Exchange.

(d) Limits shall be determined in the following manner:

(1) A 25,000 contract limit applies to those options having an underlying security that does not meet the requirements for a higher options contract limit.

(2) To be eligible for the 50,000 contract limit, either the most recent six (6) month trading volume of the underlying security must have totalled at least twenty (20) million shares, or the most recent six (6) month trading volume of the underlying security must have totalled at least fifteen (15) million shares and the underlying security must have at least forty (40) million shares currently outstanding.

(3) To be eligible for the 75,000 contract limit, either the most recent six (6) month trading volume of the underlying security must have totalled at least forty (40) million shares or the most recent six (6) month trading volume of the underlying security must have totalled at least thirty (30) million shares and the underlying security must have at least 120 million shares currently outstanding.

(4) To be eligible for the 200,000 contract limit, either the most recent six (6) month trading volume of the underlying security must have totalled at least eighty (80) million shares or the most recent six (6) month trading volume of the underlying security must have totalled at least sixty (60) million shares and the underlying security must have at least 240 million shares currently outstanding.

(5) To be eligible for the 250,000 contract limit, either the most recent six (6) month trading volume of the underlying security must have totalled at least 100 million shares or the most recent six-month trading volume of the underlying security must have totalled at least seventy-five (75) million shares and the underlying security must have at least 300 million shares currently outstanding.

(e) Every six (6) months, the Exchange will review the status of underlying securities to determine which limit should apply. A higher limit will be effective on the date set by the Exchange, while any change to a lower limit will take effect after the last expiration then trading, unless the requirement for the same or a higher limit is met at the time of the intervening six (6) month review. If, however, subsequent to a six (6) month review, an increase in volume and/or outstanding shares would make a stock eligible for a higher position limit prior to the next review, the Exchange in its discretion may immediately increase such position limit.

(f) Control exists under this Rule when it is determined that an individual or entity makes investment decisions for an account or accounts, or materially influences directly or indirectly the actions of any person who makes investment decisions.

(1) Control will be presumed in the following circumstances, and will be presumed to continue until determined otherwise pursuant to paragraph (f)(2) below:

(i) among all parties to a joint account who have authority to act on behalf of the account;

(ii) among all general partners to a partnership account;

(iii) when an individual or entity holds an ownership interest of ten percent (10%) or more in an entity (ownership interest of less than ten percent (10%) will not preclude aggregation), or shares in ten percent (10%) or more of profits and losses of an account;

(iv) when accounts have common directors or management;

(v) where a person has the authority to execute transactions in an account.

(2) Control, presumed by one or more of the above findings or circumstances, can be rebutted by proving that the factor does not exist or by showing other factors which negate the presumption of control. The rebuttal proof must be submitted by affidavit and/or such other documentary evidence as may be appropriate in the circumstances. The Exchange will also consider the following factors in determining if aggregation of accounts is required:

(i) similar patterns of trading activity among separate entities;

(ii) the sharing of kindred business purposes and interests;

(iii) whether there is common supervision of the entities which extends beyond assuring adherence to each entity's investment objectives and/or restrictions;

(3) Initial determinations under this paragraph (f) shall be made by the Regulatory Division. The initial determination may be reviewed by the President or his designee, based upon a report by the Regulatory Division. A Member or customer directly affected by such a determination may ask the President or his designee to reconsider, but may not request any other review or appeal except in the context of a disciplinary proceeding. The decision to grant non-aggregation under this paragraph (f) shall not be retroactive.

Supplementary Material to Options 9, Section 13

.01 The position limits applicable to option contracts on the securities listed in the chart below are as follows:

Security Underlying Option	Position Limit
SPDR Dow Jones® Industrial Average ETF Trust (DIA)	300,000 contracts
SPDR® S&P 500® ETF Trust (SPY)	3,600,000 contracts
iShares® Russell 2000® ETF (IWM)	1,000,000 contracts
INVESCO QQQ TrustSM, Series 1 (QQQ)	1,800,000 contracts
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM)	1,000,000 contracts
iShares China Large-Cap ETF (FXI)	1,000,000 contracts
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA)	1,000,000 contracts
iShares MSCI Brazil Capped ETF (EWZ)	500,000 contracts
iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond Fund ETF (TLT)	500,000 contracts
iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ)	500,000 contracts
iShares iBoxx High Yield Corporate Bond Fund (HYG)	500,000 contracts
Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF)	500,000 contracts
iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (“LQD”)	500,000 contracts
VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF (“GDX”)	500,000 contracts

.02 Whenever the Exchange determines that a higher margin requirement is warranted in light of the risks associated with an under-hedged options position, the Exchange may impose additional margin upon the account maintaining such under-hedged position, pursuant to its authority under Options 6C, Section 5(b). The Clearing Member carrying the account will be subject to capital charges under SEC Rule 15c3-1 to the extent of any margin deficiency resulting from the higher margin requirements.

