81_FR_21696 81 FR 21626 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Order Granting Approval of Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment Nos. 1, 2, and 3 Thereto, Relating to the Listing and Trading of the Shares of the First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Europe ETF, First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Asia Pacific ETF, First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF, and First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Developed International ETF of First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III

81 FR 21626 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Order Granting Approval of Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment Nos. 1, 2, and 3 Thereto, Relating to the Listing and Trading of the Shares of the First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Europe ETF, First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Asia Pacific ETF, First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF, and First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Developed International ETF of First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 70 (April 12, 2016)

Page Range21626-21631
FR Document2016-08307

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 70 (Tuesday, April 12, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 12, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21626-21631]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-08307]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-77548; File No. SR-NASDAQ-2015-161]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Order 
Granting Approval of Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment 
Nos. 1, 2, and 3 Thereto, Relating to the Listing and Trading of the 
Shares of the First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Europe ETF, First Trust 
RiverFront Dynamic Asia Pacific ETF, First Trust RiverFront Dynamic 
Emerging Markets ETF, and First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Developed 
International ETF of First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III

April 6, 2016.

I. Introduction

    On December 22, 2015, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (``Exchange'' or 
``Nasdaq'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission''), pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act'' or Exchange Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 
thereunder,\2\ a proposed rule change to list and trade the shares of 
the First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Europe ETF (``Europe Fund''); First 
Trust RiverFront Dynamic Asia Pacific ETF (``Asia Pacific Fund''); 
First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF (``Emerging Markets 
Fund''); and First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Developed International ETF 
(``Developed International Fund''). The proposed rule change was 
published for comment in the Federal Register on January 8, 2016.\3\ On 
January 8, 2016, the Exchange filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposed 
rule change.\4\ On February 18, 2016, the Exchange filed Amendment No. 
2 to the proposed rule change.\5\ On February 19, 2016, pursuant to 
Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,\6\ the Commission designated a longer 
period within which to approve the proposed rule change, disapprove the 
proposed rule change, or institute proceedings to determine whether to 
disapprove the proposed rule change.\7\ On April 5, 2016, the Exchange 
filed Amendment No. 3 to the proposed rule change.\8\ The Commission 
received no comments on the proposed rule change. This order grants 
approval of the proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment Nos. 1, 
2, and 3 thereto.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 76817 (January 4, 
2016), 81 FR 978 (``Notice'').
    \4\ In Amendment No. 1, the Exchange clarified the proposed rule 
change by providing additional information regarding the currencies, 
and instruments that provide exposure to such currencies, in which 
each Fund will invest. Because Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule 
change does not materially alter the substance of the proposed rule 
change or raise novel regulatory issues, Amendment No. 1 is not 
subject to notice and comment (Amendment No. 1 is available at: 
http:// www.sec.gov/comments/sr-nasdaq-2015-161/nasdaq2015161-1.pdf).
    \5\ In Amendment No. 2, the Exchange expanded the application of 
the Alternative Criteria (as discussed below) so that they will 
apply on a continual basis. Because Amendment No. 2 does not 
materially alter the substance of the proposed rule change or raise 
novel regulatory issues, Amendment No. 2 is not subject to notice 
and comment (Amendment No. 2 is available at: http: //www.sec.gov/comments/sr-nasdaq-2015-161/nasdaq2015161-2.pdf).
    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
    \7\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 77192, 81 FR 9575 
(February 25, 2016).
    \8\ In Amendment No. 3 to the proposed rule change, the Exchange 
clarified that: (a) All statements and representations made in the 
proposal regarding the description of the portfolios, limitations on 
portfolio holdings or reference assets, or the applicability of 
Exchange rules and surveillance procedures shall constitute 
continued listing requirements for listing the Shares on the 
Exchange; (b) the issuer will advise the Exchange of any failure by 
the Funds to comply with the continued listing requirements; (c) 
pursuant to its obligations under Section 19(g)(1) of the Act, the 
Exchange will monitor for compliance with the continued listing 
requirements; and (d) if a Fund is not in compliance with the 
applicable listing requirements, the Exchange will commence 
delisting procedures under the Nasdaq 5800 Series. Because Amendment 
No. 3 to the proposed rule change does not materially alter the 
substance of the proposed rule change or raise unique or novel 
regulatory issues, Amendment No. 3 is not subject to notice and 
comment (Amendment No. 3 is available at: http://www.sec.gov/comments/sr-nasdaq-2015-161/nasdaq2015161-3.pdf).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

II. Exchange's Description of the Proposal

    The Exchange proposes to list and trade the shares (``Shares'') of 
the Europe Fund, Asia Pacific Fund, Emerging Markets Fund, and 
Developed International Fund (individually, ``Fund,'' and collectively, 
``Funds'') under Nasdaq Rule 5735, which governs the listing and 
trading of Managed Fund Shares on the Exchange. Each Fund, which will 
be a series of First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III (``Trust''), will 
be an actively managed exchange-traded fund (``ETF''). The Shares will 
be offered by the Trust,\9\ which was established as a Massachusetts 
business trust on January 9, 2008. The Trust is registered with the 
Commission as an investment company and has filed a registration 
statement on Form N-1A with the Commission.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ According to the Exchange, the Trust has obtained certain 
exemptive relief under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (``1940 
Act''). See Investment Company Act Release No. 28468 (October 27, 
2008) (File No. 812-13477).
    \10\ See Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 to Registration 
Statement on Form N-1A for the Trust, dated November 19, 2015 (File 
Nos. 333-176976 and 811-22245) (``Registration Statement'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    First Trust Advisors L.P. will be the investment adviser 
(``Adviser'') to the

[[Page 21627]]

Funds. RiverFront Investment Group, LLC will serve as investment sub-
adviser (``Sub-Adviser'') to the Funds and provide day-to-day portfolio 
management. First Trust Portfolios L.P. (``Distributor'') will be the 
principal underwriter and distributor of each Fund's Shares. Brown 
Brothers Harriman & Co. will act as the administrator, accounting 
agent, custodian, and transfer agent to the Funds. According to the 
Exchange, neither the Adviser nor the Sub-Adviser is a broker-dealer, 
although the Adviser is affiliated with the Distributor, a broker-
dealer, and the Sub-Adviser is affiliated with Robert W. Baird & Co. 
Incorporated, a broker-dealer. Each of the Adviser and Sub-Adviser has 
implemented a fire wall with respect to its respective broker-dealer 
affiliate regarding access to information concerning the composition or 
changes to a portfolio.\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ In the event (a) the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser registers 
as a broker-dealer, or becomes newly affiliated with a broker-
dealer, or (b) any new adviser or sub-adviser is a registered 
broker-dealer or becomes affiliated with another broker-dealer, it 
will implement a fire wall with respect to its relevant personnel 
and/or such broker-dealer affiliate, as applicable, regarding access 
to information concerning the composition of, and/or changes to, a 
portfolio and will be subject to procedures designed to prevent the 
use and dissemination of material, non-public information regarding 
such portfolio.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange has made the following representations and statements 
describing the Funds and the Funds' investment strategies, including 
the Funds' portfolio holdings and investment restrictions.\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ Additional information regarding the Funds, the Trust, and 
the Shares, including investment strategies, risks, creation and 
redemption procedures, fees, portfolio holdings disclosure policies, 
calculation of net asset value (``NAV''), distributions, and taxes, 
among other things, can be found in the Notice, the amendments, and 
the Registration Statement, as applicable. See Notice, Amendment 
Nos. 1-3, and Registration Statement, supra notes 3, 4, 5, 8, and 
10, respectively.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

A. Exchange's Description of Principal Investment Strategies Applicable 
to Each Fund

    Each Fund's investment objective will be to provide capital 
appreciation. Under normal market conditions,\13\ each Fund will seek 
to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 80% of its 
net assets (including investment borrowings) in a combination of: (i) 
``Principal Fund Equity Securities'' (as defined below); (ii) forward 
currency contracts and non-deliverable forward currency contracts 
(collectively, ``Forward Contracts''); and (iii) currency transactions 
on a spot (i.e., cash) basis.\14\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ The term ``under normal market conditions'' as used herein 
includes, but is not limited to, the absence of adverse market, 
economic, political or other conditions, including extreme 
volatility or trading halts in the securities markets or the 
financial markets generally; operational issues causing 
dissemination of inaccurate market information; or force majeure 
type events such as systems failure, natural or man-made disaster, 
act of God, armed conflict, act of terrorism, riot or labor 
disruption, or any similar intervening circumstance. On a temporary 
basis, including for defensive purposes, during the initial invest-
up period and during periods of high cash inflows or outflows, a 
Fund may depart from its principal investment strategies; for 
example, it may hold a higher than normal proportion of its assets 
in cash. During such periods, a Fund may not be able to achieve its 
investment objective. A Fund may adopt a defensive strategy when the 
Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser believes securities in which such 
Fund normally invests have elevated risks due to political or 
economic factors and in other extraordinary circumstances.
    \14\ A Fund would enter into Forward Contracts and/or currency 
spot transactions for hedging purposes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For each Fund, (a) ``Principal Equity Securities'' will consist of 
the following U.S. and non-U.S. exchange-listed securities: (i) Common 
stocks; (ii) common and preferred shares of real estate investment 
trusts (``REITs''); and (iii) American Depositary Receipts (``ADRs''), 
European Depositary Receipts (``EDRs''), and Global Depositary Receipts 
(``GDRs'' and, together with ADRs and EDRs, collectively, ``Depositary 
Receipts''),\15\ and (b) ``Principal Fund Equity Securities'' will 
consist of Principal Equity Securities that are suggested by such 
Fund's name.\16\ Accordingly:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ The Funds will not invest in any unsponsored Depositary 
Receipts.
    \16\ With respect to Depositary Receipts, whether such Principal 
Equity Securities are Principal Fund Equity Securities is based on 
the underlying securities, the ownership of which is represented by 
the Depositary Receipts (i.e., whether, as described below, the 
relevant underlying security is a security of a European company, an 
Asian Pacific company, an emerging market company, or a developed 
market company, as applicable).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (1) For the Europe Fund, Principal Fund Equity Securities will be 
Principal Equity Securities of European companies; \17\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ European companies are those companies (i) whose securities 
are traded principally on a stock exchange in a European country, 
(ii) that are organized under the laws of or have a principal office 
in a European country, or (iii) that have at least 50% of their 
assets in, or derive at least 50% of their revenues or profits from, 
a European country.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) for the Asia Pacific Fund, Principal Fund Equity Securities 
will be Principal Equity Securities of Asian Pacific companies; \18\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ Asian Pacific companies are those companies (i) whose 
securities are traded principally on a stock exchange in an Asian 
Pacific country, (ii) that are organized under the laws of or have a 
principal office in an Asian Pacific country, or (iii) that have at 
least 50% of their assets in, or derive at least 50% of their 
revenues or profits from, an Asian Pacific country.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (3) for the Emerging Markets Fund, Principal Fund Equity Securities 
will be Principal Equity Securities of emerging market companies; \19\ 
and
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ An emerging market company is one (i) domiciled or with a 
principal place of business or primary securities trading market in 
an emerging market country, or (ii) that derives a substantial 
portion of its total revenues or profits from emerging market 
countries.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (4) for the Developed International Fund, Principal Fund Equity 
Securities will be Principal Equity Securities of developed market 
companies.\20\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ Developed market companies are those companies (i) whose 
securities are traded principally on a stock exchange in a developed 
market country, (ii) that are organized under the laws of or have a 
principal office in a developed market country, or (iii) that have 
at least 50% of their assets in, or derive at least 50% of their 
revenues or profits from, a developed market country.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In selecting securities for a Fund, the Sub-Adviser will score 
individual securities from a portfolio of eligible securities according 
to several core attributes, using multiple proprietary factors within 
each core attribute. The Sub-Adviser will then rank each qualifying 
security based on its core attribute score, and the highest scoring 
securities will be considered for inclusion in the Fund's portfolio. 
The Sub-Adviser will utilize its proprietary optimization process to 
maximize the percentage of high-scoring securities included in each 
Fund's portfolio.
    In addition, for each Fund, by entering into Forward Contracts and 
currency spot transactions, the Sub-Adviser will deploy a dynamic 
currency hedge (hedging up to 100% of such Fund's foreign currency 
exposure) based on its proprietary hedging methodology. The Sub-
Adviser's hedging methodology will be constructed from a combination of 
quantitative measures and qualitative measures. Each Fund will only 
enter into transactions in Forward Contracts with counterparties that 
the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser reasonably believe are capable of 
performing under the applicable Forward Contract.\21\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ According to the Exchange, each Fund will seek, where 
possible, to use counterparties, as applicable, whose financial 
status is such that the risk of default is reduced; however, the 
risk of losses resulting from default is still possible. The Adviser 
and/or the Sub-Adviser will evaluate the creditworthiness of 
counterparties on an ongoing basis. In addition to information 
provided by credit agencies, the Adviser's and/or Sub-Adviser's 
analysis will evaluate each approved counterparty using various 
methods of analysis and may consider the Adviser's and/or Sub-
Adviser's past experience with the counterparty, its known 
disciplinary history, and its share of market participation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Exchange's Description of Other Investments for the Funds

