[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 142 (Wednesday, July 24, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35702-35704]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-15672]
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-86411; File No. SR-CBOE-2019-037]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe Exchange, Inc.; Notice of
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change Relating
To Amend Rule 12.3 by Extending the Credit Option Margin Pilot Program
Through July 20, 2020
July 18, 2019.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(the ``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given
that on July 16, 2019, Cboe Exchange, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or ``Cboe
Options'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II
below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Exchange
filed the proposal as a ``non-controversial'' proposed rule change
pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \3\ and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6) thereunder.\4\ 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.
\3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
\4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
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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 Rule 12.3 by extending the Credit
Option Margin Pilot Program through July 20, 2020. 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 (http://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
On February 2, 2011, the Commission approved the Exchange's
proposal to establish a Credit Option Margin Pilot Program
(``Program'').\5\ The proposal became effective on a pilot basis to run
on a parallel track with FINRA Rule 4240 that similarly operates on an
interim pilot basis.\6\
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\5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63819 (February 2,
2011), 76 FR 6838 (February 8, 2011) order approving (SR-CBOE-2010-
106). To implement the Program, the Exchange amended Rule 12.3(l),
Margin Requirements, to make Cboe Option's margin requirements for
Credit Options consistent with Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority (``FINRA'') Rule 4240, Margin Requirements for Credit
Default Swaps. Cboe Options Credit Options (i.e., Credit Default
Options and Credit Default Basket Options) are analogous to credit
default swaps.
\6\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59955 (May 22,
2009), 74 FR 25586 (May 28, 2009) (Notice of Filing and Order
Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change; SR-FINRA-
2009-012).
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On January 17, 2012, the Exchange filed a rule change to, among
other things, decouple the Program with the FINRA program and to extend
the expiration date of the Program to January 17, 2013.\7\ The Program,
however, continues to be substantially similar to the provisions of the
FINRA program. Subsequently, the Exchange filed rule changes to extend
the program until January 17, 2014, January 16, 2015, January 15, 2016,
January 17, 2017, July 18, 2017, July 18, 2018 and July 18, 2019,
respectively.\8\ The Exchange believes that extending the expiration
date of the Program further will allow for further analysis of the
Program and a determination of how the Program should be structured in
the future. Thus, the Exchange is now currently proposing to extend the
duration of the Program for an additional year until July 20, 2020.\9\
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\7\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 66163 (January 17,
2012), 77 FR 3318 (January 23, 2012) (SR-CBOE-2012-007).
\8\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 68539 (December 27,
2012), 78 FR 138 (January 2, 2013) (SR-CBOE-2012-125), 71124
(December 18, 2013), 78 FR 77754 (December 24, 2013) (SR-CBOE-2013-
123), 73837 (December 15, 2014), 79 FR 75850 (December 19, 2014)
(SR-CBOE-2014-091), 76824 (January 5, 2016), 81 FR 1255 (January 11,
2016) (SR-CBOE-2015-118), 79621 (December 14, 2016) 81 FR 95236
(December 27, 2016) (SR-CBOE-2016-089), 81083 (July 6, 2017) 82 FR
32219 (July 12, 2017) (SR-CBOE-2017-051), and 83672 (July 19, 2018)
83 FR 35305 (July 25, 2018) (SR-CBOE-2018-052).
\9\ The Exchange is filing the proposed rule change for
immediate effectiveness. The Exchange is proposing that the
implementation date of the proposed rule change will be July 18,
2019. The proposed rule change will expire on July 20, 2020, which
is the same date FINRA's corresponding program expires.
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[[Page 35703]]
Additionally, the Exchange believes that it is in the public
interest to extend the expiration date of the Program because it will
continue to allow the Exchange to list Credit Options for trading. As a
result, the Exchange will remain competitive with the Over-the-Counter
Market with respect to swaps and security-based swaps. In the future,
if the Exchange proposes an additional extension of the Credit Option
Margin Pilot Program or proposes to make the Program permanent, then
the Exchange will submit a filing proposing such amendments to the
Program.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with
the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to the
Exchange and, in particular, the requirements of Section 6(b) of the
Act.\10\ Specifically, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change
is consistent with the Section 6(b)(5) \11\ 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
facilitation 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 the Section 6(b)(5) \12\ requirement that the rules of
an exchange not be designed to permit unfair discrimination between
customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.
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\10\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\11\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
\12\ Id.
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In particular, the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change
will further the purposes of the Act because, consistent with the goals
of the Commission at the initial adoption of the program, the margin
requirements set forth by the proposed rule change will help to
stabilize the financial markets. In addition, the proposed rule change
is substantially similar to existing FINRA Rule 4240.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will
impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate
in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. Specifically, the Exchange
believes that, by extending the expiration of the Program, the proposed
rule change will allow for further analysis of the Program and a
determination of how the Program shall be structured in the future. In
doing so, the proposed rule change will also serve to promote
regulatory clarity and consistency, thereby reducing burdens on the
marketplace and facilitating investor protection.
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
Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not:
A. Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public
interest;
B. impose any significant burden on competition; and
C. become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was
filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has
become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \13\ and
Rule 19b-4(f)(6) \14\ thereunder.
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\13\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
\14\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, as required under Rule
19b-4(f)(6)(iii), the Exchange provided the Commission with written
notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a
brief description and the text of the proposed rule change, at least
five business days prior to the date of the filing of the proposed
rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission.
The Exchange has satisfied this requirement.
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The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative
delay so that the proposal may become operative immediately upon
filing. The Exchange states that waiver of the 30-day operative delay
will allow it to maintain the status quo, thereby reducing market
disruption. The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative
delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public
interest, as it will allow the Program to continue uninterrupted,
thereby avoiding investor confusion that could result from a temporary
interruption of the Program. For this reason, the Commission designates
the proposed rule change to be operative upon filing.\15\
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\15\ For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay,
the Commission has also considered the proposed rule's impact on
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C.
78c(f).
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At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission
takes such action, the Commission 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 (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
Send an email to [email protected]. Please include
File Number SR-CBOE-2019-037 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CBOE-2019-037. This file
number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help
the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently,
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on
the Commission's internet website (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml).
Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written
statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with
the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed
rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those
that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions
of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for website viewing and printing in
the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC
20549 on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and
3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for
[[Page 35704]]
inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All
comments received will be posted without change. Persons submitting
comments are cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal
identifying information from comment submissions. You should submit
only information that you wish to make available publicly.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CBOE-2019-037 and
should be submitted on or before August 14, 2019.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\16\
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\16\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Jill M. Peterson,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-15672 Filed 7-23-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P