Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend Its Fees Schedule Related To Expiring Fee Waivers and Incentive Programs, 3091-3095 [2020-00685]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 12 / Friday, January 17, 2020 / Notices investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings under Section 19(b)(2)(B) 16 of the Act to determine whether the proposed rule change 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: lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with NOTICES 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 No. SR– NYSE–2019–73 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 No. SR–NYSE–2019–73. 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 No. SR–NYSE–2019–73, and should be submitted on or before February 7, 2020. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.17 J. Matthew DeLesDernier, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2020–00684 Filed 1–16–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–87953; File No. SR–CBOE– 2020–001] Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend Its Fees Schedule Related To Expiring Fee Waivers and Incentive Programs January 13, 2020. 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 January 2, 2020, 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 relating to various fee waivers and incentive programs that are set to expire December 31, 2019. The amendments include proposals to make some waivers permanent as well as proposals to extend or remove others. The Exchange proposes to implement these amendments to its Fees Schedule on January 2, 2020. 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. CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 1 15 16 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B). VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:20 Jan 16, 2020 Jkt 250001 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 its Fees Schedule relating to various fee waivers and incentive programs that are set to expire December 31, 2019. The amendments include proposals to make some waivers permanent as well as proposals to extend or remove others. The Exchange proposes to implement these amendments to its Fees Schedule on January 2, 2020. Sector Indexes Facilitation Fee First, the Exchange proposes to permanently waive fees for facilitation orders in Sector Index options,3 thereby continuing to assess a fee of $0.00 for all qualifying orders. Currently, Footnote 11 of the Fees Schedule provides that for facilitation orders for Sector Index options executed in open outcry the Exchange will assess no Clearing Trading Permit Holder Proprietary transaction fees through December 31, 2019. By way of background, ‘‘facilitation orders’’ in open outcry are defined as any order in which a Clearing Trading Permit Holder (‘‘F’’ capacity code) or Non-Trading Permit Holder Affiliate (‘‘L’’ capacity code) is contra to any other capacity code order, provided the same executing broker and clearing firm are on both sides of the transaction.4 In adopting a waiver for facilitation fees in Sector Index options,5 the Exchange recognized that Clearing Trading Permit Holders can be an important source of liquidity when they facilitate their own customers’ trading activity. As such, the Exchange believes that continuing to encourage the important role Clearing Trading 3 See Cboe Options Fees Schedule, Footnote 47. Cboe Options Fees Schedule, Footnote 11. 5 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 85167 (February 20, 2019), 84 FR 6039 (February 25, 2019) (SR–CBOE–2019–011). 4 See 17 17 PO 00000 Frm 00081 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 3091 E:\FR\FM\17JAN1.SGM 17JAN1 3092 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 12 / Friday, January 17, 2020 / Notices Permit Holders play with respect to facilitating their own customers’ trading activity will continue to add transparency to the markets and promote price discovery to the benefit of all market participants. Therefore, the Exchange proposes to permanently waive fees for facilitation of orders in open outcry in Sector Index options permanent [sic], and thereby would continue to assess $0.00 for such orders. Sector Indexes License Surcharge The Exchange next proposes to permanently waive the Index License Surcharge of $0.10 per contract, thereby continuing to assess an Index License Surcharge fee of $0.00 for transactions in Sector Index options. In order to promote and encourage trading of the Sector Index options, listed in 2018, the Exchange adopted a waiver of the Index License Surcharge for non-customer Sector Index option transactions.6 The waiver has since been extended and is currently set to expire on December 31, 2019.7 Because the volume in these products has remained on the lower side since their listing, the Exchange wishes to continuously assess a surcharge of $0.00 for transactions in Sector Index options, instead of continuing to extend each waiver upon expiration, to indefinitely incentivize the trading of Sector Index options and continue to grow the products. The $0.00 surcharge would continue to apply to all non-customer transactions, as it does with the current waiver. lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with NOTICES VIX License Index Surcharge The Exchange next proposes to permanently waive the Index License Surcharge of $0.10 per contract for Clearing Trading Permit Holder Proprietary (‘‘Firm’’) (capacity codes ‘‘F’’ or ‘‘L’’) VIX orders that have a premium of $0.10 or lower and have series with an expiration of seven (7) calendar days or less. The Exchange adopted the waiver in 2016 8 to reduce transaction costs on expiring, lowpriced VIX options, which the Exchange believed would encourage Firms to seek to close and/or roll over such positions close to expiration at low premium levels, including facilitating customers to do so, in order to free up capital and encourage additional trading.9 Since its 6 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82854 (March 12, 2018), 83 FR 11803 (March 16, 2018) (SR–CBOE–2018–012). The Exchange notes that this surcharge does not apply to customer orders. 7 See supra note 6 [sic]. 8 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 76923 (January 15, 2016), 81 FR 3841 (January 22, 2016) (SR–CBOE–2016–002). 9 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 76923 (January 15, 2016), 81 FR 3841 (January 22, 2016) (SR–CBOE–2016–002). VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:20 Jan 16, 2020 Jkt 250001 adoption, the Exchange has continued to extend the waiver, which is currently set to expire on December 31, 2019,10 at which time the Exchange had stated that it would evaluate whether the waiver has in fact prompted Firms to close and roll over these positions close to expiration as intended. The Exchange has determined that the waiver has incentivized, and continues to incentivize, Firms to close and/or roll over such positions close to expiration at low premium levels, as well as facilitate customers to do the same. The Exchange believes that if such a waiver was not in place, and Firms were charged standard costs to roll or exit positions close to expiration at low premium levels, the closing transactions and positions currently and consistently taken by Firms would not occur. Accordingly, the Exchange proposes to permanently waive this fee, and thereby continue to assess an Index License Surcharge of $0.00 per contract for Firm VIX orders that have a premium of $0.10 or lower and have series with an expiration of seven (7) calendar days or less. RLG, RLV, RUI, and UKXM Transaction Fees In order to promote and encourage trading in certain FTSE Russell Index products (i.e., Russell 1000 Growth Index (‘‘RLG’’), Russell 1000 Value Index (‘‘RLV’’), Russell 1000 Index (‘‘RUI’’), and FTSE 100 Index (‘‘UKXM’’)), the Exchange adopted waivers (in 2015 and then in 2016) 11 of all transaction fees (including the Floor Brokerage Fee, Index License Surcharge and CFLEX Surcharge Fee) for each of these products for all market participants.12 Since its adoption, the Exchange has continued to extend the waiver, which is currently set to expire on December 31, 2019.13 Like with the Sector Indexes License Surcharge above, because the volume in these products is consistently low, the Exchange now proposes to continuously assess a fee of $0.00 for transactions in such products, as opposed to extending the waiver every six months. As such, the Exchange proposes to permanently waive transaction fees for orders in RLG, RLV, RUI, and UKXM options in order supra note 6 [sic]. Securities Exchange Act Release No. 76288 (October 28, 2015), 80 FR 67805 (November 3, 2015) (SR–CBOE–2015–096) (adopting fee waivers for RUI, RLV, and RLG transactions); 77547 (April 6, 2016), 81 FR 21611 (April 12, 2016) (SR–CBOE– 2016–021) (adopting waivers for UKXM and FXTM transactions). 12 See Cboe Options Fees Schedule, Footnote 40. 13 See supra note 6 [sic]. to continue to encourage growth and trading of these products. MXEA and MXEF LMM Incentive Program The Exchange also proposes to extend the financial program for Lead MarketMakers (‘‘LMMs’’) appointed in MSCI EAFE Index (‘‘MXEA’’) options and MSCI Emerging Markets Index (‘‘MXEF’’) options.14 Currently, if the appointed LMM in MXEA and MXEF provides continuous electronic quotes during Regular Trading Hours that meet or exceed the above heightened quoting standards in at least 90% of the MXEA and MXEF series 80% of the time in a given month, the LMM will receive a payment for that month in the amount of $20,000 per class, per month. The Fees Schedule currently provides that this program will be in place through December 31, 2019. In order to continue to encourage LMM(s) in MXEA and MXEF to continue serving as LMMs and provide significant liquidity in these options, which, in turn, would continue to provide greater trading opportunities for all market participants, the Exchange proposes to renew this program through June 30, 2020. UKXM DPM Incentive Program The Exchange currently has a compensation plan in place for the Designated Primary Market-Maker(s) (‘‘DPM(s)’’) appointed in UKXM to offset its DPM costs, which is set to expire on December 31, 2019.15 Specifically, the DPM appointed for an entire month in UKXM will receive a payment of $5,000 per month through December 31, 2019.16 The Exchange notes that DPMs incur costs when receiving an appointment, and this compensation plan is designed to offset those costs in order to encourage DPMs to continue to serve as a DPM in this product. The Exchange notes that there is low volume in UKXM and, as such, the Exchange proposes to extend this plan through December 31, 2020 to continue to incentivize DPMs to uphold its DPM commitments in this product, thereby continuing to provide the necessary liquidity and, as a result, greater trading opportunities for all market participants in this option class. 10 See 11 See PO 00000 Frm 00082 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 14 See Cboe Options Fees Schedule, ‘‘MSCI LMM Incentive Program’’ Table; and Securities Exchange Act Release No. 83585 (July 2, 2018), 83 FR 31825 (July 9, 2018) (SR–CBOE–2018–050); see also supra note 6 [sic]. 15 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 77547 (April 6, 2016), 81 FR 21611 (April 12, 2016) (SR– CBOE–2016–021). 16 See Cboe Options Fees Schedule, Footnote 43. E:\FR\FM\17JAN1.SGM 17JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 12 / Friday, January 17, 2020 / Notices MXEF Customer Transactions Fee Waiver Lastly, the Exchange proposes to remove the current waiver of the $0.25 fee assessed for Customer (‘‘C’’) transactions in MXEF upon its expiration on December 31, 2019.17 The Exchange adopted this waiver in October 2019 in order to incentivize an increase of Customer volume in MXEF on the Exchange as a result of a precipitous decrease in MXEF Customer volume in the months leading up to October 2019. The Exchange has determined that there has since been a revived increase in Customer executions in MXEF, therefore, the Exchange proposes to let this waiver expire upon December 31, 2019 and remove it from the Fees Schedule. lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with NOTICES 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ‘‘Act’’) and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to the Exchange and, in particular, the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act.18 Specifically, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Section 6(b)(5) 19 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. Additionally, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b)(4) of the Act,20 which requires that Exchange rules provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and other charges among its Trading Permit Holders and other persons using its facilities. Sector Indexes Facilitation Fee The Exchange believes that the proposal to permanently waive the Clearing Trading Permit Holder Proprietary transaction fee for facilitation orders in open outcry in Sector Index options is reasonable because these orders will continue to 18:20 Jan 16, 2020 Jkt 250001 Sector Indexes License Surcharge The Exchange believes it is reasonable to permanently waive the Index License Surcharge for Sector Indexes because the Sector Indexes have continued to experience lower volume and are still relatively new products and the Exchange wishes to continuously encourage and promote trading of these products. Therefore, the Exchange believes that consistently and more definitively assessing no surcharge for non-customer orders, as opposed to repeatedly extending the fee waiver, is a reasonable means to continue to encourage market participants to trade these products. The Exchange also believes that the proposal to permanently waive the Index License Surcharge for non-customer transactions in Sector Index options is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because all market participants would equally continue to be assessed a surcharge of $0.00 for transactions in Sector Indexes (the Exchange notes that customer orders are not subject to this surcharge). VIX Index License Surcharge 17 See Securities Exchange Release No. 87249 (October 8, 2019), 84 FR 55203 (October 15, 2019) (SR–CBOE–2019–076). 18 15 U.S.C. 78f(b). 19 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). 20 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4). VerDate Sep<11>2014 not be charged any fee. As stated above, the Exchange believes this waiver is, and will continue to be, a reasonable means to incentivize the facilitation of customer orders by Clearing Trading Permit Holders, an important source of liquidity. This, in turn, adds to market transparency and promotes price discovery to the benefit of all market participants. The Exchange believes that this is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because a similar fee of no charge already applies to Firm manual orders in Sector Index options as well as in other products.21 Moreover, The Exchange believes that continuing to assess no charge for Firm facilitation orders in open outcry in Sector Index options is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because Clearing Trading Permit Holders have obligations which normally do not apply to other market participants (e.g., must have higher capital requirements, clear trades for other market participants, and must be members of OCC). The Exchange believes it is reasonable to waive the Index License Surcharge for Clearing Trading Permit Holder Proprietary VIX orders that have a premium of $0.10 or lower and have series with an expiration of seven calendar days or less, because the 21 See Cboe Fees Schedule, ‘‘Rate Table— Underlying Symbol List A’’, which currently assesses a fee of $0.00 for Firm orders in RLG, RLV, RUI, and UKXM options. PO 00000 Frm 00083 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 3093 Exchange believes the current waiver has incentivized Firms to roll and close over positions close to expiration at low premium levels. Therefore, the proposal to remove the waiver and continue to assess a fee of $0.00 for such transactions would serve to consistently encourage Firms to transact and/or take positions close to expiration at low premium levels. Particularly, the Exchange believes it is reasonable to make permanent the waiver of the $0.10 per contract surcharge by consistently assessing no surcharge because Firms would be less likely to engage in these transactions, as opposed to other VIX transactions, due to the associated transaction costs. The Exchange believes that it is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory to limit the $0.00 surcharge to Clearing Trading Permit Holder Proprietary orders because they contribute capital to facilitate the execution of VIX customer orders with a premium of $0.10 or lower and series with an expiration of seven calendar days or less. Additionally, as noted above, Clearing Trading Permit Holders have obligations, which normally do not apply to other market participants (e.g., must have higher capital requirements, clear trades for other market participants, must be members of OCC). RLG, RLV, RUI, and UKXM Transaction Fees The Exchange believes it is reasonable to permanently waive all transaction fees for RLG, RLV, RUI, and UKXM transactions, including the Floor Brokerage fee, the License Index Surcharge and CFLEX Surcharge Fee, and consistently assess a fee of $0.00, because the waiver of the respective fees currently in place and has continuously been extended since its adoption. Thus, permanently waiving these transaction fees would better serve to consistently promote and encourage trading of these products which have experienced relatively low volume since their listing. The proposal to make this waiver permanent is not unfairly discriminatory and is equitable because it would result in an equal assessment of no charge for any market participant’s orders in RLG, RLV, RUI, and UKXM. MXEA and MXEF LLM Incentive Program The Exchange believes it is reasonable to extend the MXEA and MXEF LMM Incentive Program because the Exchange wants to ensure it continues incentivizing the LMM(s) in these products to provide liquid and active markets in these products to encourage its growth. The Exchange notes that without the proposed financial E:\FR\FM\17JAN1.SGM 17JAN1 3094 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 12 / Friday, January 17, 2020 / Notices lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with NOTICES incentive, there may not be sufficient incentive for TPHs to undertake an obligation to quote at heightened levels, which could result in lower levels of liquidity to the detriment of all market participants. The Exchange believes the waiver is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory to only offer this financial incentive to MXEA and MXEF LMM(s), because it benefits all market participants trading in these options to encourage the LMM(s) to satisfy the heightened quoting standard, in turn, increasing liquidity and providing more trading opportunities and tighter spreads. Indeed, the Exchange notes that LMMs provide a crucial role in providing quotes and the opportunity for market participants to trade products, including MXEA and MXEF, which can lead to increased volume, thereby providing for a robust market. In addition, the Exchange notes that all Market-Maker types (i.e. LMMs, DPMs, as well as Primary Market-Makers (‘‘PMMs’’) take on a number of obligations, including quoting obligations, that other market participants do not have. Such MarketMakers have added market-making and regulatory requirements, which normally do not apply to other market participants. For example, MarketMakers have obligations to maintain continuous markets, engage in a course of dealings reasonably calculated to contribute to the maintenance of a fair and orderly market, and to not make bids or offers or enter into transactions that are inconsistent with a course of dealing. Also, if a MSCI LMM does not satisfy the heightened quoting standard, then it simply will not receive the offered per class payment for that month. UKXM DPM Incentive Program The Exchange believes that the proposed extension of the UKXM DPM incentive program is reasonable because it will continue to incentivize the DPM(s) to serve as a DPM(s) in this product. Continued DPM commitments in UKXM would continue to provide the necessary liquidity in this product, resulting in tighter spreads and increased trading opportunities for all market participants in this option class. The Exchange believes that the extension of this incentive program is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory, because it will apply equally to all DPMs appointed in UKXM. Like LMMs (as indicated above), DPMs play a crucial role in providing liquid and active markets in options classes in order to encourage growth and provide trading opportunities to the benefit all market participants, and VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:20 Jan 16, 2020 Jkt 250001 uphold certain obligations and adhere to certain regulatory requirements that other market participants do not have. MXEF Customer Transactions Fee Waiver Finally, the Exchange believes it is reasonable to remove the waiver of transaction fees for Customer orders in MXEF as it will expire on December 31, 2019. As the waiver was implemented in order to incentivize Customer MXEF executions following a noticeable decrease in Customer volume in MXEF, and the Exchange has determined that Customer executions in MXEF have increased since the application of the waiver, the Exchange believes it is reasonable to let the waiver expire as scheduled and remove it from the Fees Schedule. The proposed removal of the waiver is not unfairly discriminatory and is equitable because the waiver will no longer be applicable, as scheduled, to any orders in MXEF. Instead, the standard fee of $0.25 that applied to such transactions prior to the adoption of the waiver, will again apply equally to all Customer orders in MXEF. 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 intramarket or intermarket competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. First, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change does impose any burden on intramarket competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. Particularly, the proposed changes either make permanent or extend existing fee waivers and incentive programs that already apply to all similarly situated TPHs in a uniform manner. Also, the proposed change to remove an existing fee waiver does not impose any burden on intramarket competition, as the same fees that applied prior to the implementation of the waiver will continue to apply after its removal. To the extent certain market participants receive a benefit that others do not, these different market participants have different obligations and circumstances. For example, DPMs and LMMs play a crucial role in providing active and liquid markets in their appointed products, thereby providing a robust market which benefits all market participants. Such Market-Makers also have obligations and regulatory requirements that other participants do not have. Additionally, Clearing Trading Permit Holders can be an important source of liquidity when PO 00000 Frm 00084 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 they facilitate their own customers’ trading activity and also have other obligations, which normally do not apply to other market participants (e.g., must have higher capital requirements, clear trades for other market participants, must be members of OCC). The Exchange also notes that consistently and definitively assessing no charge (in lieu of continuously extending the relevant waivers) and that the proposed extensions of the incentive programs are designed to attract additional order flow to the Exchange. Greater liquidity benefits all market participants on the Exchange by providing more trading opportunities and tighter spreads and encourages all TPHs to send orders, thereby contributing to robust levels of liquidity. Next, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change does not impose any burden on intermarket competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. First, the proposed changes only affect trading on Cboe Options, as the waivers and incentive programs apply to transactions in products exclusively listed on Cboe Options. Next, the Exchange notes it operates in a highly competitive market. In addition to Cboe Options, TPHs have numerous alternative venues that they may participate on and director their order flow, including 15 options exchanges, as well as off-exchange venues. Based on publicly available information, no single options exchange has more than 22% of the market share of executed volume of options trades.22 Therefore, no exchange possesses significant pricing power in the execution of option order flow. Moreover, the Commission has repeatedly expressed its preference for competition over regulatory intervention in determining prices, products, and services in the securities markets. Specifically, in Regulation NMS, the Commission highlighted the importance of market forces in determining prices and SRO revenues and, also, recognized that current regulation of the market system ‘‘has been remarkably successful in promoting market competition in its broader forms that are most important to investors and listed companies.’’ 23 The fact that this market is competitive has also long been recognized by the courts. In NetCoalition v. Securities and Exchange Commission, the D.C. Circuit stated as follows: ‘‘[n]o one disputes 22 See Cboe Global Markets, U.S. Options Market Volume Summary by Month (December 17, 2019), available at https://markets.cboe.com/us/options/ market_share/. 23 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51808 (June 9, 2005), 70 FR 37496, 37499 (June 29, 2005). E:\FR\FM\17JAN1.SGM 17JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 12 / Friday, January 17, 2020 / Notices that competition for order flow is ‘fierce.’ . . . As the SEC explained, ‘[i]n the U.S. national market system, buyers and sellers of securities, and the brokerdealers that act as their order-routing agents, have a wide range of choices of where to route orders for execution’; [and] ‘no exchange can afford to take its market share percentages for granted’ because ‘no exchange possesses a monopoly, regulatory or otherwise, in the execution of order flow from broker dealers’ . . . ’’.24 Accordingly, the Exchange does not believe its proposed changes to extend the above-mentioned fee waivers and incentive programs impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. 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 25 and paragraph (f) of Rule 19b–4 26 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. 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: lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with NOTICES Electronic Comments Jkt 250001 • 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–2020–001. 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–2020–001 and should be submitted on or before February 7, 2020. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.27 J. Matthew DeLesDernier, Assistant Secretary. BILLING CODE 8011–01–P 24 NetCoalition v. SEC, 615 F.3d 525, 539 (D.C. Cir. 2010) (quoting Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59039 (December 2, 2008), 73 FR 74770, 74782– 83 (December 9, 2008) (SR–NYSEArca–2006–21)). 25 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A). 26 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f). 18:20 Jan 16, 2020 Paper Comments [FR Doc. 2020–00685 Filed 1–16–20; 8:45 am] • Use the Commission’s internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/ rules/sro.shtml); or VerDate Sep<11>2014 • Send an email to rule-comments@ sec.gov. Please include File Number SR– CBOE–2020–001 on the subject line. 27 17 PO 00000 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). Frm 00085 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 3095 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–87956; File No. 265–30] Fixed Income Market Structure Advisory Committee Securities and Exchange Commission. ACTION: Notice of meeting. AGENCY: Notice is being provided that the Securities and Exchange Commission Fixed Income Market Structure Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting on Monday, February 10, 2020 in Multi-Purpose Room LL–006 at the Commission’s headquarters, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC. The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. (ET) and will be open to the public. The meeting will be webcast on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. Persons needing special accommodations to take part because of a disability should notify the contact persons listed below. The public is invited to submit written statements to the Committee. The meeting will include panel discussions and potential recommendations from the Municipal Securities Transparency, Credit Ratings, and Technology and Electronic Trading subcommittees. DATES: The public meeting will be held on February 10, 2020. Written statements should be received on or before February 3, 2020. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Commission’s headquarters, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC. Written statements may be submitted by any of the following methods: SUMMARY: Electronic Statements • Use the Commission’s internet submission form (https://www.sec.gov/ rules/other.shtml); or • Send an email message to rulecomments@sec.gov. Please include File Number 265–30 on the subject line; or Paper Statements • Send paper statements in triplicate to Vanessa A. Countryman, Federal Advisory Committee Management Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549–1090. All submissions should refer to File No. 265–30. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help us process and review your statement more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all statements on the Commission’s internet website at https:// www.sec.gov/comments/265-30/26530.shtml. E:\FR\FM\17JAN1.SGM 17JAN1

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 12 (Friday, January 17, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3091-3095]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-00685]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-87953; File No. SR-CBOE-2020-001]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe Exchange, Inc.; Notice of 
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend 
Its Fees Schedule Related To Expiring Fee Waivers and Incentive 
Programs

January 13, 2020.
    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 January 2, 2020, 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.
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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 proposes to amend its Fees Schedule relating to 
various fee waivers and incentive programs that are set to expire 
December 31, 2019. The amendments include proposals to make some 
waivers permanent as well as proposals to extend or remove others. The 
Exchange proposes to implement these amendments to its Fees Schedule on 
January 2, 2020.
    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
    The Exchange proposes to amend its Fees Schedule relating to 
various fee waivers and incentive programs that are set to expire 
December 31, 2019. The amendments include proposals to make some 
waivers permanent as well as proposals to extend or remove others. The 
Exchange proposes to implement these amendments to its Fees Schedule on 
January 2, 2020.
Sector Indexes Facilitation Fee
    First, the Exchange proposes to permanently waive fees for 
facilitation orders in Sector Index options,\3\ thereby continuing to 
assess a fee of $0.00 for all qualifying orders. Currently, Footnote 11 
of the Fees Schedule provides that for facilitation orders for Sector 
Index options executed in open outcry the Exchange will assess no 
Clearing Trading Permit Holder Proprietary transaction fees through 
December 31, 2019. By way of background, ``facilitation orders'' in 
open outcry are defined as any order in which a Clearing Trading Permit 
Holder (``F'' capacity code) or Non-Trading Permit Holder Affiliate 
(``L'' capacity code) is contra to any other capacity code order, 
provided the same executing broker and clearing firm are on both sides 
of the transaction.\4\ In adopting a waiver for facilitation fees in 
Sector Index options,\5\ the Exchange recognized that Clearing Trading 
Permit Holders can be an important source of liquidity when they 
facilitate their own customers' trading activity. As such, the Exchange 
believes that continuing to encourage the important role Clearing 
Trading

[[Page 3092]]

Permit Holders play with respect to facilitating their own customers' 
trading activity will continue to add transparency to the markets and 
promote price discovery to the benefit of all market participants. 
Therefore, the Exchange proposes to permanently waive fees for 
facilitation of orders in open outcry in Sector Index options permanent 
[sic], and thereby would continue to assess $0.00 for such orders.
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    \3\ See Cboe Options Fees Schedule, Footnote 47.
    \4\ See Cboe Options Fees Schedule, Footnote 11.
    \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 85167 (February 20, 
2019), 84 FR 6039 (February 25, 2019) (SR-CBOE-2019-011).
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Sector Indexes License Surcharge
    The Exchange next proposes to permanently waive the Index License 
Surcharge of $0.10 per contract, thereby continuing to assess an Index 
License Surcharge fee of $0.00 for transactions in Sector Index 
options. In order to promote and encourage trading of the Sector Index 
options, listed in 2018, the Exchange adopted a waiver of the Index 
License Surcharge for non-customer Sector Index option transactions.\6\ 
The waiver has since been extended and is currently set to expire on 
December 31, 2019.\7\ Because the volume in these products has remained 
on the lower side since their listing, the Exchange wishes to 
continuously assess a surcharge of $0.00 for transactions in Sector 
Index options, instead of continuing to extend each waiver upon 
expiration, to indefinitely incentivize the trading of Sector Index 
options and continue to grow the products. The $0.00 surcharge would 
continue to apply to all non-customer transactions, as it does with the 
current waiver.
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    \6\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82854 (March 12, 
2018), 83 FR 11803 (March 16, 2018) (SR-CBOE-2018-012). The Exchange 
notes that this surcharge does not apply to customer orders.
    \7\ See supra note 6 [sic].
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VIX License Index Surcharge
    The Exchange next proposes to permanently waive the Index License 
Surcharge of $0.10 per contract for Clearing Trading Permit Holder 
Proprietary (``Firm'') (capacity codes ``F'' or ``L'') VIX orders that 
have a premium of $0.10 or lower and have series with an expiration of 
seven (7) calendar days or less. The Exchange adopted the waiver in 
2016 \8\ to reduce transaction costs on expiring, low-priced VIX 
options, which the Exchange believed would encourage Firms to seek to 
close and/or roll over such positions close to expiration at low 
premium levels, including facilitating customers to do so, in order to 
free up capital and encourage additional trading.\9\ Since its 
adoption, the Exchange has continued to extend the waiver, which is 
currently set to expire on December 31, 2019,\10\ at which time the 
Exchange had stated that it would evaluate whether the waiver has in 
fact prompted Firms to close and roll over these positions close to 
expiration as intended. The Exchange has determined that the waiver has 
incentivized, and continues to incentivize, Firms to close and/or roll 
over such positions close to expiration at low premium levels, as well 
as facilitate customers to do the same. The Exchange believes that if 
such a waiver was not in place, and Firms were charged standard costs 
to roll or exit positions close to expiration at low premium levels, 
the closing transactions and positions currently and consistently taken 
by Firms would not occur. Accordingly, the Exchange proposes to 
permanently waive this fee, and thereby continue to assess an Index 
License Surcharge of $0.00 per contract for Firm VIX orders that have a 
premium of $0.10 or lower and have series with an expiration of seven 
(7) calendar days or less.
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    \8\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 76923 (January 15, 
2016), 81 FR 3841 (January 22, 2016) (SR-CBOE-2016-002).
    \9\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 76923 (January 15, 
2016), 81 FR 3841 (January 22, 2016) (SR-CBOE-2016-002).
    \10\ See supra note 6 [sic].
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RLG, RLV, RUI, and UKXM Transaction Fees
    In order to promote and encourage trading in certain FTSE Russell 
Index products (i.e., Russell 1000 Growth Index (``RLG''), Russell 1000 
Value Index (``RLV''), Russell 1000 Index (``RUI''), and FTSE 100 Index 
(``UKXM'')), the Exchange adopted waivers (in 2015 and then in 2016) 
\11\ of all transaction fees (including the Floor Brokerage Fee, Index 
License Surcharge and CFLEX Surcharge Fee) for each of these products 
for all market participants.\12\ Since its adoption, the Exchange has 
continued to extend the waiver, which is currently set to expire on 
December 31, 2019.\13\ Like with the Sector Indexes License Surcharge 
above, because the volume in these products is consistently low, the 
Exchange now proposes to continuously assess a fee of $0.00 for 
transactions in such products, as opposed to extending the waiver every 
six months. As such, the Exchange proposes to permanently waive 
transaction fees for orders in RLG, RLV, RUI, and UKXM options in order 
to continue to encourage growth and trading of these products.
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    \11\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 76288 (October 28, 
2015), 80 FR 67805 (November 3, 2015) (SR-CBOE-2015-096) (adopting 
fee waivers for RUI, RLV, and RLG transactions); 77547 (April 6, 
2016), 81 FR 21611 (April 12, 2016) (SR-CBOE-2016-021) (adopting 
waivers for UKXM and FXTM transactions).
    \12\ See Cboe Options Fees Schedule, Footnote 40.
    \13\ See supra note 6 [sic].
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MXEA and MXEF LMM Incentive Program
    The Exchange also proposes to extend the financial program for Lead 
Market-Makers (``LMMs'') appointed in MSCI EAFE Index (``MXEA'') 
options and MSCI Emerging Markets Index (``MXEF'') options.\14\ 
Currently, if the appointed LMM in MXEA and MXEF provides continuous 
electronic quotes during Regular Trading Hours that meet or exceed the 
above heightened quoting standards in at least 90% of the MXEA and MXEF 
series 80% of the time in a given month, the LMM will receive a payment 
for that month in the amount of $20,000 per class, per month. The Fees 
Schedule currently provides that this program will be in place through 
December 31, 2019. In order to continue to encourage LMM(s) in MXEA and 
MXEF to continue serving as LMMs and provide significant liquidity in 
these options, which, in turn, would continue to provide greater 
trading opportunities for all market participants, the Exchange 
proposes to renew this program through June 30, 2020.
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    \14\ See Cboe Options Fees Schedule, ``MSCI LMM Incentive 
Program'' Table; and Securities Exchange Act Release No. 83585 (July 
2, 2018), 83 FR 31825 (July 9, 2018) (SR-CBOE-2018-050); see also 
supra note 6 [sic].
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UKXM DPM Incentive Program
    The Exchange currently has a compensation plan in place for the 
Designated Primary Market-Maker(s) (``DPM(s)'') appointed in UKXM to 
offset its DPM costs, which is set to expire on December 31, 2019.\15\ 
Specifically, the DPM appointed for an entire month in UKXM will 
receive a payment of $5,000 per month through December 31, 2019.\16\ 
The Exchange notes that DPMs incur costs when receiving an appointment, 
and this compensation plan is designed to offset those costs in order 
to encourage DPMs to continue to serve as a DPM in this product. The 
Exchange notes that there is low volume in UKXM and, as such, the 
Exchange proposes to extend this plan through December 31, 2020 to 
continue to incentivize DPMs to uphold its DPM commitments in this 
product, thereby continuing to provide the necessary liquidity and, as 
a result, greater trading opportunities for all market participants in 
this option class.
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    \15\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 77547 (April 6, 
2016), 81 FR 21611 (April 12, 2016) (SR-CBOE-2016-021).
    \16\ See Cboe Options Fees Schedule, Footnote 43.

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[[Page 3093]]

MXEF Customer Transactions Fee Waiver
    Lastly, the Exchange proposes to remove the current waiver of the 
$0.25 fee assessed for Customer (``C'') transactions in MXEF upon its 
expiration on December 31, 2019.\17\ The Exchange adopted this waiver 
in October 2019 in order to incentivize an increase of Customer volume 
in MXEF on the Exchange as a result of a precipitous decrease in MXEF 
Customer volume in the months leading up to October 2019. The Exchange 
has determined that there has since been a revived increase in Customer 
executions in MXEF, therefore, the Exchange proposes to let this waiver 
expire upon December 31, 2019 and remove it from the Fees Schedule.
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    \17\ See Securities Exchange Release No. 87249 (October 8, 
2019), 84 FR 55203 (October 15, 2019) (SR-CBOE-2019-076).
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2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with 
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ``Act'') and the rules and 
regulations thereunder applicable to the Exchange and, in particular, 
the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act.\18\ Specifically, the 
Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the 
Section 6(b)(5) \19\ 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. Additionally, 
the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with 
Section 6(b)(4) of the Act,\20\ which requires that Exchange rules 
provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and 
other charges among its Trading Permit Holders and other persons using 
its facilities.
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    \18\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \19\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
    \20\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
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Sector Indexes Facilitation Fee
    The Exchange believes that the proposal to permanently waive the 
Clearing Trading Permit Holder Proprietary transaction fee for 
facilitation orders in open outcry in Sector Index options is 
reasonable because these orders will continue to not be charged any 
fee. As stated above, the Exchange believes this waiver is, and will 
continue to be, a reasonable means to incentivize the facilitation of 
customer orders by Clearing Trading Permit Holders, an important source 
of liquidity. This, in turn, adds to market transparency and promotes 
price discovery to the benefit of all market participants. The Exchange 
believes that this is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because 
a similar fee of no charge already applies to Firm manual orders in 
Sector Index options as well as in other products.\21\ Moreover, The 
Exchange believes that continuing to assess no charge for Firm 
facilitation orders in open outcry in Sector Index options is equitable 
and not unfairly discriminatory because Clearing Trading Permit Holders 
have obligations which normally do not apply to other market 
participants (e.g., must have higher capital requirements, clear trades 
for other market participants, and must be members of OCC).
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    \21\ See Cboe Fees Schedule, ``Rate Table--Underlying Symbol 
List A'', which currently assesses a fee of $0.00 for Firm orders in 
RLG, RLV, RUI, and UKXM options.
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Sector Indexes License Surcharge
    The Exchange believes it is reasonable to permanently waive the 
Index License Surcharge for Sector Indexes because the Sector Indexes 
have continued to experience lower volume and are still relatively new 
products and the Exchange wishes to continuously encourage and promote 
trading of these products. Therefore, the Exchange believes that 
consistently and more definitively assessing no surcharge for non-
customer orders, as opposed to repeatedly extending the fee waiver, is 
a reasonable means to continue to encourage market participants to 
trade these products. The Exchange also believes that the proposal to 
permanently waive the Index License Surcharge for non-customer 
transactions in Sector Index options is equitable and not unfairly 
discriminatory because all market participants would equally continue 
to be assessed a surcharge of $0.00 for transactions in Sector Indexes 
(the Exchange notes that customer orders are not subject to this 
surcharge).
VIX Index License Surcharge
    The Exchange believes it is reasonable to waive the Index License 
Surcharge for Clearing Trading Permit Holder Proprietary VIX orders 
that have a premium of $0.10 or lower and have series with an 
expiration of seven calendar days or less, because the Exchange 
believes the current waiver has incentivized Firms to roll and close 
over positions close to expiration at low premium levels. Therefore, 
the proposal to remove the waiver and continue to assess a fee of $0.00 
for such transactions would serve to consistently encourage Firms to 
transact and/or take positions close to expiration at low premium 
levels. Particularly, the Exchange believes it is reasonable to make 
permanent the waiver of the $0.10 per contract surcharge by 
consistently assessing no surcharge because Firms would be less likely 
to engage in these transactions, as opposed to other VIX transactions, 
due to the associated transaction costs. The Exchange believes that it 
is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory to limit the $0.00 
surcharge to Clearing Trading Permit Holder Proprietary orders because 
they contribute capital to facilitate the execution of VIX customer 
orders with a premium of $0.10 or lower and series with an expiration 
of seven calendar days or less. Additionally, as noted above, Clearing 
Trading Permit Holders have obligations, which normally do not apply to 
other market participants (e.g., must have higher capital requirements, 
clear trades for other market participants, must be members of OCC).
RLG, RLV, RUI, and UKXM Transaction Fees
    The Exchange believes it is reasonable to permanently waive all 
transaction fees for RLG, RLV, RUI, and UKXM transactions, including 
the Floor Brokerage fee, the License Index Surcharge and CFLEX 
Surcharge Fee, and consistently assess a fee of $0.00, because the 
waiver of the respective fees currently in place and has continuously 
been extended since its adoption. Thus, permanently waiving these 
transaction fees would better serve to consistently promote and 
encourage trading of these products which have experienced relatively 
low volume since their listing. The proposal to make this waiver 
permanent is not unfairly discriminatory and is equitable because it 
would result in an equal assessment of no charge for any market 
participant's orders in RLG, RLV, RUI, and UKXM.
MXEA and MXEF LLM Incentive Program
    The Exchange believes it is reasonable to extend the MXEA and MXEF 
LMM Incentive Program because the Exchange wants to ensure it continues 
incentivizing the LMM(s) in these products to provide liquid and active 
markets in these products to encourage its growth. The Exchange notes 
that without the proposed financial

[[Page 3094]]

incentive, there may not be sufficient incentive for TPHs to undertake 
an obligation to quote at heightened levels, which could result in 
lower levels of liquidity to the detriment of all market participants. 
The Exchange believes the waiver is equitable and not unfairly 
discriminatory to only offer this financial incentive to MXEA and MXEF 
LMM(s), because it benefits all market participants trading in these 
options to encourage the LMM(s) to satisfy the heightened quoting 
standard, in turn, increasing liquidity and providing more trading 
opportunities and tighter spreads. Indeed, the Exchange notes that LMMs 
provide a crucial role in providing quotes and the opportunity for 
market participants to trade products, including MXEA and MXEF, which 
can lead to increased volume, thereby providing for a robust market. In 
addition, the Exchange notes that all Market-Maker types (i.e. LMMs, 
DPMs, as well as Primary Market-Makers (``PMMs'') take on a number of 
obligations, including quoting obligations, that other market 
participants do not have. Such Market-Makers have added market-making 
and regulatory requirements, which normally do not apply to other 
market participants. For example, Market-Makers have obligations to 
maintain continuous markets, engage in a course of dealings reasonably 
calculated to contribute to the maintenance of a fair and orderly 
market, and to not make bids or offers or enter into transactions that 
are inconsistent with a course of dealing. Also, if a MSCI LMM does not 
satisfy the heightened quoting standard, then it simply will not 
receive the offered per class payment for that month.
UKXM DPM Incentive Program
    The Exchange believes that the proposed extension of the UKXM DPM 
incentive program is reasonable because it will continue to incentivize 
the DPM(s) to serve as a DPM(s) in this product. Continued DPM 
commitments in UKXM would continue to provide the necessary liquidity 
in this product, resulting in tighter spreads and increased trading 
opportunities for all market participants in this option class. The 
Exchange believes that the extension of this incentive program is 
equitable and not unfairly discriminatory, because it will apply 
equally to all DPMs appointed in UKXM. Like LMMs (as indicated above), 
DPMs play a crucial role in providing liquid and active markets in 
options classes in order to encourage growth and provide trading 
opportunities to the benefit all market participants, and uphold 
certain obligations and adhere to certain regulatory requirements that 
other market participants do not have.
MXEF Customer Transactions Fee Waiver
    Finally, the Exchange believes it is reasonable to remove the 
waiver of transaction fees for Customer orders in MXEF as it will 
expire on December 31, 2019. As the waiver was implemented in order to 
incentivize Customer MXEF executions following a noticeable decrease in 
Customer volume in MXEF, and the Exchange has determined that Customer 
executions in MXEF have increased since the application of the waiver, 
the Exchange believes it is reasonable to let the waiver expire as 
scheduled and remove it from the Fees Schedule. The proposed removal of 
the waiver is not unfairly discriminatory and is equitable because the 
waiver will no longer be applicable, as scheduled, to any orders in 
MXEF. Instead, the standard fee of $0.25 that applied to such 
transactions prior to the adoption of the waiver, will again apply 
equally to all Customer orders in MXEF.

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 intramarket or intermarket competition that is not 
necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
    First, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change does impose 
any burden on intramarket competition that is not necessary or 
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. Particularly, 
the proposed changes either make permanent or extend existing fee 
waivers and incentive programs that already apply to all similarly 
situated TPHs in a uniform manner. Also, the proposed change to remove 
an existing fee waiver does not impose any burden on intramarket 
competition, as the same fees that applied prior to the implementation 
of the waiver will continue to apply after its removal. To the extent 
certain market participants receive a benefit that others do not, these 
different market participants have different obligations and 
circumstances. For example, DPMs and LMMs play a crucial role in 
providing active and liquid markets in their appointed products, 
thereby providing a robust market which benefits all market 
participants. Such Market-Makers also have obligations and regulatory 
requirements that other participants do not have. Additionally, 
Clearing Trading Permit Holders can be an important source of liquidity 
when they facilitate their own customers' trading activity and also 
have other obligations, which normally do not apply to other market 
participants (e.g., must have higher capital requirements, clear trades 
for other market participants, must be members of OCC). The Exchange 
also notes that consistently and definitively assessing no charge (in 
lieu of continuously extending the relevant waivers) and that the 
proposed extensions of the incentive programs are designed to attract 
additional order flow to the Exchange. Greater liquidity benefits all 
market participants on the Exchange by providing more trading 
opportunities and tighter spreads and encourages all TPHs to send 
orders, thereby contributing to robust levels of liquidity.
    Next, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change does not 
impose any burden on intermarket competition that is not necessary or 
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. First, the 
proposed changes only affect trading on Cboe Options, as the waivers 
and incentive programs apply to transactions in products exclusively 
listed on Cboe Options. Next, the Exchange notes it operates in a 
highly competitive market. In addition to Cboe Options, TPHs have 
numerous alternative venues that they may participate on and director 
their order flow, including 15 options exchanges, as well as off-
exchange venues. Based on publicly available information, no single 
options exchange has more than 22% of the market share of executed 
volume of options trades.\22\ Therefore, no exchange possesses 
significant pricing power in the execution of option order flow. 
Moreover, the Commission has repeatedly expressed its preference for 
competition over regulatory intervention in determining prices, 
products, and services in the securities markets. Specifically, in 
Regulation NMS, the Commission highlighted the importance of market 
forces in determining prices and SRO revenues and, also, recognized 
that current regulation of the market system ``has been remarkably 
successful in promoting market competition in its broader forms that 
are most important to investors and listed companies.'' \23\ The fact 
that this market is competitive has also long been recognized by the 
courts. In NetCoalition v. Securities and Exchange Commission, the D.C. 
Circuit stated as follows: ``[n]o one disputes

[[Page 3095]]

that competition for order flow is `fierce.' . . . As the SEC 
explained, `[i]n the U.S. national market system, buyers and sellers of 
securities, and the broker-dealers that act as their order-routing 
agents, have a wide range of choices of where to route orders for 
execution'; [and] `no exchange can afford to take its market share 
percentages for granted' because `no exchange possesses a monopoly, 
regulatory or otherwise, in the execution of order flow from broker 
dealers' . . . ''.\24\ Accordingly, the Exchange does not believe its 
proposed changes to extend the above-mentioned fee waivers and 
incentive programs impose any burden on competition that is not 
necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
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    \22\ See Cboe Global Markets, U.S. Options Market Volume Summary 
by Month (December 17, 2019), available at https://markets.cboe.com/us/options/market_share/.
    \23\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51808 (June 9, 
2005), 70 FR 37496, 37499 (June 29, 2005).
    \24\ NetCoalition v. SEC, 615 F.3d 525, 539 (D.C. Cir. 2010) 
(quoting Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59039 (December 2, 
2008), 73 FR 74770, 74782-83 (December 9, 2008) (SR-NYSEArca-2006-
21)).
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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 \25\ and paragraph (f) of Rule 19b-4 \26\ 
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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    \25\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \26\ 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-2020-001 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-2020-001. 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-2020-001 and should be submitted on 
or before February 7, 2020.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\27\
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    \27\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-00685 Filed 1-16-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P

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