2020-25733. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Designation of a Longer Period for Commission Action on Proceedings To Determine Whether To Approve or Disapprove a Proposed Rule Change To Accommodate Exchange Listing ...

November 17, 2020.

On May 15, 2020, Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (“Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”), pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) ^[1] and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,^[2] a proposed rule change to permit Exchange listing and trading of Options-Linked Securities. The proposed rule change was published for comment in the Federal Register on June 3, 2020.^[3] On July 9, 2020, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,^[4] the Commission designated a longer period within which to approve the proposed rule change, disapprove the proposed rule change, or institute proceedings to determine whether to disapprove the proposed rule change.^[5] On September 1, 2020, the Commission instituted proceedings under Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the Act ^[6] to determine whether to approve or disapprove the proposed rule change.^[7] The Commission has received no comment letters on the proposed rule change.

Section 19(b)(2) of the Act ^[8] provides that, after initiating disapproval proceedings, the Commission shall issue an order approving or disapproving the proposed rule change not later than 180 days after the date of publication of notice of filing of the proposed rule change. The Commission may extend the period for issuing an order approving or disapproving the proposed rule change, however, by not more than 60 days if the Commission determines that a longer period is appropriate and publishes the reasons for such determination. The date of publication of notice of filing of the proposed rule change was June 3, 2020. November 30, 2020, is 180 days from that date, and January 29, 2021, is 240 days from that date.

The Commission finds it appropriate to designate a longer period within which to issue an order approving or disapproving the proposed rule change so that it has sufficient time to consider this proposed rule change. Accordingly, the Commission, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,^[9] designates January 29, 2021, as the date by which the Commission shall either approve or disapprove the proposed rule change (File No. SR-CboeBZX-2020-042).

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.¹⁰

J. Matthew DeLesDernier,

Assistant Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 88968 (May 28, 2020), 85 FR 34270.

4.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).

5.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 89267, 85 FR 42933 (July 15, 2020).

6.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).

7.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 89722, 85 FR 55337 (September 4, 2020). Specifically, the Commission instituted proceedings to allow for additional analysis of the proposed rule change's consistency with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act, which requires, among other things, that the rules of a national securities exchange be “designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade,” and “to protect investors and the public interest.” See id. at 55338 (citing 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5)).

8.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).

9.  Id.

10.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(57).