    According to the Exchange, each Fund may invest (in the aggregate) 
up to 20% of its net assets in the following securities and 
instruments.

[[Page 21628]]

    Each Fund may invest in the following U.S. and non-U.S. exchange-
listed securities (other than Principal Fund Equity Securities): (i) 
Common stocks; (ii) common and preferred shares of REITs; (iii) 
Depositary Receipts; and (iv) equity securities of business development 
companies (collectively, ``Other Equity Securities'').\22\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \22\ For each Fund, Other Equity Securities and Principal Fund 
Equity Securities are referred to collectively as ``Equity 
Securities.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Each Fund may invest in short-term debt securities and other short-
term debt instruments (described below), as well as cash equivalents, 
or it may hold cash. The percentage of each Fund invested in such 
holdings or held in cash will vary and will depend on several factors, 
including market conditions. Each Fund may invest in the following 
short-term debt instruments: \23\ (1) Fixed rate and floating rate U.S. 
government securities, including bills, notes, and bonds differing as 
to maturity and rates of interest, which are either issued or 
guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or by U.S. government agencies or 
instrumentalities; (2) certificates of deposit issued against funds 
deposited in a bank or savings and loan association; (3) bankers' 
acceptances, which are short-term credit instruments used to finance 
commercial transactions; (4) repurchase agreements,\24\ which involve 
purchases of debt securities; (5) bank time deposits, which are monies 
kept on deposit with banks or savings and loan associations for a 
stated period of time at a fixed rate of interest; (6) commercial 
paper, which is short-term unsecured promissory notes; \25\ and (7) 
short-term debt obligations issued or guaranteed by non-U.S. 
governments or by their agencies or instrumentalities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ The Exchange represents that short-term debt instruments 
will be issued by issuers having a long-term debt rating of at least 
A by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services (``S&P Ratings''), Moody's 
Investors Service, Inc. (``Moody's''), or Fitch Ratings (``Fitch''), 
and have a maturity of one year or less.
    \24\ According to the Exchange, each Fund intends to enter into 
repurchase agreements only with financial institutions and dealers 
believed by the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser to present minimal 
credit risks in accordance with criteria approved by the Board of 
Trustees of the Trust. The Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser will 
review and monitor the creditworthiness of such institutions. The 
Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser will monitor the value of the 
collateral at the time the transaction is entered into and at all 
times during the term of the repurchase agreement. The Funds will 
not enter into reverse repurchase agreements.
    \25\ Each Fund may only invest in commercial paper rated A-1 or 
higher by S&P Ratings, Prime-1 or higher by Moody's, or F1 or higher 
by Fitch.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Each Fund may invest (but only up to 5% of its net assets) in 
exchange-listed equity index futures contracts.

C. Exchange's Description of the Funds' Equity Securities

    According to the Exchange, under normal market conditions, each 
Fund will invest in at least 20 Equity Securities. Each Fund will 
satisfy the ``ISG Criteria'' (as described below) and/or the 
``Alternative Criteria'' (as described below).
    A Fund will satisfy the ISG Criteria if at least 90% of such Fund's 
net assets that are invested (in the aggregate) in Equity Securities 
will be invested in Equity Securities that trade in markets that are 
members of the Intermarket Surveillance Group (``ISG'') \26\ or are 
parties to a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement with the 
Exchange.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A Fund will satisfy the Alternative Criteria if, under normal 
market conditions, its Equity Securities meet the following criteria at 
the time of purchase and on a continuous basis: (1) Non-U.S. Equity 
Securities \27\ each shall have a minimum market value of at least $100 
million; (2) non-U.S. Equity Securities each shall have a minimum 
global monthly trading volume of 250,000 shares, or minimum global 
notional volume traded per month of $25,000,000, averaged over the last 
six months; (3) the most heavily weighted non-U.S. Equity Security 
shall not exceed 25% of the weight of the Fund's entire portfolio and, 
to the extent applicable, the five most heavily weighted non-U.S. 
Equity Securities shall not exceed 60% of the weight of the Fund's 
entire portfolio; (4) each non-U.S. Equity Security shall be listed and 
traded on an exchange that has last-sale reporting; and (5) all of such 
Fund's net assets that are invested (in the aggregate) in Equity 
Securities other than non-U.S. Equity Securities shall be invested in 
Equity Securities that trade in markets that are members of ISG or are 
parties to a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement with the 
Exchange.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ For purposes of this filing, the term ``non-U.S. Equity 
Securities'' means Equity Securities that are not listed on a U.S. 
exchange.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

D. Exchange's Description of the Funds' Transactions in Forward 
Contracts and Exchange-Listed Equity Index Futures Contracts

    According to the Exchange, each Fund's transactions in Forward 
Contracts and exchange-listed equity index futures contracts will be 
consistent with its investment objective and the 1940 Act and will not 
be used to seek to achieve a multiple or inverse multiple of an index. 
Each Fund will comply with the regulatory requirements of the 
Commission with respect to coverage in connection with its transactions 
in Forward Contracts and exchange-listed equity index futures 
contracts. If the applicable guidelines prescribed under the 1940 Act 
so require, a Fund will earmark cash, U.S. government securities and/or 
other liquid assets permitted by the Commission in the amount 
prescribed.

E. Exchange's Description of the Funds' Investment Restrictions

    Each Fund may hold up to an aggregate amount of 15% of its net 
assets in illiquid assets (calculated at the time of investment), 
deemed illiquid by the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser.\28\ Each Fund 
will monitor its portfolio liquidity on an ongoing basis to determine 
whether, in light of current circumstances, an adequate level of 
liquidity is being maintained, and will consider taking appropriate 
steps in order to maintain adequate liquidity if, through a change in 
values, net assets, or other circumstances, more than 15% of such 
Fund's net assets are held in illiquid assets. Illiquid assets include 
securities subject to contractual or other restrictions on resale and 
other instruments that lack readily available markets as determined in 
accordance with Commission staff guidance.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \28\ According to the Exchange, in determining the liquidity of 
the Funds' investments, the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser may 
consider the following factors: (i) The frequency of trades and 
quotes for the security or other instrument; (ii) the number of 
dealers wishing to purchase or sell the security or other instrument 
and the number of other potential purchasers; (iii) dealer 
undertakings to make a market in the security or other instrument; 
and (iv) the nature of the security or other instrument and the 
nature of the marketplace in which it trades (e.g., the time needed 
to dispose of the security or other instrument, the method of 
soliciting offers and the mechanics of transfer).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Funds may not invest 25% or more of the value of their 
respective total assets in securities of issuers in any one industry. 
This restriction does not apply to (a) obligations issued or guaranteed 
by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, or (b) 
securities of other investment companies.
    Each Fund intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment 
company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code.

III. Discussion and Commission Findings

    After careful review, the Commission finds that the Exchange's 
proposal is consistent with the Exchange Act and the rules and 
regulations thereunder

[[Page 21629]]

applicable to a national securities exchange.\29\ In particular, the 
Commission finds that the proposed rule change, as modified by 
Amendment Nos. 1, 2, and 3 thereto, is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) 
of the Exchange Act,\30\ which requires, among other things, that the 
Exchange's rules be designed to promote just and equitable principles 
of trade, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free 
and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to 
protect investors and the public interest.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \29\ In approving this proposed rule change, the Commission has 
considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, 
and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
    \30\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission also finds that the proposal is consistent with 
Section 11A(a)(1)(C)(iii) of the Exchange Act,\31\ which sets forth 
Congress's finding that it is in the public interest and appropriate 
for the protection of investors and the maintenance of fair and orderly 
markets to assure the availability to brokers, dealers, and investors 
of information with respect to quotations for, and transactions in, 
securities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ 15 U.S.C. 78k-1(a)(1)(C)(iii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Quotation and last-sale information for the Shares will be 
available via Nasdaq proprietary quote and trade services, as well as 
in accordance with the Unlisted Trading Privileges and the Consolidated 
Tape Association (``CTA'') plans for the Shares. On each business day, 
before commencement of trading in Shares in the Regular Market Session 
\32\ on the Exchange, each Fund will disclose on its Web site the 
Disclosed Portfolio held by such Fund that will form the basis for such 
Fund's calculation of NAV at the end of the business day.\33\ The NAV 
of each Fund's Shares generally will be calculated once daily Monday 
through Friday as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock 
Exchange, generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time.\34\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \32\ See Nasdaq Rule 4120(b)(4) (describing the three trading 
sessions on the Exchange: (1) Pre-Market Session from 4:00 a.m. to 
9:30 a.m., Eastern Time; (2) Regular Market Session from 9:30 a.m. 
to 4:00 p.m. or 4:15 p.m., Eastern Time; and (3) Post-Market Session 
from 4:00 p.m. or 4:15 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time).
    \33\ Nasdaq Rule 5735(c)(2) defines the term ``Disclosed 
Portfolio.'' According to the Exchange, each Fund's disclosure of 
derivative positions in the Disclosed Portfolio will include 
sufficient information for market participants to use to value these 
positions intraday. On a daily basis, each Fund will also disclose 
on its Web site the following information regarding each portfolio 
holding, as applicable to the type of holding: ticker symbol, CUSIP 
number or other identifier, if any; a description of the holding 
(including the type of holding); the identity of the security, 
index, or other asset or instrument underlying the holding, if any; 
quantity held (as measured by, for example, par value, notional 
value, or number of shares, contracts, or units); maturity date, if 
any; coupon rate, if any; effective date, if any; market value of 
the holding; and percentage weighting of the holding in the Fund's 
portfolio. The Web site information will be publicly available at no 
charge.
    \34\ According to the Exchange, the Funds' investments will be 
valued daily. The following investments will typically be valued 
using information provided by a third-party pricing service 
(``Pricing Service''): (a) Except as provided below, short term U.S. 
government securities, commercial paper, bankers' acceptances, and 
short-term debt obligations issued or guaranteed by non-U.S. 
governments or by their agencies or instrumentalities (collectively, 
``Short Term Debt Instruments''); and (b) currency spot 
transactions. Debt instruments may be valued at evaluated mean 
prices, as provided by Pricing Services. Short Term Debt Instruments 
having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less when purchased will 
typically be valued at cost adjusted for amortization of premiums 
and accretion of discounts, provided the pricing committee of the 
Adviser (``Pricing Committee'') has determined that the use of 
amortized cost is an appropriate reflection of value given market 
and issuer specific conditions existing at the time of the 
determination. Overnight repurchase agreements will be valued at 
amortized cost when it represents the best estimate of value. Term 
repurchase agreements (i.e., those whose maturity exceeds seven 
days) will be valued at the average of the bid quotations obtained 
daily from at least two recognized dealers. Certificates of deposit 
and bank time deposits will typically be valued at cost. Equity 
Securities that are listed on any exchange other than the Exchange 
and the London Stock Exchange Alternative Investment Market 
(``AIM'') will typically be valued at the last-sale price on the 
exchange on which they are principally traded on the business day as 
of which such value is being determined. Equity Securities listed on 
the Exchange or the AIM will typically be valued at the official 
closing price on the business day as of which such value is being 
determined. If there has been no sale on such day, or no official 
closing price in the case of securities traded on the Exchange or 
the AIM, such securities will typically be valued using fair value 
pricing. Equity Securities traded on more than one securities 
exchange will be valued at the last sale price or official closing 
price, as applicable, on the business day as of which such value is 
being determined at the close of the exchange representing the 
principal market for such securities. Exchange-listed equity index 
futures contracts will typically be valued at the closing price in 
the market where such instruments are principally traded. Forward 
Contracts will typically be valued at the current day's interpolated 
foreign exchange rate, as calculated using the current day's spot 
rate, and the thirty, sixty, ninety, and one-hundred-eighty day 
forward rates provided by a Pricing Service or by certain 
independent dealers in such contracts. Assets denominated in foreign 
currencies will be translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate 
of such currencies against the U.S. dollar as provided by a Pricing 
Service. The value of assets denominated in foreign currencies will 
be converted into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates in effect at 
the time of valuation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, the Intraday Indicative Value \35\ for each Fund, 
available on the NASDAQ OMX Information LLC proprietary index data 
service, will be based upon the current value for the components of the 
Disclosed Portfolio and will be updated and widely disseminated by one 
or more major market data vendors and broadly displayed at least every 
15 seconds during the Regular Market Session. The Intraday Indicative 
Value will be based on quotes and closing prices from the securities' 
local market and may not reflect events that occur subsequent to the 
local market's close.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \35\ Nasdaq Rule 5735(c)(3) defines the term ``Intraday 
Indicative Value.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Information regarding market price and trading volume of the Shares 
will be continually available on a real-time basis throughout the day 
on brokers' computer screens and other electronic services. Information 
regarding the previous day's closing price and trading volume 
information for the Shares will be published daily in the financial 
section of newspapers. Quotation and last-sale information for the 
Equity Securities (to the extent traded on a U.S. exchange) will be 
available from the exchanges on which they are traded as well as in 
accordance with any applicable CTA plans. Pricing information for 
Short-Term Debt Instruments, repurchase agreements, Forward Contracts, 
bank time deposits, certificates of deposit, and currency spot 
transactions will be available from major broker-dealer firms and/or 
major market data vendors and/or Pricing Services. Pricing information 
for exchange-listed equity index futures contracts and non-U.S. Equity 
Securities will be available from the applicable listing exchange and 
from major market data vendors. In addition, the Exchange notes that 
the Funds' Web site will include a form of the prospectus for the Funds 
and additional data relating to NAV and other applicable quantitative 
information.
    The Commission also believes that the proposal to list and trade 
the Shares is reasonably designed to promote fair disclosure of 
information that may be necessary to price the Shares appropriately and 
to prevent trading when a reasonable degree of transparency cannot be 
assured. The Exchange states that it will obtain a representation from 
the issuer of the Shares that the NAV per Share will be calculated 
daily and that the NAV and the Disclosed Portfolio will be made 
available to all market participants at the same time. The Exchange 
also represents that it may consider all relevant factors in exercising 
its discretion to halt or suspend trading in the Shares of a Fund. The 
Exchange will halt trading in the Shares under the conditions specified 
in Nasdaq Rules 4120 and 4121, including the trading pauses under 
Nasdaq Rules 4120(a)(11) and (12). Trading may be halted because of 
market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, 
make

[[Page 21630]]

trading in the Shares inadvisable.\36\ Trading in the Shares also will 
be subject to Rule 5735(d)(2)(D), which sets forth circumstances under 
which Shares of a Fund may be halted.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \36\ These may include: (1) The extent to which trading is not 
occurring in the securities and/or the other assets constituting the 
Disclosed Portfolio of a Fund; or (2) whether other unusual 
conditions or circumstances detrimental to the maintenance of a fair 
and orderly market are present.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange states that it has a general policy prohibiting the 
distribution of material, non-public information by its employees. The 
Exchange further states that neither the Adviser nor the Sub-Adviser is 
a broker-dealer, but each is affiliated with a broker-dealer, and that 
the Adviser and Sub-Adviser has each implemented a fire wall with 
respect to its respective broker-dealer affiliate regarding access to 
information concerning the composition of, and changes to, each Fund's 
portfolio.\37\ Further, the Commission notes that the Reporting 
Authority \38\ that provides the Disclosed Portfolio must implement and 
maintain, or be subject to, procedures designed to prevent the use and 
dissemination of material, non-public information regarding the actual 
components of the portfolio.\39\ The Exchange represents that trading 
in the Shares will be subject to the existing trading surveillances, 
administered by both Nasdaq and also 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.\40\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \37\ See supra note 11 and accompanying text. The Exchange 
further represents that an investment adviser to an open-end fund is 
required to be registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 
(``Advisers Act''). As a result, the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, and 
their related personnel are subject to the provisions of Rule 204A-1 
under the Advisers Act relating to codes of ethics. This Rule 
requires investment advisers to adopt a code of ethics that reflects 
the fiduciary nature of the relationship to clients as well as 
compliance with other applicable securities laws. Accordingly, 
procedures designed to prevent the communication and misuse of non-
public information by an investment adviser must be consistent with 
Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act. In addition, Rule 206(4)-7 under 
the Advisers Act makes it unlawful for an investment adviser to 
provide investment advice to clients unless such investment adviser 
has (i) adopted and implemented written policies and procedures 
reasonably designed to prevent violation, by the investment adviser 
and its supervised persons, of the Advisers Act and the Commission 
rules adopted thereunder; (ii) implemented, at a minimum, an annual 
review regarding the adequacy of the policies and procedures 
established pursuant to subparagraph (i) above and the effectiveness 
of their implementation; and (iii) designated an individual (who is 
a supervised person) responsible for administering the policies and 
procedures adopted under subparagraph (i) above.
    \38\ Nasdaq Rule 5735(c)(4) defines ``Reporting Authority.''
    \39\ See Nasdaq Rule 5735(d)(2)(B)(ii).
    \40\ The Exchange represents that FINRA surveils trading on the 
Exchange pursuant to a regulatory services agreement and that the 
Exchange is responsible for FINRA's performance under this 
regulatory services agreement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Nasdaq deems the Shares to be equity securities, thus rendering 
trading in the Shares subject to Nasdaq's existing rules governing the 
trading of equity securities. In support of this proposal, the Exchange 
represented that:
    (1) The Shares will be subject to Nasdaq Rule 5735, which sets 
forth the initial and continued listing criteria applicable to Managed 
Fund Shares.
    (2) Trading in the Shares will be subject to the existing trading 
surveillances, administered by both Nasdaq and FINRA on behalf of the 
Exchange, which are designed to detect violations of Exchange rules and 
applicable federal securities laws. 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 applicable federal securities laws.
    (3) FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, will communicate as needed 
regarding trading in the Shares and certain of the Equity Securities 
and exchange-listed equity index futures contracts held by the Funds 
with other markets and other entities that are members of ISG, and 
FINRA may obtain trading information regarding trading in the Shares 
and such securities and instruments held by the Funds from such markets 
and other entities. In addition, the Exchange may obtain information 
regarding trading in the Shares and certain of the Equity Securities 
and exchange-listed equity index futures contracts held by the Funds 
from markets and other entities that are members of ISG, which includes 
securities and futures exchanges, or with which the Exchange has in 
place a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement. Moreover, FINRA, 
on behalf of the Exchange, will be able to access, as needed, trade 
information for certain fixed income securities held by the Funds 
reported to FINRA's Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (``TRACE'').
    (4) For each Fund, at least 90% of such Fund's net assets that are 
invested (in the aggregate) in exchange-listed equity index futures 
contracts will be invested in instruments that trade in markets that 
are members of ISG or are parties to a comprehensive surveillance 
sharing agreement with the Exchange.
    (5) The Exchange has appropriate rules to facilitate transactions 
in the Shares during all trading sessions.
    (6) Prior to the commencement of trading, the Exchange will inform 
its members in an Information Circular of the special characteristics 
and risks associated with trading the Shares. Specifically, the 
Information Circular for each Fund will discuss the following: (a) The 
procedures for purchases and redemptions of Shares in Creation Units 
(and that Shares are not individually redeemable); (b) Nasdaq Rule 
2111A, which imposes suitability obligations on Nasdaq members with 
respect to recommending transactions in the Shares to customers; (c) 
how information regarding the Intraday Indicative Value and the 
Disclosed Portfolio is disseminated; (d) the risks involved in trading 
the Shares during the Pre-Market and Post-Market Sessions when an 
updated Intraday Indicative Value will not be calculated or publicly 
disseminated; (e) the requirement that members deliver a prospectus to 
investors purchasing newly issued Shares prior to or concurrently with 
the confirmation of a transaction; and (f) trading information.
    (7) For initial and continued listing, the Funds must be in 
compliance with Rule 10A-3 under the Act.\41\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \41\ See 17 CFR 240.10A-3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (8) Each Fund may hold up to an aggregate amount of 15% of its net 
assets in illiquid assets.
    (9) The Pricing Committee will be subject to procedures designed to 
prevent the use and dissemination of material non-public information 
regarding each Fund's portfolio.
    (10) Each Fund will satisfy: (a) The ISG Criteria; and/or (b) the 
Alternative Criteria at the time of purchase and on a continuous basis.
    (11) A minimum of 100,000 Shares will be outstanding at the 
commencement of trading on the Exchange.
    The Exchange represents that all statements and representations 
made in the filing regarding (a) the description of the portfolios, (b) 
limitations on portfolio holdings or reference assets, or (c) the 
applicability of Exchange rules and surveillance procedures shall 
constitute continued listing requirements for listing the Shares on the 
Exchange. In addition, the issuer has represented to the Exchange that 
it will advise the Exchange of any failure by the Funds to comply with 
the continued listing requirements, and, pursuant to its obligations 
under Section 19(g)(1) of the Act, the Exchange will monitor for 
compliance with the continued listing requirements.\42\ If a Fund is 
not in

