EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS	15. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS Eligible U.S. employees, which includes BIDS U.S. employees as of January 1, 2021, are eligible to participate in the Cboe Options SMART Plan (“SMART Plan”). The SMART Plan is a defined contribution plan, which is qualified under Internal Revenue Code Section 401(k). In addition, eligible employees may participate in the Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan, Executive Retirement Plan and Deferred Compensation Plan. Effective January 1, 2017, the Executive Retirement Plan is closed to new executive officers and employees. Each plan is a defined contribution plan that is non-qualified under the Internal Revenue Code. The Deferred Compensation Plan assets, held in a trust, are subject to the claims of general creditors of the Company and totaled $26.2 million and $24.5 million at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. Although the value of the plans are recorded in financial investments on the condensed consolidated balance sheets, there are equal and offsetting liabilities in other non-current liabilities. The investment results of these plans have no impact on net income as the investment results are recorded in equal amounts to both other expense, net and compensation and benefits expense in the condensed consolidated statements of income. The Company contributed $3.6 million and $4.0 million to the defined contribution plans for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and $8.6 million and $8.1 million to the defined contribution plans for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. For employees of Cboe Europe, the Company contributes to an employee-selected stakeholder contribution plan. The Company’s contribution amounted to $0.3 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and $0.8 million and $0.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. This expense is included in compensation and benefits in the condensed consolidated statements of income. For employees of EuroCCP, the Company contributes to an employee-selected stakeholder contribution plan. The Company’s contribution amounted to $0.2 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and $0.6 million and $0.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. This expense is included in compensation and benefits in the condensed consolidated statements of income. For Canadian Cboe employees, which includes employees of MATCHNow and BIDS employees, Cboe elected to establish a Cboe Canadian Retirement Plan, which was effective January 1, 2021. The Company’s contribution amounted to $27.6 thousand and $0.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively. This expense is included in compensation and benefits in the condensed consolidated statements of income. For employees of Chi-X Asia Pacific located in Japan, Hong Kong, and Australia, Cboe elected to continue contributing to the previously established contribution plans designated for each respective jurisdiction that were in place prior to the acquisition on July 1, 2021. The Company’s contribution amounted to $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021. This expense is included in compensation and benefits in the condensed consolidated statements of income.

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

15. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

Eligible U.S. employees, which includes BIDS U.S. employees as of January 1, 2021, are eligible to participate in the Cboe Options SMART Plan (“SMART Plan”). The SMART Plan is a defined contribution plan, which is qualified under Internal Revenue Code Section 401(k). In addition, eligible employees may participate in the Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan, Executive Retirement Plan and Deferred Compensation Plan. Effective January 1, 2017, the Executive Retirement Plan is closed to new executive officers and employees. Each plan is a defined contribution plan that is non-qualified under the Internal Revenue Code. The Deferred Compensation Plan assets, held in a trust, are subject to the claims of general creditors of the Company and totaled $26.2 million and $24.5 million at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. Although the value of the plans are recorded in financial investments on the condensed consolidated balance sheets, there are equal and offsetting liabilities in other non-current liabilities. The investment results of these plans have no impact on net income as the investment results are recorded in equal amounts to both other expense, net and compensation and benefits expense in the condensed consolidated statements of income. The Company contributed $3.6 million and $4.0 million to the defined contribution plans for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and $8.6 million and $8.1 million to the defined contribution plans for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

For employees of Cboe Europe, the Company contributes to an employee-selected stakeholder contribution plan. The Company’s contribution amounted to $0.3 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and $0.8 million and $0.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. This expense is included in compensation and benefits in the condensed consolidated statements of income.

For employees of EuroCCP, the Company contributes to an employee-selected stakeholder contribution plan. The Company’s contribution amounted to $0.2 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and $0.6 million and $0.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. This expense is included in compensation and benefits in the condensed consolidated statements of income.

For Canadian Cboe employees, which includes employees of MATCHNow and BIDS employees, Cboe elected to establish a Cboe Canadian Retirement Plan, which was effective January 1, 2021. The Company’s contribution amounted to $27.6 thousand and $0.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively. This expense is included in compensation and benefits in the condensed consolidated statements of income.

For employees of Chi-X Asia Pacific located in Japan, Hong Kong, and Australia, Cboe elected to continue contributing to the previously established contribution plans designated for each respective jurisdiction that were in place prior to the acquisition on July 1, 2021. The Company’s contribution amounted to $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021. This expense is included in compensation and benefits in the condensed consolidated statements of income.