Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change Amending Its Fees Schedule, 55201-55203 [2019-22387]
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 199 / Tuesday, October 15, 2019 / Notices
amount of ‘‘liquid net assets funded by
equity’’ as such term is used in the Rule
because the Capital Management Policy
provides that OCC must set the Target
Capital Requirement at a level sufficient
to maintain LNAFBE equal to the
amounts described above and LNAFBE,
in turn, must be supported by the
overall amount of Equity that OCC
holds.
Further, OCC proposes to require OCC
Management to notify OCC’s Board
promptly if Equity were to fall below
the Early Warning threshold and to
recommend to the Board whether to
implement a fee increase in an amount
that the Board determines necessary and
appropriate to raise additional Equity.
The requirement to notify the Board,
and recommend appropriate action,
would help to ensure that OCC
continues to hold sufficient resources to
meet the Target Capital Requirement.
The Commission believes, therefore,
that the proposal would be designed to
ensure that OCC holds Equity sufficient
to support the amount of LNAFBE equal
to the Target Capital Requirement,
which requirement would correspond to
the amounts specified under Rule
17Ad–22(e)(15)(ii).
The Commission also believes that the
proposed rules concerning the form of
OCC’s LNAFBE and manner in which it
would be held are consistent with the
requirements of Rule 17Ad–22(e)(15)(ii).
OCC proposes to define LNAFBE such
that it would consist of only cash and
cash equivalents. OCC’s LNAFBE must,
therefore, be liquid by definition.
Further, OCC proposes to adopt rules
requiring that OCC hold Equity equal to
110 percent of the Target Capital
Requirement separate from OCC’s
resources to cover participant defaults.
Rule 17Ad–22(e)(15)(iii) under the
Exchange Act requires that the policies
and procedures described under Rule
17Ad–22(e)(15) include maintaining a
viable plan, approved by the board of
directors and updated at least annually,
for raising additional equity should a
covered clearing agency’s equity fall
close to or below the amount required
under Rule 17Ad–22(e)(15)(ii).75
As described above, the proposed
Replenishment Plan would govern
OCC’s process for replenishing its
capital in the event that Equity were to
fall close to or below the Target Capital
Requirement. The proposed
Replenishment Plan would require
OCC’s Management to monitor changes
in Equity and to notify OCC’s Board of
a Trigger Event. Under the proposed
Replenishment Plan, OCC would be
required, in response to a Trigger Event,
to replenish its capital first through the
contribution of the EDCP Unvested
Balance. If OCC were to determine that
further replenishment were necessary
following the contribution of the entire
EDCP Unvested Balance, OCC would be
required to charge the Operational Loss
Fee described above. Under the
proposal, OCC’s Management would be
obligated to recommend that the Board
approve or, as appropriate, modify the
proposed Replenishment Plan annually.
In turn, OCC’s Board would be obligated
to approve or, as appropriate, modify
the proposed Replenishment Plan
annually based on Management’s
recommendation. The Commission
believes, therefore, that adoption of
these aspects of the proposed Capital
Management Policy and supporting rule
changes are consistent with Exchange
Act Rule 17Ad–22(e)(15).76
VI. Conclusion
It is therefore noticed, pursuant to
Section 806(e)(1)(I) of the Clearing
Supervision Act, that the Commission
does not object to Advance Notice (SR–
OCC–2019–805) and that OCC is
authorized to implement the proposed
change as of the date of this notice or
the date of an order by the Commission
approving proposed rule change SR–
OCC–2019–007, as modified by Partial
Amendment No. 1, whichever is later.
By the Commission.
Vanessa A. Countryman,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019–22392 Filed 10–11–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–87254; File No. SR–CBOE–
2019–078]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe
Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed
Rule Change Amending Its Fees
Schedule
October 8, 2019.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
notice is hereby given that on October
1, 2019, Cboe Exchange, Inc. (the
‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘Cboe Options’’) filed
with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’) the
proposed rule change as described in
Items I, II, and III below, which Items
have been prepared by the Exchange.