[[Page 21631]]

compliance with the applicable listing requirements, the Exchange will 
commence delisting procedures under the Nasdaq 5800 Series. This 
approval order is based on all of the Exchange's representations, 
including those set forth above, in the Notice, and in Amendment Nos. 
1, 2, and 3 to the proposed rule change. The Commission notes that the 
Funds and the Shares must comply with the requirements of Nasdaq Rule 
5735, including those set forth in this proposed rule change, as 
modified by Amendment Nos. 1, 2, and 3 thereto, to be listed and traded 
on the Exchange on an initial and continuing basis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \42\ The Commission notes that certain other proposals for the 
listing and trading of Managed Fund Shares include a representation 
that the exchange will ``surveil'' for compliance with the continued 
listing requirements. See, e.g., Amendment No. 2 to SR-BATS-2016-04, 
available at: http://www.sec.gov/comments/sr-bats-2016-04/bats201604-2.pdf. In the context of this representation, it is the 
Commission's view that ``monitor'' and ``surveil'' both mean ongoing 
oversight of the Fund's compliance with the continued listing 
requirements. Therefore, the Commission does not view ``monitor'' as 
a more or less stringent obligation than ``surveil'' with respect to 
the continued listing requirements.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For the foregoing reasons, the Commission finds that the proposed 
rule change, as modified by Amendment Nos. 1, 2, and 3 thereto, is 
consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act \43\ and the rules and 
regulations thereunder applicable to a national securities exchange.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \43\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Conclusion

    It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the 
Exchange Act,\44\ that the proposed rule change (SR-NASDAQ-2015-161), 
as modified by Amendment Nos. 1, 2, and 3 thereto, be, and it hereby 
is, approved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \44\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\45\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \45\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-08307 Filed 4-11-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                    21626                            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 70 / Tuesday, April 12, 2016 / Notices

                                                    Comments may be submitted by any of                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                               2016, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the
                                                    the following methods:                                    COMMISSION                                            Act,6 the Commission designated a
                                                                                                                                                                    longer period within which to approve
                                                    Electronic Comments                                       [Release No. 34–77548; File No. SR–
                                                                                                                                                                    the proposed rule change, disapprove
                                                                                                              NASDAQ–2015–161]
                                                      • Use the Commission’s Internet                                                                               the proposed rule change, or institute
                                                    comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                         Self-Regulatory Organizations; The                    proceedings to determine whether to
                                                                                                              NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Order                        disapprove the proposed rule change.7
                                                    rules/sro.shtml); or
                                                                                                              Granting Approval of Proposed Rule                    On April 5, 2016, the Exchange filed
                                                      • Send an email to rule-comments@                       Change, as Modified by Amendment                      Amendment No. 3 to the proposed rule
                                                    sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                   Nos. 1, 2, and 3 Thereto, Relating to                 change.8 The Commission received no
                                                    NYSEMKT–2016–42 on the subject line.                      the Listing and Trading of the Shares                 comments on the proposed rule change.
                                                                                                              of the First Trust RiverFront Dynamic                 This order grants approval of the
                                                    Paper Comments
                                                                                                              Europe ETF, First Trust RiverFront                    proposed rule change, as modified by
                                                      • Send paper comments in triplicate                     Dynamic Asia Pacific ETF, First Trust                 Amendment Nos. 1, 2, and 3 thereto.
                                                    to Secretary, Securities and Exchange                     RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets                   II. Exchange’s Description of the
                                                    Commission, 100 F Street NE.,                             ETF, and First Trust RiverFront                       Proposal
                                                    Washington, DC 20549–1090.                                Dynamic Developed International ETF
                                                                                                              of First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III                  The Exchange proposes to list and
                                                    All submissions should refer to File                                                                            trade the shares (‘‘Shares’’) of the
                                                    Number SR–NYSEMKT–2016–42. This                           April 6, 2016.                                        Europe Fund, Asia Pacific Fund,
                                                    file number should be included on the                                                                           Emerging Markets Fund, and Developed
                                                                                                              I. Introduction
                                                    subject line if email is used. To help the                                                                      International Fund (individually,
                                                                                                                 On December 22, 2015, The NASDAQ                   ‘‘Fund,’’ and collectively, ‘‘Funds’’)
                                                    Commission process and review your
                                                                                                              Stock Market LLC (‘‘Exchange’’ or                     under Nasdaq Rule 5735, which governs
                                                    comments more efficiently, please use
                                                                                                              ‘‘Nasdaq’’) filed with the Securities and             the listing and trading of Managed Fund
                                                    only one method. The Commission will                      Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’),                 Shares on the Exchange. Each Fund,
                                                    post all comments on the Commission’s                     pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the                   which will be a series of First Trust
                                                    Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                    Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’              Exchange-Traded Fund III (‘‘Trust’’),
                                                    rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                           or Exchange Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4                   will be an actively managed exchange-
                                                    submission, all subsequent                                thereunder,2 a proposed rule change to                traded fund (‘‘ETF’’). The Shares will be
                                                    amendments, all written statements                        list and trade the shares of the First                offered by the Trust,9 which was
                                                    with respect to the proposed rule                         Trust RiverFront Dynamic Europe ETF                   established as a Massachusetts business
                                                    change that are filed with the                            (‘‘Europe Fund’’); First Trust RiverFront             trust on January 9, 2008. The Trust is
                                                    Commission, and all written                               Dynamic Asia Pacific ETF (‘‘Asia Pacific              registered with the Commission as an
                                                    communications relating to the                            Fund’’); First Trust RiverFront Dynamic               investment company and has filed a
                                                    proposed rule change between the                          Emerging Markets ETF (‘‘Emerging                      registration statement on Form N–1A
                                                    Commission and any person, other than                     Markets Fund’’); and First Trust                      with the Commission.10
                                                    those that may be withheld from the                       RiverFront Dynamic Developed                             First Trust Advisors L.P. will be the
                                                    public in accordance with the                             International ETF (‘‘Developed                        investment adviser (‘‘Adviser’’) to the
                                                    provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                       International Fund’’). The proposed rule
                                                    available for Web site viewing and                        change was published for comment in                     6 15  U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
                                                    printing in the Commission’s Public                       the Federal Register on January 8,                      7 See  Securities Exchange Act Release No. 77192,
                                                                                                              2016.3 On January 8, 2016, the Exchange               81 FR 9575 (February 25, 2016).
                                                    Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,                                                                                  8 In Amendment No. 3 to the proposed rule
                                                                                                              filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposed
                                                    Washington, DC 20549, on official                                                                               change, the Exchange clarified that: (a) All
                                                                                                              rule change.4 On February 18, 2016, the               statements and representations made in the
                                                    business days between the hours of
                                                                                                              Exchange filed Amendment No. 2 to the                 proposal regarding the description of the portfolios,
                                                    10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                    proposed rule change.5 On February 19,                limitations on portfolio holdings or reference assets,
                                                    filing also will be available for                                                                               or the applicability of Exchange rules and
                                                    inspection and copying at the principal                                                                         surveillance procedures shall constitute continued
                                                                                                                1 15  U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                             listing requirements for listing the Shares on the
                                                    office of the Exchange. All comments                        2 17  CFR 240.19b–4.                                Exchange; (b) the issuer will advise the Exchange
                                                    received will be posted without change;                      3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 76817    of any failure by the Funds to comply with the
                                                    the Commission does not edit personal                     (January 4, 2016), 81 FR 978 (‘‘Notice’’).            continued listing requirements; (c) pursuant to its
                                                                                                                 4 In Amendment No. 1, the Exchange clarified the   obligations under Section 19(g)(1) of the Act, the
                                                    identifying information from                              proposed rule change by providing additional          Exchange will monitor for compliance with the
                                                    submissions. You should submit only                       information regarding the currencies, and             continued listing requirements; and (d) if a Fund is
                                                    information that you wish to make                         instruments that provide exposure to such             not in compliance with the applicable listing
                                                                                                              currencies, in which each Fund will invest. Because   requirements, the Exchange will commence
                                                    available publicly. All submissions                       Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change does      delisting procedures under the Nasdaq 5800 Series.
                                                    should refer to File Number SR–                           not materially alter the substance of the proposed    Because Amendment No. 3 to the proposed rule
                                                    NYSEMKT–2016–42 and should be                             rule change or raise novel regulatory issues,         change does not materially alter the substance of
                                                                                                              Amendment No. 1 is not subject to notice and          the proposed rule change or raise unique or novel
                                                    submitted on or before May 3, 2016.                                                                             regulatory issues, Amendment No. 3 is not subject
                                                                                                              comment (Amendment No. 1 is available at: http://
                                                      For the Commission, by the Division of                  www.sec.gov/comments/sr-nasdaq-2015-161/              to notice and comment (Amendment No. 3 is
                                                                                                                                                                    available at: http://www.sec.gov/comments/sr-
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated                nasdaq2015161-1.pdf).
                                                                                                                 5 In Amendment No. 2, the Exchange expanded        nasdaq-2015-161/nasdaq2015161-3.pdf).
                                                    authority.21                                                                                                       9 According to the Exchange, the Trust has
                                                                                                              the application of the Alternative Criteria (as
                                                    Robert W. Errett,                                         discussed below) so that they will apply on a         obtained certain exemptive relief under the
                                                                                                              continual basis. Because Amendment No. 2 does         Investment Company Act of 1940 (‘‘1940 Act’’). See
                                                    Deputy Secretary.                                                                                               Investment Company Act Release No. 28468
                                                                                                              not materially alter the substance of the proposed
                                                    [FR Doc. 2016–08304 Filed 4–11–16; 8:45 am]               rule change or raise novel regulatory issues,         (October 27, 2008) (File No. 812–13477).
                                                                                                              Amendment No. 2 is not subject to notice and             10 See Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 to
                                                    BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                                                                              comment (Amendment No. 2 is available at: http:       Registration Statement on Form N–1A for the Trust,
                                                                                                              //www.sec.gov/comments/sr-nasdaq-2015-161/            dated November 19, 2015 (File Nos. 333–176976
                                                      21 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                            nasdaq2015161-2.pdf).                                 and 811–22245) (‘‘Registration Statement’’).



