80 FR 12690 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Amendments to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600 to Adopt Generic Listing Standards for Managed Fund Shares
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 46 (March 10, 2015)
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 46 (March 10, 2015)
| Page Range | 12690-12696 | |
| FR Document | 2015-05480 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 10, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 12690-12696] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-05480] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34-74433; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2015-02] Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Amendments to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600 to Adopt Generic Listing Standards for Managed Fund Shares March 4, 2015. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ``Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby given that, on February 17, 2015, NYSE Arca, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or ``NYSE Arca'') 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 self-regulatory organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). \2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a. \3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of the Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The Exchange proposes to amend NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600 to adopt generic listing standards for Managed Fund Shares. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site at www.nyse.com, at the principal office of the Exchange, 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 self-regulatory organization 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 those 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 parts 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 amend NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600 to adopt generic listing standards for Managed Fund Shares. Under the Exchange's current rules, a proposed rule change must be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``SEC'' or ``Commission'') for the listing and trading of each new series of Managed Fund Shares. The Exchange believes that it is appropriate to codify certain rules within Rule 8.600 that would generally eliminate the need for such proposed rule changes, which would create greater efficiency and promote uniform standards in the listing process. Background Rule 8.600 sets forth certain rules related to the listing and trading of Managed Fund Shares.\4\ Under Rule 8.600(c)(1), the term ``Managed Fund Share'' means a security that: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 57619 (April 4, 2008), 73 FR 19544 (April 10, 2008) (SR-NYSEArca-2008-25) (order approving NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600 and listing and trading of shares of certain issues of Managed Fund Shares) (the ``Approval Order''). The Approval Order approved the rules permitting the listing and trading of Managed Fund Shares, trading hours and halts, listing fees applicable to Managed Fund Shares, and the listing and trading of several individual series of Managed Fund Shares. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (a) represents an interest in a registered investment company (``Investment Company'') organized as an open-end management investment company or similar entity, that invests in a portfolio of securities selected by the Investment Company's investment adviser (hereafter ``Adviser'') consistent with the Investment Company's investment objectives and policies; (b) is issued in a specified aggregate minimum number in return for a deposit of a specified portfolio of securities and/or a cash amount with a value equal to the next determined net asset value; and (c) when aggregated in the same specified minimum number, may be redeemed at a holder's request, which holder will be paid a specified portfolio of securities and/or cash with a value equal to the next determined net asset value. Effectively, Managed Fund Shares are securities issued by an actively-managed open-end Investment Company (i.e., an actively-managed exchange-traded fund (``ETF'')). Because Managed Fund Shares are actively-managed, they do not seek to replicate the performance of a specified passive index of securities. Instead, they generally use an active investment strategy to seek to meet their investment objectives. In contrast, an open-end Investment Company that issues Investment Company Units (``Units''), listed and traded on the Exchange pursuant to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3), seeks to provide investment results that generally correspond to the price and yield performance of a specific foreign or domestic stock index, fixed income securities index or combination thereof. All Managed Fund Shares listed and/or traded pursuant to Rule 8.600 (including pursuant to unlisted trading privileges) are subject to the full panoply of Exchange rules and procedures that currently govern the trading of equity securities on the Exchange.\5\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \5\ See Approval Order, supra note 4, at 19547. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- In addition, Rule 8.600(d) currently provides for the criteria that Managed Fund Shares must satisfy for initial and continued listing on the Exchange, including, for example, that a minimum number of Managed Fund Shares are required to be outstanding at the time of commencement of trading on the Exchange. However, the current process for listing and trading new series of Managed Fund Shares on the Exchange requires that the Exchange submit a proposed rule change with the Commission. In this regard, Commentary .01 to Rule 8.600 specifies that the Exchange will file separate proposals under Section 19(b) of the Act (hereafter, a ``proposed rule change'') before listing and trading of [sic] shares of an issue of Managed Fund Shares. Proposed Changes to Rule 8.600 The Exchange would amend Commentary .01 to Rule 8.600 to specify that the Exchange may approve Managed Fund Shares for listing and/or trading (including pursuant to unlisted trading privileges) pursuant to SEC Rule 19b-4(e) under the Act, which pertains to derivative securities products (``SEC Rule 19b-4(e)'').\6\ SEC Rule 19b-4(e)(1) [[Page 12691]] provides that the listing and trading of a new derivative securities product by a self-regulatory organization (``SRO'') is not deemed a proposed rule change, pursuant to paragraph (c)(1) of Rule 19b-4,\7\ if the Commission has approved, pursuant to section 19(b) of the Act, the SRO's trading rules, procedures and listing standards for the product class that would include the new derivative securities product and the SRO has a surveillance program for the product class. This is the current method pursuant to which ``passive'' ETFs are listed under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \6\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(e). As provided under SEC Rule 19b-4(e), the term ``new derivative securities product'' means any type of option, warrant, hybrid securities product or any other security, other than a single equity option or a security futures product, whose value is based, in whole or in part, upon the performance of, or interest in, an underlying instrument. \7\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(c)(1). As provided under SEC Rule 19b- 4(c)(1), a stated policy, practice, or interpretation of the SRO shall be deemed to be a proposed rule change unless it is reasonably and fairly implied by an existing rule of the SRO. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Exchange would also specify within Commentary .01 to Rule 8.600 that components of Managed Fund Shares listed pursuant to SEC Rule 19b- 4(e) must satisfy on an initial and continued basis certain specific criteria, which the Exchange would include within Commentary .01, as described in greater detail below. As proposed, the Exchange would continue to file separate proposed rule changes before the listing and trading of Managed Fund Shares with components that do not satisfy the additional criteria described below or components other than those specified below. For example, if the components of a Managed Fund Share exceeded one of the applicable thresholds, the Exchange would file a separate proposed rule change before listing and trading such Managed Fund Share. Similarly, if the components of a Managed Fund Share included a security or asset that is not specified below, the Exchange would file a separate proposed rule change. The Exchange would also add to the ``generic'' criteria of Rule 8.600(d) by specifying that all Managed Fund Shares must have a stated investment objective, which must be adhered to under normal market conditions.\8\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \8\ The Exchange would also add a new defined term under Rule 8.600(c)(5) to specify that the term ``normal market conditions'' includes, but is not limited to, the absence of trading halts in the applicable financial markets generally; operational issues causing dissemination of inaccurate market information; or force majeure type events such as systems failure, natural or man-made disaster, act of God, armed conflict, act of terrorism, riot or labor disruption or any similar intervening circumstance. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Finally, the Exchange would also amend the continued listing requirement in Rule 8.600(d)(2)(A) by changing the requirement that a Portfolio Indicative Value for Managed Fund Shares be widely disseminated by one or more major market data vendors at least every 15 seconds during the time when the Managed Fund Shares trade on the Exchange to a requirement that a Portfolio Indicative Value be widely disseminated by one or more major market data vendors at least every 15 seconds during the Core Trading Session (as defined in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.34). Proposed Managed Fund Share Portfolio Standards The Exchange is proposing standards that would pertain to Managed Fund Shares to qualify for listing and trading pursuant to SEC Rule 19b-4(e). These standards would be grouped according to security or asset type. The Exchange notes that the standards proposed for a Managed Fund Share portfolio that holds domestic equity securities, Derivative Securities Products and Index-Linked Securities are based in large part on the existing equity security standards applicable to Units in Commentary .01 to Rule 5.2(j)(3). The standards proposed for a Managed Fund Share portfolio that holds fixed income securities are based in large part on the existing fixed income security standards applicable to Units in Commentary .02 to Rule 5.2(j)(3). Many of the standards proposed for other types of holdings in a Managed Fund Share portfolio are based on previous proposed rule changes for specific series of Managed Fund Shares.\9\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \9\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 66321 (February 3, 2012), 77 FR 6850 (February 9, 2012) (SR-NYSEArca-2011-95) (the ``PIMCO Total Return Approval'') and 72666 (July 3, 2014), 79 FR 44224 (July 30, 2014) (SR-NYSEArca-2013-122) (the ``PIMCO Total Return Use of Derivatives Approval''); 69244 (March 27, 2013), 78 FR 19766 (April 2, 2013) (SR-NYSEArca-2013-08) (the ``SPDR Blackstone/ GSO Senior Loan Approval''); 68870 (February 8, 2013), 78 FR 11245 (February 15, 2013) (SR-NYSEArca-2012-139) (the ``First Trust Preferred Securities and Income Approval''); 69591 (May 16, 2013), 78 FR 30372 (May 22, 2013) (SR-NYSEArca-2013-33) (the ``International Bear Approval''); 61697 (March 12, 2010), 75 FR 13616 (March 22, 2010) (SR-NYSEArca-2010-04) (the ``WisdomTree Real Return Approval''); and 67054 (May 24, 2012), 77 FR 32161 (May 31, 2012) (SR-NYSEArca-2012-25) (the ``WisdomTree Brazil Bond Approval''). Certain standards proposed herein for Managed Fund Shares are also based on previous proposed rule changes for specific series of Units for which Commission approval for listing was required due to the Units not satisfying certain standards of Commentary .01 and .02 to Rule 5.2(j)(3). See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 67985 (October 4, 2012), 77 FR 61804 (October 11, 2012) (SR-NYSEArca-2012-92) (the ``iShares 2018 S&P AMT-Free Municipal Series and iShares 2019 S&P AMT-Free Municipal Series Approval''); 63881(February 9, 2011), 76 FR 9065 (February 16, 2011) (SR-NYSEArca-2010-120) (the ``SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal Bond ETF Approval''); 63176 (October 25, 2010), 75 FR 66815 (October 29, 2010) (SR-NYSEArca-2010-94) (the ``iShares Taxable Municipal Bond Fund Approval''); and 69373 (April 15, 2013), 78 FR 23601 (April 19, 2013) (SR-NYSEArca-2012-108) (the ``NYSE Arca U.S. Equity Synthetic Reverse Convertible Index Fund Approval''). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Proposed Commentary .01(a) would describe the standards for a Managed Fund Share portfolio that holds equity securities, including U.S. Component Stocks,\10\ Derivative Securities Products,\11\ and Index-Linked Securities \12\ listed on a national securities exchange, as follows: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \10\ For the purposes of Commentary .01 and this proposal, the term ``U.S. Component Stocks'' would have the same meaning as defined in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3). \11\ For the purposes of Commentary .01 and this proposal, the term ``Derivative Securities Products'' would have the same meaning as defined in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.34(a)(4)(A). \12\ Index-Linked Securities are securities listed under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) Component stocks (excluding Derivative Securities Products and Index-Linked Securities) that in the aggregate account for at least 90% of the equity weight of the portfolio (excluding such Derivative Securities Products and Index-Linked Securities) each must have a minimum market value of at least $75 million; \13\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \13\ This proposed text is identical to the corresponding text of Commentary .01(a)(A)(1) to Rule 5.2(j)(3), except for the omission of the reference to ``index,'' which is not applicable, and the addition of the reference to Index-Linked Securities. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) Component stocks (excluding Derivative Securities Products and Index-Linked Securities) that in the aggregate account for at least 70% of the equity weight of the portfolio (excluding such Derivative Securities Products and Index-Linked Securities) each must have a minimum monthly trading volume of 250,000 shares, or minimum notional volume traded per month of $25,000,000, averaged over the last six months; \14\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \14\ This proposed text is identical to the corresponding text of Commentary .01(a)(A)(2) to Rule 5.2(j)(3), except for the omission of the reference to ``index,'' which is not applicable, and the addition of the reference to Index-Linked Securities. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (3) The most heavily weighted component stock (excluding Derivative Securities Products and Index-Linked Securities) must not exceed 30% of the equity weight of the portfolio, and, to the extent applicable, the five most heavily weighted component stocks (excluding Derivative Securities Products and Index-Linked Securities) must not exceed 65% of the equity weight of the portfolio; \15\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \15\ This proposed text is identical to the corresponding text of Commentary .01(a)(A)(3) to Rule 5.2(j)(3), except for the omission of the reference to ``index,'' which is not applicable, and the addition of the reference to Index-Linked Securities. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 12692]] (4) The portfolio must include a minimum of 13 component stocks; provided, however, that there would be no minimum number of component stocks if (a) one or more series of Derivative Securities Products or Index-Linked Securities constitute, at least in part, components underlying a series of Managed Fund Shares, or (b) one or more series of Derivative Securities Products or Index-Linked Securities account for 100% of the equity weight of the portfolio of a series of Managed Fund Shares; \16\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \16\ This proposed text is identical to the corresponding text of Commentary .01(a)(A)(4) to Rule 5.2(j)(3), except for the omission of the reference to ``index,'' which is not applicable, the addition of the reference to Index-Linked Securities, and the reference to the 100% limit applying to the ``equity portion'' of the portfolio--this last difference included [sic] because these proposed standards in Commentary .01(a) to Rule 8.600 permit the inclusion of non-equity securities, whereas Commentary .01 to Rule 5.2(j)(3) only applies to equity securities. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (5) Equity securities (excluding unsponsored American Depository Receipts (``ADRs'')) in the portfolio must be U.S. Component Stocks listed on a national securities exchange and must be NMS Stocks as defined in Rule 600 of Regulation NMS; \17\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \17\ 17 CFR 240.600. This proposed text is identical to the corresponding text of Commentary .01(a)(A)(5) to Rule 5.2(j)(3), except for the addition of ``equity'' to make clear that the standard applies to ``equity securities'', the exclusion of unsponsored ADRs, and the omission of the reference to ``index,'' which is not applicable. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (6) For Derivative Securities Products and Index-Linked Securities, no more than 25% of the equity weight of the portfolio could include leveraged and/or inverse leveraged Derivative Securities Products or Index-Linked Securities; and (7) ADRs may be sponsored or unsponsored. However no more than 10% of the equity weight of the portfolio shall consist of unsponsored ADRs. Proposed Commentary .01(b) would describe the standards for a Managed Fund Share portfolio that holds fixed income securities, which are debt securities \18\ that are notes, bonds, debentures or evidence of indebtedness that include, but are not limited to, U.S. Department of Treasury securities (``Treasury Securities''), government-sponsored entity securities (``GSE Securities''), municipal securities, trust preferred securities, supranational debt and debt of a foreign country or a subdivision thereof, investment grade and high yield corporate debt, bank loans, mortgage and asset backed securities, and commercial paper. The applicable portfolio holdings standards would be as follows: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \18\ Debt securities include a variety of fixed income obligations, including, but not limited to, corporate debt securities, government securities, municipal securities, convertible securities, and mortgage-backed securities. Debt securities include investment-grade securities, non-investment-grade securities, and unrated securities. Debt securities also include variable and floating rate securities. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) Components that in the aggregate account for at least 75% of the fixed income weight of the portfolio shall meet the following: (i) each shall have a minimum original principal amount outstanding of $100 million or more; \19\ or --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \19\ This text of proposed Commentary .01(b)(1)(i) to Rule 8.600 is based on the corresponding text of Commentary .02(a)(2) to Rule 5.2(j)(3) . --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (iii) [sic] if a municipal bond component, such component shall be issued in an offering with an aggregate size, as set forth in the official statement of the offering, of $100 million or more; \20\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \20\ This proposed text is similar to the amendment to Commentary .02(a)(2) to Rule 5.2(j)(3) as proposed in SR-NYSEArca- 2015-01. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 74175 (January 29, 2015), 80 FR 6150 (February 4, 2015) (notice of filing of proposed rule change amending NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3), Commentary .02 relating to listing of Investment Company Units based on municipal bond indexes). Proposed rule changes for series of Units previously listed and traded on the Exchange pursuant to Rule 5.2(j)(3) similarly included the ability for such Units' holdings to include municipal bond components with individual principal amount outstanding of less than $100 million. See, e.g., iShares 2018 S&P AMT-Free Municipal Series and iShares 2019 S&P AMT-Free Municipal Series Approval, supra note 9, at 61807; SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal Bond ETF Approval, supra note 9, at 9066; and iShares Taxable Municipal Bond Fund Approval, supra note 9, at 66815-6. The proposed rule takes into account features of municipal bonds that differ from those of most other Fixed Income Securities. Principally, municipal bonds are issued with either ``serial'' or ``term'' maturities or some combination thereof. The official statement issued in connection with a municipal bond offering describes the terms of the bonds and the issuer and/or obligor on the related bonds, which is comprised of a number of specific maturity sizes. The entire issue (sometimes referred to as the ``deal size'') receives the same credit rating and the various maturities are all subject to the provisions set forth in the official statement. The entire issue is based on a specified project or group of related projects and funded by the same revenue or other funding sources identified in the official statement. The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is reasonable and appropriate in that pricing and liquidity of such maturity sizes is predominately based on the common characteristics of the aggregate issue of which the municipal bond is part. Thus, consideration of the aggregate issue rather than the individual bond component does not raise concerns regarding pricing or liquidity of the index components or of the Units overlying the applicable municipal bond index. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) No component fixed-income security (excluding Treasury Securities and GSE Securities) could represent more than 30% of the fixed income weight of the portfolio, and the five most heavily weighted component fixed income securities in the portfolio must not in the aggregate account for more than 65% of the fixed income weight of the portfolio; \21\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \21\ This proposed text is identical to the corresponding text of Commentary .02(a)(4) to Rule 5.2(j)(3), except for the omission of the reference to ``index,'' which is not applicable. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (3) An underlying portfolio (excluding exempted securities) must include a minimum of 13 non-affiliated issuers; \22\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \22\ This proposed text is identical to the corresponding text of Commentary .02(a)(5) to Rule 5.2(j)(3), except for the omission of the reference to ``index,'' which is not applicable, and the exclusion of the text ``consisting entirely of.'' --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (4) Component securities that in [sic] aggregate account for at least 90% of the fixed income weight of the portfolio must be either (a) from issuers that are required to file reports pursuant to Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Act; (b) from issuers that have a worldwide market value of its outstanding common equity held by non-affiliates of $700 million or more; (c) from issuers that have outstanding securities that are notes, bonds debentures, or evidence of indebtedness having a total remaining principal amount of at least $1 billion; (d) exempted securities as defined in Section 3(a)(12) of the Act; or (e) from issuers that are a government of a foreign country or a political subdivision of a foreign country; and (5) Non-agency mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities components of a portfolio shall not account for more than 20% of the weight of the fixed income portion of the portfolio. Proposed Commentary .01(c) would describe the standards for a Managed Fund Share portfolio that holds cash and cash equivalents.\23\ Specifically, the portfolio may hold short-term instruments with maturities of less than 3 months. There would be no limitation to the percentage of the portfolio invested in such holdings. Short-term instruments would include, without limitation, the following: \24\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \23\ Proposed rule changes for previously-listed series of Managed Fund Shares have similarly included the ability for such Managed Fund Share holdings to include cash and cash equivalents. See, e.g., SPDR Blackstone/GSO Senior Loan Approval, supra note 9, at 19768-69 and First Trust Preferred Securities and Income Approval, supra note 9, at 76150. \24\ Proposed rule changes for previously-listed series of Managed Fund Shares have similarly specified short-term instruments with respect to their inclusion in Managed Fund Share holdings. See, e.g., First Trust Preferred Securities and Income Approval, supra note 9, at 76150-51. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) U.S. Government securities, including bills, notes and bonds differing as to maturity and rates of interest, which are either issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or by [[Page 12693]] U.S. Government agencies or instrumentalities; (2) certificates of deposit issued against funds deposited in a bank or savings and loan association; (3) bankers' acceptances, which are short-term credit instruments used to finance commercial transactions; (4) repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements; (5) bank time deposits, which are monies kept on deposit with banks or savings and loan associations for a stated period of time at a fixed rate of interest; and (6) commercial paper, which are short-term unsecured promissory notes. Proposed Commentary .01(d) would describe the standards for a Managed Fund Share portfolio that holds listed and centrally cleared derivatives, including futures, options and cleared swaps on commodities, currencies and financial instruments (e.g., stocks, fixed income, interest rates, and volatility) or a basket or index of any of the foregoing.\25\ There would be no limitation to the percentage of the portfolio invested in such holdings; provided, however, that, in the aggregate, at least 90% of the weight of such holdings invested in futures and exchange-traded options shall consist of futures and options whose principal market is a member of the Intermarket Surveillance Group (``ISG'') or is a market with which the Exchange has a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement (``CSSA'').\26\ Additionally, proposed Commentary .01(d)(2) requires certain information to be included on the Web site of each series of Managed Fund Shares holding any listed and centrally cleared derivative.\27\ The required information includes the following, to the extent relevant: ticker symbol, CUSIP or other identifier, a description of the holding, identity of the asset upon which the derivative is based, the strike price for any options, the quantity of each such derivative held as measured by select metrics, maturity date, coupon rate, effective date, market value and percentage weight of the holding in the portfolio. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \25\ Proposed rule changes for previously-listed series of Managed Fund Shares have similarly included the ability for such Managed Fund Share holdings to include listed derivatives. See, e.g., WisdomTree Real Return Approval, supra note 9, at 13617 and WisdomTree Brazil Bond Approval, supra note 9, at 32163. \26\ ISG is comprised of an international group of exchanges, market centers, and market regulators that perform front-line market surveillance in their respective jurisdictions. See https://www.isgportal.org/home.html. \27\ Proposed rule changes for previously-listed series of Managed Fund Shares have similarly included disclosure requirements with respect to each portfolio holding, as applicable to the type of holding. See, e.g.. PIMCO Total Return Use of Derivatives Approval, supra note 9, at 44227. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Proposed Commentary .01(e) would describe the standards for a Managed Fund Share portfolio that holds over the counter (``OTC'') derivatives, including forwards, options and swaps on commodities, currencies and financial instruments (e.g., stocks, fixed income, interest rates, and volatility) or a basket or index of any of the foregoing.\28\ There would be no limitation to the percentage of the portfolio invested in such holdings. Additionally, proposed Commentary .01(e)(2) requires certain information to be included on the Web site of each series of Managed Fund Shares holding any OTC derivative.\29\ The required information includes the following, to the extent relevant: ticker symbol, CUSIP or other identifier, a description of the holding, identity of the asset upon which the derivative is based, the strike price for any options, the quantity of each such derivative held as measured by select metrics, maturity date, coupon rate, effective date, market value and percentage weight of the holding in the portfolio. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \28\ A proposed rule change for series of Units previously listed and traded on the Exchange pursuant to Rule 5.2(j)(3) similarly included the ability for such Units' holdings to include OTC derivatives, specifically OTC down-and-in put options, which are not NMS Stocks as defined in Rule 600 of Regulation NMS and therefore do not satisfy the requirements of Commentary .01(a)(A) to Rule 5.2(j)(3). See, e.g., NYSE Arca U.S. Equity Synthetic Reverse Convertible Index Fund Approval, supra note 9, at 23602. \29\ Proposed rule changes for previously-listed series of Managed Fund Shares have similarly included disclosure requirements with respect to each portfolio holding, as applicable to the type of holding. See, e.g.. PIMCO Total Return Use of Derivatives Approval, supra note 9, at 44227. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Proposed Commentary .01(f) would describe the standards for a Managed Fund Share portfolio that holds illiquid assets.\30\ The portfolio could hold up to an aggregate amount of 15% of the weight of its portfolio (calculated at the time of investment) in assets deemed illiquid by the Adviser.\31\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \30\ Proposed rule changes for previously-listed series of Managed Fund Shares have similarly included the ability for such Managed Fund Shares to include illiquid assets. See, e.g., International Bear Approval, supra note 9, at 30375-76. Illiquid assets include securities subject to contractual or other restrictions on resale and other instruments that lack readily available markets as determined in accordance with Commission staff guidance. The Commission has stated that long-standing Commission guidelines have required open-end funds to hold no more than 15% of their net assets in illiquid securities and other illiquid assets. See Investment Company Act Release No. 28193 (March 11, 2008), 73 FR 14618 (March 18, 2008), footnote 34. See also Investment Company Act Release No. 5847 (October 21, 1969), 35 FR 19989 (December 31, 1970) (Statement Regarding ``Restricted Securities''); Investment Company Act Release No. 18612 (March 12, 1992), 57 FR 9828 (March 20, 1992) (Revisions of Guidelines to Form N-1A). A fund's portfolio security is illiquid if it cannot be disposed of in the ordinary course of business within seven days at approximately the value ascribed to it by the fund. See Investment Company Act Release No. 14983 (March 12, 1986), 51 FR 9773 (March 21, 1986) (adopting amendments to Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act); and Investment Company Act Release No. 17452 (April 23, 1990), 55 FR 17933 (April 30, 1990) (adopting Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933). See also First Trust Preferred Securities and Income Approval, supra note 9, at 76151, n. 16. The Exchange understands that a number of factors are currently considered by investment companies in reaching liquidity decisions. Examples of factors that would be reasonable for a board of directors to take into account with respect to a Rule 144A security (but which would not necessarily be determinative) would include, among others: (1) The frequency of trades and quotes for the security; (2) the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential purchasers; (3) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; and (4) the nature of the security and the nature of the marketplace trades (e.g., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers, and the mechanics of transfer). \31\ If a Managed Fund Share portfolio holds Rule 144A securities, such securities would be subject to this 15% threshold if deemed to be illiquid by the Adviser. However, if deemed to be liquid by the Adviser, such Rule 144A securities would be subject to the other applicable standards. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The changes proposed herein would not have an impact on the existing rules applicable to the listing and trading of Managed Fund Shares, which address, for example, net asset value, creation and redemption of shares, availability of information, trading halts, surveillance and information bulletins. The Exchange believes that the proposed standards would continue to ensure transparency surrounding the listing process for Managed Fund Shares. Additionally, the Exchange believes that the proposed portfolio standards for listing and trading Managed Fund Shares, many of which track existing Exchange rules relating to Units, are reasonably designed to promote a fair and orderly market for such Managed Fund Shares.\32\ These proposed standards would also work in conjunction with the existing initial and continued listing criteria related to surveillance procedures and trading guidelines. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \32\ See Approval Order, supra note 4 at 19548. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- In support of this proposal, the Exchange represents that: \33\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \33\ The Exchange made similar representations in the Approval Order. See id. at 19549. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) The Managed Fund Shares will continue to conform to the initial and continued listing criteria under Rule 8.600; (2) the Exchange's surveillance procedures are adequate to continue to properly monitor the trading of the Managed Fund Shares in all trading sessions and to deter and detect violations of Exchange rules. Specifically, the Exchange intends to [[Page 12694]] utilize its existing surveillance procedures applicable to derivative products, which will include Managed Fund Shares, to monitor trading in the Managed Fund Shares; (3) prior to the commencement of trading of a particular series of Managed Fund Shares, the Exchange will inform its Equity Trading Permit (``ETP'') Holders in a Bulletin of the special characteristics and risks associated with trading the Managed Fund Shares, including procedures for purchases and redemptions of Managed Fund Shares, suitability requirements under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 9.2(a), the risks involved in trading the Managed Fund Shares during the Opening and Late Trading Sessions when an updated Portfolio Indicative Value will not be calculated or publicly disseminated, information regarding the Portfolio Indicative Value, prospectus delivery requirements, and other trading information. In addition, the Bulletin will disclose that the Managed Fund Shares are subject to various fees and expenses, as described in the Registration Statement, and will discuss any exemptive, no-action, and interpretive relief granted by the Commission from any rules under the Act. Finally, the Bulletin will disclose that the net asset value for the Managed Fund Shares will be calculated after 4 p.m. ET each trading day; and (4) the issuer of a series of Managed Fund Shares will be required to comply with Rule 10A-3 under the Act for the initial and continued listing of Managed Fund Shares, as provided under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.3. The Exchange notes that the proposed change is not otherwise intended to address any other issues and that the Exchange is not aware of any problems that ETP Holders or issuers would have in complying with the proposed change. 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act,\34\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\35\ in particular, because it is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments to, and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \34\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b). \35\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The proposed rule change is designed to perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest because it would facilitate the listing and trading of additional Managed Fund Shares, which would enhance competition among market participants, to the benefit of investors and the marketplace. Specifically, after more than six years under the current process, whereby the Exchange is required to file a proposed rule change with the Commission for the listing and trading of each new series of Managed Fund Shares, the Exchange believes that it is appropriate to codify certain rules within Rule 8.600 that would generally eliminate the need for separate proposed rule changes. The Exchange believes that this would facilitate the listing and trading of additional types of Managed Fund Shares that have investment portfolios that are similar to investment portfolios for Units, which have been approved for listing and trading, thereby creating greater efficiencies in the listing process for the Exchange and the Commission. In this regard, the Exchange notes that the standards proposed for Managed Fund Share portfolios that include domestic equity securities, Derivative Securities Products, and Index-Linked Securities are based in large part on the existing equity security standards applicable to Units in Commentary .01 to Rule 5.2(j)(3) and that the standards proposed for Managed Fund Share portfolios that include fixed income securities are based in large part on the existing fixed income standards applicable to Units in Commentary .02 to Rule 5.2(j)(3). Additionally, many of the standards proposed for other types of holdings of series of Managed Fund Shares are based on previous proposed rule changes for specific series of Managed Fund Shares.\36\ With respect to the proposed exclusion of Derivatives Securities Products and Index-Linked Securities from the requirements of proposed Commentary .01(a) of Rule 8.600, the Exchange believes it is appropriate to exclude Index-Linked Securities as well as Derivative Securities Products from certain component stock eligibility criteria for Managed Fund Shares in so far as Derivative Securities Products and Index-Linked Securities are themselves subject to specific quantitative listing and continued listing requirements of a national securities exchange on which such securities are listed. Derivative Securities Products and Index-Linked Securities that are components of a fund's portfolio would have been listed and traded on a national securities exchange pursuant to a proposed rule change approved by the Commission pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act \37\ or submitted by a national securities exchange pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \38\ or would have been listed by a national securities exchange pursuant to the requirements of Rule 19b-4(e) under the Act.\39\ The Exchange also notes that Derivative Securities Products and Index-Linked Securities are derivatively priced, and, therefore, the Exchange believes that it would not be necessary to apply the proposed generic quantitative criteria (e.g., market capitalization, trading volume, or portfolio component weighting) applicable to equity securities other than Derivative Securities Products or Index-Linked Securities (e.g., common stocks) to such products.\40\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \36\ See supra, note 9. \37\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2). \38\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A). \39\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(e). \40\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 57561 (March 26, 2008), 73 FR 17390 (April 1, 2008) (SR-NYSEArca-2008-29) (notice of filing of proposed rule change to amend eligibility criteria for components of an index underlying Investment Company Units); 57751 (May 1, 2008), 73 FR 25818 (May 7, 2008) (SR-NYSEArca-2008-29) (order approving proposed rule change to amend eligibility criteria for components of an index underlying Investment Company Units). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- With respect to the proposed amendment to the continued listing requirement in Rule 8.600(d)(2)(A) to require dissemination of a Portfolio Indicative Value at least every 15 seconds during the Core Trading Session (as defined in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.34), such requirement conforms to the requirement applicable to the dissemination of the Intraday Indicative Value for Investment Company Units in Commentary .01(c) and Commentary .02(c) to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3). In addition, such dissemination is consistent with representations made in proposed rule changes for issues of Managed Fund Shares previously approved by the Commission.\41\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \41\ See, e.g., Approval Order, supra note 4; International Bear Approval, supra note 9. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The proposed rule change is also designed to protect investors and the public interest because Managed Fund Shares listed and traded pursuant to Rule 8.600, including pursuant to the proposed new portfolio standards, would continue to be subject to the full panoply of Exchange rules and procedures that currently govern the trading of equity securities on the Exchange.\42\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \42\ See Approval Order, supra note 4, at 19547. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices because the Managed [[Page 12695]] Fund Shares will be listed and traded on the Exchange pursuant to the initial and continued listing criteria in Rule 8.600. The Exchange has in place surveillance procedures that are adequate to properly monitor trading in the Managed Fund Shares in all trading sessions and to deter and detect violations of Exchange rules and applicable federal securities laws. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (``FINRA''), on behalf of the Exchange, will communicate as needed regarding trading in Managed Fund Shares with other markets that are members of the ISG, including all U.S. securities exchanges and futures exchanges on which the components are traded. In addition, the Exchange may obtain information regarding trading in Managed Fund Shares from other markets that are members of the ISG, including all U.S. securities exchanges and futures exchanges on which the components are traded, or with which the Exchange has in place a CSSA. The Exchange also believes that the proposed rule change would fulfill the intended objective of Rule 19b-4(e) under the Act by allowing Managed Fund Shares that satisfy the proposed listing standards to be listed and traded without separate Commission approval. However, as proposed, the Exchange would continue to file separate proposed rule changes before the listing and trading of Managed Fund Shares that do not satisfy the additional criteria described above. For these reasons, the Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with the Act. B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition In accordance with Section 6(b)(8) of the Act,\43\ 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. Instead, the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change would facilitate the listing and trading of additional types of Managed Fund Shares and result in a significantly more efficient process surrounding the listing and trading of Managed Fund Shares, which will enhance competition among market participants, to the benefit of investors and the marketplace. The Exchange believes that this would reduce the time frame for bringing Managed Fund Shares to market, thereby reducing the burdens on issuers and other market participants and promoting competition. In turn, the Exchange believes that the proposed change would make the process for listing Managed Fund Shares more competitive by applying uniform listing standards with respect to Managed Fund Shares portfolio holdings. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \43\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants or Others No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the proposed rule change. III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register or within such longer period up to 90 days (i) as the Commission may designate if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission will: (A) By order approve or disapprove the proposed rule change, or (B) institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be 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. In particular, the Commission seeks comments on the following questions: 1. According to the Exchange, many of the requirements of the proposed rule applicable to equity and fixed income securities holdings are identical to the requirements for equity and fixed income index- based ETFs, respectively.\44\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \44\ See proposed Commentaries .01(a) and (b) to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- a. Do commenters believe that these requirements for index-based ETFs should equally apply to the listing and trading of Managed Fund Shares? If so, why? If not, why not? b. Do commenters believe that the requirements for index-based ETFs that the Exchange proposes to apply to Managed Fund Shares are adequate to deter manipulation irrespective of similarities between the two types of products? If so, why? If not, why not? 2. In addition, as noted by the Exchange, some of the requirements of the proposed rule are identical to certain, specifically tailored requirements referenced in other previously approved proposed rule changes pertaining to the listing and trading of specific series of Managed Fund Shares. What are commenters' views on whether these specifically tailored requirements for certain series of Managed Fund Shares ought to equally apply to all Managed Fund Shares by virtue of being incorporated into these proposed generic listing standards? 3. Do commenters believe that the proposed listing requirements are adequate to deter manipulation and other trading abuses of the price of generically listed Managed Fund Shares? If so, why? If not, why not? 4. Under the proposed rule, there would be no limitation to the percentage of the portfolio invested in short-term cash equivalents or derivative instruments. In addition, under the proposed rule, there would be no limitation as to the types of short-term cash equivalents or derivative instruments that could be held in the portfolio. To what extent, if at all, should the proposed generic listing standards restrict the holding of these portfolio components? If so, how and why? If not, why not? 5. Do commenters have views on whether the proposed generic listing requirements for Managed Fund Shares have adequately accounted for all types of assets that a portfolio can hold? Should the proposed rules include additional or fewer restrictions? Are there other measures that the Commission and the Exchange should consider with respect to a portfolio of Managed Fund Shares that are generically listed? Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: Electronic CommentsUse 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-NYSEArca-2015-02 on the subject line. Paper Comments Send paper comments in triplicate to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEArca-2015-02. 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 Web site (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent [[Page 12696]] 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 Web site 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; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEArca-2015-02 and should be submitted on or before March 31, 2015. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.\45\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \45\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brent J. Fields, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2015-05480 Filed 3-9-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
![12690 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Notices
investors require a suspension of trading statements concerning the purpose of, holder will be paid a specified portfolio
in the securities of the above-listed and basis for, the proposed rule change of securities and/or cash with a value
companies. and discussed any comments it received equal to the next determined net asset
Therefore, it is ordered, pursuant to on the proposed rule change. The text value.
Section 12(k) of the Securities Exchange of those statements may be examined at Effectively, Managed Fund Shares are
Act of 1934, that trading in the the places specified in Item IV below. securities issued by an actively-
securities of the above-listed companies The Exchange has prepared summaries, managed open-end Investment
is suspended for the period from 9:30 set forth in sections A, B, and C below, Company (i.e., an actively-managed
a.m. EST on March 5, 2015, through of the most significant parts of such exchange-traded fund (‘‘ETF’’)). Because
11:59 p.m. EDT on March 18, 2015. statements. Managed Fund Shares are actively-
By the Commission. managed, they do not seek to replicate
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s the performance of a specified passive
Jill M. Peterson, Statement of the Purpose of, and
Assistant Secretary index of securities. Instead, they
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule generally use an active investment
[FR Doc. 2015–05515 Filed 3–6–15; 11:15 am] Change strategy to seek to meet their investment
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
1. Purpose objectives. In contrast, an open-end
Investment Company that issues
The Exchange proposes to amend
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE Investment Company Units (‘‘Units’’),
NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600 to adopt
COMMISSION listed and traded on the Exchange
generic listing standards for Managed
pursuant to NYSE Arca Equities Rule
[Release No. 34–74433; File No. SR– Fund Shares. Under the Exchange’s
5.2(j)(3), seeks to provide investment
NYSEArca–2015–02] current rules, a proposed rule change
results that generally correspond to the
must be filed with the Securities and
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE price and yield performance of a
Exchange Commission (‘‘SEC’’ or
Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed specific foreign or domestic stock index,
‘‘Commission’’) for the listing and
Rule Change Relating to Amendments fixed income securities index or
trading of each new series of Managed
to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600 to combination thereof.
Fund Shares. The Exchange believes All Managed Fund Shares listed and/
Adopt Generic Listing Standards for that it is appropriate to codify certain or traded pursuant to Rule 8.600
Managed Fund Shares rules within Rule 8.600 that would (including pursuant to unlisted trading
generally eliminate the need for such privileges) are subject to the full
March 4, 2015.
proposed rule changes, which would panoply of Exchange rules and
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the
create greater efficiency and promote procedures that currently govern the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
uniform standards in the listing process. trading of equity securities on the
‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3
notice is hereby given that, on February Background Exchange.5
17, 2015, NYSE Arca, Inc. (the In addition, Rule 8.600(d) currently
Rule 8.600 sets forth certain rules
‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘NYSE Arca’’) filed with provides for the criteria that Managed
related to the listing and trading of
the Securities and Exchange Fund Shares must satisfy for initial and
Managed Fund Shares.4 Under Rule
Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’) the continued listing on the Exchange,
8.600(c)(1), the term ‘‘Managed Fund
proposed rule change as described in including, for example, that a minimum
Share’’ means a security that:
Items I and II below, which Items have number of Managed Fund Shares are
(a) represents an interest in a
been prepared by the self-regulatory required to be outstanding at the time of
registered investment company
organization. The Commission is commencement of trading on the
(‘‘Investment Company’’) organized as
publishing this notice to solicit Exchange. However, the current process
an open-end management investment
comments on the proposed rule change for listing and trading new series of
company or similar entity, that invests
from interested persons. Managed Fund Shares on the Exchange
in a portfolio of securities selected by
requires that the Exchange submit a
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s the Investment Company’s investment
proposed rule change with the
Statement of the Terms of the Substance adviser (hereafter ‘‘Adviser’’) consistent
Commission. In this regard,
of the Proposed Rule Change with the Investment Company’s
Commentary .01 to Rule 8.600 specifies
The Exchange proposes to amend investment objectives and policies;
that the Exchange will file separate
NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600 to adopt (b) is issued in a specified aggregate
proposals under Section 19(b) of the Act
generic listing standards for Managed minimum number in return for a
(hereafter, a ‘‘proposed rule change’’)
Fund Shares. The text of the proposed deposit of a specified portfolio of
before listing and trading of [sic] shares
rule change is available on the securities and/or a cash amount with a
of an issue of Managed Fund Shares.
Exchange’s Web site at www.nyse.com, value equal to the next determined net
at the principal office of the Exchange, asset value; and Proposed Changes to Rule 8.600
and at the Commission’s Public (c) when aggregated in the same The Exchange would amend
Reference Room. specified minimum number, may be Commentary .01 to Rule 8.600 to specify
redeemed at a holder’s request, which that the Exchange may approve
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Managed Fund Shares for listing and/or
Statement of the Purpose of, and 4 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 57619
trading (including pursuant to unlisted
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule (April 4, 2008), 73 FR 19544 (April 10, 2008) (SR–
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
NYSEArca–2008–25) (order approving NYSE Arca trading privileges) pursuant to SEC Rule
Change
Equities Rule 8.600 and listing and trading of shares 19b–4(e) under the Act, which pertains
In its filing with the Commission, the of certain issues of Managed Fund Shares) (the to derivative securities products (‘‘SEC
self-regulatory organization included ‘‘Approval Order’’). The Approval Order approved
the rules permitting the listing and trading of
Rule 19b–4(e)’’).6 SEC Rule 19b–4(e)(1)
Managed Fund Shares, trading hours and halts,
1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 5 See
listing fees applicable to Managed Fund Shares, and Approval Order, supra note 4, at 19547.
2 15 U.S.C. 78a. the listing and trading of several individual series 6 17CFR 240.19b–4(e). As provided under SEC
3 17 CFR 240.19b–4. of Managed Fund Shares. Rule 19b–4(e), the term ‘‘new derivative securities
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:53 Mar 09, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00074 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\10MRN1.SGM 10MRN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_12736/page/1.svg)
![12692 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Notices
(4) The portfolio must include a preferred securities, supranational debt income securities in the portfolio must
minimum of 13 component stocks; and debt of a foreign country or a not in the aggregate account for more
provided, however, that there would be subdivision thereof, investment grade than 65% of the fixed income weight of
no minimum number of component and high yield corporate debt, bank the portfolio; 21
stocks if (a) one or more series of loans, mortgage and asset backed (3) An underlying portfolio (excluding
Derivative Securities Products or Index- securities, and commercial paper. The exempted securities) must include a
Linked Securities constitute, at least in applicable portfolio holdings standards minimum of 13 non-affiliated issuers; 22
part, components underlying a series of would be as follows: (4) Component securities that in [sic]
Managed Fund Shares, or (b) one or (1) Components that in the aggregate aggregate account for at least 90% of the
more series of Derivative Securities account for at least 75% of the fixed fixed income weight of the portfolio
Products or Index-Linked Securities income weight of the portfolio shall must be either (a) from issuers that are
account for 100% of the equity weight meet the following: required to file reports pursuant to
of the portfolio of a series of Managed (i) each shall have a minimum Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Act; (b)
Fund Shares; 16 original principal amount outstanding from issuers that have a worldwide
(5) Equity securities (excluding of $100 million or more; 19 or market value of its outstanding common
unsponsored American Depository (iii) [sic] if a municipal bond equity held by non-affiliates of $700
Receipts (‘‘ADRs’’)) in the portfolio must component, such component shall be million or more; (c) from issuers that
be U.S. Component Stocks listed on a issued in an offering with an aggregate have outstanding securities that are
national securities exchange and must size, as set forth in the official statement notes, bonds debentures, or evidence of
be NMS Stocks as defined in Rule 600 of the offering, of $100 million or indebtedness having a total remaining
of Regulation NMS; 17 more; 20 principal amount of at least $1 billion;
(6) For Derivative Securities Products (2) No component fixed-income (d) exempted securities as defined in
and Index-Linked Securities, no more security (excluding Treasury Securities Section 3(a)(12) of the Act; or (e) from
than 25% of the equity weight of the and GSE Securities) could represent issuers that are a government of a
portfolio could include leveraged and/or more than 30% of the fixed income foreign country or a political
inverse leveraged Derivative Securities weight of the portfolio, and the five subdivision of a foreign country; and
Products or Index-Linked Securities; most heavily weighted component fixed (5) Non-agency mortgage-related and
and other asset-backed securities
(7) ADRs may be sponsored or 19 This text of proposed Commentary .01(b)(1)(i)
components of a portfolio shall not
unsponsored. However no more than to Rule 8.600 is based on the corresponding text of
account for more than 20% of the
10% of the equity weight of the Commentary .02(a)(2) to Rule 5.2(j)(3) .
20 This proposed text is similar to the amendment weight of the fixed income portion of
portfolio shall consist of unsponsored
to Commentary .02(a)(2) to Rule 5.2(j)(3) as the portfolio.
ADRs. proposed in SR–NYSEArca–2015–01. See Securities
Proposed Commentary .01(b) would Proposed Commentary .01(c) would
Exchange Act Release No. 74175 (January 29, 2015),
describe the standards for a Managed 80 FR 6150 (February 4, 2015) (notice of filing of
describe the standards for a Managed
Fund Share portfolio that holds fixed proposed rule change amending NYSE Arca Fund Share portfolio that holds cash
income securities, which are debt Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3), Commentary .02 relating to and cash equivalents.23 Specifically, the
listing of Investment Company Units based on portfolio may hold short-term
securities 18 that are notes, bonds, municipal bond indexes). Proposed rule changes for
debentures or evidence of indebtedness series of Units previously listed and traded on the
instruments with maturities of less than
that include, but are not limited to, U.S. Exchange pursuant to Rule 5.2(j)(3) similarly 3 months. There would be no limitation
Department of Treasury securities included the ability for such Units’ holdings to to the percentage of the portfolio
include municipal bond components with invested in such holdings. Short-term
(‘‘Treasury Securities’’), government- individual principal amount outstanding of less
sponsored entity securities (‘‘GSE than $100 million. See, e.g., iShares 2018 S&P
instruments would include, without
Securities’’), municipal securities, trust AMT-Free Municipal Series and iShares 2019 S&P limitation, the following: 24
AMT-Free Municipal Series Approval, supra note 9, (1) U.S. Government securities,
at 61807; SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal including bills, notes and bonds
the addition of the reference to Index-Linked Bond ETF Approval, supra note 9, at 9066; and
Securities. iShares Taxable Municipal Bond Fund Approval,
differing as to maturity and rates of
16 This proposed text is identical to the
supra note 9, at 66815–6. The proposed rule takes interest, which are either issued or
corresponding text of Commentary .01(a)(A)(4) to into account features of municipal bonds that differ guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or by
Rule 5.2(j)(3), except for the omission of the from those of most other Fixed Income Securities.
reference to ‘‘index,’’ which is not applicable, the Principally, municipal bonds are issued with either 21 This proposed text is identical to the
addition of the reference to Index-Linked Securities, ‘‘serial’’ or ‘‘term’’ maturities or some combination
and the reference to the 100% limit applying to the thereof. The official statement issued in connection corresponding text of Commentary .02(a)(4) to Rule
‘‘equity portion’’ of the portfolio—this last with a municipal bond offering describes the terms 5.2(j)(3), except for the omission of the reference to
difference included [sic] because these proposed of the bonds and the issuer and/or obligor on the ‘‘index,’’ which is not applicable.
standards in Commentary .01(a) to Rule 8.600 related bonds, which is comprised of a number of
22 This proposed text is identical to the
permit the inclusion of non-equity securities, specific maturity sizes. The entire issue (sometimes corresponding text of Commentary .02(a)(5) to Rule
whereas Commentary .01 to Rule 5.2(j)(3) only referred to as the ‘‘deal size’’) receives the same 5.2(j)(3), except for the omission of the reference to
applies to equity securities. credit rating and the various maturities are all ‘‘index,’’ which is not applicable, and the exclusion
17 17 CFR 240.600. This proposed text is identical
subject to the provisions set forth in the official of the text ‘‘consisting entirely of.’’
to the corresponding text of Commentary statement. The entire issue is based on a specified 23 Proposed rule changes for previously-listed
.01(a)(A)(5) to Rule 5.2(j)(3), except for the addition project or group of related projects and funded by series of Managed Fund Shares have similarly
of ‘‘equity’’ to make clear that the standard applies the same revenue or other funding sources included the ability for such Managed Fund Share
to ‘‘equity securities’’, the exclusion of unsponsored identified in the official statement. The Exchange holdings to include cash and cash equivalents. See,
ADRs, and the omission of the reference to ‘‘index,’’ believes that the proposed rule change is reasonable e.g., SPDR Blackstone/GSO Senior Loan Approval,
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
which is not applicable. and appropriate in that pricing and liquidity of supra note 9, at 19768–69 and First Trust Preferred
18 Debt securities include a variety of fixed such maturity sizes is predominately based on the Securities and Income Approval, supra note 9, at
income obligations, including, but not limited to, common characteristics of the aggregate issue of 76150.
corporate debt securities, government securities, which the municipal bond is part. Thus, 24 Proposed rule changes for previously-listed
municipal securities, convertible securities, and consideration of the aggregate issue rather than the series of Managed Fund Shares have similarly
mortgage-backed securities. Debt securities include individual bond component does not raise concerns specified short-term instruments with respect to
investment-grade securities, non-investment-grade regarding pricing or liquidity of the index their inclusion in Managed Fund Share holdings.
securities, and unrated securities. Debt securities components or of the Units overlying the applicable See, e.g., First Trust Preferred Securities and
also include variable and floating rate securities. municipal bond index. Income Approval, supra note 9, at 76150–51.
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:53 Mar 09, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00076 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\10MRN1.SGM 10MRN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_12736/page/3.svg)
![12696 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Notices
amendments, all written statements Information and Regulatory Affairs, comply with the requirements of the
with respect to the proposed rule Office of Management and Budget Privacy Act, as amended.
change that are filed with the (OMB). The matching program will be
Kirsten J. Moncada,
Commission, and all written effective as indicated below.
communications relating to the Executive Director, Office of Privacy and
ADDRESSES: Interested parties may Disclosure, Office of the General Counsel.
proposed rule change between the comment on this notice by either
Commission and any person, other than telefaxing to (410) 966–0869 or writing Notice of Computer Matching Program,
those that may be withheld from the to the Executive Director, Office of SSA With the Department of Veterans
public in accordance with the Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be General Counsel, Social Security Administration (VBA)
available for Web site viewing and Administration, 617 Altmeyer Building, A. Participating Agencies
printing in the Commission’s Public 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD
Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., 21235–6401. All comments received SSA and VA/VBA
Washington, DC 20549, on official will be available for public inspection at B. Purpose of the Matching Program
business days between the hours of this address.
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The The purpose of this matching program
filing also will be available for Executive Director, Office of Privacy is to provide us with information
inspection and copying at the principal and Disclosure, Office of the General necessary to: (1) Identify certain
office of the Exchange. All comments Counsel, as shown above. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
received will be posted without change; and Special Veterans Benefit (SVB)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
the Commission does not edit personal recipients under Title XVI and Title VIII
identifying information from A. General of the Social Security Act (Act),
submissions. You should submit only The Computer Matching and Privacy respectively, who receive VA-
information that you wish to make Protection Act of 1988 (Public Law administered benefits; (2) determine the
available publicly. All submissions (Pub. L.) 100–503), amended the Privacy eligibility or amount of payment for SSI
should refer to File Number SR– Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) by describing the and SVB recipients; and (3) identify the
NYSEArca–2015–02 and should be conditions under which computer income of individuals who may be
submitted on or before March 31, 2015. matching involving the Federal eligible for Medicare cost-sharing
For the Commission, by the Division of government could be performed and assistance through the Medicare Savings
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated adding certain protections for persons Program as part of our Medicare
authority.45 applying for, and receiving, Federal outreach efforts.
Brent J. Fields, benefits. Section 7201 of the Omnibus C. Authority for Conducting the
Secretary. Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (Pub. Matching Program
[FR Doc. 2015–05480 Filed 3–9–15; 8:45 am] L. 101–508) further amended the
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P Privacy Act regarding protections for The legal authority for VA to disclose
such persons. information under this agreement is
The Privacy Act, as amended, 1631(f) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1383(f)).
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION regulates the use of computer matching The legal authorities for us to conduct
by Federal agencies when records in a this computer matching program are
[Docket No. SSA 2014–0015] system of records are matched with 806(b), 1144, and 1631(e)(1)(B) and (f) of
other Federal, State, or local government the Act (42 U.S.C. 1006(b), 1320b–14,
Privacy Act of 1974, as Amended; and 1383(e)(1)(B) and (f)).
Computer Matching Program (Social records. It requires Federal agencies
Security Administration (SSA)/ involved in computer matching D. Categories of Records and Persons
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), programs to: Covered by the Matching Program
(1) Negotiate written agreements with
Veterans Benefits Administration 1. Systems of Records
the other agency or agencies
(VBA))—Match Number 1008
participating in the matching programs;
VA will provide us with electronic
AGENCY: Social Security Administration (2) Obtain approval of the matching
files containing compensation and
(SSA). agreement by the Data Integrity Boards
pension payment data from its system of
ACTION: Notice of a renewal of an of the participating Federal agencies;
records (SOR) entitled the
existing computer matching program (3) Publish notice of the computer
‘‘Compensation, Pension, Education,
that will expire on November 10, 2014. matching program in the Federal
and Vocational Rehabilitation and
Register;
SUMMARY: In accordance with the (4) Furnish detailed reports about Employment Records—VA’’ (58VA/21/
provisions of the Privacy Act, as matching programs to Congress and 22/28), republished with updated name
amended, this notice announces a OMB; at 74 FR 14865 (April 1, 2009) and last
renewal of an existing computer (5) Notify applicants and beneficiaries amended at 77 FR 42593 (July 19, 2012).
matching program that we are currently that their records are subject to We will match the VA data with SSI/
conducting with VA/VBA. matching; and SVB payment information maintained
DATES: We will file a report of the (6) Verify match findings before in our SOR entitled ‘‘Supplemental
Security Income Record and Special
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
subject matching program with the reducing, suspending, terminating, or
Committee on Homeland Security and denying a person’s benefits or Veterans Benefits’’ (SSA/ODSSIS 60–
Governmental Affairs of the Senate; the payments. 0103), last published at 71 FR 1830
Committee on Oversight and (January 11, 2006).
Government Reform of the House of B. SSA Computer Matches Subject to
the Privacy Act 2. Number of Records
Representatives; and the Office of
We have taken action to ensure that We estimate receiving 60 million
45 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). all of our computer matching programs records annually from VA.
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:53 Mar 09, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00080 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\10MRN1.SGM 10MRN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_12736/page/7.svg)
Document Created: 2018-02-21 09:35:00
Document Modified: 2018-02-21 09:35:00
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 12690 |
2024 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR