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Home > > Phlx Options 6
Options 6 Options Trade Administration
Section 1. Authorization to Give Up

(a) General. For each transaction in which a member organization participates, the member organization may indicate, at the time of the trade, with respect to floor trading only, or through post trade allocation, any Options Clearing Corporation ("OCC") number of a Clearing Member through which a transaction will be cleared ("Give Up"), provided the Clearing Member has not elected to Opt In, as defined and described in paragraph (b) below, and restrict one or more of its OCC number(s) ("Restricted OCC Number"). A member organization may Give Up a Restricted OCC Number provided the member organization has written authorization as described in paragraph (b)(ii) below ("Authorized Member Organization").

(b) Opt In. Clearing Members may request the Exchange restrict one or more of their OCC clearing numbers ("Opt In") as described in subparagraph (i) below. If a Clearing Member Opts In, the Exchange will require written authorization from the Clearing Member permitting a member organization to Give Up a Clearing Member's Restricted OCC Number. An Opt In would remain in effect until the Clearing Member terminates the Opt In as described in subparagraph (iii) below. If a Clearing Member does not Opt In, that Clearing Member's OCC number would be subject to Give Up by any member organization.

(i) Clearing Member Process to Opt In. A Clearing Member may Opt In by sending a completed "Clearing Member Restriction Form" listing all Restricted OCC Numbers and Authorized Member Organizations. A Clearing Member may elect to restrict one or more OCC clearing numbers that are registered in its name at OCC. The Clearing Member would be required to submit the Clearing Member Restriction Form to the Exchange's Membership Department as described on the form. Once submitted, the Exchange requires ninety days before a Restricted OCC Number is effective within the System.

(ii) Member Organization Give Up Process for Restricted OCC Numbers. A member organization desiring to Give Up a Restricted OCC Number must become an Authorized Member Organization. The Clearing Member will be required to authorize a member organization as described in subparagraph (i) or (iii), unless the Restricted OCC Number is already subject to a Letter of Guarantee that the member organization is a party to, as set forth in paragraph (d) below.

(iii) Amendments to Authorized Member Organizations or Restricted OCC Numbers. A Clearing Member may amend its Authorized Member Organizations or Restricted OCC Numbers by submitting a new Clearing Member Restriction Form to the Exchange's Membership Department indicating the amendment as described on the form. Once a Restricted OCC Number is effective within the System pursuant to paragraph (i) above, the Exchange may permit the Clearing Member to authorize, or remove authorization for, a member organization to Give Up the Restricted OCC Number intra-day only in unusual circumstances, and on the next business day in all regular circumstances. The Exchange will promptly notify member organizations if they are no longer authorized to Give Up a Clearing Member's Restricted OCC Number. If a Clearing Member removes a Restricted OCC Number, any member organization may Give Up that OCC clearing number once the removal has become effective on or before the next business day.

(c) System. The System will not allow an unauthorized member organization to Give Up a Restricted OCC Number.

(i) For orders that are executed on the trading floor in open outcry using the Options Floor Based Management System ("FBMS"), the System will reject the clearing portion of the trade if an unauthorized Give Up with a Restricted OCC Number was entered. The member organization will receive notification of the rejected clearing information, and will be required to modify the clearing information by contacting the Exchange.

(ii) For all other orders, the System will not allow an unauthorized Give Up with a Restricted OCC Number to be submitted at the firm mnemonic level at the point of order entry.

(d) Letter of Guarantee. A clearing arrangement subject to a Letter of Guarantee would immediately permit the Give Up of a Restricted OCC Number by the member organization that is party to the arrangement.

(e) An intentional misuse of this Rule is impermissible, and may be treated as a violation of Options 9, Sections 1 and 5.

Adopted Feb. 3, 2020 (20-03).

Section 2. Responsibility Of Clearing Members For Exchange Options Transactions

Every Clearing Member shall be responsible for the clearance of the Exchange options transactions of such Clearing Member and of each member or member organization who gives up the name of such Clearing Member in an Exchange options transaction, provided the Clearing Member has authorized such member or member organization to give up its name with respect to Exchange options transactions. This Rule will apply to all Clearing Members who either (i) have Restricted OCC Numbers with Authorized Member Organizations pursuant to Options 6, Section 1, or (ii) have non-Restricted OCC Numbers.

Adopted Feb. 3, 2020 (20-03).

Section 3. General Comparison And Clearance Rule

(a) A member or member organization initiating an options transaction, whether acting as principal or agent, must report or ensure that the transaction is reported within 90 seconds of the execution to the tape. Transactions not reported within 90 seconds after execution shall be designated as late. A pattern or practice of late reporting without exceptional circumstances may be considered conduct inconsistent with just and equitable principles of trade.