                                               VerDate Sep<11>2014     17:18 Apr 11, 2016   Jkt 238001   PO 00000   Frm 00094   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\12APN1.SGM    12APN1


                                                                                    Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 70 / Tuesday, April 12, 2016 / Notices                                                        21627

                                                    Funds. RiverFront Investment Group,                       Fund will seek to achieve its investment                  Principal Equity Securities of emerging
                                                    LLC will serve as investment sub-                         objective by investing at least 80% of its                market companies; 19 and
                                                    adviser (‘‘Sub-Adviser’’) to the Funds                    net assets (including investment                            (4) for the Developed International
                                                    and provide day-to-day portfolio                          borrowings) in a combination of: (i)                      Fund, Principal Fund Equity Securities
                                                    management. First Trust Portfolios L.P.                   ‘‘Principal Fund Equity Securities’’ (as                  will be Principal Equity Securities of
                                                    (‘‘Distributor’’) will be the principal                   defined below); (ii) forward currency                     developed market companies.20
                                                    underwriter and distributor of each                       contracts and non-deliverable forward                        In selecting securities for a Fund, the
                                                    Fund’s Shares. Brown Brothers                             currency contracts (collectively,                         Sub-Adviser will score individual
                                                    Harriman & Co. will act as the                            ‘‘Forward Contracts’’); and (iii) currency                securities from a portfolio of eligible
                                                    administrator, accounting agent,                          transactions on a spot (i.e., cash) basis.14              securities according to several core
                                                    custodian, and transfer agent to the                         For each Fund, (a) ‘‘Principal Equity                  attributes, using multiple proprietary
                                                    Funds. According to the Exchange,                         Securities’’ will consist of the following                factors within each core attribute. The
                                                    neither the Adviser nor the Sub-Adviser                   U.S. and non-U.S. exchange-listed                         Sub-Adviser will then rank each
                                                    is a broker-dealer, although the Adviser                  securities: (i) Common stocks; (ii)                       qualifying security based on its core
                                                    is affiliated with the Distributor, a                     common and preferred shares of real                       attribute score, and the highest scoring
                                                    broker-dealer, and the Sub-Adviser is                     estate investment trusts (‘‘REITs’’); and                 securities will be considered for
                                                    affiliated with Robert W. Baird & Co.                     (iii) American Depositary Receipts                        inclusion in the Fund’s portfolio. The
                                                    Incorporated, a broker-dealer. Each of                    (‘‘ADRs’’), European Depositary                           Sub-Adviser will utilize its proprietary
                                                    the Adviser and Sub-Adviser has                           Receipts (‘‘EDRs’’), and Global                           optimization process to maximize the
                                                    implemented a fire wall with respect to                   Depositary Receipts (‘‘GDRs’’ and,                        percentage of high-scoring securities
                                                    its respective broker-dealer affiliate                    together with ADRs and EDRs,                              included in each Fund’s portfolio.
                                                    regarding access to information                           collectively, ‘‘Depositary Receipts’’),15                    In addition, for each Fund, by
                                                    concerning the composition or changes                     and (b) ‘‘Principal Fund Equity                           entering into Forward Contracts and
                                                    to a portfolio.11                                         Securities’’ will consist of Principal                    currency spot transactions, the Sub-
                                                       The Exchange has made the following                    Equity Securities that are suggested by                   Adviser will deploy a dynamic currency
                                                    representations and statements                            such Fund’s name.16 Accordingly:                          hedge (hedging up to 100% of such
                                                    describing the Funds and the Funds’                          (1) For the Europe Fund, Principal                     Fund’s foreign currency exposure) based
                                                    investment strategies, including the                      Fund Equity Securities will be Principal                  on its proprietary hedging methodology.
                                                    Funds’ portfolio holdings and                             Equity Securities of European                             The Sub-Adviser’s hedging
                                                    investment restrictions.12                                companies; 17                                             methodology will be constructed from a
                                                                                                                 (2) for the Asia Pacific Fund,                         combination of quantitative measures
                                                    A. Exchange’s Description of Principal                    Principal Fund Equity Securities will be                  and qualitative measures. Each Fund
                                                    Investment Strategies Applicable to                       Principal Equity Securities of Asian                      will only enter into transactions in
                                                    Each Fund                                                 Pacific companies; 18                                     Forward Contracts with counterparties
                                                      Each Fund’s investment objective will                      (3) for the Emerging Markets Fund,                     that the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser
                                                    be to provide capital appreciation.                       Principal Fund Equity Securities will be                  reasonably believe are capable of
                                                    Under normal market conditions,13 each                                                                              performing under the applicable
                                                                                                              strategies; for example, it may hold a higher than        Forward Contract.21
                                                      11 In the event (a) the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser      normal proportion of its assets in cash. During such
                                                    registers as a broker-dealer, or becomes newly            periods, a Fund may not be able to achieve its            B. Exchange’s Description of Other
                                                    affiliated with a broker-dealer, or (b) any new           investment objective. A Fund may adopt a                  Investments for the Funds
                                                    adviser or sub-adviser is a registered broker-dealer      defensive strategy when the Adviser and/or the
                                                    or becomes affiliated with another broker-dealer, it      Sub-Adviser believes securities in which such Fund          According to the Exchange, each
                                                    will implement a fire wall with respect to its            normally invests have elevated risks due to political     Fund may invest (in the aggregate) up to
                                                    relevant personnel and/or such broker-dealer              or economic factors and in other extraordinary            20% of its net assets in the following
                                                    affiliate, as applicable, regarding access to             circumstances.
                                                                                                                 14 A Fund would enter into Forward Contracts
                                                                                                                                                                        securities and instruments.
                                                    information concerning the composition of, and/or
                                                    changes to, a portfolio and will be subject to            and/or currency spot transactions for hedging
                                                                                                                                                                           19 An emerging market company is one (i)
                                                    procedures designed to prevent the use and                purposes.
                                                    dissemination of material, non-public information            15 The Funds will not invest in any unsponsored        domiciled or with a principal place of business or
                                                    regarding such portfolio.                                 Depositary Receipts.                                      primary securities trading market in an emerging
                                                       12 Additional information regarding the Funds,            16 With respect to Depositary Receipts, whether        market country, or (ii) that derives a substantial
                                                                                                                                                                        portion of its total revenues or profits from
                                                    the Trust, and the Shares, including investment           such Principal Equity Securities are Principal Fund
                                                                                                                                                                        emerging market countries.
                                                    strategies, risks, creation and redemption                Equity Securities is based on the underlying                 20 Developed market companies are those
                                                    procedures, fees, portfolio holdings disclosure           securities, the ownership of which is represented by
                                                                                                              the Depositary Receipts (i.e., whether, as described      companies (i) whose securities are traded
                                                    policies, calculation of net asset value (‘‘NAV’’),
                                                                                                              below, the relevant underlying security is a security     principally on a stock exchange in a developed
                                                    distributions, and taxes, among other things, can be                                                                market country, (ii) that are organized under the
                                                    found in the Notice, the amendments, and the              of a European company, an Asian Pacific company,
                                                                                                                                                                        laws of or have a principal office in a developed
                                                    Registration Statement, as applicable. See Notice,        an emerging market company, or a developed
                                                                                                                                                                        market country, or (iii) that have at least 50% of
                                                    Amendment Nos. 1–3, and Registration Statement,           market company, as applicable).
                                                                                                                                                                        their assets in, or derive at least 50% of their
                                                    supra notes 3, 4, 5, 8, and 10, respectively.                17 European companies are those companies (i)
                                                                                                                                                                        revenues or profits from, a developed market
                                                       13 The term ‘‘under normal market conditions’’ as      whose securities are traded principally on a stock        country.
                                                    used herein includes, but is not limited to, the          exchange in a European country, (ii) that are                21 According to the Exchange, each Fund will
                                                    absence of adverse market, economic, political or         organized under the laws of or have a principal           seek, where possible, to use counterparties, as
                                                    other conditions, including extreme volatility or         office in a European country, or (iii) that have at       applicable, whose financial status is such that the
                                                                                                              least 50% of their assets in, or derive at least 50%
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    trading halts in the securities markets or the                                                                      risk of default is reduced; however, the risk of
                                                    financial markets generally; operational issues           of their revenues or profits from, a European             losses resulting from default is still possible. The
                                                    causing dissemination of inaccurate market                country.                                                  Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser will evaluate the
                                                    information; or force majeure type events such as            18 Asian Pacific companies are those companies
                                                                                                                                                                        creditworthiness of counterparties on an ongoing
                                                    systems failure, natural or man-made disaster, act        (i) whose securities are traded principally on a          basis. In addition to information provided by credit
                                                    of God, armed conflict, act of terrorism, riot or labor   stock exchange in an Asian Pacific country, (ii) that     agencies, the Adviser’s and/or Sub-Adviser’s
                                                    disruption, or any similar intervening circumstance.      are organized under the laws of or have a principal       analysis will evaluate each approved counterparty
                                                    On a temporary basis, including for defensive             office in an Asian Pacific country, or (iii) that have    using various methods of analysis and may consider
                                                    purposes, during the initial invest-up period and         at least 50% of their assets in, or derive at least 50%   the Adviser’s and/or Sub-Adviser’s past experience
                                                    during periods of high cash inflows or outflows, a        of their revenues or profits from, an Asian Pacific       with the counterparty, its known disciplinary
                                                    Fund may depart from its principal investment             country.                                                  history, and its share of market participation.



                                               VerDate Sep<11>2014    17:18 Apr 11, 2016   Jkt 238001   PO 00000   Frm 00095   Fmt 4703    Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\12APN1.SGM     12APN1


                                                    21628                            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 70 / Tuesday, April 12, 2016 / Notices

                                                       Each Fund may invest in the                            C. Exchange’s Description of the Funds’                 to seek to achieve a multiple or inverse
                                                    following U.S. and non-U.S. exchange-                     Equity Securities                                       multiple of an index. Each Fund will
                                                    listed securities (other than Principal                      According to the Exchange, under                     comply with the regulatory
                                                    Fund Equity Securities): (i) Common                       normal market conditions, each Fund                     requirements of the Commission with
                                                    stocks; (ii) common and preferred shares                  will invest in at least 20 Equity                       respect to coverage in connection with
                                                    of REITs; (iii) Depositary Receipts; and                  Securities. Each Fund will satisfy the                  its transactions in Forward Contracts
                                                    (iv) equity securities of business                        ‘‘ISG Criteria’’ (as described below) and/              and exchange-listed equity index
                                                    development companies (collectively,                      or the ‘‘Alternative Criteria’’ (as                     futures contracts. If the applicable
                                                    ‘‘Other Equity Securities’’).22                           described below).                                       guidelines prescribed under the 1940
                                                       Each Fund may invest in short-term                        A Fund will satisfy the ISG Criteria if              Act so require, a Fund will earmark
                                                    debt securities and other short-term debt                 at least 90% of such Fund’s net assets                  cash, U.S. government securities and/or
                                                    instruments (described below), as well                    that are invested (in the aggregate) in                 other liquid assets permitted by the
                                                    as cash equivalents, or it may hold cash.                 Equity Securities will be invested in                   Commission in the amount prescribed.
                                                    The percentage of each Fund invested in                   Equity Securities that trade in markets                 E. Exchange’s Description of the Funds’
                                                    such holdings or held in cash will vary                   that are members of the Intermarket                     Investment Restrictions
                                                    and will depend on several factors,                       Surveillance Group (‘‘ISG’’) 26 or are
                                                                                                              parties to a comprehensive surveillance                    Each Fund may hold up to an
                                                    including market conditions. Each Fund                                                                            aggregate amount of 15% of its net
                                                    may invest in the following short-term                    sharing agreement with the Exchange.
                                                                                                                 A Fund will satisfy the Alternative                  assets in illiquid assets (calculated at
                                                    debt instruments: 23 (1) Fixed rate and                                                                           the time of investment), deemed illiquid
                                                    floating rate U.S. government securities,                 Criteria if, under normal market
                                                                                                              conditions, its Equity Securities meet                  by the Adviser and/or the Sub-
                                                    including bills, notes, and bonds                                                                                 Adviser.28 Each Fund will monitor its
                                                    differing as to maturity and rates of                     the following criteria at the time of
                                                                                                              purchase and on a continuous basis: (1)                 portfolio liquidity on an ongoing basis
                                                    interest, which are either issued or                                                                              to determine whether, in light of current
                                                    guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or by                     Non-U.S. Equity Securities 27 each shall
                                                                                                              have a minimum market value of at least                 circumstances, an adequate level of
                                                    U.S. government agencies or                                                                                       liquidity is being maintained, and will
                                                    instrumentalities; (2) certificates of                    $100 million; (2) non-U.S. Equity
                                                                                                              Securities each shall have a minimum                    consider taking appropriate steps in
                                                    deposit issued against funds deposited                                                                            order to maintain adequate liquidity if,
                                                    in a bank or savings and loan                             global monthly trading volume of
                                                                                                              250,000 shares, or minimum global                       through a change in values, net assets,
                                                    association; (3) bankers’ acceptances,                                                                            or other circumstances, more than 15%
                                                    which are short-term credit instruments                   notional volume traded per month of
                                                                                                              $25,000,000, averaged over the last six                 of such Fund’s net assets are held in
                                                    used to finance commercial                                                                                        illiquid assets. Illiquid assets include
                                                    transactions; (4) repurchase                              months; (3) the most heavily weighted
                                                                                                              non-U.S. Equity Security shall not                      securities subject to contractual or other
                                                    agreements,24 which involve purchases                                                                             restrictions on resale and other
                                                    of debt securities; (5) bank time                         exceed 25% of the weight of the Fund’s
                                                                                                                                                                      instruments that lack readily available
                                                    deposits, which are monies kept on                        entire portfolio and, to the extent
                                                                                                                                                                      markets as determined in accordance
                                                    deposit with banks or savings and loan                    applicable, the five most heavily
                                                                                                                                                                      with Commission staff guidance.
                                                    associations for a stated period of time                  weighted non-U.S. Equity Securities                        The Funds may not invest 25% or
                                                    at a fixed rate of interest; (6) commercial               shall not exceed 60% of the weight of                   more of the value of their respective
                                                    paper, which is short-term unsecured                      the Fund’s entire portfolio; (4) each non-              total assets in securities of issuers in any
                                                    promissory notes; 25 and (7) short-term                   U.S. Equity Security shall be listed and                one industry. This restriction does not
                                                    debt obligations issued or guaranteed by                  traded on an exchange that has last-sale                apply to (a) obligations issued or
                                                    non-U.S. governments or by their                          reporting; and (5) all of such Fund’s net               guaranteed by the U.S. government, its
                                                    agencies or instrumentalities.                            assets that are invested (in the aggregate)             agencies or instrumentalities, or (b)
                                                                                                              in Equity Securities other than non-U.S.                securities of other investment
                                                       Each Fund may invest (but only up to                   Equity Securities shall be invested in
                                                    5% of its net assets) in exchange-listed                                                                          companies.
                                                                                                              Equity Securities that trade in markets                    Each Fund intends to qualify each
                                                    equity index futures contracts.                           that are members of ISG or are parties                  year as a regulated investment company
                                                                                                              to a comprehensive surveillance sharing                 under Subchapter M of the Internal
                                                       22 For each Fund, Other Equity Securities and
                                                                                                              agreement with the Exchange.                            Revenue Code.
                                                    Principal Fund Equity Securities are referred to
                                                    collectively as ‘‘Equity Securities.’’                    D. Exchange’s Description of the Funds’                 III. Discussion and Commission
                                                       23 The Exchange represents that short-term debt
                                                                                                              Transactions in Forward Contracts and                   Findings
                                                    instruments will be issued by issuers having a long-
                                                    term debt rating of at least A by Standard & Poor’s
                                                                                                              Exchange-Listed Equity Index Futures
                                                                                                              Contracts                                                  After careful review, the Commission
                                                    Ratings Services (‘‘S&P Ratings’’), Moody’s
                                                    Investors Service, Inc. (‘‘Moody’s’’), or Fitch Ratings
                                                                                                                                                                      finds that the Exchange’s proposal is
                                                    (‘‘Fitch’’), and have a maturity of one year or less.
                                                                                                                According to the Exchange, each                       consistent with the Exchange Act and
                                                       24 According to the Exchange, each Fund intends        Fund’s transactions in Forward                          the rules and regulations thereunder
                                                    to enter into repurchase agreements only with             Contracts and exchange-listed equity
                                                    financial institutions and dealers believed by the        index futures contracts will be                            28 According to the Exchange, in determining the
                                                    Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser to present minimal         consistent with its investment objective                liquidity of the Funds’ investments, the Adviser
                                                    credit risks in accordance with criteria approved by                                                              and/or the Sub-Adviser may consider the following
                                                    the Board of Trustees of the Trust. The Adviser and/      and the 1940 Act and will not be used
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                                                                                      factors: (i) The frequency of trades and quotes for
                                                    or the Sub-Adviser will review and monitor the                                                                    the security or other instrument; (ii) the number of
                                                    creditworthiness of such institutions. The Adviser          26 For a list of the current members of ISG, see
                                                                                                                                                                      dealers wishing to purchase or sell the security or
                                                    and/or the Sub-Adviser will monitor the value of          www.isgportal.org. The Exchange notes that not all      other instrument and the number of other potential
                                                    the collateral at the time the transaction is entered     components of the Disclosed Portfolio for a Fund        purchasers; (iii) dealer undertakings to make a
                                                    into and at all times during the term of the              may trade on markets that are members of ISG or         market in the security or other instrument; and (iv)
                                                    repurchase agreement. The Funds will not enter            with which the Exchange has in place a                  the nature of the security or other instrument and
                                                    into reverse repurchase agreements.                       comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement.           the nature of the marketplace in which it trades
                                                       25 Each Fund may only invest in commercial               27 For purposes of this filing, the term ‘‘non-U.S.   (e.g., the time needed to dispose of the security or
                                                    paper rated A–1 or higher by S&P Ratings, Prime-          Equity Securities’’ means Equity Securities that are    other instrument, the method of soliciting offers
                                                    1 or higher by Moody’s, or F1 or higher by Fitch.         not listed on a U.S. exchange.                          and the mechanics of transfer).



                                               VerDate Sep<11>2014    17:18 Apr 11, 2016   Jkt 238001   PO 00000   Frm 00096   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\12APN1.SGM     12APN1


                                                                                     Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 70 / Tuesday, April 12, 2016 / Notices                                               21629

