EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS	17. 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 $28.0 million at December 31, 2021. Although the value of the plans are recorded in financial investments on the 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 consolidated statements of income. The Company contributed $11.8 million, $10.5 million, and $11.3 million to the defined contribution plans for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. Eligible employees outside of the U.S., which includes employees of Cboe Europe, EuroCCP, MATCHNow, BIDS, and Chi-X Asia Pacific are eligible to participate in various employee-selected stakeholder contribution plans or plans covered by local jurisdictions or by applicable laws. The Company’s contribution amounted to $2.3 million, $1.6 million, and $0.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. This expense is included in compensation and benefits in the consolidated statements of income.

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

17. 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 $28.0 million at December 31, 2021. Although the value of the plans are recorded in financial investments on the 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 consolidated statements of income. The Company contributed $11.8 million, $10.5 million, and $11.3 million to the defined contribution plans for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.

Eligible employees outside of the U.S., which includes employees of Cboe Europe, EuroCCP, MATCHNow, BIDS, and Chi-X Asia Pacific are eligible to participate in various employee-selected stakeholder contribution plans or plans covered by local jurisdictions or by applicable laws. The Company’s contribution amounted to $2.3 million, $1.6 million, and $0.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. This expense is included in compensation and benefits in the consolidated statements of income.