Adopted June 6, 2019 (SR-ISE-2019-17); amended March 18, 2020 (SR-ISE-2020-11), operative April 17, 2020; amended June 17, 2020 (SR-ISE-2020-23); amended November 19, 2021 (SR-ISE-2021-25); amended Sep. 20, 2024 (SR-ISE-2024-03); amended Nov. 21, 2024 (SR-ISE-2024-54); amended Apr. 9, 2025 (SR-ISE-2025-11); amended Jul. 29, 2025 (SR-ISE-2024-62); amended Aug. 1, 2025 (SR-ISE-2025-22); amended Aug. 7, 2025 (SR-ISE-2025-23); amended Apr. 9, 2025 (SR-ISE-2024-35); amended Jan. 7, 2026 (SR-ISE-2026-01).

(a) Equity Hedge Exemption. The following qualified hedging transactions and positions described in paragraphs (1) through (5) and (7) below shall be exempt from established position limits as prescribed under Options 9, Section 13(d) and Supplementary Material .03 to Options 9, Section 13. Hedge transactions and positions established pursuant to paragraphs six (6) and eight (8) below are subject to a position limit equal to five (5) times the standard limit established under Options 9, Section 13(d) and Supplementary Material .03 to Options 9, Section 13. The equity hedge exemption is in addition to the standard limit and other exemptions available under Exchange Rules.

(1) Where each option contract is "hedged" or "covered" by 100 shares of the underlying security or securities convertible into such underlying security, or, in the case of an adjusted option contract, the same number of shares represented by the adjusted contract; (i) long call and short stock; (ii) short call and long stock; (iii) long put and long stock; (iv) short put and short stock.

(2) A long call position accompanied by a short put position, where the long call expires with the short put, and the strike price of the long call and short put is equal, and where each long call and short put position is hedged with 100 shares (or other adjusted number of shares) of the underlying security or securities convertible into such stock ("reverse conversion").

(3) A short call position accompanied by a long put position where the short call expires with the long put, and the strike price of the short call and long put is equal, and where each short call and long put position is hedged with 100 shares (or other adjusted number of shares) of the underlying security or securities convertible into such stock ("conversion").

(4) A short call position accompanied by a long put position, where the short call expires with the long put, and the strike price of the short call equals or exceeds the long put, and where each short call and long put position is hedged with 100 shares of the underlying security (or other adjusted number of shares). Neither side of the short call, long put position can be in-the-money at the time the position is established ("collar").

(5) A long call position accompanied by a short put position where the long call expires with the short put and the strike price of the long call equals or exceeds the short put and where each long call and short put position is hedged with 100 shares of the underlying security (or other adjusted number of shares). Neither side of the long call, short put position can be in-the-money at the time the position is established ("reverse collar").

(6) A long call position accompanied by a short put position with the same strike price and a short call position accompanied by a long put position with a different strike price ("box spread").

(7) An equity option position is delta neutral, subject to the following:

(A) The term "delta neutral" refers to an equity options position that is hedged, in accordance with a permitted pricing model as defined in paragraph (C) below, by a position in the underlying security or one or more instruments relating to the underlying security, for the purpose of offsetting the risk that the value of the options position will change with incremental changes in the price of the security underlying the option position.

In the case of an equity option position for which the underlying security is an ETF that is based on the same index as an index option, the equity option position and any position in the underlying ETF may be combined with such an index option position and/or correlated instruments, as defined in Options 4A, Section 9(d)(1), in accordance with Options 4A, Section 9(d) - Delta-Based Index Hedge Exemption, for calculation of the delta-based equity hedge exemption.

(B) An equity options position of a Member or non-Member affiliate of a Member that is delta neutral shall be exempt from established position limits. An equity options position that is not delta neutral shall be subject to position limits in accordance with Options 9, Section 13 (subject to the availability of other position limit exemptions). Only the option contract equivalent of the net delta of such position shall be subject to the appropriate position limit. The "options contract equivalent of the net delta" is the net delta divided by the number of shares that equate to one option contract on a delta basis. The term "net delta" means, at any time, the number of shares and/or other units of trade (either long or short) required to offset the risk that the value of an equity option position will change with incremental changes in the price of the security underlying the option position, as determined in accordance with a permitted pricing model.

(C) A "permitted pricing model" means:

(1) A pricing model maintained and operated by the Options Clearing Corporation ("OCC Model");

(2) A pricing model maintained and used by a Member subject to consolidated supervision by the Commission pursuant to Appendix E of Commission Rule 15c3-1, or by an affiliate that is part of such Member's consolidated supervised holding company group, in accordance with its internal risk management control system and consistent with the requirements of Appendices E or G, as applicable, to Commission Rule 15c3-1 and Commission Rule 15c3-4 under the Act, as amended from time to time, in connection with the calculation of risk-based deductions from capital or capital allowances for market risk thereunder, provided that the Member or affiliate of a Member relying on this exemption in connection with the use of such model is an entity that is part of such Member's consolidated supervised holding company group;

