80_FR_79615 80 FR 79371 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Index Underlying the WisdomTree Put Write Strategy Fund

80 FR 79371 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Index Underlying the WisdomTree Put Write Strategy Fund

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 244 (December 21, 2015)

Page Range79371-79375
FR Document2015-31933

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 244 (Monday, December 21, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 244 (Monday, December 21, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79371-79375]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31933]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-76646; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2015-113)


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing 
of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Index Underlying the WisdomTree 
Put Write Strategy Fund

December 15, 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 December 2, 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.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
    \3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of the 
Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to change a representation relating to the 
number of components in the CBOE S&P 500 Put Write Index, the index 
underlying the WisdomTree Put Write Strategy Fund (``Fund''). The 
Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') has approved 
listing and trading of shares of the Fund on the Exchange under 
Commentary .01 to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3) (``Investment 
Company Units'').\4\ Shares of the Fund have not commenced listing and 
trading on the Exchange. 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.
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    \4\ See note 6, infra.
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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 Commission has approved a proposed rule change relating to 
listing and trading on the Exchange of shares (``Shares'') of the Fund 
on the Exchange under Commentary .01 to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 
5.2(j)(3) \5\ (``Investment

[[Page 79372]]

Company Units'').\6\ Shares of the Fund have not commenced listing and 
trading on the Exchange.
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    \5\ NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3)(A) provides that an 
Investment Company Unit is a security that represents an interest in 
a registered investment company that holds securities comprising, or 
otherwise based on or representing an interest in, an index or 
portfolio of securities (or holds securities in another registered 
investment company that holds securities comprising, or otherwise 
based on or representing an interest in, an index or portfolio of 
securities).
    \6\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 74290 (February 18, 
2015), 80 FR 9818 (February 24, 2015) (SR-NYSEArca-2015-05) (notice 
of filing of proposed rule change relating to listing and trading of 
shares of WisdomTree Put Write Strategy Fund under Commentary .01 to 
NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3)) (``Prior Notice''); 74675 (April 
8, 2015), 80 FR 20038 (April 14, 2015) (SR-NYSEArca-2015-05) (order 
approving proposed rule change to list and trade shares of 
WisdomTree Put Write Strategy Fund under Commentary .01 to NYSE Arca 
Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3)) (``Prior Order'' and, together with the 
Prior Notice, the ``Prior Release'').
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    The Shares will be offered by the WisdomTree Trust (``Trust''), 
which was established as a Delaware statutory trust on December 15, 
2005. The Trust is registered with the Commission as an investment 
company and has filed a registration statement on Form N-1A 
(``Registration Statement'') with the Commission on behalf of the 
Fund.\7\
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    \7\ The Trust is registered under the Investment Company Act of 
1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-1) (``1940 Act''). See Post-Effective Amendment 
No. 381 to Registration Statement on Form N-1A for the Trust, dated 
December 15, 2014 (File Nos. 333-132380 and 811-21864). The 
descriptions of the Fund and the Shares contained herein are based 
on information in the Registration Statement. In addition, the 
Commission has issued an order granting certain exemptive relief to 
the Trust under the 1940 Act. See Investment Company Act Release No. 
28171 (October 27, 2008) (File No. 812-13458).
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    The Exchange proposes to change a representation made in the Prior 
Release relating to the number of components in the CBOE S&P 500 Put 
Write Index (``Index''), the index underlying the Fund.
    As described in the Prior Release, the Fund's investment objective 
will be to seek investment results that, before fees and expenses, 
closely correspond to the price and yield performance of the Index. The 
Index was developed and is maintained by the Chicago Board Options 
Exchange, Inc. (``CBOE'' or the ``Index Provider''). The Fund's 
investment objective is to seek investment results that, before fees 
and expenses, closely correspond to the price and yield performance of 
the Index. The Index tracks the value of a passive investment strategy, 
which consists of overlaying of S&P 500 Index put options (``SPX 
Puts'') over a money market account, invested in one and three-month 
Treasury bills (``PUT Strategy''). The SPX Puts are struck at-the-money 
and are sold on a monthly basis, usually the third Friday of the month 
(i.e., the ``Roll Date''), which matches the expiration date of the SPX 
Puts. All SPX Puts are standardized options traded on the CBOE.
    As stated in the Prior Release, the Exchange submitted a proposed 
rule change (i.e., File No. SR-NYSEArca-2015-05) to permit listing and 
trading of Shares of the Fund because the Index for the Fund does not 
meet all of the ``generic'' listing requirements of Commentary 
.01(a)(A) to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3), applicable to the 
listing of Investment Company Units based upon an index of ``US 
Component Stocks.'' \8\ Specifically, Commentary .01(a)(A) to NYSE Arca 
Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3) sets forth the requirements to be met by 
components of an index or portfolio of US Component Stocks. Because the 
Index consists primarily of SPX Puts, rather than ``US Component 
Stocks'' as defined in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3), the Index 
does not satisfy the requirements of Commentary .01(a)(A).
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    \8\ NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3) provides that the term 
``US Component Stock'' shall mean an equity security that is 
registered under sections 12(b) or 12(g) of the Act and an American 
Depositary Receipt, the underlying equity securities of which is 
registered under Sections 12(b) or 12(g) of the Act.
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    As stated in the Prior Release, the Shares will conform to the 
initial and continued listing criteria under NYSE Arca Equities Rules 
5.2(j)(3) and 5.5(g)(2), except that the Index will not meet the 
requirements of NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3), Commentary 
.01(a)(A)(1-5) in that the Index will consist of one series of options 
based on US Component Stocks (i.e., SPX Puts), rather than US Component 
Stocks. However, the Prior Release also stated that the Index will 
include a minimum of 20 components and therefore, would meet the 
numerical requirements of NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3), Commentary 
.01(a)(A)(4) (a minimum of 13 index or portfolio components). The 
representation in the preceding sentence is incorrect in that NYSE Arca 
Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3), Commentary .01 is inapplicable to an index 
consisting of options. NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3), Commentary 
.01(a)(A)(4) requires that an underlying index include a minimum of 13 
``component stocks'', i.e., US Component Stocks or Non-US Component 
Stocks (as defined in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3)), not options 
components.\9\ In addition, the Index does not include 20 components, 
but rather consists of one component, which will be one series of SPX 
Puts struck at-the-money and sold on a monthly basis.
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    \9\ NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3), Commentary .01(a)(A)(5) 
provides that all securities in the applicable index or portfolio 
shall be US Component Stocks listed on a national securities 
exchange and shall be NMS Stocks as defined in Rule 600 under 
Regulation NMS of the Act. Each component stock of the S&P 500 Index 
is a US Component Stock that is listed on a national securities 
exchange and is an NMS Stock. Options are excluded from the 
definition of NMS Stock. As stated in the Prior Release, the Fund 
and the Index meet all of the requirements of the listing standards 
for Investment Company Units in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3) 
and the requirements of Commentary .01, except the requirements in 
Commentary .01(a)(A)(1)-(5), as the Index consists of options on US 
Component Stocks.
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    The Exchange believes it is appropriate to strike from the Prior 
Release the representation that the Index will include a minimum of 20 
components and would meet the numerical requirements of NYSE Arca 
Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3), Commentary .01(a)(A)(4) because such 
Commentary is inapplicable to an index containing options components 
and because the Index does not include a minimum of 20 components. The 
Exchange believes that such deletion will not adversely impact 
investors or the public interest in that the Index is based on CBOE-
traded puts on one of the most widely-followed broad-based market 
indexes--the S&P 500.
    S&P 500 Index options traded on CBOE are highly liquid, with 
average daily trading volume in 2014 of 888,089 contracts, with a 
notional size per contract of $200,000.\10\ The Exchange represents 
that the average daily trading volume of at-the-money 30-day SPX Puts 
as of approximately 12:00 noon on each of the three recent Roll Dates 
was as follows: For Roll Date of April 17, 2015 (expiry May 15, 2015), 
strike price of 2080, 4,069 contracts on Roll Date, 2,273 average 
contracts per day through expiration; for Roll Date of May 15, 2015 
(expiry June 19, 2015), strike price of 2120, 9,521 contracts on Roll 
Date, 2,427 average contracts per day through expiration; and for Roll 
Date of June 19, 2015 (expiry July 17, 2015), strike price of 2110, 126 
contracts on Roll Date, 859 average contracts per day through 
expiration.\11\ Moreover, the proceeds of the sales of the SPX Puts 
will be invested in one and three-month Treasury bills, which are also 
highly liquid instruments.
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    \10\ See www.CBOE.com.
    \11\ Source: Bloomberg.
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    The trading volume of the at-the-money SPX Puts as of approximately 
12:00 noon on Roll Dates compares favorably with at-the-money (as of 
approximately 12:00 noon) put options on other major indexes on Roll 
Dates. For example, the trading volume of comparable 30-day put options 
trading at-the-money as of 12:00 noon on each of the Roll Dates above 
on the Russell 2000 Index (``RUT'') was as follows: For