76 17
CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(15).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
1 15
75 17
CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(15)(iii).
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55201
The Commission is publishing this
notice to solicit comments on the
proposed rule change from interested
persons.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
Cboe Exchange, Inc. (the ‘‘Exchange’’
or ‘‘Cboe Options’’) proposes to amend
its Fees Schedule. The text of the
proposed rule change is provided in
Exhibit 5.
The text of the proposed rule change
is also available on the Exchange’s
website (https://www.cboe.com/
AboutCBOE/CBOELegal
RegulatoryHome.aspx), at the
Exchange’s Office of the Secretary, 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
In 2016, the Exchange’s parent
company, Cboe Global Markets, Inc.
(formerly named CBOE Holdings, Inc.)
(‘‘Cboe Global’’), which is also the
parent company of Cboe C2 Exchange,
Inc. (‘‘C2’’), acquired Cboe EDGA
Exchange, Inc. (‘‘EDGA’’), Cboe EDGX
Exchange, Inc. (‘‘EDGX’’ or ‘‘EDGX
Options’’), Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc.
(‘‘BZX’’ or ‘‘BZX Options’’), and Cboe
BYX Exchange, Inc. (‘‘BYX’’ and,
together with Cboe Options, C2, EDGX,
EDGA, and BZX, the ‘‘Cboe Affiliated
Exchanges’’). Cboe Options intends to
migrate its trading platform to the same
system used by the Cboe Affiliated
Exchanges, which the Exchange expects
to complete on October 7, 2019 (the
‘‘migration’’). The upcoming migration
will also include a migration of the
Exchange’s billing system. Accordingly,
in connection with the migration and in
an effort to more closely align the
Exchange’s fees with the corresponding
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fees at its Affiliated Exchanges, the
Exchange proposes to amend its
Marketing Fee Program, effective
October 1, 2019.
By way of background the Marketing
Fee is assessed on certain transactions
of Market-Makers resulting from
customer orders. The funds collected
via this Marketing Fee are then put into
pools controlled by a ‘‘Designed Primary
Market Maker’’ under Cboe Options
Rule 8.80, a ‘‘Preferred Market-Maker’’
under Cboe Options Rule 8.13 or a
‘‘Lead Market-Maker’’ under Cboe
Options Rule 8.15 (collectively
‘‘Preferenced Market-Maker’’). The
Preferenced Market-Maker controlling a
certain pool of funds can then
determine the order flow provider(s) to
which the funds should be directed in
order to encourage such order flow
provider(s) to send orders to the
Exchange. The Exchange proposes a
number of amendments to its Marketing
Fee program to simplify the program
and harmonize the program with the
program available at its affiliated
exchange, EDGX Options.
First, the Exchange proposes to
eliminate the exclusion of transactions
resulting from any of the strategies
identified and/or defined in footnote 13
of this Fees Schedule from the
Marketing Fee. Currently, in order for
such transactions to be excluded, TPHs
must submit a rebate request with
supporting documentation within 3
business days of the transaction. The
Exchange notes that post-migration, it
will no longer support the intake of
various rebate forms. Moreover, the
Exchange has not received a request for
such a rebate in over two years. As such,
the Exchange believes the impact of the
proposed change to be de minimis.