(b) All Exchange options transactions shall be reported at the time of execution to the Exchange for comparison of trade information and all compared transactions shall be cleared through The Options Clearing Corporation and shall be subject to the rules of The Options Clearing Corporation.

Adopted Feb. 3, 2020 (20-03).

Section 4. Letters of Guarantee.

(a) Required of Each Market Maker. No Market Maker shall make any transactions on the Exchange unless a letter of guarantee has been issued for such member organization by a Clearing Member and filed with the Exchange, and unless such letter of guarantee has not been revoked pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Rule.

(b) Terms of Letter of Guarantee. A letter of guarantee shall provide that the issuing Clearing Member accepts financial responsibilities for all Exchange transactions made by the guaranteed member organization.

(c) Revocation of Letter of Guarantee. A letter of guarantee filed with the Exchange shall remain in effect until a written notice of revocation has been filed with the Exchange. A revocation shall in no way relieve a Clearing Member of responsibility for transactions guaranteed prior to the effective date of such revocation.

Adopted Feb. 3, 2020 (20-03); amended Oct. 18, 2024 (SR-Phlx-2024-56), operative Nov. 17, 2024.

Section 5. Transfer of Positions

(a) Permissible Transfers. Existing positions in options listed on the Exchange of a member or member organization or non-member or non-member organization that are to be transferred on, from, or to the books of a Clearing Member may be transferred off the Exchange if the transfer involves one or more of the following events:

(1) pursuant to Options 9, Section 1, an adjustment or transfer in connection with the correction of a bona fide error in the recording of a transaction or the transferring of a position to another account, provided that the original trade documentation confirms the error;

(2) the transfer of positions from one account to another account where no change in ownership is involved (i.e., accounts of the same Person, provided the accounts are not in separate aggregation units or otherwise subject to information barrier or account segregation requirements;

(3) the consolidation of accounts where no change in ownership is involved;

(4) a merger, acquisition, consolidation, or similar non-recurring transaction for a Person;

(5) the dissolution of a joint account in which the remaining member or member organization assumes the positions of the joint account;

(6) the dissolution of a corporation or partnership in which a former nominee of the corporation or partnership assumes the positions;

(7) positions transferred as part of a member or member organization's capital contribution to a new joint account, partnership, or corporation;

(8) the donation of positions to a not-for-profit corporation;

(9) the transfer of positions to a minor under the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act; or

(10) the transfer of positions through operation of law from death, bankruptcy, or otherwise.

For purposes of this rule, the term "Person" shall be defined as an individual, partnership (general or limited), joint stock company, corporation, limited liability company, trust or unincorporated organization, or any governmental entity or agency or political subdivision thereof.

(b) Netting. Unless otherwise permitted by paragraph (f), when effecting a transfer pursuant to paragraph (a), no position may net against another position ("netting"), and no position transfer may result in preferential margin or haircut treatment.

(c) Transfer Price. The transfer price, to the extent it is consistent with applicable laws, rules, and regulations, including rules of other self-regulatory organizations, and tax and accounting rules and regulations, at which a transfer is effected may be:

(1) the original trade prices of the positions that appear on the books of the transferring Clearing Member, in which case the records of the transfer must indicate the original trade dates for the positions; provided, transfers to correct errors under subparagraph (a)(1) must be transferred at the correct original trade prices;

(2) mark-to-market prices of the positions at the close of trading on the transfer date;

(3) mark-to-market prices of the positions at the close of trading on the trade date prior to the transfer date; or

(4) the then-current market price of the positions at the time the transfer is effected.

(d) Prior Written Notice. A member or member organization(s) and its Clearing Member(s) (to the extent that the member or member organization is not self-clearing) must submit to the Exchange, in a manner determined by the Exchange, written notice prior to effecting a transfer from or to the account(s) of a member or member organization(s), except that notification is not required for transfers effected pursuant to subparagraph (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this Rule.

(1) The notice must indicate (A) the Exchange-listed options positions to be transferred, (B) the nature of the transaction, (C) the enumerated provision(s) under paragraph (a) pursuant to which the positions are being transferred, (D) the name of the counterparty(ies), (E) the anticipated transfer date, (F) the method for determining the transfer price under paragraph (c) above, and (G) any other information requested by the Exchange.

(2) Receipt of notice of a transfer does not constitute a determination by the Exchange that the transfer was effected or reported in conformity with the requirements of this Rule. Notwithstanding submission of written notice to Exchange, member or member organizations and Clearing Member that effect transfers that do not conform to the requirements of this Rule will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with the Rules.

(e) Records. Each member or member organization and each Clearing Member that is a party to a transfer must make and retain records of the information provided in the notice to the Exchange pursuant to subparagraph (d)(1), as well as information on (1) the actual Exchange-listed options transferred; (2) the actual transfer date; and (3) the actual transfer price (and the original trade dates, if applicable). The Exchange may also request the member or member organization Holder or Clearing Member to provide other information.

(f) Presidential Exemptions. In addition to the exemptions set forth in paragraph (a) of this Rule, the Exchange Chief Executive Officer or President (or senior-level designee) may grant an exemption from the requirement of this Rule, on his or her own motion or upon application of the member or member organization (with respect to the member or member organization's positions) or a Clearing Member (with respect to positions carried and cleared by the Clearing Members), when, in the judgment of the Chief Executive Officer or the President or his or her designee, allowing the transfer is necessary or appropriate for the maintenance of a fair and orderly market and the protection of investors and is in the public interest, including due to unusual or extraordinary circumstances, such as the possibility that the market value of the Person's positions will be compromised by having to comply with the requirement to trade on the Exchange pursuant to the normal auction process or when, in the judgment of the Chief Executive Officer, President or his or her designee, market conditions make trading on the Exchange impractical.

(g) Routine, Recurring Transfers. The transfer procedure set forth in this Rule is intended to facilitate non-routine, nonrecurring movements of positions and is not to be used repeatedly or routinely, except for transfers between accounts of the same Person pursuant to subparagraph (a)(2). The transfer procedure may not be used in circumvention of the normal auction process.

(h) Exchange-Listed Options. The transfer procedure set forth in this Rule is only applicable to positions in options listed on the Exchange. Transfers of positions in Exchange-listed options may also be subject to applicable laws, rules, and regulations, including rules of other self-regulatory organizations. Transfers of non-Exchange listed options and other financial instruments are not governed by this Rule.

Adopted Feb. 3, 2020 (20-03); amended April 16, 2020 (20-22); amended August 6, 2020 (SR-Phlx-2020-39).

Section 6. Off-Exchange RWA Transfers

(a) Existing positions in options listed on the Exchange of a Member or non-Member (including an affiliate of a Member) may be transferred on, from, or to the books of a Clearing Member off the Exchange if the transfer establishes a net reduction of risk-weighted assets attributable to those the Member or non-Member's options positions (an "RWA Transfer"). For purposes of this rule, the term "Person" shall be defined as an individual, partnership (general or limited), joint stock company, corporation, limited liability company, trust or unincorporated organization, or any governmental entity or agency or political subdivision thereof.

(1) RWA Transfers include, but are not limited to: (1) a transfer of options positions from Clearing Corporation member A to Clearing Corporation member B that net (offset) with positions held at Clearing Corporation member B, and thus closes all or part of those positions, and (2) a transfer of positions from a bank-affiliated Clearing Corporation member to a non-bank-affiliated Clearing Corporation member.

(2) RWA Transfers may occur on a routine, recurring basis.

(3) RWA Transfers may result in the netting of positions.

(4) No RWA Transfer may result in preferential margin or haircut treatment.

(5) No RWA Transfer may result in a change in ownership (i.e., an RWA transfer must occur between accounts of the same Person.

(6) No prior written notice to the Exchange is required for RWA Transfers.

(7) Off-exchange transfers of positions in Exchange-listed options may be subject to applicable laws, rules, and regulations, including rules of other self-regulatory organizations. Transfers of non-Exchange listed options and other financial instruments are not governed by this Rule.

Adopted Feb. 3, 2020 (20-03).

Section 7. In-Kind Exchange of Options Positions and ETF Shares and UIT Units

Positions in options listed on the Exchange may be transferred off the Exchange by a member or member organization in connection with transactions (1) to purchase or redeem creation units of ETF shares between an authorized participant and the issuer of such ETF shares or (2) to create or redeem units of a unit investment trust (“UIT”) between a broker-dealer and the issuer of such UIT units, which transfers would occur at the price(s) used to calculate the net asset value of such ETF shares or UIT units, respectively. For purposes of this Rule:

(a) an "authorized participant" is an entity that has a written agreement with the issuer of ETF shares or one of its service providers, which allows the authorized participant to place orders for the purchase and redemption of creation units (i.e., specified numbers of ETF shares);

(b) an "issuer of ETF shares" is an entity registered with the Commission as an open-ended management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940; and

(c) an “issuer of UIT units” is a trust registered with the Commission as a unit investment trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

Adopted Feb. 3, 2020 (20-03); amended May 6, 2021 (SR-Phlx-2021-30).