[[Page 79373]]

Roll Date of April 17, 2015 (expiry May 15, 2015), strike price of 
1250, 1,137 contracts on Roll Date, 554 average contracts per day 
through expiration; for Roll Date of May 15, 2015 (expiry June 19, 
2015), strike price of 1240, 356 contracts on Roll Date, 624 average 
contracts per day through expiration; and Roll Date of June 19, 2015 
(expiry July 17, 2015), strike price of 1280, 2,240 contracts on Roll 
Date, 670 average contracts per day through expiration.\12\
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    \12\ Id.
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    The daily high, low and last reported sales prices on each of the 
Roll Dates for SPX Puts at-the-money as of approximately 12:00 noon 
were as follows: Roll Date of April 17, 2015 (expiry May 15, 2015), 
strike price of 2080, daily high: $34.65, low: $23.45, last: $28.70; 
Roll Date of May 15, 2015 (expiry June 19, 2015), strike price of 2120, 
daily high: $32.70, low: $29.00, last: $29.00; and Roll Date of June 
19, 2015 (expiry July 17, 2015), strike price of 2110, daily high: 
$30.40, low: $24.20, last: $30.40.\13\
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    \13\ Source: CBOE.
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    The Exchange estimates that on launch date, the Fund would hold 
approximately $2.5-$5.0 million in cash and cash equivalents (e.g. one-
month and three-month Treasury bills). This estimate is based on a 
minimum of 100,000-200,000 Shares being created at an estimated initial 
offering price of $25 per Share.
    The Exchange believes that sufficient protections are in place to 
protect against market manipulation of the Fund's Shares and SPX Puts 
for several reasons: (i) Surveillances administered by each of the 
Exchange, CBOE and FINRA designed to detect violations of the federal 
securities laws and self-regulatory organization (``SRO'') rules; (ii) 
the large number of financial instruments tied to the specified 
securities; and (iii) the exchange-traded fund (``ETF'') creation/
redemption arbitrage mechanism tied to the large pool of liquidity of 
each of the Fund's underlying investments, as more fully described 
below.
    Trading in the Shares and the underlying Fund instruments will be 
subject to the federal securities laws and Exchange, CBOE and the 
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (``FINRA'') rules and 
surveillance programs.\14\ In this regard, the Exchange has in place a 
surveillance program for transactions in ETFs to ensure the 
availability of information necessary to detect and deter potential 
manipulations and other trading abuses, thereby making the Shares less 
readily susceptible to manipulation. The Exchange notes that the Fund's 
portfolio is not readily susceptible to manipulation as assets in the 
portfolio--comprised primarily of short-term U.S. Treasury bills \15\ 
and SPX Puts--will be acquired in extremely liquid and highly regulated 
markets.
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    \14\ The Exchange notes that CBOE is a member for the Options 
Regulatory Surveillance Authority, which was established in 2006, to 
provide efficiencies in looking for insider trading and serves as a 
central organization to facilitate collaboration in insider trading 
and investigations for the U.S. options exchanges. For more 
information, see http://www.cboe.com/aboutcboe/legal/departments/orsareg.aspx.
    \15\ The Treasury bill market is highly liquid; Treasury bills 
are often considered a cash-equivalent given the ability of 
investors to quickly convert them into cash. According to Federal 
Reserve Bank of New York data as of September 2015, average daily 
trading volume for U.S. Treasury bills totaled $67.8 billion. In 
addition, the Treasury market and its participants are subject to a 
wide range of oversight and regulations, including requirements 
designed to prevent market manipulation and other abuses. For 
example, Treasury market participants and the Treasury market, 
itself, are subject to significant oversight by a number of 
regulatory authorities, including the Treasury, the Commission, 
federal bank regulators, and the Financial Industry Regulatory 
Authority. The Exchange contends that the short-term Treasury 
securities that the Fund will acquire as part of its strategy are 
not readily susceptible to market manipulation due to the liquidity 
and extensive oversight associated with the short-term U.S. Treasury 
market.
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    SPX options are among the most liquid index options in the U.S. and 
derive their value from the actively traded S&P 500 Index components. 
SPX options are cash-settled with no delivery of stocks or ETFs, and 
trade in competitive auction markets with price and quote transparency. 
The Exchange believes the highly regulated S&P 500 options markets and 
the broad base and scope of the S&P 500 Index make securities that 
derive their value from that index, including S&P 500 options, less 
susceptible to potential market manipulation in view of market 
capitalization and liquidity of the S&P 500 Index components, price and 
quote transparency, and arbitrage opportunities.
    Because the pricing of the Shares is tied to the Fund's underlying 
assets (cash, Treasuries and SPX Puts), all of which are traded in 
efficient, diversified and liquid markets, the Exchange also expects 
the liquidity in the congruent creation/redemption arbitrage mechanism 
to keep the Shares' market pricing in line such that the Shares' 
pricing would not materially differ from their net asset value. The 
Exchange believes that the efficiency and liquidity of the markets for 
SPX Puts, related derivatives, and S&P 500 Index components are 
sufficiently great as to deter fraudulent or manipulative acts 
associated with the Fund's Share price. Coupled with the extensive 
surveillance programs of the SROs described above, the Exchange does 
not believe that trading in the Fund's Shares, as proposed, would 
present manipulation concerns.
Surveillance
    The Exchange represents that trading in the Shares will be subject 
to the existing trading surveillances, administered by regulatory staff 
of the Exchange or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority 
(``FINRA'') on behalf of the Exchange, which are designed to detect 
violations of Exchange rules and applicable federal securities 
laws.\16\ The Exchange represents that these procedures are adequate to 
properly monitor Exchange trading of the Shares in all trading sessions 
and to deter and detect violations of Exchange rules and federal 
securities laws applicable to trading on the Exchange.
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    \16\ FINRA surveils certain trading activity on the Exchange 
pursuant to a regulatory services agreement. The Exchange is 
responsible for FINRA's performance under this regulatory services 
agreement.
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    The surveillances referred to above generally focus on detecting 
securities trading outside their normal patterns, which could be 
indicative of manipulative or other violative activity. When such 
situations are detected, surveillance analysis follows and 
investigations are opened, where appropriate, to review the behavior of 
all relevant parties for all relevant trading violations.
    FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, or the regulatory staff of the 
Exchange, will communicate as needed regarding trading in the Shares 
and SPX Index options with other markets and other entities that are 
members of the Intermarket Surveillance Group (``ISG''), and FINRA, on 
behalf of the Exchange, or the regulatory staff of the Exchange, may 
obtain trading information regarding trading such securities from such 
markets and other entities. In addition, the regulatory staff of the 
Exchange may obtain information regarding trading in such securities 
from markets and other entities that are members of ISG or with which 
the Exchange has in place a comprehensive surveillance sharing 
agreement.\17\
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    \17\ For a list of the current members of ISG, see 
www.isgportal.org. The Exchange notes that not all components of the 
Disclosed Portfolio for a Fund may trade on markets that are members 
of ISG or with which the Exchange has in place a comprehensive 
surveillance sharing agreement.
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    In addition, the Exchange also has a general policy prohibiting the