The Exchange next proposes to
eliminate the Rebate/Carryover Process
set forth in Footnote 6 of the Fees
Schedule. Currently, the Fees Schedule
provides that if less than 80% of the
marketing fee funds collected in a given
month is paid out by the DPM or
Preferenced Market-Maker in a given
month, then the Exchange would refund
such surplus at the end of the month on
a pro rata basis based upon
contributions made by the MarketMakers in that month. If 80% or more
of the funds collected in a given month
is paid out by the DPM or Preferenced
Market-Maker, there will not be a rebate
for that month unless the DPM or
Preferenced Market-Maker elects to have
funds rebated. In the absence of such
election, any excess funds are included
in an Excess Pool of funds to be used
by the DPM or Preferenced MarketMaker in subsequent months. The total
balance of the Excess Pool of funds for
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a DPM or a Preferenced Market-Maker
cannot exceed $100,000. If in any month
the Excess Pool balance were to exceed
$100,000, the funds in excess of
$100,000 would be refunded on a pro
rata basis based upon contributions
made by the Market-Makers in that
month. In addition, in any month, a
DPM or a Preferenced Market-Maker can
elect to have any funds in its Excess
Pool refunded on a pro rata basis based
upon contributions made by the MarketMakers in that month. In lieu of this
process, the Exchange proposes to adopt
the process that its affiliate EDGX
Options utilizes. Particularly, the
Exchange proposes to provide that the
total balance of any undispersed
marketing fees for a Preferenced MarketMaker/DPM pool cannot exceed
$250,000.3 Each month, undisbursed
marketing fees in excess of $250,000
will be reimbursed to the MarketMakers that contributed to the pool
based upon a one month look back and
their pro-rata portion of the entire
amount of marketing fee collected
during that month. The Exchange notes
that in the past year, no Market-Maker
has distributed less than 80% of the
funds collected. Similarly, no MarketMaker has reached the $100,000 Excess
Pool cap. As such, the Exchange
believes the proposed change to have a
de minimis impact.
The Exchange lastly proposes to
eliminate the administrative fee.
Currently, the Exchange assesses an
administrative fee of .45% on the total
amount of the funds collected each
month; provided, however, that no
Market-Maker would contribute more
than 15% of the total amount of funds
raised by the .45% administrative. The
Exchange no longer wishes to assess this
fee and therefore proposes to eliminate
it from the Fees Schedule. The
Exchange notes it is not required to
assess such fee and notes EDGX Options
also does not assess such fee.
While the Exchange has no way of
predicting with certainty how the rule
change will impact Trading Permit
Holders, as noted above, the Exchange
anticipates the impact of the proposed
changes to be de minimis for all TPHs.
Moreover, the Exchange believes the
proposed change will also provide for
more streamlined administration of the
Marketing Fee program. Lastly, the
proposed amendments to the Marketing
3 The
Exchange notes that the undisbursed market
fee cap of $250,000 would apply to a single pool.
For example, any Marketing Fees generated from (1)
orders for which a DPM was preferenced and (2)
orders that were not preferenced, but in that DPM’s
class, would be deposited into the same single pool
for that Market-Maker, which pool would have an
overall cap of $250,000.
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Fee program will further harmonize the
program with the corresponding
Marketing Fee program of its affiliate
exchange, Cboe EDGX Exchange, Inc.,
(‘‘Cboe EDGX’’).4
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the
proposed rule change is consistent with
the objectives of Section 6 of the Act, in
general, and furthers the objectives of
Section 6(b)(4), in particular, as it is
designed to provide for the equitable
allocation of reasonable dues, fees and
other charges among its Members and
issuers and other persons using its
facilities. The Exchange also believes
that the proposed rule change is
consistent with the objectives of Section
6(b)(5) requirements that the rules of an
exchange be designed to prevent
fraudulent and manipulative acts and
practices, to promote just and equitable
principles of trade, to foster cooperation
and coordination with persons engaged
in regulating, clearing, settling,
processing information with respect to,
and facilitating transactions in
securities, to remove impediments to
and perfect the mechanism of a free and
open market and a national market
system, and, in general, to protect
investors and the public interest, and,
particularly, is not designed to permit
unfair discrimination between
customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.
The Exchange believes the proposed
rule changes to the Marketing Fee
program are reasonable as it further
harmonizes the program to that of its
affiliate, EDGX Options. The Exchange
notes that the Marketing Fee amounts
themselves are not changing with this
proposed rule change. Rather, the
proposed rule changes result in the
simplification of the Marketing Fee
program by eliminating an unused
rebate process and rebate forms and
provides for further harmonization of
the program to that on EDGX Options by
increasing the Excess Pool fee cap and
eliminating the administrative fee.