(3) A pricing model maintained and used by a financial holding company or a company treated as a financial holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, or by an affiliate that is part of either such company's consolidated supervised holding company group, in accordance with its internal risk management control system and consistent with:

(i) the requirements of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as amended from time to time, in connection with the calculation of risk-based adjustments to capital for market risk under capital requirements of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, provided that the Member or affiliate of a Member relying on this exemption in connection with the use of such model is an entity that is part of such company's consolidated supervised holding company group; or

(ii) the standards published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, as amended from time to time and as implemented by such company's principal regulator, in connection with the calculation of risk-based deductions or adjustments to or allowances for the market risk capital requirements of such principal regulator applicable to such company - where "principal regulator" means a Member of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision that is the home country consolidated supervisor of such company - provided that the Member or affiliate of a Member relying on this exemption in connection with the use of such model is an entity that is part of such company's consolidated supervised holding company group;

(4) A pricing model maintained and used by an OTC derivatives dealer registered with the SEC pursuant to SEC Rule 15c3-1(a)(5) in accordance with its internal risk management control system and consistent with the requirements of Appendix F to SEC Rule 15c3-1 and SEC Rule 15c3-4 under the Act, as amended from time to time, in connection with the calculation of risk-based deductions from capital for market risk thereunder, provided that only such OTC derivatives dealer and no other affiliated entity (including a Member) may rely on this subparagraph (d); or

(5) A pricing model used by a national bank under the National Bank Act maintained and used in accordance with its internal risk management control system and consistent with the requirements of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, as amended from time to time, in connection with the calculation of risk-based adjustments to capital for market risk under capital requirements of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, provided that only such national bank and no other affiliated entity (including a Member) may rely on this Subparagraph (C)(5).

(D) Effect on Aggregation of Account Positions.

(1) Members and non-Member affiliates who rely on this exemption must ensure that the permitted pricing model is applied to all positions in or relating to the security underlying the relevant option position that are owned or controlled by such Member or non-Member affiliate.

(2) Notwithstanding subparagraph (D)(1), the net delta of an option position held by an entity entitled to rely on this exemption, or by a separate and distinct trading unit of such entity, may be calculated without regard to positions in or relating to the security underlying the option position held by an affiliated entity or by another trading unit within the same entity, provided that:

(i) the entity demonstrates to the Exchange's satisfaction that no control relationship, as defined in Nasdaq ISE Options 9, Section 13(f), exists between such affiliates or trading units; and

(ii) the entity has provided the Exchange written notice in advance that it intends to be considered separate and distinct from any affiliate or, as applicable, which trading units within the entity are to be considered separate and distinct from each other for purposes of this exemption.

(3) Notwithstanding subparagraph (D)(1) or (D)(2), a Member or non-Member affiliate who relies on this exemption shall designate, by prior written notice to the Exchange, each trading unit or entity whose option positions are required under Exchange Rules to be aggregated with the option positions of such Member or non-Member affiliate that is relying on this exemption for purposes of compliance with Exchange position limits or exercise limits. In any such case:

(i) the permitted pricing model shall be applied, for purposes of calculating such Member's or affiliate's net delta, only to the positions in or relating to the security underlying any relevant option position owned and controlled by those entities and trading units who are relying on this exemption; and

(ii) the net delta of the positions owned or controlled by the entities and trading units who are relying on this exemption shall be aggregated with the nonexempt option positions of all other entities and trading units whose options positions are required under Exchange Rules to be aggregated with the option positions of such Member or affiliate.

(E) Obligations of Members and Affiliates.

(1) A Member that relies on this exemption for a proprietary equity options position:

(i) must provide a written certification to the Exchange that it is using a permitted pricing model pursuant to subparagraph (C) above; and

(ii) by such reliance authorizes any other person carrying for such Member an account including, or with whom such Member has entered into, a position in or relating to a security underlying the relevant option position to provide to the Exchange or the Clearing Corporation such information regarding such account or position as the Exchange or Clearing Corporation may request as part of the Exchange's confirmation or verification of the accuracy of any net delta calculation under this exemption.

(2) The equity option positions of a non-Member relying on this exemption must be carried by a Member with which it is affiliated.

(3) A Member carrying an account that includes an equity option position for a non-Member affiliate that intends to rely on this exemption must obtain from such non-Member:

(i) a written certification to the Exchange that it is using a permitted pricing model pursuant to subparagraph (C) above; and

(ii) a written statement confirming that such non-Member affiliate:

a. is relying on this exemption;

b. will use only a permitted pricing model for purposes of calculating the net delta of its option positions for purposes of this exemption;

c. will promptly notify the Member if it ceases to rely on this exemption;

d. authorizes the Member to provide to the Exchange or the Clearing Corporation such information regarding positions of the non-Member affiliate as the Exchange or Clearing Corporation may request as part of the Exchange's confirmation or verification of the accuracy of any net delta calculation under this exemption; and

e. if the non-Member affiliate is using the OCC Model, has duly executed and delivered to the Exchange such documents as the Exchange may require to be executed and delivered to the Exchange as a condition to reliance on this exemption.

(F) Reporting. Each Member (other than an Exchange market-maker using the OCC Model) that holds or carries an account that relies on this exemption shall report, in accordance with Options 9,Section 16 all equity option positions (including those that are delta neutral) that are reportable thereunder. Each such Member on its own behalf or on behalf of a designated aggregation unit pursuant to Options 9, Section 14 (a)(7)(D) shall also report, in accordance with Option 9, Section 16, for each such account that holds an equity option position subject to this exemption in excess of the levels specified in this Options 9, Section 14, the net delta and the options contract equivalent of the net delta of such position.

(G) Records. Each Member relying on this exemption shall: (i) retain, and undertake reasonable efforts to ensure that any non-Member affiliate of the Member relying on this exemption retains, a list of the options, securities and other instruments underlying each option position net delta calculation reported to the Exchange hereunder, and (ii) produce such information to the Exchange upon request.

(8) A listed option position hedged on a one-for-one basis with an over-the-counter ("OTC") option position on the same underlying security. The strike price of the listed option position and corresponding OTC option position must be within one strike of each other and no more than one expiration month apart.

(9) For those strategies described under (2), (3), (4), and (5) above, one component of the option strategy can be an OTC option contract guaranteed or endorsed by the firm maintaining the proprietary position or carrying the customer account.

(10) An OTC option contract is defined as an option contract that is not listed on a National Securities Exchange or cleared at The Options Clearing Corporation.

(b) Market Maker Exemption. The provisions set forth below apply only to Market Makers seeking an exemption to the standard position limits in all options traded on the Exchange for the purpose of assuring that there is sufficient depth and liquidity in the marketplace, and not to confer a right upon the Market Maker applying for an exemption.

(1) In light of the procedural safeguards, the purpose of this exemption process, and the prohibition against the granting of retroactive exemptions, decisions granting or denying exemptions are not subject to review.

(2) An exemption may be granted for the purpose of maintaining a fair and orderly market in the options on a given underlying security.

(3) Generally, an exemption will be granted only to a Market Maker who has requested an exemption, who is appointed to the options class in which the exemption is requested pursuant to Options 2, Section 3, whose positions are near the current position limit and who is significant in terms of daily volume. The positions must generally be within ten percent (10%) of the limits contained in Options 9, Section 13 for equity options and twenty percent (20%) of those limits for broad-based index options.

(4) If an exemption is granted, it will be effective at the time the decision is communicated, and retroactive exemptions will not be granted.

(5) The size and length of an exemption will be determined on a case by case basis; however, an exemption usually will be granted until the nearest expiration. The exemption may specify the extent to which the resulting position may be carried in options in one or more expiration cycles.

(6) Procedures for Market Makers nearing the limits due to general market conditions:

(i) A request for an exemption from the established position and exercise limits must be in writing and must state the specific reasons why an exemption should be granted.

(ii) The request should be submitted to the Exchange no later than 1:00 p.m. for same-day review.

(iii) Review of the request will be conducted informally, i.e., the Exchange may receive information in such manner as is most effective, in its discretion, to ascertain whether an exemption is necessary to maintain depth and liquidity in the market.

(iv) The Exchange will communicate the exemption decision to the requesting Market Maker and his or its Clearing Member as soon as possible, generally on the day following review.

(7) Requests for instant exemptions may be made for extraordinary situations, such as when there is an order imbalance or a Market Maker is near the limits intraday. Following immediate review of the situation, the Exchange will decide whether an exemption is warranted.

(c) Firm Facilitation Exemption. To the extent that the following procedures and criteria are satisfied, a Member may receive and maintain for its proprietary account an exemption ("facilitation exemption") from the applicable standard position limit in non-multiply-listed options traded on the Exchange for the purpose of facilitating, pursuant to the provisions of Options 3, Section 11(d), (i) orders for its own Public Customer (one that will have the resulting position carried with the firm) or (ii) orders received from or on behalf of a Public Customer for execution only against the Member firm's proprietary account.

(1) The Member must receive approval from the Exchange prior to executing facilitating trades.

(2) The facilitation exemption shall be granted to the Member owning or controlling the account in which the exempt options positions are held. For purposes of this paragraph (c), control shall be determined in accordance with the provision of Options 9, Section 13(f).

(3) Exchange approval may be given on the basis of verbal representations, in which event the Member shall, within a period of time to be designated by the Exchange, furnish the appropriate forms and documentation substantiating the basis for the exemption. The approval for the facilitation exemption will specify the maximum number of contracts that may be exempt under this paragraph (c). In no event may the aggregate exempted position under this paragraph (c) exceed twice the applicable standard limit.

(4) The facilitation exemption is in addition to the standard limit and other exemptions available under Exchange Rules. A Member so approved is hereinafter referred to as a "facilitation firm."

(5) The facilitation firm must provide all information required by the Exchange on approved forms and keep such information current. The facilitation firm shall promptly provide to the Exchange any information or documents requested concerning the exempted options positions and the positions hedging them.

(6) The facilitation firm shall comply with the following provisions regarding the execution of its Public Customer Order and its own facilitating order:

(i) neither order may be contingent on a "fill-or-kill" instructions; and

(ii) the orders must be executed pursuant to Options 3, Section 11(d).

(7) To remain qualified, a facilitation firm must, within five (5) business days after the execution of a facilitation exemption order, hedge all exempt options positions that have not previously been liquidated, and furnish the Exchange with documentation reflecting the resulting hedging positions.

(8) The facilitation firm shall:

(i) liquidate and establish its Public Customer's and its own options and stock positions or their equivalent in an orderly fashion, and not in a manner calculated to cause unreasonable price fluctuations or unwarranted price changes; and not initiate or liquidate its Public Customer's or its own stock position or its equivalent with an equivalent index options position with a view toward taking advantage of any differential in price between a group of securities and an overlying stock index option;

(ii) promptly notify the Exchange of any material change in the exempted options position or the hedge; and

(iii) not increase the exempted options position once it is closed unless approval is received again pursuant to a reapplication under this paragraph (c).

(9) Violation of any of these provisions, absent reasonable justification or excuse, shall result in withdrawal of the facilitation exemption and may form the basis for subsequent denial of an application for a facilitation exemption hereunder.

(d) Exemptions Granted by Other Options Exchanges - A Member may rely upon any available exemptions from applicable position limits granted from time to time by another options exchange for any options contract traded on the Exchange provided that such Member:

(1) provides the Exchange with a copy of any written exemption issued by another options exchange or a written description of any exemption issued by another options exchange other than in writing containing sufficient detail for Exchange regulatory staff to verify the validity of that exemption with the issuing options exchange, and

(2) fulfills all conditions precedent for such exemption and complies at all times with the requirements of such exemption with respect to the Member's trading on the Exchange.

[Adopted June 6, 2019 (SR-ISE-2019-17); amended March 18, 2020 (SR-ISE-2020-11), operative April 17, 2020.]

(a) Except with the prior permission of the President or his designee, to be confirmed in writing, no Member shall exercise, for any account in which it has an interest or for the account of any customer, a long position in any options contract where such Member or customer, acting alone or in concert with others, directly or indirectly, has or will have:

(1) exercised within any five (5) consecutive business days aggregate long positions in any class of options traded on the Exchange in excess of 25,000 or 50,000 or 75,000 or 200,000 or 250,000 options contracts or such other number of options contract as may be fixed from time to time by the Exchange as the exercise limit for that class of options; or

(2) exceeded the applicable exercise limit fixed from time to time by another exchange for an options class not traded on the Exchange, when the Member is not a Member of the other exchange which lists the options class.

(b) Reasonable notice shall be given of each new exercise limit fixed by the Exchange by posting notice thereof by the Exchange.

(c) Limits shall be determined in the manner described in Options 9, Section 13. For a Member that has been granted an exemption to position limits pursuant to Options 9, Section 14(a), the number of contracts which can be exercised over a five (5) business day period shall equal the Member's exempted position.

Supplementary Material to Option 9, Section 15

.01 The exercise limits applicable to option contracts on the securities listed in the chart below is as follows:

Security Underlying Option	Exercise Limit
SPDR Dow Jones® Industrial Average ETF Trust (DIA)	300,000 contracts
SPDR® S&P 500® ETF Trust (SPY)	3,600,000 contracts
iShares® Russell 2000® ETF (IWM)	1,000,000 contracts
INVESCO QQQTrustSM, Series 1 (QQQ)	1,800,000 contracts
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM)	1,000,000 contracts
iShares China Large-Cap ETF (FXI)	1,000,000 contracts
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA)	1,000,000 contracts
iShares MSCI Brazil Capped ETF (EWZ)	500,000 contracts
iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond Fund ETF (TLT)	500,000 contracts
iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ)	500,000 contracts
iShares iBoxx High Yield Corporate Bond Fund (HYG)	500,000 contracts
Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF)	500,000 contracts
iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (“LQD”)	500,000 contracts
VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF (“GDX”)	500,000 contracts

Adopted June 6, 2019 (SR-ISE-2019-17); amended March 18, 2020 (SR-ISE-2020-11), operative April 17, 2020; amended June 17, 2020 (SR-ISE-2020-23); amended November 19, 2021 (SR-ISE-2021-25); amended Sep. 20, 2024 (SR-ISE-2024-03); amended Nov. 21, 2024 (SR-ISE-2024-54); amended Apr. 9, 2025 (SR-ISE-2025-11); amended Jul. 29, 2025 (SR-ISE-2024-62); amended Aug. 1, 2025 (SR-ISE-2025-22); amended Aug. 7, 2025 (SR-ISE-2025-23); amended Apr. 9, 2025 (SR-ISE-2024-35); amended Jan. 7, 2026 (SR-ISE-2026-01).

(a) Each Member shall file with the Exchange the name, address and social security or tax identification number of any customer, as well as any Member, any general or special partner of the Member, any officer or director of the Member or any participant, as such, in any joint, group or syndicate account with the Member or with any partner, officer or director thereof, who, on the previous business day held aggregate long or short positions of 200 or more options contracts of any single class of options traded on the Exchange. The report shall indicate for each such class of options contracts the number of options contracts comprising each such position and, in case of short positions, whether covered or uncovered.

(b) Electronic Access Members that maintain an end of day position in excess of 10,000 non-FLEX equity options contracts on the same side of the market on behalf of its own account or for the account of a customer, shall report whether such position is hedged and provide documentation as to how such position is hedged. This report is required at the time the subject account exceeds the 10,000 contract threshold and thereafter, for customer accounts, when the position increases by 2,500 contracts and for proprietary accounts when the position increases by 5,000 contracts.

(c) In addition to the reports required by paragraph (a) and (b) of this Rule, each Member shall report promptly to the Exchange any instance in which the Member has reason to believe that a person included in paragraph (a), acting alone or in concert with others, has exceeded or is attempting to exceed the position limits established pursuant to Options 9, Section 13.

Supplementary Material to Options 9, Section 16

.01 For purposes of calculating the aggregate long or short position under paragraph (a) above, Members shall combine (i) long positions in put options with short positions in call options, and (ii) short positions in put options with long positions in call options.

[Adopted June 6, 2019 (SR-ISE-2019-17).]

(a) Whenever the Exchange shall find that a person or group of persons acting in concert holds or controls, or is obligated in respect of, an aggregate position (whether long or short) in all options contracts or one or more classes or series traded on the Exchange in excess of the applicable position limit established pursuant to Options 9, Section 13, it may order all Members carrying a position in options contracts of such classes or series for such person or persons to liquidate such positions as expeditiously as possible, consistent with the maintenance of a fair and orderly market.

(b) Whenever such an order is given, no Member shall accept any order to purchase, sell or exercise any options contract for the account of the person or persons named in the order, unless and until the Exchange expressly approves such person or persons for options transactions.

[Adopted June 6, 2019 (SR-ISE-2019-17).]

(a) Whenever it is determined from the reports of uncovered short positions submitted pursuant to Options 6E, Section 2 (Reports of Uncovered Short Positions), viewed in light of current market conditions in options and in underlying securities, that there are outstanding an excessive number of uncovered short positions in options contracts of a given class traded on the Exchange or that an excessively high percentage of outstanding short positions in options contracts of a given class traded on the Exchange are uncovered, the Board or a committee or Exchange official designated by the Board may determine to prohibit Members from any further opening writing transactions on any exchange in options contracts of that class unless the resulting short position will be covered, and it may prohibit the uncovering of any existing covered short positions in one or more series of options of that class, as it deems appropriate in the interest of maintaining a fair and orderly market in options contracts or in underlying securities.

(b) The Board or a committee or Exchange official designated by the Board may exempt transactions of Market Makers from restrictions imposed under this Rule. Such restrictions shall be rescinded upon a determination that they are no longer appropriate.

[Adopted June 6, 2019 (SR-ISE-2019-17).]

(a) The Exchange may impose such restrictions on transactions or exercises in one or more series of options of any class traded on the Exchange as the Exchange in its judgment deems advisable in the interests of maintaining a fair and orderly market in options contracts or in underlying securities, or otherwise deems advisable in the public interest or for the protection of investors.

(1) During the effectiveness of such restrictions, no Member shall, for any account in which it has an interest or for the account of any customer, engage in any transaction or exercise in contravention of such restrictions.

(2) Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the ten (10) business days prior to the expiration date of a given series of options, which shall include such expiration date for an option contract that expires on a business day, other than index options, no restriction on exercise under this Rule may be in effect with respect to that series of options. With respect to index options, restrictions on exercise may be in effect until the opening of business on the business day of their expiration, or, in the case of an option contract expiring on a day that is not a business day, on the last business day before the expiration date. (3) Exercises of American-style, cash-settled index options shall be prohibited during any time when trading in such options is delayed, halted, or suspended, subject to the following exceptions:

(i) The exercise of an American-style, cash-settled index option may be processed and given effect in accordance with and subject to the Rules of the Clearing Corporation while trading in the option is delayed, halted, or suspended if it can be documented, in a form prescribed by the Exchange, that the decision to exercise the option was made during allowable time frames prior to the delay, halt, or suspension;

(ii) Exercises of expiring American-style, cash-settled index options shall not be prohibited on the business day of their expiration, or, in the case of an option contract expiring on a day that is not a business day, on the last business day prior to their expiration;

(iii) Exercises of American-style, cash-settled index options shall not be prohibited during a trading halt that occurs at or after 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. In the event of such a trading halt, exercises may occur through 4:20 p.m. Eastern time. In addition, if trading resumes following such a trading halt (such as by closing rotation), exercises may occur during the resumption of trading and for five (5) minutes after the close of the resumption of trading. The provisions of this subparagraph (a)(3)(iii) are subject to the authority of the Board to impose restrictions on transactions and exercises pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Rule; and

(iv) An Exchange officer designated by the Board may determine to permit the exercise of American-style, cash-settled index options while trading in such options is delayed, halted, or suspended.