[[Page 79374]]

distribution of material, non-public information by its employees.
2. Statutory Basis
    The basis under the Act for this proposed rule change is the 
requirement under section 6(b)(5) \18\ that an exchange have rules that 
are 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.
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    \18\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is designed to 
prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices in that the 
Shares will be listed and traded on the Exchange pursuant to the 
initial and continued listing criteria in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 
5.2(j)(3). The Exchange has in place surveillance procedures that are 
adequate to properly monitor trading in the Shares in all trading 
sessions and to deter and detect violations of Exchange rules and 
applicable federal securities laws. The Exchange represents that 
trading in the Shares will be subject to the existing trading 
surveillances, administered by regulatory staff of the Exchange or 
FINRA on behalf of the Exchange, which are designed to detect 
violations of Exchange rules and applicable federal securities laws. 
FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, or the regulatory staff of the 
Exchange, will communicate as needed regarding trading in the Shares 
and SPX Index options with other markets and other entities that are 
members of ISG, and FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, or the regulatory 
staff of the Exchange, may obtain trading information regarding trading 
such securities from such markets and other entities. In addition, the 
regulatory staff of the Exchange may obtain information regarding 
trading in such securities from markets and other entities that are 
members of ISG or with which the Exchange has in place a comprehensive 
surveillance sharing agreement. The Exchange believes it is appropriate 
to strike from the Prior Release the representation that the Index will 
include a minimum of 20 components and would meet the numerical 
requirements of NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3), Commentary 
.01(a)(A)(4), as described above. The Exchange believes that such 
deletion will not adversely impact investors or the public interest in 
that the Index is based on CBOE-traded puts on the S&P 500, which are 
highly liquid and actively traded. The Exchange represents that S&P 500 
Index options traded on CBOE are highly liquid, with average daily 
trading volume in 2014 of 888,089 contracts, with a notional size per 
contract of $200,000.\19\ The Exchange represents that the average 
daily trading volume of at-the-money 30-day SPX Puts as of 
approximately 12:00 noon on each of the three previously referenced 
Roll Dates. Moreover, the proceeds of the sales of the SPX Puts will be 
invested in one and three-month Treasury bills, which are also highly 
liquid instruments. The trading volume of the at-the-money SPX Puts as 
of approximately 12:00 noon on Roll Dates compares favorably with at-
the-money (as of approximately 12:00 noon) put options on other major 
indexes on Roll Dates. Trading in the Shares and the underlying Fund 
instruments will be subject to the federal securities laws and 
Exchange, CBOE and FINRA rules and surveillance programs. In this 
regard, the Exchange has in place a surveillance program for 
transactions in ETFs to ensure the availability of information 
necessary to detect and deter potential manipulations and other trading 
abuses, thereby making the Shares less readily susceptible to 
manipulation. The Exchange notes that the Fund's portfolio is not 
readily susceptible to manipulation as assets in the portfolio--
comprised primarily of short-term U.S. Treasury bills and SPX Puts--
will be acquired in extremely liquid and highly regulated markets.
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    \19\ See www.CBOE.com.
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    The proposed rule change is designed to promote just and equitable 
principles of trade and to protect investors and the public interest in 
that trading in the Shares is subject to all requirements of NYSE Arca 
Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3). The Index is based on CBOE-traded puts on the 
S&P 500, which are highly liquid and actively traded. The Web site for 
the Fund will include a form of the prospectus for the Fund and 
additional data relating to NAV and other applicable quantitative 
information. In addition, as stated in the Prior Notice, investors will 
have ready access to information regarding the Fund's holdings, the 
Intraday Indicative Value, and quotation and last sale information for 
the Shares.
    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. As noted above, the Exchange has in place surveillance 
procedures relating to trading in the Shares and may obtain information 
via ISG from other exchanges that are members of ISG or with which the 
Exchange has entered into a comprehensive surveillance sharing 
agreement. In addition, as stated in the Prior Release, investors will 
have ready access to information regarding the Fund's holdings, the 
Intraday Indicative Value, and quotation and last sale information for 
the Shares.

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 purpose of the Act. The proposed rule change will 
enhance competition by permitting listing and trading of an additional 
type of index-based exchange-traded fund whose underlying index 
includes an options component.

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 such longer time 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 such 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. 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 rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include 
File Number SR-NYSEArca-2015-113 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Brent J. Fields, 
Secretary, Securities

[[Page 79375]]

and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEArca-2015-113. 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 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-2015-113 and should 
be submitted on or before January 11, 2016.
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    \20\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\20\
Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-31933 Filed 12-18-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 244 / Monday, December 21, 2015 / Notices                                                    79371

                                                  such organization. The Commission                       Fund Administrators’ designated Fund                  notice is hereby given that, on December
                                                  believes the proposal is consistent with                clients fails to make its AIP Payment on              2, 2015, NYSE Arca, Inc. (the
                                                  section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act 8 and                   Settlement Date, and the AIP Fund                     ‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘NYSE Arca’’) filed with
                                                  Rule 17Ad–22(d)(12),9 as described in                   Administrator does not cover the                      the Securities and Exchange
                                                  detail below.                                           shortfall, NSCC is required to reverse all            Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’) the
                                                     Consistency with Section 17A(b)(3)(F)                of the AIP Fund Administrator’s contra-               proposed rule change as described in
                                                  of the Act. Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the                 side credit positions, including the                  Items I and II below, which Items have
                                                  Act requires, among other things, that                  contra-side credit positions of Funds                 been prepared by the self-regulatory
                                                  the rules of a clearing agency be                       that did pay. With this proposed rule                 organization. The Commission is
                                                  designed (i) to foster cooperation and                  change, AIP Fund Administrators can                   publishing this notice to solicit
                                                  coordination with persons engaged in                    create AIP sub-accounts that settle                   comments on the proposed rule change
                                                  the clearance and settlement of                         separately from their primary AIP                     from interested persons.
                                                  securities transactions, and (ii) to                    accounts, as well as from other AIP sub-
                                                  remove impediments to and perfect the                   accounts. Allowing AIP settlement at                  I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                  mechanism of a national system for the                  the sub-account level will enable                     Statement of the Terms of the Substance
                                                  prompt and accurate clearance and                       funded AIP sub-accounts to settle no                  of the Proposed Rule Change
                                                  settlement of securities transactions.10                later than the end of the settlement day,                The Exchange proposes to change a
                                                  As described above, under NSCC’s                        while unfunded sub-accounts can be                    representation relating to the number of
                                                  current Rules regarding AIP, settlement                 reversed, separately. As such, the                    components in the CBOE S&P 500 Put
                                                  of AIP Payments is the responsibility of                Commission believes that the proposal                 Write Index, the index underlying the
                                                  AIP Members, including AIP Fund                         is consistent with Rule 17Ad–                         WisdomTree Put Write Strategy Fund
                                                  Administrators. However, NSCC has                       22(d)(12).13                                          (‘‘Fund’’). The Securities and Exchange
                                                  learned from fund administrators                                                                              Commission (‘‘Commission’’) has
                                                                                                          III. Conclusion
                                                  interested in becoming AIP Members                                                                            approved listing and trading of shares of
                                                  that fund administrators generally do                      On the basis of the foregoing, the                 the Fund on the Exchange under
                                                  not control money settlement for their                  Commission finds that the proposal is                 Commentary .01 to NYSE Arca Equities
                                                  Fund clients. This disconnect has                       consistent with the requirements of the               Rule 5.2(j)(3) (‘‘Investment Company
                                                  impeded the adoption of AIP by the                      Act and in particular with the                        Units’’).4 Shares of the Fund have not
                                                  fund administrator community. To                        requirements of section 17A of the                    commenced listing and trading on the
                                                  address this issue, NSCC will now allow                 Act 14 and the rules and regulations                  Exchange. The proposed rule change is
                                                  AIP Fund Administrators to establish                    thereunder.                                           available on the Exchange’s Web site at
                                                  AIP sub-accounts and permit AIP                            It is therefore ordered, pursuant to               www.nyse.com, at the principal office of
                                                  Payments to settle at the sub-account                   section 19(b)(2) of the Act, that                     the Exchange, and at the Commission’s
                                                  level. Doing so will redirect                           proposed rule change SR–NSCC–2015–                    Public Reference Room.
                                                  responsibility for settlement of AIP                    007 be, and hereby is, approved.15
                                                                                                                                                                II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                  Payments from AIP Fund                                    For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                                                                          Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated            Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                                  Administrators to the AIP Fund
                                                                                                          authority.16                                          Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                  Administrator’s designated Fund
                                                                                                          Robert W. Errett,                                     Change
                                                  clients.
                                                     In allowing settlement at the sub-                   Deputy Secretary.                                        In its filing with the Commission, the
                                                  account level, NSCC (i) will be fostering               [FR Doc. 2015–31923 Filed 12–18–15; 8:45 am]          self-regulatory organization included
                                                  cooperation and coordination with fund                  BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                statements concerning the purpose of,
                                                  administrators and Funds that are                                                                             and basis for, the proposed rule change
                                                  involved in the processing of alternative                                                                     and discussed any comments it received
                                                  investment securities transactions, and                 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                               on the proposed rule change. The text
                                                  (ii) will be removing an impediment to                  COMMISSION                                            of those statements may be examined at
                                                  the prompt and accurate clearance and                                                                         the places specified in Item IV below.
                                                                                                          [Release No. 34–76646; File No. SR–
                                                  settlement of alternative investment                    NYSEArca–2015–113)
                                                                                                                                                                The Exchange has prepared summaries,
                                                  securities transactions at the sub-                                                                           set forth in sections A, B, and C below,
                                                  account level. As such, the Commission                  Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE                   of the most significant parts of such
                                                  believes that the proposal is consistent                Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed              statements.
                                                  with section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act.11                 Rule Change Relating to the Index                     A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                     Consistency with Rule 17Ad–                          Underlying the WisdomTree Put Write                   Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                                  22(d)(12). Rule 17Ad–22(d)(12) under                    Strategy Fund                                         Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                  the Act requires a central counterparty,
                                                                                                          December 15, 2015.                                    Change
                                                  such as NSCC, to ‘‘establish, implement,
                                                  maintain and enforce written policies                      Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) 1 of the              1. Purpose
                                                  and procedures reasonably designed to                   Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
                                                                                                                                                                   The Commission has approved a
                                                  . . . [e]nsure that final settlement                    ‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3
                                                                                                                                                                proposed rule change relating to listing
                                                  occurs no later than the end of the                                                                           and trading on the Exchange of shares
                                                                                                            13 Id.
                                                  settlement day . . . .’’ 12 As described                                                                      (‘‘Shares’’) of the Fund on the Exchange
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                                                                                                            14 15  U.S.C. 78q–1.
                                                  above, under the current Rules                            15 In                                               under Commentary .01 to NYSE Arca
                                                                                                                  approving the proposed rule change, the
                                                  regarding AIP, if just one of an AIP                    Commission considered the proposal’s impact on        Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3) 5 (‘‘Investment
                                                                                                          efficiency, competition, and capital formation. 15
                                                    8 15 U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(F).                           U.S.C. 78c(f).                                          4 See note 6, infra.
                                                    9 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(d)(12).                             16 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
                                                                                                                                                                  5 NYSE  Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3)(A) provides
                                                    10 15 U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(F).                             1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                                                                                                                                                that an Investment Company Unit is a security that
                                                    11 Id.                                                   2 15 U.S.C. 78a.
                                                                                                                                                                represents an interest in a registered investment
                                                    12 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(d)(12).                            3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                                                          Continued




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                                                  79372                        Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 244 / Monday, December 21, 2015 / Notices

                                                  Company Units’’).6 Shares of the Fund                      Puts. All SPX Puts are standardized                    the Index does not include 20
                                                  have not commenced listing and trading                     options traded on the CBOE.                            components, but rather consists of one
                                                  on the Exchange.                                              As stated in the Prior Release, the                 component, which will be one series of
                                                     The Shares will be offered by the                       Exchange submitted a proposed rule                     SPX Puts struck at-the-money and sold
                                                  WisdomTree Trust (‘‘Trust’’), which was                    change (i.e., File No. SR–NYSEArca–                    on a monthly basis.
                                                  established as a Delaware statutory trust                  2015–05) to permit listing and trading of                 The Exchange believes it is
                                                  on December 15, 2005. The Trust is                         Shares of the Fund because the Index                   appropriate to strike from the Prior
                                                  registered with the Commission as an                       for the Fund does not meet all of the                  Release the representation that the
                                                  investment company and has filed a                         ‘‘generic’’ listing requirements of                    Index will include a minimum of 20
                                                  registration statement on Form N–1A                        Commentary .01(a)(A) to NYSE Arca                      components and would meet the
                                                  (‘‘Registration Statement’’) with the                      Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3), applicable to the             numerical requirements of NYSE Arca
                                                  Commission on behalf of the Fund.7                         listing of Investment Company Units                    Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3), Commentary
                                                     The Exchange proposes to change a                       based upon an index of ‘‘US Component                  .01(a)(A)(4) because such Commentary
                                                  representation made in the Prior Release                   Stocks.’’ 8 Specifically, Commentary                   is inapplicable to an index containing
                                                  relating to the number of components in                    .01(a)(A) to NYSE Arca Equities Rule                   options components and because the
                                                  the CBOE S&P 500 Put Write Index                           5.2(j)(3) sets forth the requirements to be            Index does not include a minimum of
                                                  (‘‘Index’’), the index underlying the                      met by components of an index or                       20 components. The Exchange believes
                                                  Fund.                                                      portfolio of US Component Stocks.                      that such deletion will not adversely
                                                     As described in the Prior Release, the                  Because the Index consists primarily of                impact investors or the public interest
                                                  Fund’s investment objective will be to                     SPX Puts, rather than ‘‘US Component                   in that the Index is based on CBOE-
                                                  seek investment results that, before fees                  Stocks’’ as defined in NYSE Arca                       traded puts on one of the most widely-
                                                  and expenses, closely correspond to the                    Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3), the Index does                followed broad-based market indexes—
                                                  price and yield performance of the                         not satisfy the requirements of                        the S&P 500.
                                                  Index. The Index was developed and is                      Commentary .01(a)(A).                                     S&P 500 Index options traded on
                                                  maintained by the Chicago Board                               As stated in the Prior Release, the                 CBOE are highly liquid, with average
                                                  Options Exchange, Inc. (‘‘CBOE’’ or the                    Shares will conform to the initial and                 daily trading volume in 2014 of 888,089
                                                  ‘‘Index Provider’’). The Fund’s                            continued listing criteria under NYSE                  contracts, with a notional size per
                                                  investment objective is to seek                            Arca Equities Rules 5.2(j)(3) and                      contract of $200,000.10 The Exchange
                                                  investment results that, before fees and                   5.5(g)(2), except that the Index will not              represents that the average daily trading
                                                  expenses, closely correspond to the                        meet the requirements of NYSE Arca                     volume of at-the-money 30-day SPX
                                                  price and yield performance of the                         Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3), Commentary                    Puts as of approximately 12:00 noon on
                                                  Index. The Index tracks the value of a                     .01(a)(A)(1–5) in that the Index will                  each of the three recent Roll Dates was
                                                  passive investment strategy, which                         consist of one series of options based on              as follows: For Roll Date of April 17,
                                                  consists of overlaying of S&P 500 Index                    US Component Stocks (i.e., SPX Puts),                  2015 (expiry May 15, 2015), strike price
                                                  put options (‘‘SPX Puts’’) over a money                    rather than US Component Stocks.                       of 2080, 4,069 contracts on Roll Date,
                                                  market account, invested in one and                        However, the Prior Release also stated                 2,273 average contracts per day through
                                                  three-month Treasury bills (‘‘PUT                          that the Index will include a minimum                  expiration; for Roll Date of May 15, 2015
                                                  Strategy’’). The SPX Puts are struck at-                   of 20 components and therefore, would                  (expiry June 19, 2015), strike price of
                                                  the-money and are sold on a monthly                        meet the numerical requirements of                     2120, 9,521 contracts on Roll Date,
                                                  basis, usually the third Friday of the                     NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3),                     2,427 average contracts per day through
                                                  month (i.e., the ‘‘Roll Date’’), which                     Commentary .01(a)(A)(4) (a minimum of                  expiration; and for Roll Date of June 19,
                                                  matches the expiration date of the SPX                     13 index or portfolio components). The                 2015 (expiry July 17, 2015), strike price
                                                                                                             representation in the preceding sentence               of 2110, 126 contracts on Roll Date, 859
                                                  company that holds securities comprising, or               is incorrect in that NYSE Arca Equities                average contracts per day through
                                                  otherwise based on or representing an interest in,         Rule 5.2(j)(3), Commentary .01 is
                                                  an index or portfolio of securities (or holds                                                                     expiration.11 Moreover, the proceeds of
                                                  securities in another registered investment                inapplicable to an index consisting of                 the sales of the SPX Puts will be
                                                  company that holds securities comprising, or               options. NYSE Arca Equities Rule                       invested in one and three-month
                                                  otherwise based on or representing an interest in,         5.2(j)(3), Commentary .01(a)(A)(4)                     Treasury bills, which are also highly
                                                  an index or portfolio of securities).                      requires that an underlying index
                                                     6 See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 74290                                                               liquid instruments.
                                                  (February 18, 2015), 80 FR 9818 (February 24, 2015)        include a minimum of 13 ‘‘component                       The trading volume of the at-the-
                                                  (SR–NYSEArca–2015–05) (notice of filing of                 stocks’’, i.e., US Component Stocks or                 money SPX Puts as of approximately
                                                  proposed rule change relating to listing and trading       Non-US Component Stocks (as defined                    12:00 noon on Roll Dates compares
                                                  of shares of WisdomTree Put Write Strategy Fund            in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3)),
                                                  under Commentary .01 to NYSE Arca Equities Rule                                                                   favorably with at-the-money (as of
                                                  5.2(j)(3)) (‘‘Prior Notice’’); 74675 (April 8, 2015), 80   not options components.9 In addition,                  approximately 12:00 noon) put options
                                                  FR 20038 (April 14, 2015) (SR–NYSEArca–2015–05)                                                                   on other major indexes on Roll Dates.
                                                  (order approving proposed rule change to list and            8 NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3) provides that

                                                  trade shares of WisdomTree Put Write Strategy              the term ‘‘US Component Stock’’ shall mean an
                                                                                                                                                                    For example, the trading volume of
                                                  Fund under Commentary .01 to NYSE Arca Equities            equity security that is registered under sections      comparable 30-day put options trading
                                                  Rule 5.2(j)(3)) (‘‘Prior Order’’ and, together with the    12(b) or 12(g) of the Act and an American              at-the-money as of 12:00 noon on each
                                                  Prior Notice, the ‘‘Prior Release’’).                      Depositary Receipt, the underlying equity securities   of the Roll Dates above on the Russell
                                                     7 The Trust is registered under the Investment          of which is registered under Sections 12(b) or 12(g)
                                                                                                             of the Act.
                                                                                                                                                                    2000 Index (‘‘RUT’’) was as follows: For
                                                  Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a–1) (‘‘1940
                                                  Act’’). See Post-Effective Amendment No. 381 to              9 NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3), Commentary
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                                                  Registration Statement on Form N–1A for the Trust,         .01(a)(A)(5) provides that all securities in the       stated in the Prior Release, the Fund and the Index
                                                  dated December 15, 2014 (File Nos. 333–132380              applicable index or portfolio shall be US              meet all of the requirements of the listing standards
                                                  and 811–21864). The descriptions of the Fund and           Component Stocks listed on a national securities       for Investment Company Units in NYSE Arca
                                                  the Shares contained herein are based on                   exchange and shall be NMS Stocks as defined in         Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3) and the requirements of
                                                  information in the Registration Statement. In              Rule 600 under Regulation NMS of the Act. Each         Commentary .01, except the requirements in
                                                  addition, the Commission has issued an order               component stock of the S&P 500 Index is a US           Commentary .01(a)(A)(1)–(5), as the Index consists
                                                  granting certain exemptive relief to the Trust under       Component Stock that is listed on a national           of options on US Component Stocks.
                                                                                                                                                                      10 See www.CBOE.com.
                                                  the 1940 Act. See Investment Company Act Release           securities exchange and is an NMS Stock. Options
                                                  No. 28171 (October 27, 2008) (File No. 812–13458).         are excluded from the definition of NMS Stock. As        11 Source: Bloomberg.




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                                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 244 / Monday, December 21, 2015 / Notices                                                        79373

                                                  Roll Date of April 17, 2015 (expiry May                  has in place a surveillance program for                   deter fraudulent or manipulative acts
                                                  15, 2015), strike price of 1250, 1,137                   transactions in ETFs to ensure the                        associated with the Fund’s Share price.
                                                  contracts on Roll Date, 554 average                      availability of information necessary to                  Coupled with the extensive surveillance
                                                  contracts per day through expiration; for                detect and deter potential                                programs of the SROs described above,
                                                  Roll Date of May 15, 2015 (expiry June                   manipulations and other trading abuses,                   the Exchange does not believe that
                                                  19, 2015), strike price of 1240, 356                     thereby making the Shares less readily                    trading in the Fund’s Shares, as
                                                  contracts on Roll Date, 624 average                      susceptible to manipulation. The                          proposed, would present manipulation
                                                  contracts per day through expiration;                    Exchange notes that the Fund’s portfolio                  concerns.
                                                  and Roll Date of June 19, 2015 (expiry                   is not readily susceptible to
                                                                                                                                                                     Surveillance
                                                  July 17, 2015), strike price of 1280,                    manipulation as assets in the portfolio—
                                                  2,240 contracts on Roll Date, 670                        comprised primarily of short-term U.S.                       The Exchange represents that trading
                                                  average contracts per day through                        Treasury bills 15 and SPX Puts—will be                    in the Shares will be subject to the
                                                  expiration.12                                            acquired in extremely liquid and highly                   existing trading surveillances,
                                                     The daily high, low and last reported                 regulated markets.                                        administered by regulatory staff of the
                                                  sales prices on each of the Roll Dates for                  SPX options are among the most                         Exchange or the Financial Industry
                                                  SPX Puts at-the-money as of                              liquid index options in the U.S. and                      Regulatory Authority (‘‘FINRA’’) on
                                                  approximately 12:00 noon were as                         derive their value from the actively                      behalf of the Exchange, which are
                                                  follows: Roll Date of April 17, 2015                     traded S&P 500 Index components. SPX                      designed to detect violations of
                                                  (expiry May 15, 2015), strike price of                   options are cash-settled with no                          Exchange rules and applicable federal
                                                  2080, daily high: $34.65, low: $23.45,                   delivery of stocks or ETFs, and trade in                  securities laws.16 The Exchange
                                                  last: $28.70; Roll Date of May 15, 2015                  competitive auction markets with price                    represents that these procedures are
                                                  (expiry June 19, 2015), strike price of                  and quote transparency. The Exchange                      adequate to properly monitor Exchange
                                                  2120, daily high: $32.70, low: $29.00,                   believes the highly regulated S&P 500                     trading of the Shares in all trading
                                                  last: $29.00; and Roll Date of June 19,                  options markets and the broad base and                    sessions and to deter and detect
                                                  2015 (expiry July 17, 2015), strike price                scope of the S&P 500 Index make                           violations of Exchange rules and federal
                                                  of 2110, daily high: $30.40, low: $24.20,                securities that derive their value from                   securities laws applicable to trading on
                                                  last: $30.40.13                                          that index, including S&P 500 options,                    the Exchange.
                                                     The Exchange estimates that on                        less susceptible to potential market                         The surveillances referred to above
                                                  launch date, the Fund would hold                         manipulation in view of market                            generally focus on detecting securities
                                                  approximately $2.5–$5.0 million in cash                  capitalization and liquidity of the S&P                   trading outside their normal patterns,
                                                  and cash equivalents (e.g. one-month                     500 Index components, price and quote                     which could be indicative of
                                                  and three-month Treasury bills). This                    transparency, and arbitrage                               manipulative or other violative activity.
                                                  estimate is based on a minimum of                        opportunities.                                            When such situations are detected,
                                                  100,000–200,000 Shares being created at                     Because the pricing of the Shares is                   surveillance analysis follows and
                                                  an estimated initial offering price of $25               tied to the Fund’s underlying assets                      investigations are opened, where
                                                  per Share.                                               (cash, Treasuries and SPX Puts), all of                   appropriate, to review the behavior of
                                                     The Exchange believes that sufficient                 which are traded in efficient, diversified                all relevant parties for all relevant
                                                  protections are in place to protect                      and liquid markets, the Exchange also                     trading violations.
                                                                                                           expects the liquidity in the congruent                       FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, or
                                                  against market manipulation of the
                                                                                                           creation/redemption arbitrage                             the regulatory staff of the Exchange, will
                                                  Fund’s Shares and SPX Puts for several
                                                                                                                                                                     communicate as needed regarding
                                                  reasons: (i) Surveillances administered                  mechanism to keep the Shares’ market
                                                                                                                                                                     trading in the Shares and SPX Index
                                                  by each of the Exchange, CBOE and                        pricing in line such that the Shares’
                                                                                                                                                                     options with other markets and other
                                                  FINRA designed to detect violations of                   pricing would not materially differ from
                                                                                                                                                                     entities that are members of the
                                                  the federal securities laws and self-                    their net asset value. The Exchange
                                                                                                                                                                     Intermarket Surveillance Group (‘‘ISG’’),
                                                  regulatory organization (‘‘SRO’’) rules;                 believes that the efficiency and liquidity
                                                                                                                                                                     and FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange,
                                                  (ii) the large number of financial                       of the markets for SPX Puts, related
                                                                                                                                                                     or the regulatory staff of the Exchange,
                                                  instruments tied to the specified                        derivatives, and S&P 500 Index
                                                                                                                                                                     may obtain trading information
                                                  securities; and (iii) the exchange-traded                components are sufficiently great as to
                                                                                                                                                                     regarding trading such securities from
                                                  fund (‘‘ETF’’) creation/redemption
                                                                                                                                                                     such markets and other entities. In
                                                  arbitrage mechanism tied to the large                    see http://www.cboe.com/aboutcboe/legal/
                                                                                                           departments/orsareg.aspx.                                 addition, the regulatory staff of the
                                                  pool of liquidity of each of the Fund’s                    15 The Treasury bill market is highly liquid;           Exchange may obtain information
                                                  underlying investments, as more fully                    Treasury bills are often considered a cash-               regarding trading in such securities from
                                                  described below.                                         equivalent given the ability of investors to quickly      markets and other entities that are
                                                     Trading in the Shares and the                         convert them into cash. According to Federal
                                                                                                                                                                     members of ISG or with which the
                                                  underlying Fund instruments will be                      Reserve Bank of New York data as of September
                                                                                                           2015, average daily trading volume for U.S.               Exchange has in place a comprehensive
                                                  subject to the federal securities laws and
                                                                                                           Treasury bills totaled $67.8 billion. In addition, the    surveillance sharing agreement.17
                                                  Exchange, CBOE and the Financial                         Treasury market and its participants are subject to          In addition, the Exchange also has a
                                                  Industry Regulatory Authority                            a wide range of oversight and regulations, including
                                                                                                                                                                     general policy prohibiting the
                                                  (‘‘FINRA’’) rules and surveillance                       requirements designed to prevent market
                                                  programs.14 In this regard, the Exchange                 manipulation and other abuses. For example,
                                                                                                                                                                       16 FINRA surveils certain trading activity on the
                                                                                                           Treasury market participants and the Treasury
                                                                                                           market, itself, are subject to significant oversight by   Exchange pursuant to a regulatory services
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                                                    12 Id.
                                                                                                           a number of regulatory authorities, including the         agreement. The Exchange is responsible for
                                                    13 Source:  CBOE.                                                                                                FINRA’s performance under this regulatory services
                                                                                                           Treasury, the Commission, federal bank regulators,
                                                    14 The Exchange notes that CBOE is a member for        and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.          agreement.
                                                  the Options Regulatory Surveillance Authority,           The Exchange contends that the short-term                   17 For a list of the current members of ISG, see

                                                  which was established in 2006, to provide                Treasury securities that the Fund will acquire as         www.isgportal.org. The Exchange notes that not all
                                                  efficiencies in looking for insider trading and serves   part of its strategy are not readily susceptible to       components of the Disclosed Portfolio for a Fund
                                                  as a central organization to facilitate collaboration    market manipulation due to the liquidity and              may trade on markets that are members of ISG or
                                                  in insider trading and investigations for the U.S.       extensive oversight associated with the short-term        with which the Exchange has in place a
                                                  options exchanges. For more information,                 U.S. Treasury market.                                     comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement.



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                                                  79374                         Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 244 / Monday, December 21, 2015 / Notices

                                                  distribution of material, non-public                       represents that S&P 500 Index options                 with which the Exchange has entered
                                                  information by its employees.                              traded on CBOE are highly liquid, with                into a comprehensive surveillance
                                                                                                             average daily trading volume in 2014 of               sharing agreement. In addition, as stated
                                                  2. Statutory Basis
                                                                                                             888,089 contracts, with a notional size               in the Prior Release, investors will have
                                                     The basis under the Act for this                        per contract of $200,000.19 The                       ready access to information regarding
                                                  proposed rule change is the requirement                    Exchange represents that the average                  the Fund’s holdings, the Intraday
                                                  under section 6(b)(5) 18 that an exchange                  daily trading volume of at-the-money                  Indicative Value, and quotation and last
                                                  have rules that are designed to prevent                    30-day SPX Puts as of approximately                   sale information for the Shares.
                                                  fraudulent and manipulative acts and                       12:00 noon on each of the three
                                                  practices, to promote just and equitable                   previously referenced Roll Dates.                     B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                  principles of trade, to remove                             Moreover, the proceeds of the sales of                Statement on Burden on Competition
                                                  impediments to, and perfect the                            the SPX Puts will be invested in one                    The Exchange does not believe that
                                                  mechanism of a free and open market                        and three-month Treasury bills, which                 the proposed rule change will impose
                                                  and, in general, to protect investors and                  are also highly liquid instruments. The               any burden on competition that is not
                                                  the public interest.                                       trading volume of the at-the-money SPX                necessary or appropriate in furtherance
                                                     The Exchange believes that the                          Puts as of approximately 12:00 noon on                of the purpose of the Act. The proposed
                                                  proposed rule change is designed to                        Roll Dates compares favorably with at-                rule change will enhance competition
                                                  prevent fraudulent and manipulative                        the-money (as of approximately 12:00                  by permitting listing and trading of an
                                                  acts and practices in that the Shares will                 noon) put options on other major                      additional type of index-based
                                                  be listed and traded on the Exchange                       indexes on Roll Dates. Trading in the                 exchange-traded fund whose underlying
                                                  pursuant to the initial and continued                      Shares and the underlying Fund                        index includes an options component.
                                                  listing criteria in NYSE Arca Equities                     instruments will be subject to the
                                                  Rule 5.2(j)(3). The Exchange has in                        federal securities laws and Exchange,                 C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                  place surveillance procedures that are                     CBOE and FINRA rules and surveillance                 Statement on Comments on the
                                                  adequate to properly monitor trading in                    programs. In this regard, the Exchange                Proposed Rule Change Received From
                                                  the Shares in all trading sessions and to                  has in place a surveillance program for               Members, Participants or Others
                                                  deter and detect violations of Exchange                    transactions in ETFs to ensure the                      No written comments were solicited
                                                  rules and applicable federal securities                    availability of information necessary to              or received with respect to the proposed
                                                  laws. The Exchange represents that                         detect and deter potential                            rule change.
                                                  trading in the Shares will be subject to                   manipulations and other trading abuses,
                                                  the existing trading surveillances,                                                                              III. Date of Effectiveness of the
                                                                                                             thereby making the Shares less readily
                                                  administered by regulatory staff of the                                                                          Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
                                                                                                             susceptible to manipulation. The
                                                  Exchange or FINRA on behalf of the                         Exchange notes that the Fund’s portfolio              Commission Action
                                                  Exchange, which are designed to detect                     is not readily susceptible to                           Within 45 days of the date of
                                                  violations of Exchange rules and                           manipulation as assets in the portfolio—              publication of this notice in the Federal
                                                  applicable federal securities laws.                        comprised primarily of short-term U.S.                Register or such longer time period up
                                                  FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, or                       Treasury bills and SPX Puts—will be                   to 90 days (i) as the Commission may
                                                  the regulatory staff of the Exchange, will                 acquired in extremely liquid and highly               designate if it finds such longer period
                                                  communicate as needed regarding                            regulated markets.                                    to be appropriate and publishes its
                                                  trading in the Shares and SPX Index                           The proposed rule change is designed               reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which
                                                  options with other markets and other                       to promote just and equitable principles              the self-regulatory organization
                                                  entities that are members of ISG, and                      of trade and to protect investors and the             consents, the Commission will: (a) By
                                                  FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, or                       public interest in that trading in the                order approve or disapprove such
                                                  the regulatory staff of the Exchange, may                  Shares is subject to all requirements of              proposed rule change; or (b) institute
                                                  obtain trading information regarding                       NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3). The                proceedings to determine whether the
                                                  trading such securities from such                          Index is based on CBOE-traded puts on                 proposed rule change should be
                                                  markets and other entities. In addition,                   the S&P 500, which are highly liquid                  disapproved.
                                                  the regulatory staff of the Exchange may                   and actively traded. The Web site for the
                                                  obtain information regarding trading in                    Fund will include a form of the                       IV. Solicitation of Comments
                                                  such securities from markets and other                     prospectus for the Fund and additional                  Interested persons are invited to
                                                  entities that are members of ISG or with                   data relating to NAV and other                        submit written data, views, and
                                                  which the Exchange has in place a                          applicable quantitative information. In               arguments concerning the foregoing,
                                                  comprehensive surveillance sharing                         addition, as stated in the Prior Notice,              including whether the proposed rule
                                                  agreement. The Exchange believes it is                     investors will have ready access to                   change is consistent with the Act.
                                                  appropriate to strike from the Prior                       information regarding the Fund’s                      Comments may be submitted by any of
                                                  Release the representation that the                        holdings, the Intraday Indicative Value,              the following methods:
                                                  Index will include a minimum of 20                         and quotation and last sale information
                                                  components and would meet the                              for the Shares.                                       Electronic Comments
                                                  numerical requirements of NYSE Arca                           The proposed rule change is designed                  • Use the Commission’s Internet
                                                  Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3), Commentary                        to perfect the mechanism of a free and                comment form (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                  .01(a)(A)(4), as described above. The                      open market and, in general, to protect               rules/sro.shtml); or
                                                                                                                                                                      • Send an Email to rule-comments@
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                                                  Exchange believes that such deletion                       investors and the public interest. As
                                                  will not adversely impact investors or                     noted above, the Exchange has in place                sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
                                                  the public interest in that the Index is                   surveillance procedures relating to                   NYSEArca–2015–113 on the subject
                                                  based on CBOE-traded puts on the S&P                       trading in the Shares and may obtain                  line.
                                                  500, which are highly liquid and                           information via ISG from other
                                                  actively traded. The Exchange                              exchanges that are members of ISG or                  Paper Comments
                                                                                                                                                                     • Send paper comments in triplicate
                                                    18 15   U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).                                  19 See   www.CBOE.com.                              to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities


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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 244 / Monday, December 21, 2015 / Notices                                                       79375

                                                  and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street                     (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2                    1. Increase fees from $0.94 to $1.10
                                                  NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090.                           notice is hereby given that on December                 per contract for all Participant categories
                                                  All submissions should refer to File                      1, 2015, The NASDAQ Stock Market                        other than Customer, which remains at
                                                  Number SR–NYSEArca–2015–113. This                         LLC (‘‘Nasdaq’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed                  $0.85 per contract.
                                                  file number should be included on the                     with the Securities and Exchange                           2. Offer Participants that send
                                                  subject line if email is used. To help the                Commission (‘‘SEC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’)                  Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market
                                                  Commission process and review your                        the proposed rule change as described                   Maker, NOM Market Maker and/or
                                                  comments more efficiently, please use                     in Items I, II, and III, below, which Items             Broker-Dealer order flow an opportunity
                                                  only one method. The Commission will                      have been prepared by the Exchange.                     to lower the Fees for Removing
                                                  post all comments on the Commission’s                     The Commission is publishing this                       Liquidity in Non-Penny Pilot Options
                                                  Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                    notice to solicit comments on the                       from $1.10 to $1.03 per contract
                                                  rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                           proposed rule change from interested                    provided they qualify for Customer or
                                                  submission, all subsequent                                persons.                                                Professional Penny Pilot 3 Options
                                                  amendments, all written statements                        I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       Rebates to Add Liquidity Tiers 7 or 8.
                                                  with respect to the proposed rule                         Statement of the Terms of Substance of                    3. Offer Participants that send NOM
                                                  change that are filed with the                            the Proposed Rule Change                                Market Maker order flow an opportunity
                                                  Commission, and all written                                                                                       to lower the Fee for Removing Liquidity
                                                                                                               The Exchange proposes to amend the                   in Non-Penny Pilot Options from $1.10
                                                  communications relating to the
                                                                                                            Exchange’s transaction fees at Chapter                  to $1.08 per contract provided they
                                                  proposed rule change between the                          XV, Section 2 entitled ‘‘NASDAQ
                                                  Commission and any person, other than                                                                             qualify for Customer or Professional
                                                                                                            Options Market—Fees and Rebates,’’
                                                  those that may be withheld from the                                                                               Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add
                                                                                                            which governs pricing for Nasdaq
                                                  public in accordance with the                                                                                     Liquidity Tiers 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.
                                                                                                            members using the NASDAQ Options
                                                  provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                       Market (‘‘NOM’’), Nasdaq’s facility for
                                                  available for Web site viewing and                        executing and routing standardized
                                                                                                                                                                       3 The Penny Pilot was established in March 2008

                                                  printing in the Commission’s Public                                                                               and has since been expanded and extended through
                                                                                                            equity and index options.                               June 30, 2016. See Securities Exchange Act Release
                                                  Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,                            The text of the proposed rule change                 Nos. 57579 (March 28, 2008), 73 FR 18587 (April
                                                  Washington, DC 20549, on official                         is available on the Exchange’s Web site                 4, 2008) (SR–NASDAQ–2008–026) (notice of filing
                                                  business days between the hours of                        at http://nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com, at                  and immediate effectiveness establishing Penny
                                                  10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                                                                            Pilot); 60874 (October 23, 2009), 74 FR 56682
                                                                                                            the principal office of the Exchange, and               (November 2, 2009)(SR–NASDAQ–2009–091)
                                                  filing also will be available for                         at the Commission’s Public Reference                    (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness
                                                  inspection and copying at the principal                   Room.                                                   expanding and extending Penny Pilot); 60965
                                                  office of the Exchange. All comments                                                                              (November 9, 2009), 74 FR 59292 (November 17,
                                                  received will be posted without change;                   II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                      2009)(SR–NASDAQ–2009–097) (notice of filing and
                                                  the Commission does not edit personal                     Statement of the Purpose of, and                        immediate effectiveness adding seventy-five classes
                                                                                                            Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                  to Penny Pilot); 61455 (February 1, 2010), 75 FR
                                                  identifying information from                                                                                      6239 (February 8, 2010) (SR–NASDAQ–2010–013)
                                                  submissions. You should submit only                       Change                                                  (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness adding
                                                  information that you wish to make                            In its filing with the Commission, the               seventy-five classes to Penny Pilot); 62029 (May 4,
                                                                                                                                                                    2010), 75 FR 25895 (May 10, 2010) (SR–NASDAQ–
                                                  available publicly. All submissions                       Exchange included statements                            2010–053) (notice of filing and immediate
                                                  should refer to File Number SR–                           concerning the purpose of and basis for                 effectiveness adding seventy-five classes to Penny
                                                  NYSEArca–2015–113 and should be                           the proposed rule change and discussed                  Pilot); 65969 (December 15, 2011), 76 FR 79268
                                                  submitted on or before January 11, 2016.                  any comments it received on the                         (December 21, 2011) (SR–NASDAQ–2011–169)
                                                                                                                                                                    (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness [sic]
                                                    For the Commission, by the Division of                  proposed rule change. The text of these                 extension and replacement of Penny Pilot); 67325
                                                  Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated                statements may be examined at the                       (June 29, 2012), 77 FR 40127 (July 6, 2012) (SR–
                                                  authority.20                                              places specified in Item IV below. The                  NASDAQ–2012–075) (notice of filing and
                                                                                                            Exchange has prepared summaries, set                    immediate effectiveness and extension and
                                                  Robert W. Errett,                                                                                                 replacement of Penny Pilot through December 31,
                                                  Deputy Secretary.                                         forth in sections A, B, and C below, of                 2012); 68519 (December 21, 2012), 78 FR 136
                                                  [FR Doc. 2015–31933 Filed 12–18–15; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                            the most significant aspects of such                    (January 2, 2013) (SR–NASDAQ–2012–143) (notice
                                                                                                            statements.                                             of filing and immediate effectiveness and extension
                                                  BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                                                                            and replacement of Penny Pilot through June 30,
                                                                                                            A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       2013); 69787 (June 18, 2013), 78 FR 37858 (June 24,
                                                                                                            Statement of the Purpose of, and                        2013) (SR–NASDAQ–2013–082) (notice of filing
                                                  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                   Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                  and immediate effectiveness and extension and
                                                  COMMISSION                                                                                                        replacement of Penny Pilot through December 31,
                                                                                                            Change                                                  2013); 71105 (December 17, 2013), 78 FR 77530
                                                                                                                                                                    (December 23, 2013) (SR–NASDAQ–2013–154)
                                                                                                            1. Purpose                                              (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness and
                                                  [Release No. 34–76647; File No. SR–
                                                  NASDAQ–2015–148]                                             The Exchange proposes various                        extension and replacement of Penny Pilot through
                                                                                                            changes to the NOM transaction fees                     June 30, 2014); 79 FR 31151 (May 23, 2014), 79 FR
                                                                                                                                                                    31151 (May 30, 2014) (SR–NASDAQ–2014–056)
                                                  Self-Regulatory Organizations; The                        and rebates set forth at Chapter XV,                    (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness and
                                                  NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of                        Section 2 for executing and routing                     extension and replacement of Penny Pilot through
                                                  Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of                     standardized equity and index options                   December 31, 2014); 73686 (November 25, 2014), 79
                                                  Proposed Rule Change To Amend                             under the Non-Penny Pilot Options                       FR 71477 (December 2, 2014) (SR–NASDAQ–2014–
                                                                                                                                                                    115) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness
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                                                  NASDAQ Options Market—Fees and                            program, as well as other changes.                      and extension and replacement of Penny Pilot
                                                  Rebates                                                      The proposed changes are as follows:                 through June 30, 2015) and 75283 (June 24, 2015),
                                                                                                               Fees for Removing Liquidity in Non-                  80 FR 37347 (June 30, 2015) (SR–NASDAQ–2015–
                                                  December 15, 2015.                                        Penny Pilot Options: The Exchange                       063) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness of
                                                    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the                     proposes to:                                            a Proposed Rule Change Relating to Extension of
                                                  Securities Exchange Act of 1934                                                                                   the Exchange’s Penny Pilot Program and
                                                                                                                                                                    Replacement of Penny Pilot Issues That Have Been
                                                                                                              1 15   U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                              Delisted.) See also NOM Rules, Chapter VI, Section
                                                    20 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                              2 17   CFR 240.19b–4.                                 5.



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Document Created: 2015-12-19 02:56:57
Document Modified: 2015-12-19 02:56:57
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
FR Citation80 FR 79371 

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