[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 72 (Friday, April 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20216-20218]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-07788]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-91537; File No. SR-PEARL-2021-08]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; MIAX PEARL, LLC; Notice of Filing 
and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change Regarding 
Rebranding of the Exchange

April 12, 2021.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

[[Page 20217]]

(``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that 
on March 30, 2021, MIAX PEARL, LLC (``MIAX PEARL'' or ``Exchange'') 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') a 
proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which 
Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing 
this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from 
interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange is filing a proposal to amend the Exchange's Rulebooks 
and fee schedules to reflect a rebranding of the Exchange.
    The Exchange has designated the proposed rule change as one being 
concerned solely with the administration of the Exchange pursuant to 
Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \3\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(3) 
thereunder,\4\ which renders the proposal effective upon filing with 
the Commission.
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    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
    \4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(3).
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    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
website at http://www.miaxoptions.com/rule-filings/pearl at MIAX 
PEARL's principal office, and at the Commission's Public Reference 
Room.

II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements 
concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and 
discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The 
text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in 
Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in 
sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such 
statements.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    The Exchange proposes to amend the Exchange's Rulebook \5\ and the 
Fee Schedules applicable to the Exchange's options and equities 
platforms (collectively, the ``Fee Schedules'') \6\ as part of a non-
substantive marketing effort to rebrand the Exchange. Pursuant to this 
proposal, the Exchange proposes to rebrand references to the fully-
capitalized words ``MIAX PEARL'' to now be ``MIAX Pearl,'' throughout 
the Exchange's Rulebook and the Fee Schedules.\7\ The Exchange does not 
propose to amend its legal name, ``MIAX PEARL, LLC,'' and thus, does 
not propose to amend its Restated Certificate of Incorporation 
(``Certificate of Incorporation''),\8\ Amended and Restated Bylaws of 
the Exchange (``Bylaws''),\9\ or the Second Amended and Restated 
Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Exchange (``LLC 
Agreement''),\10\ to reflect the rebranding change. The rebranded term 
``MIAX Pearl'' will represent the same entity as its legal name, ``MIAX 
PEARL.''
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    \5\ See MIAX PEARL Rulebook, as of Mar. 15, 2021, available at: 
https://www.miaxoptions.com/sites/default/files/page-files/MIAX_PEARL_Exchange_Rules_03152021.pdf.
    \6\ See MIAX PEARL Fee Schedule, as of Mar. 1, 2021, available 
at: https://www.miaxoptions.com/sites/default/files/fee_schedule-files/MIAX_PEARL_Options_Fee_Schedule_03012021.pdf; MIAX PEARL 
Equities Fee Schedule, as of January 29, 2021, available at: https://www.miaxoptions.com/sites/default/files/fee_schedule-files/MIAX_PEARL_Equities_Fee_Schedule_01292021.pdf.
    \7\ All references to the Exchange's legal name will remain 
``MIAX PEARL, LLC.'' This includes references to ``MIAX PEARL, LLC'' 
in Exchange Rule 100 for the definition for ``Exchange'' and ``MIAX 
PEARL,'' as well as in Exchange Rule 1901 for the definition for 
``MIAX Pearl Equities.'' For marketing purposes throughout the 
Rulebook and Fee Schedules, the Exchange will otherwise be referred 
to as ``MIAX Pearl'' or ``Exchange.''
    \8\ See Restated Certificate of Formation of MIAX PEARL, LLC, 
filed on Nov. 12, 2020, available at: https://www.miaxoptions.com/sites/default/files/page-files/MIAX_PEARL_Restated_Certificate_of_Formation_11122020.pdf.
    \9\ See Amended and Restated By-Laws of MIAX PEARL, LLC, 
effective on Nov. 12, 2020, available at: https://www.miaxoptions.com/sites/default/files/page-files/MIAX_PEARL_Amended_and_Restated_By-Laws_11122020.pdf.
    \10\ See Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company 
Agreement of MIAX PEARL, LLC, effective on Nov. 12, 2020, available 
at: https://www.miaxoptions.com/sites/default/files/page-files/MIAX_PEARL_Second_Amended_and_Restated_LLC_Agreement_11122020.pdf.
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    Specifically, with the proposed rebranding, references in the 
Exchange's Rulebook and Fee Schedules to ``MIAX PEARL'' will be 
rebranded to ``MIAX Pearl.''
    The rebranding of references to ``MIAX PEARL'' to now be to ``MIAX 
Pearl'' consists of non-substantive changes due to a recent rebranding 
effort conducted by the Exchange, as well as its affiliates, Miami 
International Securities Exchange, LLC (``MIAX'') and MIAX Emerald, LLC 
(``MIAX Emerald''). The Exchange proposes to implement the rebranding 
changes for marketing purposes. With the rebranding changes, the term 
``MIAX Pearl'' will be consistent with how its affiliate, MIAX Emerald, 
LLC, is named. The Exchange notes that no changes to the ownership or 
structure of the Exchange have taken place and that the term ``MIAX 
Pearl'' will represent the same entity as the legal entity's name, 
``MIAX PEARL.'' In lieu of providing a copy of the marked changes, the 
Exchange represents that it will make the necessary non-substantive 
revisions to the Exchange's Rulebook and the Fee Schedules for its 
options and equities platforms and post updated versions of each on the 
Exchange's website pursuant to Rule 19b-4(m)(2).\11\
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    \11\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(m)(2).
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    Additionally, the Exchange intends to file similar proposals to 
rebrand the Rulebooks and Fee Schedules of the Exchange's affiliates, 
MIAX and MIAX Emerald, to amend references to ``MIAX PEARL'' to now be 
``MIAX Pearl,'' which will reflect the same rebranding changes 
described herein.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposed rule change is consistent 
with Section 6(b) of the Act \12\ in general, and furthers the 
objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act \13\ in particular, in that it 
is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, 
promotes just and equitable principles of trade, fosters cooperation 
and coordination with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in 
securities, removes impediments to and perfects the mechanisms of a 
free and open market and a national market system and, in general, 
protects investors and the public interest because the proposal will 
eliminate potential confusion on the part of market participants using 
the products and services of the Exchange in light of the corporate 
rebranding that the Exchange has undergone.
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    \12\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \13\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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    The Exchange also believes that the proposed rule change is 
consistent with Section 6(b)(1) of the Act \14\ in that it aims to 
continue to ensure that the Exchange has the capacity to carry out the 
purposes of the Act and to enforce compliance by its Members \15\ and 
Equities Members \16\ with the provisions of the Act as well as the 
rules and regulations thereunder. The Exchange proposes to amend the 
Rulebook and

[[Page 20218]]

the Fee Schedules to rebrand references to ``MIAX PEARL'' to now be 
``MIAX Pearl.'' The proposed rebrand consists of non-substantive 
changes to the Rulebook and the Fee Schedules of the Exchange so that 
the term ``MIAX Pearl'' is consistent with its affiliate, MIAX Emerald, 
as part of a broader marketing effort by the Exchange and its 
affiliates, MIAX and MIAX Emerald. Therefore, the Exchange believes 
that the rebrand will protect investors and the public interest by 
eliminating confusion that may exist because of differences in the 
other naming conventions of the Exchange. No changes to the ownership 
or structure of the Exchange have taken place. The Exchange notes that 
the term ``MIAX Pearl'' will represent the same entity as ``MIAX 
PEARL.'' The Exchange notes that its affiliates, MIAX and MIAX Emerald, 
will file similar proposals to amend their Rulebooks and Fee Schedules 
to rebrand references to ``MIAX PEARL'' to now be to ``MIAX Pearl,'' to 
provide uniformity among the Exchange, MIAX and MIAX Emerald, to avoid 
potential confusion by market participants.
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    \14\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(1).
    \15\ The term ``Member'' means an individual or organization 
that is registered with the Exchange pursuant to Chapter II of the 
Exchange's Rulebook for purposes of trading on the Exchange as an 
``Electronic Exchange Member'' or ``Market Maker.'' Members are 
deemed ``members'' under the Exchange Act. See Exchange Rule 100.
    \16\ The term ``Equities Member'' means a Member authorized by 
the Exchange to transact business on MIAX PEARL Equities. See 
Exchange Rule 1901.
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will 
impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate 
in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The Exchange does not 
believe the proposal will impose any burden on intra-market competition 
because the proposed rule change is not a competitive filing but rather 
is designed to effectuate the Exchange's rebranding of references to 
``MIAX PEARL'' to now be ``MIAX Pearl,'' as part of a corporate 
rebranding and marketing strategy. The proposed changes to the 
Exchange's Rulebook and Fee Schedules will help provide clarity and 
uniformity to avoid potential confusion on the part of market 
participants because the rebrand of ``MIAX Pearl'' is part of a broader 
rebranding and marketing effort by the Exchange and its affiliates, 
MIAX and MIAX Emerald. In addition, the Exchange does not believe the 
proposal will impose any burden on inter-market competition as the 
proposal does not address any competitive issues and is intended to 
protect investors by providing further transparency regarding the 
Exchange's Rulebook and Fee Schedules.

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

    Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

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

    The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \17\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(3) \18\ thereunder, in 
that the proposed rule change is concerned solely with the 
administration of the self-regulatory organization.
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    \17\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \18\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(3).
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    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule 
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule 
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or 
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission 
takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings to 
determine whether the proposed rule should be approved or disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule 
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of 
the following methods:

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include 
File Number SR- PEARL-2021-08 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities 
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-PEARL-2021-08. This file 
number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help 
the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, 
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on 
the Commission's internet website (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). 
Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written 
statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with 
the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed 
rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those 
that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions 
of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for website viewing and printing in 
the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 
20549, on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 
3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection 
and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments 
received will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are 
cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying 
information from comment submissions. You should submit only 
information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions 
should refer to File Number SR-PEARL-2021-08 and should be submitted on 
or before May 7, 2021.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\19\
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    \19\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-07788 Filed 4-15-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P