(b) Whenever the issuer of a security underlying a call option traded on the Exchange is engaged or proposes to engage in a public underwritten distribution ("public distribution") of such underlying security or securities exchangeable for or convertible into such underlying security, the underwriters may request that the Exchange impose restrictions upon all opening writing transactions in such options at a "discount" where the resulting short position will be uncovered ("uncovered opening writing transactions").

(1) In addition to a request, the following conditions are necessary for the imposition of restrictions:

(i) less than a majority of the securities to be publicly distributed in such distribution are being sold by existing security holders;

(ii) the underwriters agree to notify the Exchange upon the termination of their stabilization activities; and

(iii) the underwriters initiate stabilization activities in such underlying security on a national securities exchange when the price of such security is either at a "minus" or "zero minus" tick.

(2) Upon receipt of such a request and determination that the conditions contained in paragraph (b)(1) are met, the Exchange shall impose the requested restrictions as promptly as possible but no earlier than fifteen (15) minutes after Members shall have been notified and shall terminate such restrictions upon request of the underwriters or when the Exchange otherwise discovers that stabilizing transactions by the underwriters has been terminated.

(3) For purposes of this paragraph (b), an uncovered opening writing transaction in a call option will be deemed to be effected at a "discount" when the premium in such transaction is either:

(i) in the case of a distribution of the underlying security not involving the issuance of rights and in the case of a distribution of securities exchangeable for or convertible into the underlying security, less than the amount by which the underwriters' stabilization bid for the underlying security exceeds the exercise price of such option; or

(ii) in the case of a distribution being offered pursuant to rights, less than the amount by which the underwriters' stabilization bid in the underlying security at the subscription price exceeds the exercise price of such option.

[Adopted June 6, 2019 (SR-ISE-2019-17).]

(a) Each Member that the Exchange designates as required to participate in a system test must conduct or participate in the testing of its computer systems to ascertain the compatibility of such systems with the Exchange's Systems in the manner and frequency prescribed by the Exchange. The Exchange will designate Members as required to participate in a system test based on: the category of membership (Primary Market Maker, Competitive Market Maker and Electronic Access Member); the computer system(s) the Member uses; and the manner in which the Member connects to the Exchange. The Exchange will give Members reasonable notice of any mandatory systems test, which notice will specify the nature of the test and Members' obligations in participating in the test.

(b) Every Member required by the Exchange to conduct or participate in testing of computer systems shall provide to the Exchange such reports relating to the testing as the Exchange may prescribe. Members shall maintain adequate documentation of tests required by this Rule and results of such testing for examination by the Exchange.

(c) A Member that is subject to this Rule and that fails to conduct or participate in the tests, fails to file the required reports, or fails to maintain the required documentation, may be subject to disciplinary action pursuant to the Exchange's Rules.

[Adopted June 6, 2019 (SR-ISE-2019-17).]

Each Member shall develop and implement a written anti-money laundering program reasonably designed to achieve and monitor the Member's compliance with the requirements of the Bank Secrecy Act (31 U.S.C. 5311, et seq.) and the implementing regulations promulgated thereunder by the Department of the Treasury. Each Member's anti-money laundering program must be approved, in writing, by the Member's senior management. The anti-money laundering programs required by this Rule shall, at a minimum,

(a) Establish and implement policies and procedures that can be reasonably expected to detect and cause the reporting of transactions required under 31 U.S.C. 5318(g) and the implementing regulations thereunder;

(b) Establish and implement policies, procedures, and internal controls reasonably designed to achieve compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act and the implementing regulations thereunder;

(c) Provide for independent testing for compliance to be conducted by the Member's personnel or by a qualified outside party;

(d) Designate and identify to the Exchange (by name, title, mailing address, e-mail address, telephone number, and facsimile number) an individual or individuals responsible for implementing and monitoring the day-to-day operations and internal controls of the program, and provide prompt notification to the Exchange regarding any change in such designation(s); and

(e) Provide ongoing training for appropriate personnel; and

(f) Include appropriate risk-based procedures for conducting ongoing customer due diligence, to include, but not be limited to: (1) understanding the nature and purpose of customer relationships for the purpose of developing a customer risk profile; and (2) conducting ongoing monitoring to identify and report suspicious transactions and, on a risk basis, to maintain and update customer information. For purposes of this subparagraph (f), customer information shall include information regarding the beneficial owners of legal entity customers (as defined in 31 CFR 1010.230(e)).

In the event that any of the provisions of this Rule conflict with any of the provisions of another, applicable self-regulatory organization's rule requiring the development and implementation of an anti-money laundering compliance program, the provisions of the rule of the Member's Designated Examining Authority shall apply.

[Adopted June 6, 2019 (SR-ISE-2019-17); amended February 18, 2020 (SR-ISE-2020-08), operative March 19, 2020.]

(a) No Member shall give a proxy to vote stock that is registered in its name, unless: (i) such Member is the beneficial owner of such stock; (ii) pursuant to the written instructions of the beneficial owner; or (iii) pursuant to the rules of any national securities exchange or association of which it is a Member provided that the records of the Member clearly indicate the procedure it is following.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Member that is not the beneficial owner of a security registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act is prohibited from granting a proxy to vote the security in connection with a shareholder vote on the election of a Member of the board of directors of an issuer (except for a vote with respect to uncontested election of a Member of the board of directors of any investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940), executive compensation, or any other significant matter, as determined by the SEC, by rule, unless the beneficial owner of the security has instructed the Member to vote the proxy in accordance with the voting instructions of the beneficial owner.

[Adopted June 6, 2019 (SR-ISE-2019-17).]

 

[Adopted June 6, 2019 (SR-ISE-2019-17).]

 

[Adopted March 18, 2020 (SR-ISE-2020-11), operative April 17, 2020.]

It shall be considered conduct inconsistent with just and equitable principles of trade for any member, member organization, or person associated with or employed by a member or member organization to split an order into multiple smaller orders for any purpose other than seeking the best execution of the entire order.

Adopted Dec. 11, 2025 (SR-ISE-2025-40), operative Jan. 10, 2026.

(a) (1) In any transaction for or with a customer or a customer of another broker-dealer, a Member and persons associated with a Member shall use reasonable diligence to ascertain the best market for the subject security and buy or sell in such market so that the resultant price to the customer is as favorable as possible under prevailing market conditions. Among the factors that will be considered in determining whether a Member has used “reasonable diligence” are:

(A) the character of the market for the security, e.g., price, volatility, relative liquidity, and pressure on available communications;

(B) the size and type of transaction;

(C) the number of markets checked;

(D) accessibility of the quotation; and

(E) the terms and conditions of the order which result in the transaction, as communicated to the Member and persons associated with the Member.

(2) In any transaction for or with a customer or a customer of another broker-dealer, no Member or person associated with a Member shall interject a third party between the Member and the best market for the subject security in a manner inconsistent with paragraph (a)(1) of this Rule.

(b) When a Member cannot execute directly with a market maker but must employ a broker’s broker or some other means in order to ensure an execution advantageous to the customer, the burden of showing the acceptable circumstances for doing so is on the retail firm. Examples of acceptable circumstances are where a customer's order is "crossed" with another retail firm which has a corresponding order on the other side, or where the identity of the retail firm, if known, would likely cause undue price movements adversely affecting the cost or proceeds to the customer.

(c) Failure to maintain or adequately staff a department assigned to execute customers' orders cannot be considered justification for executing away from the best available market; nor can channeling orders through a third party as described above as reciprocation for service or business operate to relieve a Member of its obligations. However, the channeling of customers' orders through a broker's broker or third party pursuant to established correspondent relationships under which executions are confirmed directly to the Member acting as agent for the customer, such as where the third party gives up the name of the retail firm, are not prohibited if the cost of such service is not borne by the customer.

(d) A Member through whom a retail order is channeled, as described above, and who knowingly is a party to an arrangement whereby the initiating Member has not fulfilled his obligations under this Rule, will also be deemed to have violated this Rule.

(e) The obligations described in paragraphs (a) through (d) above exist not only where the Member acts as agent for the account of his customer but also where retail transactions are executed as principal and contemporaneously offset.

(f) Paragraph (a) requires, among other things, that a Member or person associated with a Member comply with paragraph (a) when customer orders are routed to it from another broker/dealer for execution. This rule text addresses certain interpretive questions concerning the applicability of the best execution rule.

For the purposes of this Rule, the term “market” or “markets” is to be construed broadly, and it encompasses a variety of different venues, including, but not limited to, market centers that are trading a particular security. This expansive interpretation is meant to both inform broker/dealers as to the breadth of the scope of venues that must be considered in the furtherance of their best execution obligations and to promote fair competition among broker/dealers, exchange markets, and markets other than exchange markets, as well as any other venue that may emerge, by not mandating that certain trading venues have less relevance than others in the course of determining a firm's best execution obligations.

A Member’s duty to provide best execution in any transaction “for or with a customer of another broker/dealer” does not apply in instances when another broker/dealer is simply executing a customer order against the Member’s quote. Stated in another manner, the duty to provide best execution to customer orders received from other broker/dealers arises only when an order is routed from the broker/dealer to the Member for the purpose of order handling and execution. This clarification is intended to draw a distinction between those situations in which the Member is acting solely as the buyer or seller in connection with orders presented by a broker/dealer against the Member’s quote, as opposed to those circumstances in which the Member is accepting order flow from another broker/dealer for the purpose of facilitating the handling and execution of such orders.

Adopted Dec. 22, 2025 (SR-ISE-2025-43), operative Jan. 21, 2026.