Section 8. Clearing Arrangements

A member or member organization conducting an options business must be a Clearing Member or have a clearing arrangement with a Clearing Member.

Adopted Feb. 3, 2020 (20-03).

Section 9. Stock Transfer Tax

(a) Any stock transfer or similar tax payable in accordance with applicable laws and regulations of a taxing jurisdiction upon the sale, transfer or delivery of securities pursuant to the exercise of an option contract shall be the responsibility of the seller (writer) to whom the exercise notice is assigned in the case of a call option contract or the exercising holder in the case of a put option contract, except that (i) in the case of a call option contract where the incidents of the tax are attributable solely to the exercising holder, the member organization representing such holder or another member organization which acts on its behalf as a clearing member of The Options Clearing Corporation ("OCC"), the tax shall be the responsibility of the exercising holder, and (ii) in the case of a put option contract where the incidents of the tax are attributable solely to the seller (writer) to whom the exercise notice is assigned, the member organization representing such seller (writer) or another member organization which acts on its behalf as a clearing member of OCC, the tax shall be the responsibility of such seller (writer). Each delivery of securities subject to such tax must be accompanied by a sales ticket stamped in accordance with the regulations of the State imposing such tax or, if required by applicable law, such tax shall be remitted by the clearing member having responsibility therefore to the clearing corporation through which it customarily pays stock transfer taxes, in accordance with the applicable rules of such clearing corporation.

Adopted Feb. 3, 2020 (20-03).

Section 10. Filing of Trade Information

At the time of execution, each member organization which is a clearing member of The Options Clearing Corporation shall be responsible for supplying to the Exchange trade information in a form prescribed by the Exchange, covering each Exchange options transaction for which such clearing member is responsible. The trade information shall show for each transaction (i) the identity of the purchasing clearing member and the writing clearing member given up at the time of execution, (ii) the underlying stock, Exchange-Traded Fund Share or foreign currency, as the case may be, (iii) the exercise price, (iv) the expiration month, (v) the number of option contracts, (vi) the premium per share of the underlying stock or the premium per unit of the underlying foreign currency, (vii) whether a purchase or a writing transaction, (viii) except for a transaction in a Lead Market Maker's account, whether an opening or closing, (ix) the identity of the account of the clearing member in which the transaction was effected, (x) Reserved, (xi) whether a put or call, and (xii) such other information as may be required by the Exchange. Each member or member organization which is a clearing member of The Options Clearing Corporation shall be responsible to the Exchange in respect of all trade information filed with the Exchange on such form prescribed by the Exchange.

Adopted Feb. 3, 2020 (20-03).

Section 11. Verification Of Trades And Reconciliation Of Uncompared Trades

A Clearing Member shall be obligated to compare all trades made through or on behalf of such member as soon as possible after such trades are made or after receiving notification thereof, reconcile all uncompared trades and advisory trades, and report all reconciliations, corrections and adjustments to the Exchange in accordance with such procedures as may be established by the Exchange from time to time. Such reconciliation report shall be filed with the Exchange prior to such cut-off hour as the Exchange may prescribe and shall be binding on the Clearing Member on whose behalf it is filed. The Exchange will consider all trades as executed and compared as of such cut-off hour.

Adopted Feb. 3, 2020 (20-03).

Section 12. Reporting Of Compared Trades To Options Clearing Corporation

On each business day at or prior to such time as may be prescribed by The Options Clearing Corporation, the Exchange shall furnish The Options Clearing Corporation a report of each clearing member's compared trades based on the comparison service performed by the Exchange on that day. Only trades which have been compared shall be furnished by the Exchange to The Options Clearing Corporation, and the Exchange shall assume no responsibility with respect to any uncompared trade nor for any delays or errors in the reporting of trades for comparison.

Adopted Feb. 3, 2020 (20-03).

Section 13. Maintaining Office And Filing Signatures

Every member organization which is a clearing member of The Options Clearing Corporation shall maintain an office for the purpose of comparing Exchange options transactions. Any such member organization may use for the purpose of these Rules the office of another member organization which is a clearing member of The Options Clearing Corporation. There shall be present at such office, between such hours as the Exchange shall from time to time fix, on every business day a representative of the member organization authorized to sign in the name of the member organization all instruments and transact all business requisite in connection with the comparison of Exchange options transactions.

Adopted Feb. 3, 2020 (20-03).

 
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