                                                    applicable to a national securities                       Shares generally will be calculated once                  market data vendors and broadly
                                                    exchange.29 In particular, the                            daily Monday through Friday as of the                     displayed at least every 15 seconds
                                                    Commission finds that the proposed                        close of regular trading on the New York                  during the Regular Market Session. The
                                                    rule change, as modified by Amendment                     Stock Exchange, generally 4:00 p.m.,                      Intraday Indicative Value will be based
                                                    Nos. 1, 2, and 3 thereto, is consistent                   Eastern Time.34                                           on quotes and closing prices from the
                                                    with Section 6(b)(5) of the Exchange                        In addition, the Intraday Indicative                    securities’ local market and may not
                                                    Act,30 which requires, among other                        Value 35 for each Fund, available on the                  reflect events that occur subsequent to
                                                    things, that the Exchange’s rules be                      NASDAQ OMX Information LLC                                the local market’s close.
                                                    designed to promote just and equitable                    proprietary index data service, will be                      Information regarding market price
                                                    principles of trade, to remove                            based upon the current value for the                      and trading volume of the Shares will be
                                                    impediments to and perfect the                            components of the Disclosed Portfolio                     continually available on a real-time
                                                    mechanism of a free and open market                       and will be updated and widely                            basis throughout the day on brokers’
                                                    and a national market system, and, in                     disseminated by one or more major                         computer screens and other electronic
                                                    general, to protect investors and the                                                                               services. Information regarding the
                                                    public interest.                                          holding in the Fund’s portfolio. The Web site             previous day’s closing price and trading
                                                                                                              information will be publicly available at no charge.
                                                       The Commission also finds that the                        34 According to the Exchange, the Funds’
                                                                                                                                                                        volume information for the Shares will
                                                    proposal is consistent with Section                       investments will be valued daily. The following           be published daily in the financial
                                                    11A(a)(1)(C)(iii) of the Exchange Act,31                  investments will typically be valued using                section of newspapers. Quotation and
                                                    which sets forth Congress’s finding that                  information provided by a third-party pricing             last-sale information for the Equity
                                                                                                              service (‘‘Pricing Service’’): (a) Except as provided
                                                    it is in the public interest and                          below, short term U.S. government securities,
                                                                                                                                                                        Securities (to the extent traded on a U.S.
                                                    appropriate for the protection of                         commercial paper, bankers’ acceptances, and short-        exchange) will be available from the
                                                    investors and the maintenance of fair                     term debt obligations issued or guaranteed by non-        exchanges on which they are traded as
                                                    and orderly markets to assure the                         U.S. governments or by their agencies or                  well as in accordance with any
                                                                                                              instrumentalities (collectively, ‘‘Short Term Debt
                                                    availability to brokers, dealers, and                     Instruments’’); and (b) currency spot transactions.       applicable CTA plans. Pricing
                                                    investors of information with respect to                  Debt instruments may be valued at evaluated mean          information for Short-Term Debt
                                                    quotations for, and transactions in,                      prices, as provided by Pricing Services. Short Term       Instruments, repurchase agreements,
                                                    securities.                                               Debt Instruments having a remaining maturity of 60        Forward Contracts, bank time deposits,
                                                                                                              days or less when purchased will typically be
                                                       Quotation and last-sale information                    valued at cost adjusted for amortization of               certificates of deposit, and currency spot
                                                    for the Shares will be available via                      premiums and accretion of discounts, provided the         transactions will be available from
                                                    Nasdaq proprietary quote and trade                        pricing committee of the Adviser (‘‘Pricing               major broker-dealer firms and/or major
                                                    services, as well as in accordance with                   Committee’’) has determined that the use of               market data vendors and/or Pricing
                                                                                                              amortized cost is an appropriate reflection of value
                                                    the Unlisted Trading Privileges and the                   given market and issuer specific conditions existing      Services. Pricing information for
                                                    Consolidated Tape Association (‘‘CTA’’)                   at the time of the determination. Overnight               exchange-listed equity index futures
                                                    plans for the Shares. On each business                    repurchase agreements will be valued at amortized         contracts and non-U.S. Equity Securities
                                                    day, before commencement of trading in                    cost when it represents the best estimate of value.
                                                                                                              Term repurchase agreements (i.e., those whose
                                                                                                                                                                        will be available from the applicable
                                                    Shares in the Regular Market Session 32                   maturity exceeds seven days) will be valued at the        listing exchange and from major market
                                                    on the Exchange, each Fund will                           average of the bid quotations obtained daily from         data vendors. In addition, the Exchange
                                                    disclose on its Web site the Disclosed                    at least two recognized dealers. Certificates of          notes that the Funds’ Web site will
                                                    Portfolio held by such Fund that will                     deposit and bank time deposits will typically be
                                                                                                              valued at cost. Equity Securities that are listed on
                                                                                                                                                                        include a form of the prospectus for the
                                                    form the basis for such Fund’s                            any exchange other than the Exchange and the              Funds and additional data relating to
                                                    calculation of NAV at the end of the                      London Stock Exchange Alternative Investment              NAV and other applicable quantitative
                                                    business day.33 The NAV of each Fund’s                    Market (‘‘AIM’’) will typically be valued at the last-    information.
                                                                                                              sale price on the exchange on which they are
                                                                                                              principally traded on the business day as of which           The Commission also believes that the
                                                       29 In approving this proposed rule change, the
                                                                                                              such value is being determined. Equity Securities         proposal to list and trade the Shares is
                                                    Commission has considered the proposed rule’s
                                                    impact on efficiency, competition, and capital
                                                                                                              listed on the Exchange or the AIM will typically be       reasonably designed to promote fair
                                                                                                              valued at the official closing price on the business      disclosure of information that may be
                                                    formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).                          day as of which such value is being determined. If
                                                       30 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
                                                                                                              there has been no sale on such day, or no official        necessary to price the Shares
                                                       31 15 U.S.C. 78k–1(a)(1)(C)(iii).
                                                                                                              closing price in the case of securities traded on the     appropriately and to prevent trading
                                                       32 See Nasdaq Rule 4120(b)(4) (describing the          Exchange or the AIM, such securities will typically       when a reasonable degree of
                                                    three trading sessions on the Exchange: (1) Pre-          be valued using fair value pricing. Equity Securities     transparency cannot be assured. The
                                                    Market Session from 4:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., Eastern       traded on more than one securities exchange will
                                                    Time; (2) Regular Market Session from 9:30 a.m. to        be valued at the last sale price or official closing      Exchange states that it will obtain a
                                                    4:00 p.m. or 4:15 p.m., Eastern Time; and (3) Post-       price, as applicable, on the business day as of           representation from the issuer of the
                                                    Market Session from 4:00 p.m. or 4:15 p.m. to 8:00        which such value is being determined at the close         Shares that the NAV per Share will be
                                                    p.m., Eastern Time).                                      of the exchange representing the principal market         calculated daily and that the NAV and
                                                       33 Nasdaq Rule 5735(c)(2) defines the term             for such securities. Exchange-listed equity index
                                                    ‘‘Disclosed Portfolio.’’ According to the Exchange,       futures contracts will typically be valued at the         the Disclosed Portfolio will be made
                                                    each Fund’s disclosure of derivative positions in         closing price in the market where such instruments        available to all market participants at
                                                    the Disclosed Portfolio will include sufficient           are principally traded. Forward Contracts will            the same time. The Exchange also
                                                    information for market participants to use to value       typically be valued at the current day’s interpolated     represents that it may consider all
                                                    these positions intraday. On a daily basis, each          foreign exchange rate, as calculated using the
                                                    Fund will also disclose on its Web site the               current day’s spot rate, and the thirty, sixty, ninety,   relevant factors in exercising its
                                                                                                              and one-hundred-eighty day forward rates provided         discretion to halt or suspend trading in
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    following information regarding each portfolio
                                                    holding, as applicable to the type of holding: ticker     by a Pricing Service or by certain independent            the Shares of a Fund. The Exchange will
                                                    symbol, CUSIP number or other identifier, if any;         dealers in such contracts. Assets denominated in          halt trading in the Shares under the
                                                    a description of the holding (including the type of       foreign currencies will be translated into U.S.
                                                    holding); the identity of the security, index, or other   dollars at the exchange rate of such currencies           conditions specified in Nasdaq Rules
                                                    asset or instrument underlying the holding, if any;       against the U.S. dollar as provided by a Pricing          4120 and 4121, including the trading
                                                    quantity held (as measured by, for example, par           Service. The value of assets denominated in foreign       pauses under Nasdaq Rules 4120(a)(11)
                                                    value, notional value, or number of shares,               currencies will be converted into U.S. dollars at the     and (12). Trading may be halted because
                                                    contracts, or units); maturity date, if any; coupon       exchange rates in effect at the time of valuation.
                                                    rate, if any; effective date, if any; market value of        35 Nasdaq Rule 5735(c)(3) defines the term             of market conditions or for reasons that,
                                                    the holding; and percentage weighting of the              ‘‘Intraday Indicative Value.’’                            in the view of the Exchange, make


                                               VerDate Sep<11>2014    17:18 Apr 11, 2016   Jkt 238001   PO 00000   Frm 00097   Fmt 4703    Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\12APN1.SGM    12APN1


                                                    21630                           Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 70 / Tuesday, April 12, 2016 / Notices

                                                    trading in the Shares inadvisable.36                     violations of Exchange rules and                        (6) Prior to the commencement of
                                                    Trading in the Shares also will be                       applicable federal securities laws.40                trading, the Exchange will inform its
                                                    subject to Rule 5735(d)(2)(D), which sets                   Nasdaq deems the Shares to be equity              members in an Information Circular of
                                                    forth circumstances under which Shares                   securities, thus rendering trading in the            the special characteristics and risks
                                                    of a Fund may be halted.                                 Shares subject to Nasdaq’s existing rules            associated with trading the Shares.
                                                                                                             governing the trading of equity                      Specifically, the Information Circular
                                                       The Exchange states that it has a
                                                                                                             securities. In support of this proposal,             for each Fund will discuss the
                                                    general policy prohibiting the                           the Exchange represented that:
                                                    distribution of material, non-public                                                                          following: (a) The procedures for
                                                                                                                (1) The Shares will be subject to                 purchases and redemptions of Shares in
                                                    information by its employees. The                        Nasdaq Rule 5735, which sets forth the               Creation Units (and that Shares are not
                                                    Exchange further states that neither the                 initial and continued listing criteria               individually redeemable); (b) Nasdaq
                                                    Adviser nor the Sub-Adviser is a broker-                 applicable to Managed Fund Shares.                   Rule 2111A, which imposes suitability
                                                    dealer, but each is affiliated with a                       (2) Trading in the Shares will be                 obligations on Nasdaq members with
                                                    broker-dealer, and that the Adviser and                  subject to the existing trading                      respect to recommending transactions in
                                                    Sub-Adviser has each implemented a                       surveillances, administered by both                  the Shares to customers; (c) how
                                                    fire wall with respect to its respective                 Nasdaq and FINRA on behalf of the                    information regarding the Intraday
                                                    broker-dealer affiliate regarding access                 Exchange, which are designed to detect               Indicative Value and the Disclosed
                                                    to information concerning the                            violations of Exchange rules and                     Portfolio is disseminated; (d) the risks
                                                    composition of, and changes to, each                     applicable federal securities laws. The              involved in trading the Shares during
                                                    Fund’s portfolio.37 Further, the                         Exchange represents that these                       the Pre-Market and Post-Market
                                                    Commission notes that the Reporting                      procedures are adequate to properly                  Sessions when an updated Intraday
                                                    Authority 38 that provides the Disclosed                 monitor Exchange trading of the Shares               Indicative Value will not be calculated
                                                    Portfolio must implement and maintain,                   in all trading sessions and to deter and             or publicly disseminated; (e) the
                                                    or be subject to, procedures designed to                 detect violations of Exchange rules and              requirement that members deliver a
                                                    prevent the use and dissemination of                     applicable federal securities laws.                  prospectus to investors purchasing
                                                    material, non-public information                            (3) FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange,
                                                                                                                                                                  newly issued Shares prior to or
                                                    regarding the actual components of the                   will communicate as needed regarding
                                                                                                                                                                  concurrently with the confirmation of a
                                                    portfolio.39 The Exchange represents                     trading in the Shares and certain of the
                                                                                                             Equity Securities and exchange-listed                transaction; and (f) trading information.
                                                    that trading in the Shares will be subject                                                                       (7) For initial and continued listing,
                                                    to the existing trading surveillances,                   equity index futures contracts held by
                                                                                                                                                                  the Funds must be in compliance with
                                                    administered by both Nasdaq and also                     the Funds with other markets and other
                                                                                                                                                                  Rule 10A–3 under the Act.41
                                                    the Financial Industry Regulatory                        entities that are members of ISG, and
                                                                                                                                                                     (8) Each Fund may hold up to an
                                                    Authority (‘‘FINRA’’) on behalf of the                   FINRA may obtain trading information
                                                                                                                                                                  aggregate amount of 15% of its net
                                                    Exchange, which are designed to detect                   regarding trading in the Shares and such
                                                                                                                                                                  assets in illiquid assets.
                                                                                                             securities and instruments held by the                  (9) The Pricing Committee will be
                                                       36 These may include: (1) The extent to which
                                                                                                             Funds from such markets and other                    subject to procedures designed to
                                                    trading is not occurring in the securities and/or the    entities. In addition, the Exchange may              prevent the use and dissemination of
                                                    other assets constituting the Disclosed Portfolio of     obtain information regarding trading in              material non-public information
                                                    a Fund; or (2) whether other unusual conditions or       the Shares and certain of the Equity                 regarding each Fund’s portfolio.
                                                    circumstances detrimental to the maintenance of a        Securities and exchange-listed equity
                                                    fair and orderly market are present.                                                                             (10) Each Fund will satisfy: (a) The
                                                       37 See supra note 11 and accompanying text. The
                                                                                                             index futures contracts held by the                  ISG Criteria; and/or (b) the Alternative
                                                    Exchange further represents that an investment           Funds from markets and other entities                Criteria at the time of purchase and on
                                                    adviser to an open-end fund is required to be            that are members of ISG, which includes              a continuous basis.
                                                    registered under the Investment Advisers Act of          securities and futures exchanges, or                    (11) A minimum of 100,000 Shares
                                                    1940 (‘‘Advisers Act’’). As a result, the Adviser, the   with which the Exchange has in place
                                                    Sub-Adviser, and their related personnel are subject                                                          will be outstanding at the
                                                    to the provisions of Rule 204A–1 under the               a comprehensive surveillance sharing                 commencement of trading on the
                                                    Advisers Act relating to codes of ethics. This Rule      agreement. Moreover, FINRA, on behalf                Exchange.
                                                    requires investment advisers to adopt a code of          of the Exchange, will be able to access,                The Exchange represents that all
                                                    ethics that reflects the fiduciary nature of the         as needed, trade information for certain
                                                    relationship to clients as well as compliance with                                                            statements and representations made in
                                                    other applicable securities laws. Accordingly,
                                                                                                             fixed income securities held by the                  the filing regarding (a) the description of
                                                    procedures designed to prevent the communication         Funds reported to FINRA’s Trade                      the portfolios, (b) limitations on
                                                    and misuse of non-public information by an               Reporting and Compliance Engine                      portfolio holdings or reference assets, or
                                                    investment adviser must be consistent with Rule          (‘‘TRACE’’).
                                                    204A–1 under the Advisers Act. In addition, Rule                                                              (c) the applicability of Exchange rules
                                                                                                                (4) For each Fund, at least 90% of
                                                    206(4)–7 under the Advisers Act makes it unlawful                                                             and surveillance procedures shall
                                                    for an investment adviser to provide investment          such Fund’s net assets that are invested
                                                                                                                                                                  constitute continued listing
                                                    advice to clients unless such investment adviser has     (in the aggregate) in exchange-listed
                                                                                                                                                                  requirements for listing the Shares on
                                                    (i) adopted and implemented written policies and         equity index futures contracts will be
                                                    procedures reasonably designed to prevent                                                                     the Exchange. In addition, the issuer has
                                                                                                             invested in instruments that trade in
                                                    violation, by the investment adviser and its                                                                  represented to the Exchange that it will
                                                    supervised persons, of the Advisers Act and the          markets that are members of ISG or are
                                                                                                                                                                  advise the Exchange of any failure by
                                                    Commission rules adopted thereunder; (ii)                parties to a comprehensive surveillance
                                                                                                                                                                  the Funds to comply with the continued
                                                    implemented, at a minimum, an annual review              sharing agreement with the Exchange.
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    regarding the adequacy of the policies and                                                                    listing requirements, and, pursuant to
                                                                                                                (5) The Exchange has appropriate
                                                    procedures established pursuant to subparagraph (i)                                                           its obligations under Section 19(g)(1) of
                                                    above and the effectiveness of their                     rules to facilitate transactions in the
                                                                                                                                                                  the Act, the Exchange will monitor for
                                                    implementation; and (iii) designated an individual       Shares during all trading sessions.
                                                    (who is a supervised person) responsible for
                                                                                                                                                                  compliance with the continued listing
                                                    administering the policies and procedures adopted           40 The Exchange represents that FINRA surveils    requirements.42 If a Fund is not in
                                                    under subparagraph (i) above.                            trading on the Exchange pursuant to a regulatory
                                                       38 Nasdaq Rule 5735(c)(4) defines ‘‘Reporting                                                                41 See17 CFR 240.10A–3.
                                                                                                             services agreement and that the Exchange is
                                                    Authority.’’                                             responsible for FINRA’s performance under this         42 TheCommission notes that certain other
                                                       39 See Nasdaq Rule 5735(d)(2)(B)(ii).                 regulatory services agreement.                       proposals for the listing and trading of Managed



                                               VerDate Sep<11>2014   17:18 Apr 11, 2016   Jkt 238001   PO 00000   Frm 00098   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\12APN1.SGM     12APN1


                                                                                     Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 70 / Tuesday, April 12, 2016 / Notices                                                        21631

                                                    compliance with the applicable listing                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                    Commentary] herein and be in a form
                                                    requirements, the Exchange will                           COMMISSION                                                 approved by the Exchange. A
                                                    commence delisting procedures under                                                                                  combination option and hedging
                                                                                                              [Release No. 34–77545; File No. SR–Phlx–
                                                    the Nasdaq 5800 Series. This approval                     2016–44]
                                                                                                                                                                         position offered in reliance on this
                                                    order is based on all of the Exchange’s                                                                              [Commentary .04] provision shall be
                                                    representations, including those set                      Self-Regulatory Organizations;                             referred to as a ‘‘tied hedge’’ order.
                                                    forth above, in the Notice, and in                        NASDAQ PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing                            (H)–(I) No change.
                                                    Amendment Nos. 1, 2, and 3 to the                         and Immediate Effectiveness of                               (e) No change.
                                                    proposed rule change. The Commission                      Proposed Rule ChangeTo Amend Rule
                                                    notes that the Funds and the Shares                       1064                                                         • • • Commentary: ------------------
                                                    must comply with the requirements of                                                                                   .01–.02 No change.
                                                                                                              April 6, 2016.
                                                    Nasdaq Rule 5735, including those set                        Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the                     *     *     *      *     *
                                                    forth in this proposed rule change, as                    Securities Exchange Act of 1934                            II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                    modified by Amendment Nos. 1, 2, and                      (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2                    Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                                    3 thereto, to be listed and traded on the                 notice is hereby given that on April 1,                    Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                    Exchange on an initial and continuing                     2016, NASDAQ PHLX LLC (‘‘Phlx’’ or                         Change
                                                    basis.                                                    ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities
                                                       For the foregoing reasons, the                         and Exchange Commission (‘‘SEC’’ or                          In its filing with the Commission, the
                                                    Commission finds that the proposed                        ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule                          Exchange included statements
                                                    rule change, as modified by Amendment                     change as described in Items I, II, and                    concerning the purpose of and basis for
                                                    Nos. 1, 2, and 3 thereto, is consistent                   III, below, which Items have been                          the proposed rule change and discussed
                                                    with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act 43 and the                prepared by the Exchange. The                              any comments it received on the
                                                    rules and regulations thereunder                          Commission is publishing this notice to                    proposed rule change. The text of these
                                                                                                              solicit comments on the proposed rule                      statements may be examined at the
                                                    applicable to a national securities
                                                                                                              change from interested persons.                            places specified in Item IV below. The
                                                    exchange.
                                                                                                                                                                         Exchange has prepared summaries, set
                                                                                                              I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                          forth in sections A, B, and C below, of
                                                    IV. Conclusion
                                                                                                              Statement of the Terms of Substance of                     the most significant aspects of such
                                                      It is therefore ordered, pursuant to                    the Proposed Rule Change                                   statements.
                                                    Section 19(b)(2) of the Exchange Act,44                      The Exchange proposes to delete two
                                                    that the proposed rule change (SR–                        incorrect cross-references in Rule 1064,                   A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                    NASDAQ–2015–161), as modified by                          Crossing, Facilitation and Solicited                       Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                                                                                              Orders.                                                    Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                    Amendment Nos. 1, 2, and 3 thereto, be,
                                                                                                                 The text of the proposed rule change                    Change
                                                    and it hereby is, approved.
                                                                                                              is detailed below: Proposed new                            1. Purpose
                                                      For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                                                                              language is in italics and proposed
                                                    Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated                                                                             The purpose of the filing is to correct
                                                                                                              deletions are in brackets.
                                                    authority.45                                                                                                         Rule 1064 by deleting two references to
                                                                                                              *     *     *     *     *
                                                    Robert W. Errett,                                                                                                    the ‘‘commentary’’ to the rule, which no
                                                    Deputy Secretary.                                         NASDAQ PHLX Rules                                          longer exists. The Exchange recently
                                                    [FR Doc. 2016–08307 Filed 4–11–16; 8:45 am]               *          *       *       *      *                        deleted Commentary .04 3 by
                                                    BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                                                                               incorporating its provisions into
                                                                                                              Options Rules                                              paragraph (d)(iii), because it was related
                                                                                                              Rules Applicable To Trading of Options                     to the anticipatory hedging provisions
                                                                                                              on Stocks, Exchange-Traded Fund                            in paragraph (d). The Exchange
                                                                                                              Shares and Foreign Currencies (Rules                       inadvertently omitted the deletion of
                                                                                                              1000–1095)                                                 these two references to Commentary .04
                                                                                                                                                                         in new Rule 1064(d)(iii)(G).
                                                                                                              *          *       *       *      *
                                                                                                                                                                         Accordingly, this provision refers to a
                                                                                                              Rule 1064. Crossing, Facilitation and                      commentary that does not exist.
                                                                                                              Solicited Orders
                                                                                                                                                                         2. Statutory Basis
                                                                                                                 (a)–(c) No change.
                                                                                                                 (d) No change.                                             The Exchange believes that its
                                                    Fund Shares include a representation that the                (i)–(ii) No change.                                     proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)
                                                    exchange will ‘‘surveil’’ for compliance with the            (iii) No change.                                        of the Act 4 in general, and furthers the
                                                    continued listing requirements. See, e.g.,                   (A)–(F) No change.                                      objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act 5
                                                    Amendment No. 2 to SR–BATS–2016–04, available                (G) prior to entering tied hedge orders                 in particular, in that it is designed to
                                                    at: http://www.sec.gov/comments/sr-bats-2016-04/          on behalf of customers, the member or                      promote just and equitable principles of
                                                    bats201604-2.pdf. In the context of this                  member organization must deliver to the
                                                    representation, it is the Commission’s view that                                                                     trade and to protect investors and the
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                              customer a written notification                            public interest by correcting a provision,
                                                    ‘‘monitor’’ and ‘‘surveil’’ both mean ongoing
                                                    oversight of the Fund’s compliance with the
                                                                                                              informing the customer that his order                      which should help prevent confusion
                                                    continued listing requirements. Therefore, the            may be executed using the Exchange’s                       and ensure the accuracy of the rulebook.
                                                    Commission does not view ‘‘monitor’’ as a more or         tied hedge procedures. The written
                                                    less stringent obligation than ‘‘surveil’’ with respect   notification must disclose the terms and                      3 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 76984
                                                    to the continued listing requirements.                    conditions contained [in this                              (January 28, 2016), 81 FR 5796 (February 3, 2016)
                                                       43 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
                                                                                                                                                                         (SR–Phlx–2016–07).
                                                       44 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).                                    1 15   U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                                  4 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
                                                       45 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                                 2 17   CFR 240.19b–4.                                     5 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).




                                               VerDate Sep<11>2014    17:18 Apr 11, 2016   Jkt 238001   PO 00000    Frm 00099        Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\12APN1.SGM   12APN1



Document Created: 2016-04-12 00:47:23
Document Modified: 2016-04-12 00:47:23
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 Citation81 FR 21626 

2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR