Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend Its Fee Schedule, 16704-16708 [2023-05539]
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16704
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 53 / Monday, March 20, 2023 / Notices
to make available publicly. All
submissions should refer to File
Number SR–CboeEDGX–2023–014 and
should be submitted on or before April
10, 2023.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.30
Sherry R. Haywood,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023–05536 Filed 3–17–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Investment Company Act Release No.
34853; 812–15440]
The RBB Fund, Inc., et al.
March 14, 2023.
Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘Commission’’ or ‘‘SEC’’).
ACTION: Notice.
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AGENCY:
Notice of an application under section
6(c) of the Investment Company Act of
1940 (the ‘‘Act’’) for an exemption from
sections 2(a)(32), 5(a)(1), 22(d) and 22(e)
of the Act and rule 22c–1 under the Act
and under sections 6(c) and 17(b) of the
Act for an exemption from sections
17(a)(1) and 17(a)(2) of the Act.
SUMMARY OF APPLICATION: Applicants
request an order (‘‘Order’’) that permits:
(a) the Funds (as described in the
Reference Order (as defined below)) to
issue shares (‘‘Shares’’) redeemable in
large aggregations only (‘‘creation
units’’); (b) secondary market
transactions in Shares to occur at
negotiated market prices rather than at
net asset value; (c) certain Funds to pay
redemption proceeds, under certain
circumstances, more than seven days
after the tender of Shares for
redemption; and (d) certain affiliated
persons of a Fund to deposit securities
into, and receive securities from, the
Fund in connection with the purchase
and redemption of creation units. The
relief in the Order would incorporate by
reference terms and conditions of the
same relief of a previous order granting
the same relief sought by applicants, as
that order may be amended from time to
time (‘‘Reference Order’’).1
APPLICANTS: The RBB Fund, Inc., The
RBB Fund Trust, Quasar Distributors
LLC, and F/m Investments LLC, DBA
North Slope Capital LLC.
30 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12), (a)(59).
Tractor ETF Trust and Blue Tractor Group,
LLC, Investment Company Act Rel. Nos. 33682
(November 14, 2019) (notice) and 33710 (December
10, 2019) (order).
1 Blue
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The application was filed
on February 28, 2023.
FILING DATES:
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
HEARING OR NOTIFICATION OF HEARING:
An order granting the requested relief
will be issued unless the Commission
orders a hearing. Interested persons may
request a hearing on any application by
emailing the SEC’s Secretary at
Secretarys-Office@sec.gov and serving
the Applicants with a copy of the
request by email, if an email address is
listed for the relevant Applicant below,
or personally or by mail, if a physical
address is listed for the relevant
Applicant below. Hearing requests
should be received by the Commission
by 5:30 p.m. on April 10, 2023, and
should be accompanied by proof of
service on the Applicants, in the form
of an affidavit, or, for lawyers, a
certificate of service. Pursuant to rule 0–
5 under the Act, hearing requests should
state the nature of the writer’s interest,
any facts bearing upon the desirability
of a hearing on the matter, the reason for
the request, and the issues contested.
Persons who wish to be notified of a
hearing may request notification by
emailing the Commission’s Secretary.
The Commission:
Secretarys-Office@sec.gov. Applicants:
Steven Plump, splump@rbbfund.com,
Michael W. Mundt, mmundt@
stradley.com.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Trace W. Rakestraw, Senior Special
Counsel, at (202) 551–6825 (Division of
Investment Management, Chief
Counsel’s Office).
For
Applicants’ representations, legal
analysis, and conditions, please refer to
Applicants’ application, dated February
28, 2023, which may be obtained via the
Commission’s website by searching for
the file number at the top of this
document, or for an Applicant using the
Company name search field on the
SEC’s EDGAR system. The SEC’s
EDGAR system may be searched at
https://www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/
legacy/companysearch.html. You may
also call the SEC’s Public Reference
Room at (202) 551–8090.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
For the Commission, by the Division of
Investment Management, under delegated
authority.
Sherry R. Haywood,
Assistant Secretary.
[Release No. 34–97138; File No. SR–
CboeBZX–2023–016]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe
BZX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing
and Immediate Effectiveness of a
Proposed Rule Change To Amend Its
Fee Schedule
March 14, 2023.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
notice is hereby given that on February
28, 2023, Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc.
(‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘BZX’’) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission
(‘‘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
Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (the
‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘BZX Options’’)
proposes to amend its Fee 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://markets.cboe.com/us/
equities/regulation/rule_filings/bzx/), 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.
[FR Doc. 2023–05527 Filed 3–17–23; 8:45 am]
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A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
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1. Purpose
The Exchange proposes to amend its
fees Fee Schedule to modify its market
data fees for BZX Options Top.3
Particularly, the Exchange proposes to
modify the Professional and NonProfessional User Fees, modify the
Enterprise Fee for BXZ Options Top and
make other clarifying, non-substantive
changes.4
The Exchange first proposes to reduce
the rates for Professional and NonProfessional User fees for BZX Options
Top. The Exchange currently charges
Internal Distributors and External
Distributors that redistribute any of the
BZX Options Data Feeds different fees
for their Professional Users 5 and NonProfessional Users.6 The Exchange
currently assesses a monthly fee for
Professional Users of $30.00 per User
and a monthly fee of $1.00 per NonProfessional User.7 One User fee allows
access to the BZX Options Top Feed and
the BZX Options Depth Feed.8 The
3 BZX Options Top is an uncompressed data feed
that offers top of book quotations and execution
information based on options orders entered into
the System. Uncompressed data is disseminated ‘‘as
is’’ in the native format by the Exchange, with no
compression.
4 The Exchange initially filed the proposed fee
changes on January 3, 2023 (SR–CboeBZX–2023–
001). On February 28, 2023, the Exchange withdrew
that filing and submitted this proposal.
5 A Professional User of an Exchange Market Data
product is any User other than a a Non-Professional
User. The Exchange proposes to amend the
definition of ‘‘Professional User’’ in the Fee
Schedule to further clarify that a Professional User
is a natural person recipient of an Exchange Data
product who is not a Non-Professional User.
6 A ‘‘Non-Professional User’’ of an Exchange
Market Data product is a natural person or
qualifying trust that uses Data only for personal
purposes and not for any commercial purpose and,
for a natural person who works in the United States,
is not: (i) registered or qualified in any capacity
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the
Commodities Futures Trading Commission, any
state securities agency, any securities exchange or
association, or any commodities or futures contract
market or association; (ii) engaged as an
‘‘investment adviser’’ as that term is defined in
Section 202(a)(11) of the Investment Advisors Act
of 1940 (whether or not registered or qualified
under that Act); or (iii) employed by a bank or other
organization exempt from registration under federal
or state securities laws to perform functions that
would require registration or qualification if such
functions were performed for an organization not so
exempt; or, for a natural person who works outside
of the United States, does not perform the same
functions as would disqualify such person as a
Non-Professional User if he or she worked in the
United States.
7 Distributors that receive BZX Options Data are
required to count every Professional User and NonProfessional User to which they provide the data
feed(s).
8 BZX Options Depth is an uncompressed data
feed that offers depth of book quotations and
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Exchange proposes to reduce the rates
for the User fees for BZX Options Top.
Particularly, the Exchange proposes to
reduce the monthly (i) Professional User
fee from $30 per user to $5 per user and
(ii) Non-Professional User fee from
$1.00 per user to $0.10 per user. The
Exchange also proposes to start charging
separate User fees for BZX Options Top
and BZX Options Depth Feed. The
Exchange therefore proposes to
eliminate the language under the BZX
Options Top table and BZX Options
Depth Feed table that states one User fee
allows access to the BZX Options Top
Feed and the BZX Options Depth Feed.9
The Exchange next proposes to
increase the current monthly Enterprise
Fee. The Enterprise Fee permits a
recipient firm (i.e., a Distributor) to
purchase a monthly (and optional)
Enterprise license to receive the BZX
Options Top Feed for distribution to an
unlimited number of Professional and
Non-Professional Users.10 The
Enterprise Fee is an alternative to
Professional and Non-Professional User
fees and permits a Distributor to pay a
flat fee for unlimited number of
Professional and Non-Professional
Users. Like User fees, it is also assessed
in addition to the Distribution Fee.11
Currently, the Exchange assesses an
Enterprise Fee of $3,500 per month. The
Exchange proposes to increase the
Enterprise Fee to $20,000 per month.
For example, if a Distributor distributes
BZX Options Top to 15,000 Professional
Users who each receive BZX Options
Top at $5.00 per month (as proposed),
then that Distributor will pay $75,000
per month in Professional Users fees.
Under the proposed Enterprise Fee, it
will pay a flat fee of $20,000 for an
unlimited number of Professional and
Non-Professional Users. A Distributor
must pay a separate Enterprise Fee for
each entity that controls the display of
BZX Options Top if it wishes for such
User to be covered by the Enterprise Fee
rather than by per User fees.12 A
execution information based on options orders
entered into the System.
9 The Exchange is not proposing any changes to
the current User Fee amounts for BZX Options
Depth Feed at this time.
10 The Exchange proposes to amend the
description relating to the Enterprise Fees under the
BZX Options Top and Depth fee tables to clarify
that Distributors are the market participant that
would be purchasing the monthly Enterprise
license for purposes of distribution to Professional
and Non-Professional Users.
11 The Exchange also proposes to clarify in the
descriptions relating to the Enterprise Fees that (i)
it is an alternative to ‘‘Professional and NonProfessional’’ User fees and (ii) is in addition to the
Distribution Fee.
12 For example, if a Distributor that distributes
BZX Options Top to Retail Brokerage Firm A and
Retail Brokerage Firm B and wishes to have the
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Distributor that pays the Enterprise Fee
will not have to report its number of
such Users on a monthly basis.
However, every six months, it must
provide the Exchange with a count of
the total number of Professional and
Non-Professional Users of BZX Options
Top.13
The Exchange lastly proposes to add
references to ‘‘Depth’’ in the description
of the Distribution Fees and Enterprise
Fee under the BZX Options Depth Feed
table to clarify which data feed such
fees currently applies to, thereby
alleviating potential confusion. The
Exchange also proposes to replace
references to ‘‘Recipient firm’’ with
‘‘Distributors’’ to more accurately reflect
the type of market participants the fees
are applicable to, thereby alleviating
potential confusion. Lastly, the
Exchange proposes to modify the
definition of Professional User under
the definitions section of the Market
Data Fees section to clarify that a
Professional ‘‘User’’ is any natural
person recipient of an Exchange Market
Data product who is not a NonProfessional User. The proposed
modification also aligns the definition
with that of the definition used by the
Exchange’s affiliates Cboe Exchange,
Inc. and Cboe C2 Exchange, Inc.14
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.15 Specifically,
the Exchange believes the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Section
6(b)(5) 16 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
Users under each firm covered by an Enterprise
license, the Distributor would be subject to two
Enterprise Fees.
13 See Cboe Global Markets North American Data
Policies.
14 See Cboe Data Services, LLC Fees Schedule and
Cboe C2 Options Fees Schedule.
15 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
16 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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Section 6(b)(4) of the Act,17 which
requires that Exchange rules provide for
the equitable allocation of reasonable
dues, fees, and other charges among its
Members and other persons using its
facilities.
The Exchange first notes that it
operates in a highly competitive
environment. Indeed, there are currently
16 registered options exchanges that
trade options. Based on publicly
available information, no single options
exchange has more than 17% of the
market share.18 The Exchange believes
top-of-book quotation and transaction
data is highly competitive as national
securities exchanges compete vigorously
with each other to provide efficient,
reliable, and low-cost data to a wide
range of investors and market
participants. Indeed, there are several
competing products offered by other
national securities exchanges today, not
counting products offered by the
Exchange’s affiliates, and each of the
Exchange’s affiliated U.S. options
exchanges also offers similar top-ofbook data.19 Each of those exchanges
offer top-of-book quotation and last sale
information based on their own
quotation and trading activity that is
substantially similar to the information
provided by the Exchange through the
BZX Options Top Feed. Further, the
quote and last sale data contained in the
BZX Options Top Feed is identical to
the data sent to OPRA for redistribution
to the public.20 Accordingly, Exchange
top-of-book data is widely available
today from a number of different
sources.
Moreover, the BZX Options Top is
distributed and purchased on a
voluntary basis, in that neither the
Exchange nor market data distributors
are required by any rule or regulation to
make this data available. Accordingly,
Distributors and Users can discontinue
use at any time and for any reason,
including due to an assessment of the
reasonableness of fees charged. As
described above, market participants
have a wide variety of alternative
market data products from which to
choose, such as similar proprietary data
17 15
U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
Cboe Global Markets U.S. Options Market
Month-to-Date Volume Summary (February 24,
2023), available at https://markets.cboe.com/us/
options/market_statistics/.
19 See e.g., NYSE Arca Options Proprietary
Market Data Fees Schedule, MIAX Options
Exchange, Fee Schedule, Section 6 (Market Data
Fees), Nasdaq PHLX Options 7 Pricing Schedule,
Section 10 (Proprietary Data Feed Fees) and Cboe
Data Services, LLC Fees Schedule.
20 The Exchange notes that it makes available the
top-of-book and last sale data that is included in the
BZX Options Top Data Feed no earlier than the time
at which the Exchange sends that data to OPRA.
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18 See
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products offered by other exchanges and
consolidated data. Further, the
Exchange is not required to make any
proprietary data products available or to
offer any specific pricing alternatives to
any customers. Moreover, persons
(including broker-dealers) who
subscribe to any exchange proprietary
data feed must also have equivalent
access to consolidated Options
Information 21 from OPRA for the same
classes or series of options that are
included in the proprietary data feed,
and proprietary data feeds cannot be
used to meet that particular
requirement.22 As such, all proprietary
data feeds are optional.
The Commission has repeatedly
expressed its preference for competition
over regulatory intervention in
determining prices, products, and
services in the securities markets.
Particularly, 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
Making similar data products available
to market participants fosters
competition in the marketplace, and
constrains the ability of exchanges to
charge supracompetitive fees. In the
event that a market participant views
one exchange’s data product as more or
less attractive than the competition they
can and do switch between similar
products. The proposed fees are a result
of the competitive environment, as the
Exchange seeks to adopt fees to attract
purchasers of BZX Options Top Data.
The Exchange believes the proposed
changes to reduce the rates of the
current Professional and NonProfessional User fees are reasonable as
Distributors will be subject to lower
21 ‘‘Consolidated Options Information’’ means
consolidated Last Sale Reports combined with
either consolidated Quotation Information or the
BBO furnished by OPRA. Access to consolidated
Options Information is deemed ‘‘equivalent’’ if both
kinds of information are equally accessible on the
same terminal or work station. See Limited Liability
Company Agreement of Options Price Reporting
Authority, LLC (‘‘OPRA Plan’’), Section 5.2(c)(iii).
The Exchange notes that this requirement under the
OPRA Plan is also reiterated under the Cboe Global
Markets Global Data Agreement and Cboe Global
Markets North American Data Policies, which
subscribers to any exchange proprietary product
must sign and are subject to, respectively.
Additionally, the Exchange’s Data Order Form
(used for requesting the Exchange’s market data
products) requires confirmation that the requesting
market participant receives data from OPRA.
22 Id.
23 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51808
(June 9, 2005), 70 FR 37496, 37499 (June 29, 2005)
(‘‘Regulation NMS Adopting Release’’).
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BZX Options Top User fees.
Additionally, the User fees continue to
be in line with and/or lower than User
fees assessed by other exchanges for
similar data.24
The Exchange believes that the
proposed fees are equitable and not
unfairly discriminatory because they
will be charged uniformly to recipient
firms and Users. The Exchange also
believes continuing to offer BZX
Options Top Data to Non-Professional
Users at a lower cost than Professional
Users results in greater equity among
data recipients, as Professional Users are
categorized as such based on their
employment and participation in
financial markets, and thus, are
compensated to participate in the
markets. Although Non-Professional
Users too can receive significant
financial benefits through their
participation in the markets, the
Exchange believes it is reasonable to
charge more to those Users who are
more directly engaged in the markets.
The Exchange next notes it is not
required to charge a single User fee to
cover all its available data products, but
none-the-less has not charged separate
User Fees for both BZX Options Top
and BZX Options Depth since BZX
Options Top was adopted in March
2018.25 However, the Exchange no
longer wishes to continue to have a
single fee. The Exchange believes the
proposed change is reasonable,
equitable and not unfairly
discriminatory as the Top and Book
Depth Data Feeds are purely optional.
Only those Distributors that deem the
products to be of sufficient overall value
and usefulness would purchase them for
purposes of distribution to Users.
24 See e.g., Nasdaq PHLX Options 7 Pricing
Schedule, Section 10 (Proprietary Data Feed Fees),
which provides for a fee of $40 per month to
professional users and $1.00 per month to nonprofessional users to cover the usage of PHLX
Options (TOPO) Data, TOPO Plus Orders, PHLX
Orders and PHLX Depth Data feeds. See also NYSE
American Options Proprietary Market Data Fees
schedule, which provides for a fee of $50 per month
to professional users and $1.00 per month to nonprofessional users of American Options Top Data,
American Options Deep and American Options
Complex products. By comparison, the total
combined Professional User fee for the Exchange’s
market data products is still lower at $35 per
Professional User (i.e., $5 per Professional Users of
BZX Options Top, as proposed, and $30 per
Professional User of BZX Options Depth). The
Exchange’s combined Non-Professional User Fee at
$1.10 per Non-Professional User (i.e., $0.10 per
Non-Professional User of BZX Options Top, as
proposed, and $1 per Non-Professional User of BZX
Options Depth) is still in line with, and not a
significant departure from, PHLX’s and NYSE
American’s aforementioned Non-Professional User
fees.
25 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82874
(March 14, 2018), 83 FR 12210 (March 20, 2018)
(SR–CboeBZX–2018–017).
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Further, Distributors are not required to
distribute, and Users are not required to
receive, any one particular data product
and indeed may choose to receive none,
one, or several of the Exchange’s market
data products. Indeed, less than 25% of
the Exchange’s market data
subscriptions is for BZX Options Top.
Additionally, the Exchange is not
required to provide any fee waiver to
Distributors of BZX Options Top. The
Exchange believes the proposed change
is equitable and not unfairly
discriminatory as it will apply
uniformly to Distributors.
The proposed increased Enterprise
Fee for BZX Options Top Feed is
equitable and reasonable as the
proposed fee could still result in a fee
reduction for Distributors with a large
number of Professional and NonProfessional Users. If a Distributor has a
smaller number of Professional Users of
BZX Options Top, then it may continue
using the per User structure and benefit
from the proposed per BZX Options Top
User Fee reductions. By reducing prices
Distributors with a large number of
Professional and Non-Professional
Users, the Exchange believes that more
firms may choose to receive and to
distribute BZX Options Top Data,
thereby expanding the distribution of
this market data for the benefit of
investors. The Exchange notes that
currently no Distributors have
purchased an Enterprise license. The
Exchange believes however, that the
proposed lower User fees for BZX
Options Top may incentivize additional
External Distributors to distribute BZX
Options Top an enlist additional Users.
As noted, as a Distributor’s User base
grows, it may make sense for a
Distributor to purchase the alternative
Enterprise license to cap its fees. In
connection with this potential increase
in Users, the Exchange believes it is
therefore also reasonable to increase the
Enterprise Fee. That said, as described
above, the Enterprise Fee is entirely
optional. A firm that does not have a
sufficient number of Users to benefit
from purchase of the license need not
do so.
The Exchange further believes that the
Enterprise Fee, even as amended, is
reasonable because it simplifies
reporting for certain recipients that have
large numbers of Professional and NonProfessional Users. Firms that pay the
proposed Enterprise Fee do have to
report the number of Users on a
monthly basis as they currently do, but
rather only have to count authorized
users every six months, which is a
significant reduction in administrative
burden.
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The Exchange lastly believes the
proposed non-substantive clarifying
changes will alleviate potential
confusion, thereby removing
impediments to and perfecting the
mechanism of a free and open market
and a national market system, and, in
general, protecting investors and the
public interest.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that
the proposed rule change would result
in any burden on competition that is not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance
of the purposes of the Act. The
Exchange operates in a highly
competitive environment, and its ability
to price top-of-book data is constrained
by competition among exchanges that
offer similar data products to their
customers. Top-of-book data is broadly
disseminated by competing U.S. options
exchanges and through OPRA. There are
therefore a number of alternative
products available to market
participants and investors, including
products offered by certain competing
exchanges, as well as OPRA. In this
competitive environment potential
Distributors are free to choose which
competing product to purchase to
satisfy their need for market
information. Often, the choice comes
down to price, as market data customers
look to purchase cheaper data products,
and quality, as market participants seek
to purchase data that represents
significant market liquidity.
The Exchange believes that the
proposed fees do not put any market
participants at a relative disadvantage
compared to other market participants.
As discussed, the proposed fees would
apply to all similarly situated
Distributors of BZX Options Top on an
equal and non-discriminatory basis. The
Exchange believes the differentiated fees
for Professional and Non-Professional
Users of BZX Options Top is
appropriate given Professional Users are
categorized as such based on their
employment and participation in
financial markets, and thus, are
compensated to participate in the
markets. Non-Professional Users too can
receive significant financial benefits
through their participation in the
markets, however the Exchange believes
it is reasonable to charge more for those
Users who are more directly engaged in
the markets. The Exchange therefore
believes that the proposed fee neither
favors nor penalizes one or more
categories of market participants in a
manner that would impose an undue
burden on competition.
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The Exchange believes that the
proposed fees do not impose a burden
on competition or on other SROs that is
not necessary or appropriate in
furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
In particular, market participants are not
forced to subscribe to BZX Options Top,
or any of the Exchange’s data feeds, as
described above. Also as described
above, there are numerous substitute
products offered by other national
securities exchanges, as well as OPRA.
Because market data customers can find
suitable substitute feeds, an exchange
that overprices its market data products
stands a high risk that users may
substitute another product. These
competitive pressures ensure that no
one exchange’s market data fees can
impose an undue burden on
competition, and the Exchange’s
proposed fees do not do so here.
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 26 and paragraph (f) of Rule
19b–4 27 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:
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission’s internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
26 15
27 17
E:\FR\FM\20MRN1.SGM
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
CFR 240.19b–4(f).
20MRN1
16708
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 53 / Monday, March 20, 2023 / Notices
• Send an email to rule-comments@
sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
CboeBZX–2023–016 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–CboeBZX–2023–016. 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–CboeBZX–2023–016 and
should be submitted on or before April
10, 2023.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.28
Sherry R. Haywood,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023–05539 Filed 3–17–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Data Collection Available for Public
Comments
60-Day notice and request for
comments.
ACTION:
28 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:19 Mar 17, 2023
Jkt 259001
The Small Business
Administration (SBA) intends to request
approval, from the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for the
collection of information described
below. The Paperwork Reduction Act
(PRA) of 1995 requires federal agencies
to publish a notice in the Federal
Register concerning each proposed
collection of information before
submission to OMB, and to allow 60
days for public comment in response to
the notice. This notice complies with
that requirement.
SUMMARY:
Submit comments on or before
May 19, 2023.
DATES:
Send all comments to
Takeisha Hodge, Program Support
Manager, Office of HUBZone Program,
Small Business Administration,
Washington, DC 20416.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Takeisha Hodge, Program Support
Manage, Office of HUBZone Program,
202–255–7022, takeisha.dubosehodge@
sba.gov or Curtis B. Rich, Agency
Clearance Officer, 202–205–7030,
curtis.rich@sba.gov.
This
collection is essential to the Agency’s
mission because if SBA designates an
area as a Governor-designated covered
area, based on the information provided
by the State Governor, additional small
businesses may become eligible for
certification as HUBZone small business
concerns, which in turn will provide
them with more contracting
opportunities. These additional
contracting opportunities create
incentives for individuals to start small
businesses and allow existing small
businesses to grow. SBA has taken all
practicable steps to consult with
interested agencies and members of the
public to minimize the burden of this
information collection. SBA intends to
make available on its Website a list of
the areas within each State that meet the
statutory definition of ‘‘covered area’’
according to the most recent Bureau of
the Census data. This will minimize the
burden on State governments by
eliminating the need to gather this data
and do the necessary analysis to
determine which areas may meet the
definition of ‘‘covered area.’’ Finally,
pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.13(d), SBA also
requests a waiver from the requirement
to publish a 60-day notice in the
Federal Register requesting comments
on this information collection. SBA will
publish the required notice as part of
the standard submission process before
the emergency approval expires.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
PO 00000
Frm 00130
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Solicitation of Public Comments
SBA is requesting comments on (a)
Whether the collection of information is
necessary for the agency to properly
perform its functions; (b) whether the
burden estimates are accurate; (c)
whether there are ways to minimize the
burden, including through the use of
automated techniques or other forms of
information technology; and (d) whether
there are ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information.
Summary of Information Collection
OMB Control Number: 3245–0403.
Title: HUBZone Program Petition for
Governor-Designated Covered Areas.
Description of Respondents:
Governor-designated covered areas.
Form Number: N/A.
Total Estimated Annual Responses:
63.
Total Estimated Annual Hour Burden:
265.
Curtis B. Rich,
Agency Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023–05580 Filed 3–17–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8026–09–P
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Data Collection Available for Public
Comments
60-Day notice and request for
comments.
ACTION:
The Small Business
Administration (SBA) intends to request
approval, from the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for the
collection of information described
below. The Paperwork Reduction Act
(PRA) of 1995 requires federal agencies
to publish a notice in the Federal
Register concerning each proposed
collection of information before
submission to OMB, and to allow 60
days for public comment in response to
the notice. This notice complies with
that requirement.
DATES: Submit comments on or before
May 19, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Send all comments to Paul
Kirwan, Financial Analyst, Office of
Credit Risk Management, Small
Business Administration, Washington,
DC 20416.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul
Kirwans, Office of Credit Risk
Management, Office of Financial
Assistance, paul.kirwan@sba.gov 202–
205–7261, or Curtis B. Rich, Agency
Clearance Officer, 202–202–7030,
curtis.rich@sba.gov;
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
information collection consists of SBA
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\20MRN1.SGM
20MRN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 53 (Monday, March 20, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16704-16708]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-05539]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-97138; File No. SR-CboeBZX-2023-016]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend
Its Fee Schedule
March 14, 2023.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that
on February 28, 2023, Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (``Exchange'' or ``BZX'')
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``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 BZX Exchange, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or ``BZX Options'')
proposes to amend its Fee 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://markets.cboe.com/us/equities/regulation/rule_filings/bzx/), 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.
[[Page 16705]]
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 Fee Schedule to modify its
market data fees for BZX Options Top.\3\ Particularly, the Exchange
proposes to modify the Professional and Non-Professional User Fees,
modify the Enterprise Fee for BXZ Options Top and make other
clarifying, non-substantive changes.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ BZX Options Top is an uncompressed data feed that offers top
of book quotations and execution information based on options orders
entered into the System. Uncompressed data is disseminated ``as is''
in the native format by the Exchange, with no compression.
\4\ The Exchange initially filed the proposed fee changes on
January 3, 2023 (SR-CboeBZX-2023-001). On February 28, 2023, the
Exchange withdrew that filing and submitted this proposal.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange first proposes to reduce the rates for Professional
and Non-Professional User fees for BZX Options Top. The Exchange
currently charges Internal Distributors and External Distributors that
redistribute any of the BZX Options Data Feeds different fees for their
Professional Users \5\ and Non-Professional Users.\6\ The Exchange
currently assesses a monthly fee for Professional Users of $30.00 per
User and a monthly fee of $1.00 per Non-Professional User.\7\ One User
fee allows access to the BZX Options Top Feed and the BZX Options Depth
Feed.\8\ The Exchange proposes to reduce the rates for the User fees
for BZX Options Top. Particularly, the Exchange proposes to reduce the
monthly (i) Professional User fee from $30 per user to $5 per user and
(ii) Non-Professional User fee from $1.00 per user to $0.10 per user.
The Exchange also proposes to start charging separate User fees for BZX
Options Top and BZX Options Depth Feed. The Exchange therefore proposes
to eliminate the language under the BZX Options Top table and BZX
Options Depth Feed table that states one User fee allows access to the
BZX Options Top Feed and the BZX Options Depth Feed.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ A Professional User of an Exchange Market Data product is
any User other than a a Non-Professional User. The Exchange proposes
to amend the definition of ``Professional User'' in the Fee Schedule
to further clarify that a Professional User is a natural person
recipient of an Exchange Data product who is not a Non-Professional
User.
\6\ A ``Non-Professional User'' of an Exchange Market Data
product is a natural person or qualifying trust that uses Data only
for personal purposes and not for any commercial purpose and, for a
natural person who works in the United States, is not: (i)
registered or qualified in any capacity with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, any
state securities agency, any securities exchange or association, or
any commodities or futures contract market or association; (ii)
engaged as an ``investment adviser'' as that term is defined in
Section 202(a)(11) of the Investment Advisors Act of 1940 (whether
or not registered or qualified under that Act); or (iii) employed by
a bank or other organization exempt from registration under federal
or state securities laws to perform functions that would require
registration or qualification if such functions were performed for
an organization not so exempt; or, for a natural person who works
outside of the United States, does not perform the same functions as
would disqualify such person as a Non-Professional User if he or she
worked in the United States.
\7\ Distributors that receive BZX Options Data are required to
count every Professional User and Non-Professional User to which
they provide the data feed(s).
\8\ BZX Options Depth is an uncompressed data feed that offers
depth of book quotations and execution information based on options
orders entered into the System.
\9\ The Exchange is not proposing any changes to the current
User Fee amounts for BZX Options Depth Feed at this time.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange next proposes to increase the current monthly
Enterprise Fee. The Enterprise Fee permits a recipient firm (i.e., a
Distributor) to purchase a monthly (and optional) Enterprise license to
receive the BZX Options Top Feed for distribution to an unlimited
number of Professional and Non-Professional Users.\10\ The Enterprise
Fee is an alternative to Professional and Non-Professional User fees
and permits a Distributor to pay a flat fee for unlimited number of
Professional and Non-Professional Users. Like User fees, it is also
assessed in addition to the Distribution Fee.\11\ Currently, the
Exchange assesses an Enterprise Fee of $3,500 per month. The Exchange
proposes to increase the Enterprise Fee to $20,000 per month. For
example, if a Distributor distributes BZX Options Top to 15,000
Professional Users who each receive BZX Options Top at $5.00 per month
(as proposed), then that Distributor will pay $75,000 per month in
Professional Users fees. Under the proposed Enterprise Fee, it will pay
a flat fee of $20,000 for an unlimited number of Professional and Non-
Professional Users. A Distributor must pay a separate Enterprise Fee
for each entity that controls the display of BZX Options Top if it
wishes for such User to be covered by the Enterprise Fee rather than by
per User fees.\12\ A Distributor that pays the Enterprise Fee will not
have to report its number of such Users on a monthly basis. However,
every six months, it must provide the Exchange with a count of the
total number of Professional and Non-Professional Users of BZX Options
Top.\13\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\10\ The Exchange proposes to amend the description relating to
the Enterprise Fees under the BZX Options Top and Depth fee tables
to clarify that Distributors are the market participant that would
be purchasing the monthly Enterprise license for purposes of
distribution to Professional and Non-Professional Users.
\11\ The Exchange also proposes to clarify in the descriptions
relating to the Enterprise Fees that (i) it is an alternative to
``Professional and Non-Professional'' User fees and (ii) is in
addition to the Distribution Fee.
\12\ For example, if a Distributor that distributes BZX Options
Top to Retail Brokerage Firm A and Retail Brokerage Firm B and
wishes to have the Users under each firm covered by an Enterprise
license, the Distributor would be subject to two Enterprise Fees.
\13\ See Cboe Global Markets North American Data Policies.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange lastly proposes to add references to ``Depth'' in the
description of the Distribution Fees and Enterprise Fee under the BZX
Options Depth Feed table to clarify which data feed such fees currently
applies to, thereby alleviating potential confusion. The Exchange also
proposes to replace references to ``Recipient firm'' with
``Distributors'' to more accurately reflect the type of market
participants the fees are applicable to, thereby alleviating potential
confusion. Lastly, the Exchange proposes to modify the definition of
Professional User under the definitions section of the Market Data Fees
section to clarify that a Professional ``User'' is any natural person
recipient of an Exchange Market Data product who is not a Non-
Professional User. The proposed modification also aligns the definition
with that of the definition used by the Exchange's affiliates Cboe
Exchange, Inc. and Cboe C2 Exchange, Inc.\14\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\14\ See Cboe Data Services, LLC Fees Schedule and Cboe C2
Options Fees Schedule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.\15\ Specifically, the
Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the
Section 6(b)(5) \16\ 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
[[Page 16706]]
Section 6(b)(4) of the Act,\17\ which requires that Exchange rules
provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and
other charges among its Members and other persons using its facilities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\15\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\16\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
\17\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange first notes that it operates in a highly competitive
environment. Indeed, there are currently 16 registered options
exchanges that trade options. Based on publicly available information,
no single options exchange has more than 17% of the market share.\18\
The Exchange believes top-of-book quotation and transaction data is
highly competitive as national securities exchanges compete vigorously
with each other to provide efficient, reliable, and low-cost data to a
wide range of investors and market participants. Indeed, there are
several competing products offered by other national securities
exchanges today, not counting products offered by the Exchange's
affiliates, and each of the Exchange's affiliated U.S. options
exchanges also offers similar top-of-book data.\19\ Each of those
exchanges offer top-of-book quotation and last sale information based
on their own quotation and trading activity that is substantially
similar to the information provided by the Exchange through the BZX
Options Top Feed. Further, the quote and last sale data contained in
the BZX Options Top Feed is identical to the data sent to OPRA for
redistribution to the public.\20\ Accordingly, Exchange top-of-book
data is widely available today from a number of different sources.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\18\ See Cboe Global Markets U.S. Options Market Month-to-Date
Volume Summary (February 24, 2023), available at https://markets.cboe.com/us/options/market_statistics/.
\19\ See e.g., NYSE Arca Options Proprietary Market Data Fees
Schedule, MIAX Options Exchange, Fee Schedule, Section 6 (Market
Data Fees), Nasdaq PHLX Options 7 Pricing Schedule, Section 10
(Proprietary Data Feed Fees) and Cboe Data Services, LLC Fees
Schedule.
\20\ The Exchange notes that it makes available the top-of-book
and last sale data that is included in the BZX Options Top Data Feed
no earlier than the time at which the Exchange sends that data to
OPRA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moreover, the BZX Options Top is distributed and purchased on a
voluntary basis, in that neither the Exchange nor market data
distributors are required by any rule or regulation to make this data
available. Accordingly, Distributors and Users can discontinue use at
any time and for any reason, including due to an assessment of the
reasonableness of fees charged. As described above, market participants
have a wide variety of alternative market data products from which to
choose, such as similar proprietary data products offered by other
exchanges and consolidated data. Further, the Exchange is not required
to make any proprietary data products available or to offer any
specific pricing alternatives to any customers. Moreover, persons
(including broker-dealers) who subscribe to any exchange proprietary
data feed must also have equivalent access to consolidated Options
Information \21\ from OPRA for the same classes or series of options
that are included in the proprietary data feed, and proprietary data
feeds cannot be used to meet that particular requirement.\22\ As such,
all proprietary data feeds are optional.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\21\ ``Consolidated Options Information'' means consolidated
Last Sale Reports combined with either consolidated Quotation
Information or the BBO furnished by OPRA. Access to consolidated
Options Information is deemed ``equivalent'' if both kinds of
information are equally accessible on the same terminal or work
station. See Limited Liability Company Agreement of Options Price
Reporting Authority, LLC (``OPRA Plan''), Section 5.2(c)(iii). The
Exchange notes that this requirement under the OPRA Plan is also
reiterated under the Cboe Global Markets Global Data Agreement and
Cboe Global Markets North American Data Policies, which subscribers
to any exchange proprietary product must sign and are subject to,
respectively. Additionally, the Exchange's Data Order Form (used for
requesting the Exchange's market data products) requires
confirmation that the requesting market participant receives data
from OPRA.
\22\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Commission has repeatedly expressed its preference for
competition over regulatory intervention in determining prices,
products, and services in the securities markets. Particularly, 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\ Making
similar data products available to market participants fosters
competition in the marketplace, and constrains the ability of exchanges
to charge supracompetitive fees. In the event that a market participant
views one exchange's data product as more or less attractive than the
competition they can and do switch between similar products. The
proposed fees are a result of the competitive environment, as the
Exchange seeks to adopt fees to attract purchasers of BZX Options Top
Data.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\23\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51808 (June 9,
2005), 70 FR 37496, 37499 (June 29, 2005) (``Regulation NMS Adopting
Release'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange believes the proposed changes to reduce the rates of
the current Professional and Non-Professional User fees are reasonable
as Distributors will be subject to lower BZX Options Top User fees.
Additionally, the User fees continue to be in line with and/or lower
than User fees assessed by other exchanges for similar data.\24\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\24\ See e.g., Nasdaq PHLX Options 7 Pricing Schedule, Section
10 (Proprietary Data Feed Fees), which provides for a fee of $40 per
month to professional users and $1.00 per month to non-professional
users to cover the usage of PHLX Options (TOPO) Data, TOPO Plus
Orders, PHLX Orders and PHLX Depth Data feeds. See also NYSE
American Options Proprietary Market Data Fees schedule, which
provides for a fee of $50 per month to professional users and $1.00
per month to non-professional users of American Options Top Data,
American Options Deep and American Options Complex products. By
comparison, the total combined Professional User fee for the
Exchange's market data products is still lower at $35 per
Professional User (i.e., $5 per Professional Users of BZX Options
Top, as proposed, and $30 per Professional User of BZX Options
Depth). The Exchange's combined Non-Professional User Fee at $1.10
per Non-Professional User (i.e., $0.10 per Non-Professional User of
BZX Options Top, as proposed, and $1 per Non-Professional User of
BZX Options Depth) is still in line with, and not a significant
departure from, PHLX's and NYSE American's aforementioned Non-
Professional User fees.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange believes that the proposed fees are equitable and not
unfairly discriminatory because they will be charged uniformly to
recipient firms and Users. The Exchange also believes continuing to
offer BZX Options Top Data to Non-Professional Users at a lower cost
than Professional Users results in greater equity among data
recipients, as Professional Users are categorized as such based on
their employment and participation in financial markets, and thus, are
compensated to participate in the markets. Although Non-Professional
Users too can receive significant financial benefits through their
participation in the markets, the Exchange believes it is reasonable to
charge more to those Users who are more directly engaged in the
markets.
The Exchange next notes it is not required to charge a single User
fee to cover all its available data products, but none-the-less has not
charged separate User Fees for both BZX Options Top and BZX Options
Depth since BZX Options Top was adopted in March 2018.\25\ However, the
Exchange no longer wishes to continue to have a single fee. The
Exchange believes the proposed change is reasonable, equitable and not
unfairly discriminatory as the Top and Book Depth Data Feeds are purely
optional. Only those Distributors that deem the products to be of
sufficient overall value and usefulness would purchase them for
purposes of distribution to Users.
[[Page 16707]]
Further, Distributors are not required to distribute, and Users are not
required to receive, any one particular data product and indeed may
choose to receive none, one, or several of the Exchange's market data
products. Indeed, less than 25% of the Exchange's market data
subscriptions is for BZX Options Top. Additionally, the Exchange is not
required to provide any fee waiver to Distributors of BZX Options Top.
The Exchange believes the proposed change is equitable and not unfairly
discriminatory as it will apply uniformly to Distributors.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\25\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82874 (March 14,
2018), 83 FR 12210 (March 20, 2018) (SR-CboeBZX-2018-017).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The proposed increased Enterprise Fee for BZX Options Top Feed is
equitable and reasonable as the proposed fee could still result in a
fee reduction for Distributors with a large number of Professional and
Non-Professional Users. If a Distributor has a smaller number of
Professional Users of BZX Options Top, then it may continue using the
per User structure and benefit from the proposed per BZX Options Top
User Fee reductions. By reducing prices Distributors with a large
number of Professional and Non-Professional Users, the Exchange
believes that more firms may choose to receive and to distribute BZX
Options Top Data, thereby expanding the distribution of this market
data for the benefit of investors. The Exchange notes that currently no
Distributors have purchased an Enterprise license. The Exchange
believes however, that the proposed lower User fees for BZX Options Top
may incentivize additional External Distributors to distribute BZX
Options Top an enlist additional Users. As noted, as a Distributor's
User base grows, it may make sense for a Distributor to purchase the
alternative Enterprise license to cap its fees. In connection with this
potential increase in Users, the Exchange believes it is therefore also
reasonable to increase the Enterprise Fee. That said, as described
above, the Enterprise Fee is entirely optional. A firm that does not
have a sufficient number of Users to benefit from purchase of the
license need not do so.
The Exchange further believes that the Enterprise Fee, even as
amended, is reasonable because it simplifies reporting for certain
recipients that have large numbers of Professional and Non-Professional
Users. Firms that pay the proposed Enterprise Fee do have to report the
number of Users on a monthly basis as they currently do, but rather
only have to count authorized users every six months, which is a
significant reduction in administrative burden.
The Exchange lastly believes the proposed non-substantive
clarifying changes will alleviate potential confusion, thereby removing
impediments to and perfecting the mechanism of a free and open market
and a national market system, and, in general, protecting investors and
the public interest.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change would
result in any burden on competition that is not necessary or
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The Exchange
operates in a highly competitive environment, and its ability to price
top-of-book data is constrained by competition among exchanges that
offer similar data products to their customers. Top-of-book data is
broadly disseminated by competing U.S. options exchanges and through
OPRA. There are therefore a number of alternative products available to
market participants and investors, including products offered by
certain competing exchanges, as well as OPRA. In this competitive
environment potential Distributors are free to choose which competing
product to purchase to satisfy their need for market information.
Often, the choice comes down to price, as market data customers look to
purchase cheaper data products, and quality, as market participants
seek to purchase data that represents significant market liquidity.
The Exchange believes that the proposed fees do not put any market
participants at a relative disadvantage compared to other market
participants. As discussed, the proposed fees would apply to all
similarly situated Distributors of BZX Options Top on an equal and non-
discriminatory basis. The Exchange believes the differentiated fees for
Professional and Non-Professional Users of BZX Options Top is
appropriate given Professional Users are categorized as such based on
their employment and participation in financial markets, and thus, are
compensated to participate in the markets. Non-Professional Users too
can receive significant financial benefits through their participation
in the markets, however the Exchange believes it is reasonable to
charge more for those Users who are more directly engaged in the
markets. The Exchange therefore believes that the proposed fee neither
favors nor penalizes one or more categories of market participants in a
manner that would impose an undue burden on competition.
The Exchange believes that the proposed fees do not impose a burden
on competition or on other SROs that is not necessary or appropriate in
furtherance of the purposes of the Act. In particular, market
participants are not forced to subscribe to BZX Options Top, or any of
the Exchange's data feeds, as described above. Also as described above,
there are numerous substitute products offered by other national
securities exchanges, as well as OPRA. Because market data customers
can find suitable substitute feeds, an exchange that overprices its
market data products stands a high risk that users may substitute
another product. These competitive pressures ensure that no one
exchange's market data fees can impose an undue burden on competition,
and the Exchange's proposed fees do not do so here.
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 \26\ and paragraph (f) of Rule 19b-4 \27\
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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\26\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
\27\ 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
[[Page 16708]]
Send an email to [email protected]. Please include
File Number SR-CboeBZX-2023-016 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-CboeBZX-2023-016. 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-CboeBZX-2023-016 and should be submitted
on or before April 10, 2023.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\28\
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\28\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Sherry R. Haywood,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-05539 Filed 3-17-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P