[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 13 (Friday, January 22, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6705-6708]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-01285]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-90929; File No. SR-CBOE-2021-002]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe Exchange, Inc.; Notice of 
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change Relating 
To Amend the Silexx Trading Platform Fees Schedule

January 14, 2021.
    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 4, 2021, 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

    Cboe Exchange, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or ``Cboe Options'') proposes 
to amend the Silexx trading platform (``Silexx'' or the ``platform'') 
Fees Schedule. The text of the proposed rule change is provided in 
Exhibit 5.
    The text of the proposed rule change is also available on the 
Exchange's website (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
    The Exchange proposes to adopt ``drop copy'' and order routing fees 
for a recently adopted Silexx platform (``Cboe Silexx''), effective 
January 4, 2021.
    By way of background, the Silexx platform consists of a ``front-
end'' order entry and management trading platform (also referred to as 
the ``Silexx terminal'') for listed stocks and options that supports 
both simple and complex orders,\3\ and a ``back-end'' platform which 
provides a connection to the infrastructure network. From the Silexx 
platform (i.e., the collective front-end and back-end platform), a 
Silexx user has the capability to send option orders to U.S. options 
exchanges, send stock orders to U.S. stock exchanges (and other trading 
centers), input parameters to control the size, timing, and other 
variables of their trades, and also includes access to real-time 
options and stock market data, as well as access to certain historical 
data. The Silexx platform is designed so that a user may enter orders 
into the platform to send to

[[Page 6706]]

an executing broker (including Trading Permit Holders (``TPHs'')) of 
its choice with connectivity to the platform, which broker will then 
send the orders to Cboe Options (if the broker is a TPH) or other U.S. 
exchanges (and trading centers) in accordance with the user's 
instructions. Historically, users could not directly route orders 
through any of the then-current versions of Silexx to an exchange or 
trading center nor was the platform integrated into or directly 
connected to Cboe Option's System. In 2019, the Exchange made available 
an additional version of the Silexx platform, Silexx FLEX, which 
supports the trading of FLEX Options and allows authorized Users with 
direct access to the Exchange.\4\ Most recently, the Exchange made a 
new version of the Silexx platform available, Cboe Silexx, which 
supports the trading of non-FLEX Options and allows authorized Users 
with direct access to the Exchange.\5\ The Silexx front-end and back-
end platforms are a software application that is installed locally on a 
user's desktop. Silexx grants users licenses to use the platform, and a 
firm or individual does not need to be a TPH to license the platform. 
Use of any version of the Silexx platform is completely optional.
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    \3\ The platform also permits users to submit orders for 
commodity futures, commodity options and other non-security products 
to be sent to designated contract markets, futures commission 
merchants, introducing brokers or other applicable destinations of 
the users' choice.
    \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 87028 (September 19, 
2019) 84 FR 50529 (September 25, 2019) (SR-CBOE-2019-061).
    \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 88741 (April 24, 
2020) 85 FR 24045 (April 30, 2020) (SR-CBOE-2020-040).
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    Currently, TPH or non-TPH market participants may receive order 
fill messages \6\ (i.e., drop copies) from their Silexx Brokers via the 
PULSe drop copy network. However, on January 4, 2021, the Exchange 
plans to migrate such functionality to Cboe Silexx in conjunction with 
the planned decommission of the PULSe Trader Workstation. At that time, 
TPH or non-TPH market participants may instead receive drop copies via 
the Cboe Silexx Platform. As a result, the Exchange proposes to adopt 
certain drop copy fees from the Cboe Options Fees Schedule to the 
Silexx Fees Schedule with certain modifications. Additionally, the 
Exchange is proposing to adopt a fee for order routing via Financial 
Information eXchange (``FIX'') into Cboe Silexx, and to replace the 
PULSe Routing Network via Silexx fee with a Cboe Silexx Routing Network 
fee.
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    \6\ These fill messages allow customers to update positions, 
risk calculations, and streamline back-office functions.
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    The Exchange proposes to eliminate the PULSe Routing Network via 
Silexx fee from the Silexx Fees Schedule, which sets forth a fee for 
trading firms accessing the PULSe drop copy network from a non-PULSe, 
non-Silexx workstation for its customers' drop copies. Instead, the 
Exchange is proposing to adopt a fee for accessing the Silexx routing 
network to or from a non-Cboe Silexx workstation for order routing or 
drop copies. The proposed fee is $500 per month payable by the customer 
accessing the Silexx routing network on a per connection basis, and is 
similar to the existing PULSe Routing Network via Silexx fee that the 
Exchange is proposing to eliminate, with the exception that the 
proposed fee references the Silexx routing network rather than the 
PULSe Drop Copy Network and eliminates the reference to a non-PULSe 
workstation for order routing or drop copies. Further, the proposed fee 
is equal to the existing PULSe Routing Network via Silexx fee (i.e., 
$500 per month per customer connection).
    Second, the Exchange proposes to adopt a fee for drop copies 
received by a TPH customer via Cboe Silexx. The proposed fee is $425 
per month payable by the TPH customer receiving the drop copies, unless 
otherwise directed by the TPH broker. Specifically, for each Cboe 
Silexx-using TPH broker that provides a TPH customer drop copies, such 
receiving TPH customer incurs a fee of $425 per month. The proposed fee 
is substantially similar to a fee charged to a PULSe-using TPH broker 
that provides a TPH customer drop copies via a PULSe workstation. The 
only difference between the proposed fee and the existing fee 
pertaining to PULSe users is that the TPH broker may direct that the 
fee be assessed to itself rather than the TPH customer receiving the 
drop copies. However, the TPH customer will be ultimately responsible 
for the fee.
    Third, the Exchange proposes to adopt a drop copy payable by the 
TPH broker sending the drop copies to its non-TPH customers, unless 
otherwise directed by the TPH broker. Specifically, for each non-TPH 
Cboe Silexx-using customer for which a TPH broker provides drop copies, 
the TPH broker will incur a fee of $0.02/contract with a fee cap of 
$400 per month for each non-TPH customer to which the TPH broker sends 
drop copies. The proposed fee is substantially similar to the fee 
applied to drop copies received by a non-TPH customer via a PULSe 
workstation with one difference. Like the proposed fee for drop copies 
received by a TPH customer, the TPH broker may direct that the 
applicable fee be assessed to its customer rather than itself. However, 
the TPH broker will be ultimately responsible for the fee.
    Lastly, the Exchange proposes to adopt a fee for orders routed via 
FIX into Cboe Silexx. Particularly, the Exchange proposes to adopt a 
fee for each TPH broker to whom a TPH customer using a non-Cboe Silexx 
workstation sends orders electronically to a TPH broker's Silexx 
workstation. The proposed fee is $500 per month for each TPH broker 
with a Silexx workstation to which the TPH customer sends orders. The 
proposed fee is substantially similar to the existing Non-PULSe-to-
PULSe Routing (sent by TPH customers) fee set forth in the Cboe Fees 
Schedule with two differences. First, like the proposed fees discussed 
above, the TPH broker may direct the applicable fee be assessed to its 
customer rather than itself. However, the TPH broker will be ultimately 
responsible for the fee. Second, the Exchange is not proposing to adopt 
the provision that TPH customers who request FIX order routing into 
Cboe Silexx will also receive drop copies from its TPH brokers and must 
pay the monthly drop copy fee in addition to the in-bound addition fee.
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.\7\ Specifically, the 
Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the 
Section 6(b)(5) \8\ 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 the 
Section 6(b)(5) \9\ requirement that the rules of an exchange not be 
designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, 
brokers, or dealers. Additionally, the Exchange also believes the 
proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b)(4) of the Act,\10\ 
which requires that Exchange rules provide for the equitable allocation 
of reasonable dues, fees, and other charges among its

[[Page 6707]]

TPHs and other persons using its facilities.
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    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
    \9\ Id.
    \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
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    The Exchange believes that its proposed fees are reasonable and 
appropriate as they are substantially similar with fees set forth in 
the Cboe Exchange Fees Schedule applicable to the PULSe workstation, 
which is a substantially similar order entry and management system to 
Silexx.\11\ Despite certain differences in the proposed fees from the 
existing fees applicable to PULSe workstations, the Exchange believes 
that the proposed fees are reasonable for the following reasons. First, 
the proposed Cboe Silexx Routing Network fee would provide trading 
firms the ability to access the Cboe Silexx Routing Network to or from 
a non-Cboe Silexx workstation for not only drop copies, but also for 
order routing. Further, the proposed fee is equal to the existing PULSe 
Routing Network via Silexx fee despite that it provides order routing 
functionality in addition to drop copies. Second, while the proposed 
Drop Copy (received by TPH customer from Cboe Silexx) and Drop Copy 
(received by non-TPH customer) from Cboe Silexx fees provide that the 
TPH broker may direct the applicable fee be payable by itself or its 
customer, as applicable, the proposal may simplify and streamline 
billing for TPH brokers and their customers. Lastly, the proposed FIX 
order routing into Cboe Silexx fee differs from the Non-PULSe-to-PULSe 
Routing (sent by TPH customers) fee currently provided in the Cboe 
Options Fee Schedule as it does not provide that TPH customers 
requesting such order routing functionality will receive drop copies 
from its TPH brokers and must pay the monthly drop copy fee in addition 
to the in-bound addition fee. The Exchange believes it is reasonable 
not to include such language as it is no longer applicable.
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    \11\ See Cboe Options Fees Schedule, which provides for a PULSe 
workstation drop copy (received by TPH customer) fee of $425 per 
month, a drop copy (received by non-TPH customer) fee of $0.02 per 
contract capped at $400 per month, and a Non-PULSe-to-PULSe Routing 
(sent by TPH customers) fee of $500 per month.
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    Additionally, as discussed, use of drop copy functionality and FIX 
order routing into Cboe Silexx is discretionary and not compulsory. 
Indeed, Users can choose to route orders, including to Cboe Options, 
and receive drop copies without the use of the platform. The Exchange 
is making the platform available as a convenience to market 
participants, who will continue to have the option to use any order 
entry and management system available in the marketplace to send orders 
to the Exchange and other exchanges; the platform is merely an 
alternative that will be offered by the Exchange. The Exchange believes 
the proposed fees are equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because 
they apply to all market participants uniformly.

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will 
impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate 
in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed change will not 
impose any burden on intramarket competition that is not necessary or 
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act because it 
relates to optional services on an optional platform. The proposed fees 
will apply to similarly situated participants uniformly. Also as 
discussed, the use of the platform and the drop copy services will be 
completely voluntary and market participants will continue to have the 
flexibility to use any order entry and management tool that is 
proprietary or from third-party vendors, and/or market participants may 
choose any executing brokers to enter their orders and receive drop 
copies. Cboe Silexx is not an exclusive means of order routing or to 
receive drop copies, and if market participants believe that other 
products, vendors, front-end builds, etc. available in the marketplace 
are more beneficial than the Cboe Silexx platform, they may simply use 
those products instead. Use of such functionality is completely 
voluntary.
    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule changes will 
impose any burden on intermarket competition that is not necessary or 
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act because the 
proposed changes are substantially similar to fees applicable to the 
PULSe workstation, which is a substantially similar order entry and 
management system and which is migrating to Cboe Silexx in conjunction 
with the planned decommission of the PULSe Trader Workstation on 
January 4, 2021. To the extent that the proposed changes make Cboe 
Options a more attractive marketplace for market participants at other 
exchanges, such market participants are welcome to become Cboe Options 
market participants.

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 \12\ and paragraph (f) of Rule 19b-4 \13\ 
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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    \12\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \13\ 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 (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-CBOE-2021-002 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-2021-002. 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

[[Page 6708]]

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-2021-002 and should be submitted on or before February 12, 2021.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\14\
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    \14\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-01285 Filed 1-21-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P