Additionally, the Exchange believes
eliminating the administrative fee is
reasonable because Market-Makers will
no longer be subject to fee. As discussed
above, the Exchange believes the
proposed changes will not have a
significant impact and will apply
uniformly to all TPHs.
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
4 See e.g., Cboe EDGX Options Exchange Fee
Schedule, Marketing Fees.
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 199 / Tuesday, October 15, 2019 / Notices
necessary or appropriate in furtherance
of the purposes of the Act. Specifically,
the Exchange does not believe that the
proposed change will impose any
burden on intramarket competitions that
is not necessary or appropriate in
furtherance of the purposes of the Act
because the proposed changes will be
applied equally to all Market-Makers.
The Exchange does not believe that
the proposed rule change will impose
any burden on intermarket competition
that is not necessary or appropriate in
furtherance of the purposes of the Act
because the proposed changes to the
Marketing Fee program closely align the
program to how its affiliate Cboe EDGX
administers its respective marketing fee
program. The Exchange also notes the
proposed changes apply to all TPHs
uniformly and are not expected to have
a significant impact. The Exchange
lastly notes that the proposed rule
change is not intended as a competitive
pricing change, but rather as a change to
streamline and simplify its marketing
fee program in connection with the
upcoming migration.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
The Exchange neither solicited nor
received comments on the proposed
rule change.
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 5 and paragraph (f) of Rule
19b–4 6 thereunder. 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 will institute proceedings
to determine whether the proposed rule
change should be approved or
disapproved.
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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:
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission’s internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an email to rule-comments@
sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
CBOE–2019–078 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–CBOE–2019–078. 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 (https://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–CBOE–2019–078 and
should be submitted on or before
November 5, 2019.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.7
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019–22387 Filed 10–11–19; 8:45 am]
[Release No. 34–87249; File No. SR–CBOE–
2019–076]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe
Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed
Rule Change Amending Its Fees
Schedule
October 8, 2019.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
notice is hereby given that on October
1, 2019, Cboe Exchange, Inc. (the
‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘Cboe Options’’) filed
with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’) the
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.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend its
fees schedule. The text of the proposed
rule change is provided in Exhibit 5.
The text of the proposed rule change
is also available on the Exchange’s
website (https://www.cboe.com/
AboutCBOE/CBOELegal
RegulatoryHome.aspx), at the
Exchange’s Office of the Secretary, 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.
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
6 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f).
5 15
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U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
CFR 240.19b–4.
15OCN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 199 (Tuesday, October 15, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55201-55203]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-22387]
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-87254; File No. SR-CBOE-2019-078]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe Exchange, Inc.; Notice of
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change Amending
Its Fees Schedule
October 8, 2019.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(the ``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given
that on October 1, 2019, Cboe Exchange, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or
``Cboe Options'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the ``Commission'') the 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
Cboe Exchange, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or ``Cboe Options'') proposes
to amend its Fees Schedule. The text of the proposed rule change is
provided in Exhibit 5.
The text of the proposed rule change is also available on the
Exchange's website (https://www.cboe.com/AboutCBOE/CBOELegalRegulatoryHome.aspx), at the Exchange's Office of the
Secretary, 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
In 2016, the Exchange's parent company, Cboe Global Markets, Inc.
(formerly named CBOE Holdings, Inc.) (``Cboe Global''), which is also
the parent company of Cboe C2 Exchange, Inc. (``C2''), acquired Cboe
EDGA Exchange, Inc. (``EDGA''), Cboe EDGX Exchange, Inc. (``EDGX'' or
``EDGX Options''), Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (``BZX'' or ``BZX
Options''), and Cboe BYX Exchange, Inc. (``BYX'' and, together with
Cboe Options, C2, EDGX, EDGA, and BZX, the ``Cboe Affiliated
Exchanges''). Cboe Options intends to migrate its trading platform to
the same system used by the Cboe Affiliated Exchanges, which the
Exchange expects to complete on October 7, 2019 (the ``migration'').
The upcoming migration will also include a migration of the Exchange's
billing system. Accordingly, in connection with the migration and in an
effort to more closely align the Exchange's fees with the corresponding
[[Page 55202]]
fees at its Affiliated Exchanges, the Exchange proposes to amend its
Marketing Fee Program, effective October 1, 2019.
By way of background the Marketing Fee is assessed on certain
transactions of Market-Makers resulting from customer orders. The funds
collected via this Marketing Fee are then put into pools controlled by
a ``Designed Primary Market Maker'' under Cboe Options Rule 8.80, a
``Preferred Market-Maker'' under Cboe Options Rule 8.13 or a ``Lead
Market-Maker'' under Cboe Options Rule 8.15 (collectively ``Preferenced
Market-Maker''). The Preferenced Market-Maker controlling a certain
pool of funds can then determine the order flow provider(s) to which
the funds should be directed in order to encourage such order flow
provider(s) to send orders to the Exchange. The Exchange proposes a
number of amendments to its Marketing Fee program to simplify the
program and harmonize the program with the program available at its
affiliated exchange, EDGX Options.
First, the Exchange proposes to eliminate the exclusion of
transactions resulting from any of the strategies identified and/or
defined in footnote 13 of this Fees Schedule from the Marketing Fee.
Currently, in order for such transactions to be excluded, TPHs must
submit a rebate request with supporting documentation within 3 business
days of the transaction. The Exchange notes that post-migration, it
will no longer support the intake of various rebate forms. Moreover,
the Exchange has not received a request for such a rebate in over two
years. As such, the Exchange believes the impact of the proposed change
to be de minimis.
The Exchange next proposes to eliminate the Rebate/Carryover
Process set forth in Footnote 6 of the Fees Schedule. Currently, the
Fees Schedule provides that if less than 80% of the marketing fee funds
collected in a given month is paid out by the DPM or Preferenced
Market-Maker in a given month, then the Exchange would refund such
surplus at the end of the month on a pro rata basis based upon
contributions made by the Market-Makers in that month. If 80% or more
of the funds collected in a given month is paid out by the DPM or
Preferenced Market-Maker, there will not be a rebate for that month
unless the DPM or Preferenced Market-Maker elects to have funds
rebated. In the absence of such election, any excess funds are included
in an Excess Pool of funds to be used by the DPM or Preferenced Market-
Maker in subsequent months. The total balance of the Excess Pool of
funds for a DPM or a Preferenced Market-Maker cannot exceed $100,000.
If in any month the Excess Pool balance were to exceed $100,000, the
funds in excess of $100,000 would be refunded on a pro rata basis based
upon contributions made by the Market-Makers in that month. In
addition, in any month, a DPM or a Preferenced Market-Maker can elect
to have any funds in its Excess Pool refunded on a pro rata basis based
upon contributions made by the Market-Makers in that month. In lieu of
this process, the Exchange proposes to adopt the process that its
affiliate EDGX Options utilizes. Particularly, the Exchange proposes to
provide that the total balance of any undispersed marketing fees for a
Preferenced Market-Maker/DPM pool cannot exceed $250,000.\3\ Each
month, undisbursed marketing fees in excess of $250,000 will be
reimbursed to the Market-Makers that contributed to the pool based upon
a one month look back and their pro-rata portion of the entire amount
of marketing fee collected during that month. The Exchange notes that
in the past year, no Market-Maker has distributed less than 80% of the
funds collected. Similarly, no Market-Maker has reached the $100,000
Excess Pool cap. As such, the Exchange believes the proposed change to
have a de minimis impact.
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\3\ The Exchange notes that the undisbursed market fee cap of
$250,000 would apply to a single pool. For example, any Marketing
Fees generated from (1) orders for which a DPM was preferenced and
(2) orders that were not preferenced, but in that DPM's class, would
be deposited into the same single pool for that Market-Maker, which
pool would have an overall cap of $250,000.
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The Exchange lastly proposes to eliminate the administrative fee.
Currently, the Exchange assesses an administrative fee of .45% on the
total amount of the funds collected each month; provided, however, that
no Market-Maker would contribute more than 15% of the total amount of
funds raised by the .45% administrative. The Exchange no longer wishes
to assess this fee and therefore proposes to eliminate it from the Fees
Schedule. The Exchange notes it is not required to assess such fee and
notes EDGX Options also does not assess such fee.
While the Exchange has no way of predicting with certainty how the
rule change will impact Trading Permit Holders, as noted above, the
Exchange anticipates the impact of the proposed changes to be de
minimis for all TPHs. Moreover, the Exchange believes the proposed
change will also provide for more streamlined administration of the
Marketing Fee program. Lastly, the proposed amendments to the Marketing
Fee program will further harmonize the program with the corresponding
Marketing Fee program of its affiliate exchange, Cboe EDGX Exchange,
Inc., (``Cboe EDGX'').\4\
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\4\ See e.g., Cboe EDGX Options Exchange Fee Schedule, Marketing
Fees.
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2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent
with the objectives of Section 6 of the Act, in general, and furthers
the objectives of Section 6(b)(4), in particular, as it is designed to
provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other
charges among its Members and issuers and other persons using its
facilities. The Exchange also believes that the proposed rule change is
consistent with the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) requirements that the
rules of an exchange be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative
acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade,
to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in
regulating, clearing, settling, processing information with respect to,
and facilitating transactions in securities, to remove impediments to
and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national
market system, and, in general, to protect investors and the public
interest, and, particularly, is not designed to permit unfair
discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.
The Exchange believes the proposed rule changes to the Marketing
Fee program are reasonable as it further harmonizes the program to that
of its affiliate, EDGX Options. The Exchange notes that the Marketing
Fee amounts themselves are not changing with this proposed rule change.
Rather, the proposed rule changes result in the simplification of the
Marketing Fee program by eliminating an unused rebate process and
rebate forms and provides for further harmonization of the program to
that on EDGX Options by increasing the Excess Pool fee cap and
eliminating the administrative fee. Additionally, the Exchange believes
eliminating the administrative fee is reasonable because Market-Makers
will no longer be subject to fee. As discussed above, the Exchange
believes the proposed changes will not have a significant impact and
will apply uniformly to all TPHs.
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
[[Page 55203]]
necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
Specifically, the Exchange does not believe that the proposed change
will impose any burden on intramarket competitions that is not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act
because the proposed changes will be applied equally to all Market-
Makers.
The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will
impose any burden on intermarket competition that is not necessary or
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act because the
proposed changes to the Marketing Fee program closely align the program
to how its affiliate Cboe EDGX administers its respective marketing fee
program. The Exchange also notes the proposed changes apply to all TPHs
uniformly and are not expected to have a significant impact. The
Exchange lastly notes that the proposed rule change is not intended as
a competitive pricing change, but rather as a change to streamline and
simplify its marketing fee program in connection with the upcoming
migration.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
The Exchange neither solicited nor received comments on the
proposed rule change.
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 \5\ and paragraph (f) of Rule 19b-4 \6\
thereunder. 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 will institute proceedings to
determine whether the proposed rule change should be approved or
disapproved.
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\5\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
\6\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f).
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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 (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
Send an email to [email protected]. Please include
File Number SR-CBOE-2019-078 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-CBOE-2019-078. 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 (https://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-CBOE-2019-078 and should be submitted on
or before November 5, 2019.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\7\
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\7\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Eduardo A. Aleman,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-22387 Filed 10-11-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P