81_FR_51400 81 FR 51251 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing of Amendment No. 3 and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 3, To List and Trade Shares of the PowerShares Variable Rate Investment Grade Portfolio, a Series of the PowerShares Actively Managed Exchange-Traded Fund Trust

81 FR 51251 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing of Amendment No. 3 and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 3, To List and Trade Shares of the PowerShares Variable Rate Investment Grade Portfolio, a Series of the PowerShares Actively Managed Exchange-Traded Fund Trust

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 149 (August 3, 2016)

Page Range51251-51256
FR Document2016-18319

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 149 (Wednesday, August 3, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 149 (Wednesday, August 3, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51251-51256]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-18319]


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

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-78437; File No. SR-NASDAQ-2016-056]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; 
Notice of Filing of Amendment No. 3 and Order Granting Accelerated 
Approval of a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 3, To 
List and Trade Shares of the PowerShares Variable Rate Investment Grade 
Portfolio, a Series of the PowerShares Actively Managed Exchange-Traded 
Fund Trust

July 28, 2016.

I. Introduction

    On April 13, 2016, 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 shares 
(``Shares'') of the PowerShares Variable Rate Investment Grade 
Portfolio (``Fund''), a series of the PowerShares Actively Managed 
Exchange-Traded Fund Trust (``Trust'') under Nasdaq Rule 5735. The 
proposed rule change was published for comment in the Federal Register 
on May 2, 2016.\3\ On May 5, 2016, the Exchange filed Amendment No. 1 
to the proposed rule change. On June 14, 2016, pursuant to Section 
19(b)(2) of the Act,\4\ 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.\5\ On June 29, 2016, the Exchange 
filed Amendment No. 2 to the proposed rule change.\6\ On July 15, 2016, 
the Exchange filed Amendment No. 3 to the proposed rule change.\7\ The 
Commission received no

[[Page 51252]]

comments on the proposal. The Commission is publishing this notice to 
solicit comments on Amendment No. 3 from interested persons, and is 
approving the proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 3, on 
an accelerated basis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 77715 (April 26, 
2016), 81 FR 26285 (``Notice'').
    \4\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
    \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 78063, 81 FR 39972 
(June 20, 2016). The Commission designated July 29, 2016, as the 
date by which it should approve, disapprove, or institute 
proceedings to determine whether to disapprove the proposed rule 
change.
    \6\ On July 15, 2016, the Exchange withdrew Amendment No. 2.
    \7\ In Amendment No. 3, which amended and replaced the original 
filing as modified by Amendment No. 1, the Exchange: (a) Clarified 
the scope of mortgage-backed securities (``MBS'') that could be held 
by the Fund; (b) clarified that the Fund will not invest (i) in 
commercial loans, (ii) in leveraged, inverse, or inverse leveraged 
exchange-traded funds (``ETFs''), or (iii) more than 20% of its net 
assets in the aggregate in asset-backed securities (``ABS'') or non-
agency MBS; (c) amended the quantitative standards applicable to the 
portfolio, including identifying the quantitative standards that 
must be met on a continuous basis; (d) clarified that the Fund may 
invest in non-exchange listed securities of money market mutual 
funds beyond the limits permitted under the Investment Company Act 
of 1940 (``1940 Act''); (e) clarified certain aspects of the net 
asset value (``NAV'') calculation and the availability of price 
information for certain holdings; and (f) made certain technical 
amendments. Amendment No. 3 is available at: https://www.sec.gov/comments/sr-nasdaq-2016-056/nasdaq2016056-3.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

II. Exchange's Description of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to list and trade the Shares of the Fund 
under Nasdaq Rule 5735, which governs the listing and trading of 
Managed Fund Shares on the Exchange. The Fund is a series of the Trust 
and will be an actively-managed ETF. The Trust, which was established 
as a Delaware statutory trust on November 6, 2007 and is registered 
with the Commission as an investment company, has filed with the 
Commission a post-effective amendment to its registration statement on 
Form N-1A (``Registration Statement'').\8\ Invesco PowerShares Capital 
Management LLC will serve as the investment adviser (``Adviser'') to 
the Fund, and Invesco Advisers, Inc. will serve as the sub-adviser to 
the Fund (``Sub-Adviser''). Invesco Distributors, Inc. will serve as 
the principal underwriter and distributor (``Distributor'') of the 
Fund's Shares.\9\ The Bank of New York Mellon will act as the 
administrator, accounting agent, custodian (``Custodian'') and transfer 
agent for the Fund.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ See Registration Statement for the Trust, filed on September 
4, 2015 (File Nos. 333-147622 and 811-22148). The Exchange 
represents that the Trust has obtained certain exemptive relief from 
the Commission under the 1940 Act. See Investment Company Act 
Release No. 28171 (February 27, 2008) (File No. 812-13386).
    \9\ The Exchange represents that, while the Adviser and the Sub-
Adviser are not broker-dealers, they are affiliated with the 
Distributor, a broker-dealer. The Exchange states that the Adviser 
and the Sub-Adviser have implemented and will maintain a fire wall 
between themselves and the Distributor with respect to access to 
information concerning the composition of, and changes to, the 
Fund's portfolio. In the event (a) the Adviser or Sub-Adviser 
becomes newly affiliated with a different broker-dealer (or becomes 
a registered broker-dealer), or (b) any new adviser or sub-adviser 
to the Fund is a registered broker-dealer or becomes affiliated with 
a broker-dealer, each will implement and maintain a fire wall with 
respect to its relevant personnel and/or such broker-dealer 
affiliate, if applicable, regarding access to information concerning 
the composition of, and changes to, the Fund's 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 
in describing the Fund and its investment strategies, including the 
Fund's portfolio holdings and investment restrictions.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ The Commission notes that additional information regarding 
the Trust, the Fund, and the Shares, including investment 
strategies, risks, NAV calculation, creation and redemption 
procedures, fees, Fund holdings disclosure policies, distributions, 
and taxes, among other information, is included in the Notice, as 
modified by Amendment No. 3, and the Registration Statement, as 
applicable. See Amendment No. 3 and Registration Statement, supra 
notes 7 and 8, respectively, and accompanying text.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

A. Exchange's Description of the Fund's Principal Investments

    The Fund's investment objectives are to seek to generate current 
income while maintaining low portfolio duration, as a primary 
objective, and capital appreciation, as a secondary objective. The Fund 
will seek to achieve its investment objectives by investing, under 
normal market conditions,\11\ at least 80% of its net assets (plus any 
borrowings for investment purposes) in a portfolio of investment-grade, 
variable rate \12\ debt securities that are denominated in U.S. dollars 
and are issued by U.S. private sector entities or U.S. government 
agencies and instrumentalities. The Adviser or Sub-Adviser will select 
the following types of securities for the Fund: (i) Floating rate non-
agency commercial MBS,\13\ variable rate non-agency residential MBS, 
variable rate agency MBS,\14\ and floating rate non-agency ABS; \15\ 
(ii) floating rate corporate debt securities, which will be comprised 
of corporate notes, bonds, or debentures, and 144A securities; \16\ 
(iii) floating rate government sponsored enterprise credit risk 
transfers; (iv) variable rate preferred stock; \17\ (v) floating rate 
U.S. government securities, including floating rate agency debt 
securities; and (vi) ETFs that invest primarily in any or all of the 
foregoing securities, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act \18\ (any 
or all of the foregoing securities, excluding variable rate preferred 
stock and ETFs, collectively, ``Variable Rate Debt Instruments''; 
Variable Rate Debt Instruments, variable rate preferred stock, and 
ETFs, collectively, ``Variable Rate Investments'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ According to the Exchange, the term ``under normal market 
conditions'' includes, but is not limited to, the absence of adverse 
market, economic, political or other conditions, including extreme 
volatility or trading halts in the fixed income 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. The Exchange 
states that, for temporary defensive purposes, during the initial 
invest-up period and during periods of high cash inflows or 
outflows, the 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, the Fund may not be able 
to achieve its investment objectives. The Fund may adopt a defensive 
strategy when the Adviser or Sub-Adviser believes securities in 
which the Fund normally invests have elevated risks due to political 
or economic factors and in other extraordinary circumstances.
    \12\ According to the Exchange, with respect to this filing, the 
term ``variable-rate'' includes similar terms, such as ``floating 
rate'' and ``adjustable rate.''
    \13\ For purposes of this filing, MBS will consist of: (1) 
Residential MBS; (2) commercial MBS; (3) stripped MBS; and (4) 
collateralized mortgage obligations and real estate mortgage 
investment conduits.
    \14\ Agency securities for these purposes generally includes 
securities issued by the following entities: Government National 
Mortgage Association; Federal National Mortgage Association; Federal 
Home Loan Banks; Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation; Farm Credit 
System (``FCS''); Farm Credit Banks; Student Loan Marketing 
Association; Resolution Funding Corporation; Financing Corporation; 
and the FCS Financial Assistance Corporation. Agency securities can 
include, but are not limited to, MBS.
    \15\ The Fund currently intends to invest in ABS that are 
consumer and corporate ABS. According to the Exchange, floating rate 
non-agency ABS also include floating rate non-agency commercial real 
estate collateralized loan obligations (``CLOs'').
    \16\ The Fund will invest in floating rate corporate securities 
that have interest rates that reset periodically. The interest rates 
are based on a percentage above the London Interbank Offered Rate, a 
U.S. bank's prime or base rate, the overnight federal funds rate, or 
another rate. Corporate securities in which the Fund invests may be 
senior or subordinate obligations of the borrower. The Fund will not 
invest in senior or junior commercial loans. The Fund will generally 
invest in floating rate corporate securities that the Adviser or 
Sub-Adviser (as applicable) deems to be liquid with readily 
available prices. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund may invest 
in corporate securities that are deemed illiquid so long as the Fund 
complies with the 15% limitation on investments of its net assets in 
illiquid assets described below.
    \17\ The variable rate preferred stock in which the Fund may 
invest will be limited to securities that trade in markets that are 
members of the Intermarket Surveillance Group (``ISG'') or exchanges 
that are parties to a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement 
with the Exchange.
    \18\ ETFs in which the Fund invests will be listed and traded in 
the U.S. on registered exchanges. The ETFs in which the Fund will 
invest include Index Fund Shares (as described in Nasdaq Rule 5705), 
Portfolio Depositary Receipts (as described in Nasdaq Rule 5705), 
and Managed Fund Shares (as described in Nasdaq Rule 5735). The 
shares of ETFs in which the Fund may invest will be limited to 
securities that trade in markets that are members of the ISG or 
exchanges that are parties to a comprehensive surveillance sharing 
agreement with the Exchange. The Fund will not invest in leveraged 
ETFs, inverse ETFs, or inverse leveraged ETFs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    At least 80% of the Fund's net assets will be invested in Variable 
Rate Debt Instruments or variable rate preferred

[[Page 51253]]

stock that are, at the time of purchase, investment grade, or in ETFs 
that invest primarily in any or all of the foregoing securities. Under 
normal market conditions, Variable Rate Debt Instruments or variable 
rate preferred stock will be investment grade if, at the time of 
purchase, they have a rating in one of the highest four rating 
categories of at least one nationally recognized statistical ratings 
organization (``NRSRO'').\19\ Unrated securities may be considered 
investment grade if, at the time of purchase, and under normal market 
conditions, the Adviser or Sub-Adviser determines that such securities 
are of comparable quality based on a fundamental credit analysis of the 
unrated security and comparable NRSRO-rated securities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ According to the Exchange, if a security is rated by 
multiple NRSROs and receives different ratings, the Fund will treat 
the security as being rated in the highest rating category received 
from any one NRSRO.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Fund will not invest more than 20% of its net assets in the 
aggregate in ABS or non-agency MBS.
    Under normal market conditions, the Fund will satisfy the following 
requirements, with respect to (i) and (iii) on a continuous basis, and 
with respect to (ii) and (iv) on a continuous basis measured at the 
time of purchase: (i) At least 75% of the investments in corporate debt 
securities shall have a minimum original principal amount outstanding 
of $100 million or more; (ii) no Variable Rate Investment (excluding 
U.S. government securities) will represent more than 30% of the weight 
of the Variable Rate Debt Instrument component of the Fund's portfolio, 
and the five most heavily weighted portfolio securities will not in the 
aggregate account for more than 65% of the weight of the Variable Rate 
Debt Instrument component of the Fund's portfolio; (iii) the portfolio 
will include a minimum of 13 non-affiliated issuers; and (iv) portfolio 
securities that in aggregate account for at least 90% of the weight of 
the portfolio will be (a) from issuers that are required to file 
reports pursuant to Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, (b) from 
issuers that have a worldwide market value of outstanding common equity 
held by non-affiliates of $700 million or more, (c) from issuers that 
have outstanding securities that are notes, bonds, debentures, or 
evidence of indebtedness having a total remaining principal amount of 
at least $1 billion, or (d) exempted securities as defined in Section 
3(a)(12) of the Exchange Act.
    Under normal market conditions, the Fund will have investment 
exposure to a wide variety of Variable Rate Investments. During periods 
of market volatility, however, the Fund may allocate a significant 
portion of its net assets to floating rate U.S. Treasury debt 
securities and agency MBS.

B. Exchange's Description of the Fund's Other Investments

    According to the Exchange, under normal market conditions, the Fund 
will invest primarily in the Variable Rate Investments described above 
to meet its investment objectives. In addition, the Fund may invest up 
to 20% of its net assets in Variable Rate Debt Instruments or variable 
rate preferred stock rated below investment grade, and in fixed-rate 
debt instruments that are rated either investment grade or below 
investment grade.
    The Fund may invest in the following fixed-rate debt instruments: 
(i) Fixed-rate MBS and ABS (which includes fixed-rate commercial real 
estate CLOs); \20\ (ii) fixed-rate U.S. government and agency 
securities; (iii) fixed-rate corporate debt securities, which will be 
comprised of corporate notes, bonds, or debentures, and 144A corporate 
securities; \21\ (iv) fixed-rate exchange traded preferred stock; \22\ 
and (v) ETFs that invest primarily in any or all of the foregoing 
securities \23\ (any or all of the foregoing securities, excluding 
fixed-rate exchange-traded preferred stock and ETFs, collectively, 
``Fixed Rate Debt Instruments''; Fixed Rate Debt Instruments, fixed-
rate exchange traded preferred stock, and ETFs, collectively, ``Fixed 
Rate Investments'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ As noted above, the Fund will not invest more than 20% of 
its net assets in the aggregate in ABS or non-agency MBS.
    \21\ The Fund will generally invest in fixed-rate corporate 
securities that the Adviser or Sub-Adviser (as applicable) deems to 
be liquid with readily available prices. Notwithstanding the 
foregoing, the Fund may invest in corporate securities that are 
deemed illiquid so long as the Fund complies with the 15% limitation 
on investments of its net assets in illiquid assets described below.
    \22\ The fixed-rate preferred stock in which the Fund may invest 
will be limited to securities that trade in markets that are members 
of the ISG or that are parties to a comprehensive surveillance 
sharing agreement with the Exchange.
    \23\ The shares of ETFs in which the Fund may invest will be 
limited to securities that trade in markets that are members of the 
ISG or that are parties to a comprehensive surveillance sharing 
agreement with the Exchange.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Fund may invest in non-exchange listed securities of money 
market mutual funds beyond the limits permitted under the 1940 Act, 
subject to certain terms and conditions set forth in a Commission 
exemptive order issued to the Trust pursuant to Section 12(d)(1)(J) of 
the 1940 Act, or other Commission relief.\24\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \24\ See Investment Company Act Release No. 30238 (October 23, 
2012) (File No. 812-13820).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Fund may also take a temporary defensive position and hold a 
portion of its assets in cash and cash equivalents and money market 
instruments \25\ if there are inadequate investment opportunities 
available due to adverse market, economic, political or other 
conditions, or atypical circumstances such as unusually large cash 
inflows or redemptions.\26\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \25\ For the Fund's purposes, money market instruments will 
include: short-term, high quality securities issued or guaranteed by 
non-U.S. governments, agencies, and instrumentalities; non-
convertible corporate debt securities with remaining maturities of 
not more than 397 days that satisfy ratings requirements under Rule 
2a-7 of the 1940 Act; money market mutual funds; and deposits and 
other obligations of U.S. and non-U.S. banks and financial 
institutions.
    \26\ See supra note 11.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

C. Exchange's Description of the Fund's Investment Restrictions

    The Fund may not concentrate its investments (i.e., invest more 
than 25% of the value of its net assets) in securities of issuers in 
any one industry or group of industries. This restriction will not 
apply to obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its 
agencies, or instrumentalities.
    The Fund may hold up to an aggregate amount of 15% of its net 
assets in illiquid assets (calculated at the time of investment), 
including Rule 144A corporate debt securities deemed illiquid by the 
Adviser.\27\ The 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 the Fund's net assets are held in illiquid securities or 
other illiquid assets. Illiquid securities and other illiquid assets 
include those subject to contractual or other restrictions on resale 
and other instruments or assets that lack readily available markets as 
determined in accordance with Commission staff guidance.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ In reaching liquidity decisions, the Adviser may consider 
the following factors: The frequency of trades and quotes for the 
security; the number of dealers wishing to purchase or sell the 
security and the number of other potential purchasers; dealer 
undertakings to make a market in the security; and the nature of the 
security and the nature of the marketplace in which it trades.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Fund will not invest in futures, options, forwards, swaps, or 
other derivatives.

[[Page 51254]]

    The Fund intends to qualify for and to elect to be treated as a 
regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue 
Code.
    The Fund's investments will be consistent with the Fund's 
investment objectives. Additionally, the Fund may engage in frequent 
and active trading of portfolio securities to achieve its investment 
objectives. The Fund does not presently intend to engage in any form of 
borrowing for investment purposes and will not be operated as a 
``leveraged ETF,'' i.e., it will not be operated in a manner designed 
to seek a multiple or inverse multiple of the performance of an 
underlying reference index.

III. Discussion and Commission's Findings

    After careful review, the Commission finds that the Exchange's 
proposal is consistent with the Act and the rules and regulations 
thereunder applicable to a national securities exchange.\28\ In 
particular, the Commission finds that the proposal is consistent with 
Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\29\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \28\ 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).
    \29\ 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 Act,\30\ which sets forth the finding 
of Congress 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. 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 plans for the Shares. The Intraday Indicative Value, 
available on the NASDAQ OMX Information LLC proprietary index data 
service, will be widely disseminated by one or more major market data 
vendors at least every 15 seconds during the Exchange's Regular Market 
Session.\31\ On each business day, before commencement of trading in 
Shares in the Regular Market Session on the Exchange, the Fund will 
disclose on its Web site the identities and quantities of the portfolio 
of securities and other assets (``Disclosed Portfolio'' as defined in 
Nasdaq Rule 5735(c)(2)) held by the Fund that will form the basis for 
the Fund's calculation of NAV at the end of the business day.\32\ The 
Fund's Web site will also include a form of the prospectus for the Fund 
and additional data relating to NAV and other applicable quantitative 
information.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \30\ 15 U.S.C. 78k-1(a)(1)(C)(iii).
    \31\ See Nasdaq Rule 4120(b)(4) (describing the trading sessions 
on the Exchange).
    \32\ In addition to disclosing the identities and quantities of 
the portfolio of securities and other assets in the Disclosed 
Portfolio, the Fund also will disclose on a daily basis on its Web 
site the following information, as applicable to the type of 
holding: Ticker symbol, if any; CUSIP number or other identifier, if 
any; a description of the holding (including the type of holding); 
quantity held (as measured by, for example, par value, number of 
shares or units); maturity date, if any; coupon rate, if any; market 
value of the holding; and percentage weighting of the holding in the 
Fund's portfolio. The Web site and information will be publicly 
available at no charge. The Fund's administrator will calculate the 
Fund's NAV per Share as of the close of regular trading (normally 
4:00 p.m. E.T.) on each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for 
business.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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. Intraday, executable price quotations, as well 
as closing price information on exchange-listed securities, Variable 
Rate Debt Instruments, Fixed Rate Debt Instruments, and other assets 
not traded on an exchange will be available from major broker-dealer 
firms or market data vendors or from the exchange on which they are 
traded, as well as from automated quotation systems, published or other 
public sources, or online information services.\33\ Additionally, the 
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority's (``FINRA'') Trade Reporting 
and Compliance Engine (``TRACE'') will be a source of price information 
for corporate bonds, privately-issued securities, MBS, and ABS to the 
extent transactions in such securities are reported to TRACE. Intraday 
and closing price information related to U.S. government securities, 
money market mutual funds, and other short-term investments held by the 
Fund also will be available through subscription services, such as 
Bloomberg, Markit, and Thomson Reuters, which can be accessed by 
authorized participants and other investors.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \33\ Quotation and last-sale information for any exchange-traded 
instruments (including preferred stocks and ETFs) also will be 
available in accordance with the Unlisted Trading Privileges and the 
Consolidated Tape Association plans.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission further 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 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. Nasdaq 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). 
In addition, trading may be halted because of market conditions or for 
reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in the Shares 
inadvisable. These may include: (1) The extent to which trading is not 
occurring in the securities and/or the financial instruments 
constituting the Disclosed Portfolio of the Fund; or (2) whether other 
unusual conditions or circumstances detrimental to the maintenance of a 
fair and orderly market are present. Trading in the Shares also will be 
subject to Nasdaq Rule 5735(d)(2)(D), which sets forth additional 
circumstances under which Shares of the Fund may be halted.
    The Exchange states that it has a general policy prohibiting the 
distribution of material, non-public information by its employees. 
Further, the Commission notes that the Reporting Authority \34\ 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.\35\

[[Page 51255]]

In addition, the Exchange states that the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser 
are affiliated with the Distributor, a broker-dealer, and that the 
Adviser and the Sub-Adviser have implemented, and will maintain, a fire 
wall between themselves and the Distributor with respect to access to 
information concerning the composition of, and changes to, the Fund's 
portfolio.\36\ Moreover, Nasdaq Rule 5735(g) requires that personnel 
who make decisions on the Fund's portfolio composition must be subject 
to procedures designed to prevent the use and dissemination of 
material, non-public information regarding the Fund's portfolio.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \34\ Nasdaq Rule 5735(c)(4) defines ``Reporting Authority.''
    \35\ See Nasdaq Rule 5735(d)(2)(B)(ii).
    \36\ See supra note 9. The Exchange states 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 and 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 the Advisers Act and Rule 204A-1 
thereunder. 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange represents that trading in the Shares will be subject 
to the existing trading surveillances, administered by both the 
Exchange and FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, which are designed to 
detect violations of Exchange rules and applicable federal securities 
laws.\37\ The Exchange further 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. Moreover, the Exchange states 
that, prior to the commencement of trading, it will inform its members 
in an Information Circular of the special characteristics and risks 
associated with trading the Shares.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \37\ The Exchange states that FINRA surveils trading on the 
Exchange pursuant to a regulatory services agreement. The Exchange 
is responsible for FINRA's performance under this regulatory 
services agreement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange represents that the Shares are deemed to be equity 
securities, thus rendering trading in the Shares subject to the 
Exchange's existing rules governing the trading of equity securities. 
In support of this proposal, the Exchange has made representations, 
including the following:
    (1) The Shares will be subject to Rule 5735, which sets forth the 
initial and continued listing criteria applicable to Managed Fund 
Shares.
    (2) The Exchange has appropriate rules to facilitate transactions 
in the Shares during all trading sessions.
    (3) FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, will communicate as needed 
regarding trading in the Shares and other exchange-traded securities 
(including ETFs and preferred stock) and instruments held by the Fund 
with other markets and other entities that are members of the ISG,\38\ 
and FINRA may obtain trading information regarding trading in the 
Shares and other exchange-traded securities (including ETFs and 
preferred stock) and instruments held by the Fund from such markets and 
other entities. Moreover, FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, will be 
able to access, as needed, trade information for certain Variable Rate 
Debt Instruments, Fixed Rate Debt Instruments, and other debt 
securities held by the Fund reported to FINRA's TRACE. In addition, the 
Exchange may obtain information regarding trading in the Shares and 
other exchange-traded securities (including ETFs and preferred stock) 
and instruments held by the Fund from markets and other entities that 
are members of ISG, or with which the Exchange has in place a 
comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \38\ For a list of the current members of ISG, see 
www.isgportal.org.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (4) 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 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 purchasing Shares from the Fund for resale to 
investors deliver a prospectus to investors purchasing newly issued 
Shares prior to or concurrently with the confirmation of a transaction; 
and (f) trading information.
    (5) For initial and continued listing, the Fund must be in 
compliance with Rule 10A-3 under the Act.\39\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \39\ See 17 CFR 240.10A-3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (6) The Fund will not invest more than 20% of its net assets in the 
aggregate in ABS or non-agency MBS. In addition, the Fund will not 
invest in senior or junior commercial loans.
    (7) The variable and fixed-rate preferred stock in which the Fund 
may invest will be limited to securities that trade in markets that are 
members of the ISG, or that are parties to a comprehensive surveillance 
sharing agreement with the Exchange.
    (8) The shares of ETFs in which the Fund may invest will be limited 
to securities that trade in markets that are members of the ISG, or 
that are parties to a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement with 
the Exchange. In addition, the Fund will not invest in leveraged ETFs, 
inverse ETFs, or inverse leveraged ETFs.
    (9) Under normal market conditions, the Fund will satisfy the 
following requirements, with respect to (i) and (iii) on a continuous 
basis, and with respect to (ii) and (iv) on a continuous basis measured 
at the time of purchase: (i) At least 75% of the investments in 
corporate debt securities shall have a minimum original principal 
amount outstanding of $100 million or more; (ii) no Variable Rate 
Investment (excluding U.S. government securities) will represent more 
than 30% of the weight of the Variable Rate Debt Instrument component 
of the Fund's portfolio, and the five most heavily weighted portfolio 
securities will not in the aggregate account for more than 65% of the 
weight of the Variable Rate Debt Instrument component of the Fund's 
portfolio; (iii) the portfolio will include a minimum of 13 non-
affiliated issuers; and (iv) portfolio securities that in aggregate 
account for at least 90% of the weight of the portfolio will be (a) 
from issuers that are required to file reports pursuant to Sections 13 
and 15(d) of the Exchange Act; (b) from issuers that have a worldwide 
market value of outstanding common equity held by non-affiliates of 
$700 million or more; (c) from issuers that have outstanding securities 
that are notes, bonds, debentures, or evidence of indebtedness having a 
total remaining principal amount of at least $1 billion; or (d)

[[Page 51256]]

exempted securities as defined in Section 3(a)(12) of the Exchange Act.
    (10) The Fund may hold up to an aggregate amount of 15% of its net 
assets in illiquid assets (calculated at the time of investment), 
including Rule 144A corporate debt securities deemed illiquid by the 
Adviser.
    (11) The Fund's investments will be consistent with the Fund's 
investment objectives. The Fund does not presently intend to engage in 
any form of borrowing for investment purposes, and will not be operated 
as a ``leveraged ETF,'' i.e., it will not be operated in a manner 
designed to seek a multiple or inverse multiple of the performance of 
an underlying reference index.
    (12) 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 portfolio, (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 Fund 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.\40\ If the Fund is 
not in compliance with the applicable listing requirements, the 
Exchange will commence delisting procedures under the Nasdaq 5800 
Series.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \40\ 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., Securities Exchange Act Release No. 
77499 (April 1, 2016), 81 FR 20428 (April 7, 2016) (SR-BATS-2016-
04). In the context of this representation, it is the Commission's 
view that ``monitor'' and ``surveil'' both mean ongoing oversight of 
a 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This order is based on all of the Exchange's representations, 
including those set forth above and in the Notice, as modified by 
Amendment No. 3. The Commission notes that the Fund and the Shares must 
comply with the requirements of Nasdaq Rule 5735 for the Shares to be 
listed and traded on the Exchange.
    For the foregoing reasons, the Commission finds that the proposed 
rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 3, is consistent with Section 
6(b)(5) of the Act \41\ and Section 11A(a)(1)(C)(iii) of the Act \42\ 
and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a national 
securities exchange.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \41\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
    \42\ 15 U.S.C. 78k-1(a)(1)(C)(iii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Solicitation of Comments on Amendment No. 3

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments concerning whether Amendment No. 3 is consistent with the 
Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File No. SR-NASDAQ-2016-056 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities 
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File No. SR-NASDAQ-2016-056. This file 
number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help 
the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, 
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on 
the Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all 
written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are 
filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to 
the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other 
than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the 
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and 
printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20549 on official business days between the hours of 
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available 
for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All 
comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does 
not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should 
submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All 
submissions should refer to File No. SR-NASDAQ-2016-056, and should be 
submitted on or before August 24, 2016.

V. Accelerated Approval of the Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by 
Amendment No. 3

    The Commission finds good cause to approve the proposed rule 
change, as modified by Amendment No. 3, prior to the thirtieth day 
after the date of publication of Amendment No. 3 in the Federal 
Register. The changes and additional information in Amendment No. 3 
helped the Commission to evaluate the Shares' susceptibility to 
manipulation and whether the listing and trading of the Shares would be 
consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. 
Amendment No. 3 also provided clarifications and additional details to 
the proposed rule change. Accordingly, the Commission finds good cause 
for approving the proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 3, 
on an accelerated basis, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act.\43\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \43\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

VI. Conclusion

    It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the 
Act,\44\ that the proposed rule change (SR-NASDAQ-2016-056), as 
modified by Amendment No. 3, be, and it hereby is, approved on an 
accelerated basis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \44\ Id.

    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. 2016-18319 Filed 8-2-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 149 / Wednesday, August 3, 2016 / Notices                                                      51251

                                                    Affiliated Director would remove                        Electronic Comments                                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                    impediments to and perfect a national                                                                          COMMISSION
                                                    market system because the proposed                        • Use the Commission’s Internet
                                                                                                            comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                      [Release No. 34–78437; File No. SR–
                                                    rule change would remove an                                                                                    NASDAQ–2016–056]
                                                    unnecessary step in the process for                     rules/sro.shtml); or
                                                    nominating candidates for Non-                            • Send an email to rule-comments@                    Self-Regulatory Organizations; The
                                                    Affiliated Directors and would remove                   sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of
                                                    the ICE NGC from making the                             NYSE–2016–51 on the subject line.                      Filing of Amendment No. 3 and Order
                                                    determination whether persons                                                                                  Granting Accelerated Approval of a
                                                    endorsed to be petition candidates are                  Paper Comments
                                                                                                                                                                   Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by
                                                    eligible to be Non-Affiliated Directors.
                                                                                                              • Send paper comments in triplicate                  Amendment No. 3, To List and Trade
                                                    By not requiring action from the ICE                                                                           Shares of the PowerShares Variable
                                                                                                            to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities
                                                    NGC, the possibility of any resulting                                                                          Rate Investment Grade Portfolio, a
                                                    delay in the process is removed. The                    and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street
                                                                                                            NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090.                        Series of the PowerShares Actively
                                                    Exchange believes that the proposed                                                                            Managed Exchange-Traded Fund Trust
                                                    rule change is therefore consistent with                All submissions should refer to File
                                                    and facilitates a governance and                        Number SR–NYSE–2016–51. This file                      July 28, 2016.
                                                    regulatory structure that furthers the                  number should be included on the                       I. Introduction
                                                    objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act.               subject line if email is used. To help the                On April 13, 2016, The NASDAQ
                                                    B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       Commission process and review your                     Stock Market LLC (‘‘Exchange’’ or
                                                    Statement on Burden on Competition                      comments more efficiently, please use                  ‘‘Nasdaq’’) filed with the Securities and
                                                                                                            only one method. The Commission will                   Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’),
                                                      The Exchange does not believe that                    post all comments on the Commission’s                  pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
                                                    the proposed rule change will impose                    Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                 Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’
                                                    any burden on competition that is not                   rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                        or ‘‘Exchange Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4
                                                    necessary or appropriate in furtherance                 submission, all subsequent                             thereunder,2 a proposed rule change to
                                                    of the purposes of the Exchange Act.                    amendments, all written statements                     list and trade shares (‘‘Shares’’) of the
                                                    The proposed rule change is not
                                                                                                            with respect to the proposed rule                      PowerShares Variable Rate Investment
                                                    intended to address competitive issues
                                                                                                            change that are filed with the                         Grade Portfolio (‘‘Fund’’), a series of the
                                                    but rather is concerned solely with the
                                                                                                            Commission, and all written                            PowerShares Actively Managed
                                                    administration and functioning of the
                                                                                                            communications relating to the                         Exchange-Traded Fund Trust (‘‘Trust’’)
                                                    Exchange and its Board.
                                                                                                            proposed rule change between the                       under Nasdaq Rule 5735. The proposed
                                                    C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       Commission and any person, other than                  rule change was published for comment
                                                    Statement on Comments on the                            those that may be withheld from the                    in the Federal Register on May 2, 2016.3
                                                    Proposed Rule Change Received From                      public in accordance with the                          On May 5, 2016, the Exchange filed
                                                    Members, Participants, or Others                        provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                    Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule
                                                                                                            available for Web site viewing and                     change. On June 14, 2016, pursuant to
                                                      No written comments were solicited                                                                           Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,4 the
                                                    or received with respect to the proposed                printing in the Commission’s Public
                                                                                                            Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,                      Commission designated a longer period
                                                    rule change.                                                                                                   within which to approve the proposed
                                                                                                            Washington, DC 20549 on official
                                                    III. Date of Effectiveness of the                       business days between the hours of                     rule change, disapprove the proposed
                                                    Proposed Rule Change and Timing for                                                                            rule change, or institute proceedings to
                                                                                                            10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the
                                                    Commission Action                                                                                              determine whether to disapprove the
                                                                                                            filing also will be available for
                                                                                                                                                                   proposed rule change.5 On June 29,
                                                      Within 45 days of the date of                         inspection and copying at the principal                2016, the Exchange filed Amendment
                                                    publication of this notice in the Federal               office of the Exchange. All comments                   No. 2 to the proposed rule change.6 On
                                                    Register or up to 90 days (i) as the                    received will be posted without change;                July 15, 2016, the Exchange filed
                                                    Commission may designate if it finds                    the Commission does not edit personal                  Amendment No. 3 to the proposed rule
                                                    such longer period to be appropriate                    identifying information from                           change.7 The Commission received no
                                                    and publishes its reasons for so finding                submissions. You should submit only
                                                    or (ii) as to which the self-regulatory                 information that you wish to make                        1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                                    organization consents, the Commission                   available publicly. All submissions                      2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
                                                    will:                                                   should refer to File Number SR–NYSE–                     3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 77715

                                                                                                                                                                   (April 26, 2016), 81 FR 26285 (‘‘Notice’’).
                                                    (A) By order approve or disapprove the                  2016–51 and should be submitted on or                    4 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
                                                      proposed rule change, or                              before August 24, 2016.                                  5 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 78063,

                                                    (B) institute proceedings to determine                    For the Commission, by the Division of               81 FR 39972 (June 20, 2016). The Commission
                                                                                                                                                                   designated July 29, 2016, as the date by which it
                                                      whether the proposed rule change                      Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated             should approve, disapprove, or institute
                                                      should be disapproved.                                authority.14                                           proceedings to determine whether to disapprove the
                                                                                                            Robert W. Errett,                                      proposed rule change.
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    IV. Solicitation of Comments                                                                                     6 On July 15, 2016, the Exchange withdrew
                                                                                                            Deputy Secretary.                                      Amendment No. 2.
                                                      Interested persons are invited to                     [FR Doc. 2016–18318 Filed 8–2–16; 8:45 am]               7 In Amendment No. 3, which amended and
                                                    submit written data, views, and                         BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                 replaced the original filing as modified by
                                                    arguments concerning the foregoing,                                                                            Amendment No. 1, the Exchange: (a) Clarified the
                                                    including whether the proposed rule                                                                            scope of mortgage-backed securities (‘‘MBS’’) that
                                                                                                                                                                   could be held by the Fund; (b) clarified that the
                                                    change is consistent with the Act.                                                                             Fund will not invest (i) in commercial loans, (ii) in
                                                    Comments may be submitted by any of                                                                            leveraged, inverse, or inverse leveraged exchange-
                                                    the following methods:                                    14 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                                                                    Continued




                                               VerDate Sep<11>2014   18:21 Aug 02, 2016   Jkt 238001   PO 00000   Frm 00078    Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\03AUN1.SGM   03AUN1


                                                    51252                        Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 149 / Wednesday, August 3, 2016 / Notices

                                                    comments on the proposal. The                             The Bank of New York Mellon will act                        variable rate non-agency residential
                                                    Commission is publishing this notice to                   as the administrator, accounting agent,                     MBS, variable rate agency MBS,14 and
                                                    solicit comments on Amendment No. 3                       custodian (‘‘Custodian’’) and transfer                      floating rate non-agency ABS; 15 (ii)
                                                    from interested persons, and is                           agent for the Fund.                                         floating rate corporate debt securities,
                                                    approving the proposed rule change, as                       The Exchange has made the following                      which will be comprised of corporate
                                                    modified by Amendment No. 3, on an                        representations and statements in                           notes, bonds, or debentures, and 144A
                                                    accelerated basis.                                        describing the Fund and its investment                      securities; 16 (iii) floating rate
                                                                                                              strategies, including the Fund’s                            government sponsored enterprise credit
                                                    II. Exchange’s Description of the                         portfolio holdings and investment                           risk transfers; (iv) variable rate preferred
                                                    Proposed Rule Change                                      restrictions.10                                             stock; 17 (v) floating rate U.S.
                                                       The Exchange proposes to list and                                                                                  government securities, including
                                                    trade the Shares of the Fund under                        A. Exchange’s Description of the Fund’s
                                                                                                              Principal Investments                                       floating rate agency debt securities; and
                                                    Nasdaq Rule 5735, which governs the                                                                                   (vi) ETFs that invest primarily in any or
                                                    listing and trading of Managed Fund                          The Fund’s investment objectives are                     all of the foregoing securities, to the
                                                    Shares on the Exchange. The Fund is a                     to seek to generate current income while                    extent permitted by the 1940 Act 18 (any
                                                    series of the Trust and will be an                        maintaining low portfolio duration, as a                    or all of the foregoing securities,
                                                    actively-managed ETF. The Trust,                          primary objective, and capital                              excluding variable rate preferred stock
                                                    which was established as a Delaware                       appreciation, as a secondary objective.                     and ETFs, collectively, ‘‘Variable Rate
                                                    statutory trust on November 6, 2007 and                   The Fund will seek to achieve its                           Debt Instruments’’; Variable Rate Debt
                                                    is registered with the Commission as an                   investment objectives by investing,                         Instruments, variable rate preferred
                                                    investment company, has filed with the                    under normal market conditions,11 at                        stock, and ETFs, collectively, ‘‘Variable
                                                    Commission a post-effective amendment                     least 80% of its net assets (plus any                       Rate Investments’’).
                                                    to its registration statement on Form                     borrowings for investment purposes) in                         At least 80% of the Fund’s net assets
                                                    N–1A (‘‘Registration Statement’’).8                       a portfolio of investment-grade, variable                   will be invested in Variable Rate Debt
                                                    Invesco PowerShares Capital                               rate 12 debt securities that are                            Instruments or variable rate preferred
                                                    Management LLC will serve as the                          denominated in U.S. dollars and are
                                                    investment adviser (‘‘Adviser’’) to the                   issued by U.S. private sector entities or                      14 Agency securities for these purposes generally

                                                    Fund, and Invesco Advisers, Inc. will                     U.S. government agencies and                                includes securities issued by the following entities:
                                                    serve as the sub-adviser to the Fund                      instrumentalities. The Adviser or Sub-                      Government National Mortgage Association;
                                                                                                                                                                          Federal National Mortgage Association; Federal
                                                    (‘‘Sub-Adviser’’). Invesco Distributors,                  Adviser will select the following types                     Home Loan Banks; Federal Home Loan Mortgage
                                                    Inc. will serve as the principal                          of securities for the Fund: (i) Floating                    Corporation; Farm Credit System (‘‘FCS’’); Farm
                                                    underwriter and distributor                               rate non-agency commercial MBS,13                           Credit Banks; Student Loan Marketing Association;
                                                    (‘‘Distributor’’) of the Fund’s Shares.9                                                                              Resolution Funding Corporation; Financing
                                                                                                                                                                          Corporation; and the FCS Financial Assistance
                                                                                                              material, non-public information regarding such
                                                                                                                                                                          Corporation. Agency securities can include, but are
                                                    traded funds (‘‘ETFs’’), or (iii) more than 20% of its    portfolio.
                                                                                                                 10 The Commission notes that additional
                                                                                                                                                                          not limited to, MBS.
                                                    net assets in the aggregate in asset-backed securities                                                                   15 The Fund currently intends to invest in ABS
                                                    (‘‘ABS’’) or non-agency MBS; (c) amended the              information regarding the Trust, the Fund, and the
                                                                                                                                                                          that are consumer and corporate ABS. According to
                                                    quantitative standards applicable to the portfolio,       Shares, including investment strategies, risks, NAV
                                                                                                                                                                          the Exchange, floating rate non-agency ABS also
                                                    including identifying the quantitative standards          calculation, creation and redemption procedures,
                                                                                                                                                                          include floating rate non-agency commercial real
                                                    that must be met on a continuous basis; (d) clarified     fees, Fund holdings disclosure policies,
                                                                                                                                                                          estate collateralized loan obligations (‘‘CLOs’’).
                                                    that the Fund may invest in non-exchange listed           distributions, and taxes, among other information,             16 The Fund will invest in floating rate corporate
                                                    securities of money market mutual funds beyond            is included in the Notice, as modified by
                                                                                                              Amendment No. 3, and the Registration Statement,            securities that have interest rates that reset
                                                    the limits permitted under the Investment Company                                                                     periodically. The interest rates are based on a
                                                    Act of 1940 (‘‘1940 Act’’); (e) clarified certain         as applicable. See Amendment No. 3 and
                                                                                                              Registration Statement, supra notes 7 and 8,                percentage above the London Interbank Offered
                                                    aspects of the net asset value (‘‘NAV’’) calculation                                                                  Rate, a U.S. bank’s prime or base rate, the overnight
                                                    and the availability of price information for certain     respectively, and accompanying text.
                                                                                                                 11 According to the Exchange, the term ‘‘under           federal funds rate, or another rate. Corporate
                                                    holdings; and (f) made certain technical                                                                              securities in which the Fund invests may be senior
                                                    amendments. Amendment No. 3 is available at:              normal market conditions’’ includes, but is not
                                                                                                              limited to, the absence of adverse market,                  or subordinate obligations of the borrower. The
                                                    https://www.sec.gov/comments/sr-nasdaq-2016-                                                                          Fund will not invest in senior or junior commercial
                                                    056/nasdaq2016056-3.pdf.                                  economic, political or other conditions, including
                                                                                                              extreme volatility or trading halts in the fixed            loans. The Fund will generally invest in floating
                                                       8 See Registration Statement for the Trust, filed on
                                                                                                              income markets or the financial markets generally;          rate corporate securities that the Adviser or Sub-
                                                    September 4, 2015 (File Nos. 333–147622 and 811–          operational issues causing dissemination of                 Adviser (as applicable) deems to be liquid with
                                                    22148). The Exchange represents that the Trust has        inaccurate market information; or force majeure             readily available prices. Notwithstanding the
                                                    obtained certain exemptive relief from the                type events such as systems failure, natural or man-        foregoing, the Fund may invest in corporate
                                                    Commission under the 1940 Act. See Investment             made disaster, act of God, armed conflict, act of           securities that are deemed illiquid so long as the
                                                    Company Act Release No. 28171 (February 27,               terrorism, riot or labor disruption, or any similar         Fund complies with the 15% limitation on
                                                    2008) (File No. 812–13386).                               intervening circumstance. The Exchange states that,         investments of its net assets in illiquid assets
                                                       9 The Exchange represents that, while the Adviser
                                                                                                              for temporary defensive purposes, during the initial        described below.
                                                    and the Sub-Adviser are not broker-dealers, they are      invest-up period and during periods of high cash               17 The variable rate preferred stock in which the

                                                    affiliated with the Distributor, a broker-dealer. The     inflows or outflows, the Fund may depart from its           Fund may invest will be limited to securities that
                                                    Exchange states that the Adviser and the Sub-             principal investment strategies; for example, it may        trade in markets that are members of the
                                                    Adviser have implemented and will maintain a fire         hold a higher than normal proportion of its assets          Intermarket Surveillance Group (‘‘ISG’’) or
                                                    wall between themselves and the Distributor with          in cash. During such periods, the Fund may not be           exchanges that are parties to a comprehensive
                                                    respect to access to information concerning the           able to achieve its investment objectives. The Fund         surveillance sharing agreement with the Exchange.
                                                    composition of, and changes to, the Fund’s                may adopt a defensive strategy when the Adviser                18 ETFs in which the Fund invests will be listed

                                                    portfolio. In the event (a) the Adviser or Sub-           or Sub-Adviser believes securities in which the             and traded in the U.S. on registered exchanges. The
                                                                                                              Fund normally invests have elevated risks due to
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    Adviser becomes newly affiliated with a different                                                                     ETFs in which the Fund will invest include Index
                                                    broker-dealer (or becomes a registered broker-            political or economic factors and in other                  Fund Shares (as described in Nasdaq Rule 5705),
                                                    dealer), or (b) any new adviser or sub-adviser to the     extraordinary circumstances.                                Portfolio Depositary Receipts (as described in
                                                    Fund is a registered broker-dealer or becomes                12 According to the Exchange, with respect to this       Nasdaq Rule 5705), and Managed Fund Shares (as
                                                    affiliated with a broker-dealer, each will implement      filing, the term ‘‘variable-rate’’ includes similar         described in Nasdaq Rule 5735). The shares of ETFs
                                                    and maintain a fire wall with respect to its relevant     terms, such as ‘‘floating rate’’ and ‘‘adjustable rate.’’   in which the Fund may invest will be limited to
                                                    personnel and/or such broker-dealer affiliate, if            13 For purposes of this filing, MBS will consist of:     securities that trade in markets that are members of
                                                    applicable, regarding access to information               (1) Residential MBS; (2) commercial MBS; (3)                the ISG or exchanges that are parties to a
                                                    concerning the composition of, and changes to, the        stripped MBS; and (4) collateralized mortgage               comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement with
                                                    Fund’s portfolio, and will be subject to procedures       obligations and real estate mortgage investment             the Exchange. The Fund will not invest in leveraged
                                                    designed to prevent the use and dissemination of          conduits.                                                   ETFs, inverse ETFs, or inverse leveraged ETFs.



                                               VerDate Sep<11>2014    18:21 Aug 02, 2016   Jkt 238001   PO 00000   Frm 00079    Fmt 4703    Sfmt 4703    E:\FR\FM\03AUN1.SGM      03AUN1


                                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 149 / Wednesday, August 3, 2016 / Notices                                                     51253

                                                    stock that are, at the time of purchase,                 Investments. During periods of market                  of the 1940 Act, or other Commission
                                                    investment grade, or in ETFs that invest                 volatility, however, the Fund may                      relief.24
                                                    primarily in any or all of the foregoing                 allocate a significant portion of its net                 The Fund may also take a temporary
                                                    securities. Under normal market                          assets to floating rate U.S. Treasury debt             defensive position and hold a portion of
                                                    conditions, Variable Rate Debt                           securities and agency MBS.                             its assets in cash and cash equivalents
                                                    Instruments or variable rate preferred                                                                          and money market instruments 25 if
                                                    stock will be investment grade if, at the                B. Exchange’s Description of the Fund’s                there are inadequate investment
                                                    time of purchase, they have a rating in                  Other Investments                                      opportunities available due to adverse
                                                    one of the highest four rating categories                                                                       market, economic, political or other
                                                                                                                According to the Exchange, under
                                                    of at least one nationally recognized                                                                           conditions, or atypical circumstances
                                                                                                             normal market conditions, the Fund
                                                    statistical ratings organization                                                                                such as unusually large cash inflows or
                                                    (‘‘NRSRO’’).19 Unrated securities may be                 will invest primarily in the Variable
                                                                                                                                                                    redemptions.26
                                                    considered investment grade if, at the                   Rate Investments described above to
                                                    time of purchase, and under normal                       meet its investment objectives. In                     C. Exchange’s Description of the Fund’s
                                                    market conditions, the Adviser or Sub-                   addition, the Fund may invest up to                    Investment Restrictions
                                                    Adviser determines that such securities                  20% of its net assets in Variable Rate                    The Fund may not concentrate its
                                                    are of comparable quality based on a                     Debt Instruments or variable rate                      investments (i.e., invest more than 25%
                                                    fundamental credit analysis of the                       preferred stock rated below investment                 of the value of its net assets) in
                                                    unrated security and comparable                          grade, and in fixed-rate debt                          securities of issuers in any one industry
                                                    NRSRO-rated securities.                                  instruments that are rated either                      or group of industries. This restriction
                                                       The Fund will not invest more than                    investment grade or below investment                   will not apply to obligations issued or
                                                    20% of its net assets in the aggregate in                grade.                                                 guaranteed by the U.S. government, its
                                                    ABS or non-agency MBS.                                      The Fund may invest in the following                agencies, or instrumentalities.
                                                       Under normal market conditions, the                   fixed-rate debt instruments: (i) Fixed-                   The Fund may hold up to an aggregate
                                                    Fund will satisfy the following                          rate MBS and ABS (which includes                       amount of 15% of its net assets in
                                                    requirements, with respect to (i) and (iii)              fixed-rate commercial real estate                      illiquid assets (calculated at the time of
                                                    on a continuous basis, and with respect                                                                         investment), including Rule 144A
                                                                                                             CLOs); 20 (ii) fixed-rate U.S. government
                                                    to (ii) and (iv) on a continuous basis                                                                          corporate debt securities deemed
                                                                                                             and agency securities; (iii) fixed-rate
                                                    measured at the time of purchase: (i) At                                                                        illiquid by the Adviser.27 The Fund will
                                                                                                             corporate debt securities, which will be
                                                    least 75% of the investments in                                                                                 monitor its portfolio liquidity on an
                                                    corporate debt securities shall have a                   comprised of corporate notes, bonds, or
                                                                                                             debentures, and 144A corporate                         ongoing basis to determine whether, in
                                                    minimum original principal amount                                                                               light of current circumstances, an
                                                    outstanding of $100 million or more; (ii)                securities; 21 (iv) fixed-rate exchange
                                                                                                             traded preferred stock; 22 and (v) ETFs                adequate level of liquidity is being
                                                    no Variable Rate Investment (excluding                                                                          maintained and will consider taking
                                                    U.S. government securities) will                         that invest primarily in any or all of the
                                                                                                             foregoing securities 23 (any or all of the             appropriate steps in order to maintain
                                                    represent more than 30% of the weight                                                                           adequate liquidity if, through a change
                                                    of the Variable Rate Debt Instrument                     foregoing securities, excluding fixed-
                                                                                                             rate exchange-traded preferred stock                   in values, net assets, or other
                                                    component of the Fund’s portfolio, and                                                                          circumstances, more than 15% of the
                                                    the five most heavily weighted portfolio                 and ETFs, collectively, ‘‘Fixed Rate Debt
                                                                                                             Instruments’’; Fixed Rate Debt                         Fund’s net assets are held in illiquid
                                                    securities will not in the aggregate                                                                            securities or other illiquid assets.
                                                    account for more than 65% of the                         Instruments, fixed-rate exchange traded
                                                                                                             preferred stock, and ETFs, collectively,               Illiquid securities and other illiquid
                                                    weight of the Variable Rate Debt                                                                                assets include those subject to
                                                    Instrument component of the Fund’s                       ‘‘Fixed Rate Investments’’).
                                                                                                                                                                    contractual or other restrictions on
                                                    portfolio; (iii) the portfolio will include                 The Fund may invest in non-exchange                 resale and other instruments or assets
                                                    a minimum of 13 non-affiliated issuers;                  listed securities of money market                      that lack readily available markets as
                                                    and (iv) portfolio securities that in                    mutual funds beyond the limits                         determined in accordance with
                                                    aggregate account for at least 90% of the                permitted under the 1940 Act, subject to               Commission staff guidance.
                                                    weight of the portfolio will be (a) from                 certain terms and conditions set forth in                 The Fund will not invest in futures,
                                                    issuers that are required to file reports                a Commission exemptive order issued to                 options, forwards, swaps, or other
                                                    pursuant to Sections 13 and 15(d) of the                 the Trust pursuant to Section 12(d)(1)(J)              derivatives.
                                                    Exchange Act, (b) from issuers that have
                                                    a worldwide market value of                                 20 As noted above, the Fund will not invest more      24 See Investment Company Act Release No.
                                                    outstanding common equity held by                        than 20% of its net assets in the aggregate in ABS     30238 (October 23, 2012) (File No. 812–13820).
                                                    non-affiliates of $700 million or more,                  or non-agency MBS.                                       25 For the Fund’s purposes, money market

                                                    (c) from issuers that have outstanding                      21 The Fund will generally invest in fixed-rate     instruments will include: short-term, high quality
                                                    securities that are notes, bonds,                        corporate securities that the Adviser or Sub-Adviser   securities issued or guaranteed by non-U.S.
                                                    debentures, or evidence of indebtedness                  (as applicable) deems to be liquid with readily        governments, agencies, and instrumentalities; non-
                                                                                                             available prices. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the   convertible corporate debt securities with
                                                    having a total remaining principal                       Fund may invest in corporate securities that are       remaining maturities of not more than 397 days that
                                                    amount of at least $1 billion, or (d)                    deemed illiquid so long as the Fund complies with      satisfy ratings requirements under Rule 2a–7 of the
                                                    exempted securities as defined in                        the 15% limitation on investments of its net assets    1940 Act; money market mutual funds; and
                                                    Section 3(a)(12) of the Exchange Act.                    in illiquid assets described below.                    deposits and other obligations of U.S. and non-U.S.
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                                22 The fixed-rate preferred stock in which the      banks and financial institutions.
                                                       Under normal market conditions, the
                                                                                                             Fund may invest will be limited to securities that       26 See supra note 11.
                                                    Fund will have investment exposure to                    trade in markets that are members of the ISG or that     27 In reaching liquidity decisions, the Adviser
                                                    a wide variety of Variable Rate                          are parties to a comprehensive surveillance sharing    may consider the following factors: The frequency
                                                                                                             agreement with the Exchange.                           of trades and quotes for the security; the number of
                                                      19 According to the Exchange, if a security is rated      23 The shares of ETFs in which the Fund may         dealers wishing to purchase or sell the security and
                                                    by multiple NRSROs and receives different ratings,       invest will be limited to securities that trade in     the number of other potential purchasers; dealer
                                                    the Fund will treat the security as being rated in       markets that are members of the ISG or that are        undertakings to make a market in the security; and
                                                    the highest rating category received from any one        parties to a comprehensive surveillance sharing        the nature of the security and the nature of the
                                                    NRSRO.                                                   agreement with the Exchange.                           marketplace in which it trades.



                                               VerDate Sep<11>2014   18:21 Aug 02, 2016   Jkt 238001   PO 00000   Frm 00080   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\03AUN1.SGM    03AUN1


                                                    51254                      Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 149 / Wednesday, August 3, 2016 / Notices

                                                       The Fund intends to qualify for and                  15 seconds during the Exchange’s                         corporate bonds, privately-issued
                                                    to elect to be treated as a regulated                   Regular Market Session.31 On each                        securities, MBS, and ABS to the extent
                                                    investment company under Subchapter                     business day, before commencement of                     transactions in such securities are
                                                    M of the Internal Revenue Code.                         trading in Shares in the Regular Market                  reported to TRACE. Intraday and closing
                                                       The Fund’s investments will be                       Session on the Exchange, the Fund will                   price information related to U.S.
                                                    consistent with the Fund’s investment                   disclose on its Web site the identities                  government securities, money market
                                                    objectives. Additionally, the Fund may                  and quantities of the portfolio of                       mutual funds, and other short-term
                                                    engage in frequent and active trading of                securities and other assets (‘‘Disclosed                 investments held by the Fund also will
                                                    portfolio securities to achieve its                     Portfolio’’ as defined in Nasdaq Rule                    be available through subscription
                                                    investment objectives. The Fund does                    5735(c)(2)) held by the Fund that will                   services, such as Bloomberg, Markit,
                                                    not presently intend to engage in any                   form the basis for the Fund’s calculation                and Thomson Reuters, which can be
                                                    form of borrowing for investment                        of NAV at the end of the business day.32                 accessed by authorized participants and
                                                    purposes and will not be operated as a                  The Fund’s Web site will also include                    other investors.
                                                    ‘‘leveraged ETF,’’ i.e., it will not be                 a form of the prospectus for the Fund
                                                    operated in a manner designed to seek                   and additional data relating to NAV and                     The Commission further believes that
                                                    a multiple or inverse multiple of the                   other applicable quantitative                            the proposal to list and trade the Shares
                                                    performance of an underlying reference                  information.                                             is reasonably designed to promote fair
                                                    index.                                                     Information regarding market price                    disclosure of information that may be
                                                                                                            and trading volume of the Shares will be                 necessary to price the Shares
                                                    III. Discussion and Commission’s                                                                                 appropriately and to prevent trading
                                                                                                            continually available on a real-time
                                                    Findings                                                                                                         when a reasonable degree of
                                                                                                            basis throughout the day on brokers’
                                                       After careful review, the Commission                 computer screens and other electronic                    transparency cannot be assured. The
                                                    finds that the Exchange’s proposal is                   services. Information regarding the                      Exchange will obtain a representation
                                                    consistent with the Act and the rules                   previous day’s closing price and trading                 from the issuer of the Shares that the
                                                    and regulations thereunder applicable to                volume information for the Shares will                   NAV per Share will be calculated daily,
                                                    a national securities exchange.28 In                    be published daily in the financial                      and that the NAV and the Disclosed
                                                    particular, the Commission finds that                   section of newspapers. Intraday,                         Portfolio will be made available to all
                                                    the proposal is consistent with Section                 executable price quotations, as well as                  market participants at the same time.
                                                    6(b)(5) of the Act,29 which requires,                   closing price information on exchange-                   Nasdaq will halt trading in the Shares
                                                    among other things, that the Exchange’s                 listed securities, Variable Rate Debt                    under the conditions specified in
                                                    rules be designed to promote just and                   Instruments, Fixed Rate Debt                             Nasdaq Rules 4120 and 4121, including
                                                    equitable principles of trade, to remove                Instruments, and other assets not traded                 the trading pauses under Nasdaq Rules
                                                    impediments to and perfect the                          on an exchange will be available from                    4120(a)(11) and (12). In addition,
                                                    mechanism of a free and open market                     major broker-dealer firms or market data                 trading may be halted because of market
                                                    and a national market system, and, in                   vendors or from the exchange on which                    conditions or for reasons that, in the
                                                    general, to protect investors and the                   they are traded, as well as from                         view of the Exchange, make trading in
                                                    public interest.                                        automated quotation systems, published                   the Shares inadvisable. These may
                                                       The Commission also finds that the                   or other public sources, or online                       include: (1) The extent to which trading
                                                    proposal is consistent with Section                     information services.33 Additionally,                    is not occurring in the securities and/or
                                                    11A(a)(1)(C)(iii) of the Act,30 which sets              the Financial Industry Regulatory                        the financial instruments constituting
                                                    forth the finding of Congress that it is in             Authority’s (‘‘FINRA’’) Trade Reporting                  the Disclosed Portfolio of the Fund; or
                                                    the public interest and appropriate for                 and Compliance Engine (‘‘TRACE’’) will                   (2) whether other unusual conditions or
                                                    the protection of investors and the                     be a source of price information for                     circumstances detrimental to the
                                                    maintenance of fair and orderly markets                                                                          maintenance of a fair and orderly
                                                    to assure the availability to brokers,                     31 See Nasdaq Rule 4120(b)(4) (describing the         market are present. Trading in the
                                                    dealers, and investors of information                   trading sessions on the Exchange).                       Shares also will be subject to Nasdaq
                                                    with respect to quotations for, and                        32 In addition to disclosing the identities and       Rule 5735(d)(2)(D), which sets forth
                                                    transactions in, securities. Quotation                  quantities of the portfolio of securities and other      additional circumstances under which
                                                                                                            assets in the Disclosed Portfolio, the Fund also will
                                                    and last-sale information for the Shares                                                                         Shares of the Fund may be halted.
                                                                                                            disclose on a daily basis on its Web site the
                                                    will be available via Nasdaq proprietary                following information, as applicable to the type of        The Exchange states that it has a
                                                    quote and trade services, as well as in                 holding: Ticker symbol, if any; CUSIP number or          general policy prohibiting the
                                                    accordance with the Unlisted Trading                    other identifier, if any; a description of the holding
                                                                                                                                                                     distribution of material, non-public
                                                    Privileges and the Consolidated Tape                    (including the type of holding); quantity held (as
                                                                                                            measured by, for example, par value, number of           information by its employees. Further,
                                                    Association plans for the Shares. The                   shares or units); maturity date, if any; coupon rate,    the Commission notes that the
                                                    Intraday Indicative Value, available on                 if any; market value of the holding; and percentage      Reporting Authority 34 that provides the
                                                    the NASDAQ OMX Information LLC                          weighting of the holding in the Fund’s portfolio.
                                                                                                                                                                     Disclosed Portfolio must implement and
                                                    proprietary index data service, will be                 The Web site and information will be publicly
                                                                                                                                                                     maintain, or be subject to, procedures
                                                    widely disseminated by one or more                      available at no charge. The Fund’s administrator
                                                                                                            will calculate the Fund’s NAV per Share as of the        designed to prevent the use and
                                                    major market data vendors at least every                close of regular trading (normally 4:00 p.m. E.T.) on    dissemination of material, non-public
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                            each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for         information regarding the actual
                                                      28 In approving this proposed rule change, the
                                                                                                            business.
                                                    Commission has considered the proposed rule’s              33 Quotation and last-sale information for any
                                                                                                                                                                     components of the portfolio.35
                                                    impact on efficiency, competition, and capital          exchange-traded instruments (including preferred          34 Nasdaq Rule 5735(c)(4) defines ‘‘Reporting
                                                    formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).                        stocks and ETFs) also will be available in
                                                      29 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
                                                                                                            accordance with the Unlisted Trading Privileges          Authority.’’
                                                      30 15 U.S.C. 78k–1(a)(1)(C)(iii).                                                                               35 See Nasdaq Rule 5735(d)(2)(B)(ii).
                                                                                                            and the Consolidated Tape Association plans.




                                               VerDate Sep<11>2014   18:21 Aug 02, 2016   Jkt 238001   PO 00000   Frm 00081   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\03AUN1.SGM     03AUN1


                                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 149 / Wednesday, August 3, 2016 / Notices                                            51255

                                                    In addition, the Exchange states that the               securities, thus rendering trading in the             requirement that members purchasing
                                                    Adviser and the Sub-Adviser are                         Shares subject to the Exchange’s                      Shares from the Fund for resale to
                                                    affiliated with the Distributor, a broker-              existing rules governing the trading of               investors deliver a prospectus to
                                                    dealer, and that the Adviser and the                    equity securities. In support of this                 investors purchasing newly issued
                                                    Sub-Adviser have implemented, and                       proposal, the Exchange has made                       Shares prior to or concurrently with the
                                                    will maintain, a fire wall between                      representations, including the                        confirmation of a transaction; and (f)
                                                    themselves and the Distributor with                     following:                                            trading information.
                                                    respect to access to information                           (1) The Shares will be subject to Rule                (5) For initial and continued listing,
                                                    concerning the composition of, and                      5735, which sets forth the initial and                the Fund must be in compliance with
                                                    changes to, the Fund’s portfolio.36                     continued listing criteria applicable to              Rule 10A–3 under the Act.39
                                                    Moreover, Nasdaq Rule 5735(g) requires                  Managed Fund Shares.                                     (6) The Fund will not invest more
                                                    that personnel who make decisions on                       (2) The Exchange has appropriate                   than 20% of its net assets in the
                                                    the Fund’s portfolio composition must                   rules to facilitate transactions in the               aggregate in ABS or non-agency MBS. In
                                                    be subject to procedures designed to                    Shares during all trading sessions.                   addition, the Fund will not invest in
                                                    prevent the use and dissemination of                       (3) FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange,              senior or junior commercial loans.
                                                    material, non-public information                        will communicate as needed regarding                     (7) The variable and fixed-rate
                                                    regarding the Fund’s portfolio.                         trading in the Shares and other                       preferred stock in which the Fund may
                                                       The Exchange represents that trading                 exchange-traded securities (including                 invest will be limited to securities that
                                                    in the Shares will be subject to the                    ETFs and preferred stock) and                         trade in markets that are members of the
                                                    existing trading surveillances,                         instruments held by the Fund with                     ISG, or that are parties to a
                                                    administered by both the Exchange and                   other markets and other entities that are             comprehensive surveillance sharing
                                                    FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange,                       members of the ISG,38 and FINRA may                   agreement with the Exchange.
                                                    which are designed to detect violations                 obtain trading information regarding                     (8) The shares of ETFs in which the
                                                    of Exchange rules and applicable federal                trading in the Shares and other                       Fund may invest will be limited to
                                                    securities laws.37 The Exchange further                 exchange-traded securities (including                 securities that trade in markets that are
                                                    represents that these procedures are                    ETFs and preferred stock) and                         members of the ISG, or that are parties
                                                    adequate to properly monitor Exchange                   instruments held by the Fund from such                to a comprehensive surveillance sharing
                                                    trading of the Shares in all trading                    markets and other entities. Moreover,                 agreement with the Exchange. In
                                                    sessions and to deter and detect                        FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, will                addition, the Fund will not invest in
                                                    violations of Exchange rules and                        be able to access, as needed, trade                   leveraged ETFs, inverse ETFs, or inverse
                                                    applicable federal securities laws.                     information for certain Variable Rate                 leveraged ETFs.
                                                    Moreover, the Exchange states that,                     Debt Instruments, Fixed Rate Debt                        (9) Under normal market conditions,
                                                    prior to the commencement of trading,                   Instruments, and other debt securities                the Fund will satisfy the following
                                                    it will inform its members in an                        held by the Fund reported to FINRA’s                  requirements, with respect to (i) and (iii)
                                                    Information Circular of the special                     TRACE. In addition, the Exchange may                  on a continuous basis, and with respect
                                                    characteristics and risks associated with               obtain information regarding trading in               to (ii) and (iv) on a continuous basis
                                                    trading the Shares.                                     the Shares and other exchange-traded                  measured at the time of purchase: (i) At
                                                       The Exchange represents that the                     securities (including ETFs and preferred              least 75% of the investments in
                                                    Shares are deemed to be equity                          stock) and instruments held by the Fund               corporate debt securities shall have a
                                                                                                            from markets and other entities that are              minimum original principal amount
                                                       36 See supra note 9. The Exchange states an
                                                                                                            members of ISG, or with which the                     outstanding of $100 million or more; (ii)
                                                    investment adviser to an open-end fund is required      Exchange has in place a comprehensive                 no Variable Rate Investment (excluding
                                                    to be registered under the Investment Advisers Act                                                            U.S. government securities) will
                                                    of 1940 (‘‘Advisers Act’’). As a result, the Adviser    surveillance sharing agreement.
                                                    and the Sub-Adviser and their related personnel are        (4) Prior to the commencement of                   represent more than 30% of the weight
                                                    subject to the provisions of Rule 204A–1 under the      trading, the Exchange will inform its                 of the Variable Rate Debt Instrument
                                                    Advisers Act relating to codes of ethics. This Rule     members in an Information Circular of                 component of the Fund’s portfolio, and
                                                    requires investment advisers to adopt a code of                                                               the five most heavily weighted portfolio
                                                    ethics that reflects the fiduciary nature of the        the special characteristics and risks
                                                    relationship to clients as well as compliance with      associated with trading the Shares.                   securities will not in the aggregate
                                                    other applicable securities laws. Accordingly,          Specifically, the Information Circular                account for more than 65% of the
                                                    procedures designed to prevent the communication        will discuss the following: (a) The                   weight of the Variable Rate Debt
                                                    and misuse of non-public information by an                                                                    Instrument component of the Fund’s
                                                    investment adviser must be consistent with the          procedures for purchases and
                                                    Advisers Act and Rule 204A–1 thereunder. In             redemptions of Shares in Creation Units               portfolio; (iii) the portfolio will include
                                                    addition, Rule 206(4)–7 under the Advisers Act          (and that Shares are not individually                 a minimum of 13 non-affiliated issuers;
                                                    makes it unlawful for an investment adviser to                                                                and (iv) portfolio securities that in
                                                    provide investment advice to clients unless such
                                                                                                            redeemable); (b) Nasdaq Rule 2111A,
                                                    investment adviser has (i) adopted and                  which imposes suitability obligations on              aggregate account for at least 90% of the
                                                    implemented written policies and procedures             Nasdaq members with respect to                        weight of the portfolio will be (a) from
                                                    reasonably designed to prevent violation, by the        recommending transactions in the                      issuers that are required to file reports
                                                    investment adviser and its supervised persons, of                                                             pursuant to Sections 13 and 15(d) of the
                                                    the Advisers Act and the Commission rules adopted
                                                                                                            Shares to customers; (c) how
                                                    thereunder; (ii) implemented, at a minimum, an          information regarding the Intraday                    Exchange Act; (b) from issuers that have
                                                    annual review regarding the adequacy of the             Indicative Value and the Disclosed                    a worldwide market value of
                                                                                                                                                                  outstanding common equity held by
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    policies and procedures established pursuant to         Portfolio is disseminated; (d) the risks
                                                    subparagraph (i) above and the effectiveness of their                                                         non-affiliates of $700 million or more;
                                                    implementation; and (iii) designated an individual      involved in trading the Shares during
                                                    (who is a supervised person) responsible for            the Pre-Market and Post-Market                        (c) from issuers that have outstanding
                                                    administering the policies and procedures adopted       Sessions when an updated Intraday                     securities that are notes, bonds,
                                                    under subparagraph (i) above.                           Indicative Value will not be calculated               debentures, or evidence of indebtedness
                                                       37 The Exchange states that FINRA surveils
                                                                                                            or publicly disseminated; (e) the                     having a total remaining principal
                                                    trading on the Exchange pursuant to a regulatory
                                                    services agreement. The Exchange is responsible for                                                           amount of at least $1 billion; or (d)
                                                    FINRA’s performance under this regulatory services       38 For a list of the current members of ISG, see

                                                    agreement.                                              www.isgportal.org.                                      39 See   17 CFR 240.10A–3.



                                               VerDate Sep<11>2014   18:21 Aug 02, 2016   Jkt 238001   PO 00000   Frm 00082   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\03AUN1.SGM     03AUN1


                                                    51256                       Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 149 / Wednesday, August 3, 2016 / Notices

                                                    exempted securities as defined in                       No. 3, is consistent with Section 6(b)(5)             2016–056, and should be submitted on
                                                    Section 3(a)(12) of the Exchange Act.                   of the Act 41 and Section                             or before August 24, 2016.
                                                       (10) The Fund may hold up to an                      11A(a)(1)(C)(iii) of the Act 42 and the
                                                                                                                                                                  V. Accelerated Approval of the
                                                    aggregate amount of 15% of its net                      rules and regulations thereunder
                                                                                                                                                                  Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by
                                                    assets in illiquid assets (calculated at                applicable to a national securities
                                                                                                                                                                  Amendment No. 3
                                                    the time of investment), including Rule                 exchange.
                                                    144A corporate debt securities deemed                                                                           The Commission finds good cause to
                                                                                                            IV. Solicitation of Comments on                       approve the proposed rule change, as
                                                    illiquid by the Adviser.
                                                                                                            Amendment No. 3                                       modified by Amendment No. 3, prior to
                                                       (11) The Fund’s investments will be
                                                    consistent with the Fund’s investment                     Interested persons are invited to                   the thirtieth day after the date of
                                                    objectives. The Fund does not presently                 submit written data, views, and                       publication of Amendment No. 3 in the
                                                    intend to engage in any form of                         arguments concerning whether                          Federal Register. The changes and
                                                    borrowing for investment purposes, and                  Amendment No. 3 is consistent with the                additional information in Amendment
                                                    will not be operated as a ‘‘leveraged                   Act. Comments may be submitted by                     No. 3 helped the Commission to
                                                    ETF,’’ i.e., it will not be operated in a               any of the following methods:                         evaluate the Shares’ susceptibility to
                                                    manner designed to seek a multiple or                                                                         manipulation and whether the listing
                                                                                                            Electronic Comments
                                                    inverse multiple of the performance of                                                                        and trading of the Shares would be
                                                    an underlying reference index.                            • Use the Commission’s Internet                     consistent with the protection of
                                                       (12) A minimum of 100,000 Shares                     comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                     investors and the public interest.
                                                    will be outstanding at the                              rules/sro.shtml); or                                  Amendment No. 3 also provided
                                                    commencement of trading on the                            • Send an email to rule-comments@                   clarifications and additional details to
                                                    Exchange.                                               sec.gov. Please include File No. SR–                  the proposed rule change. Accordingly,
                                                                                                            NASDAQ–2016–056 on the subject line.                  the Commission finds good cause for
                                                    The Exchange represents that all
                                                    statements and representations made in                  Paper Comments                                        approving the proposed rule change, as
                                                    the filing regarding (a) the description of                                                                   modified by Amendment No. 3, on an
                                                                                                               • Send paper comments in triplicate                accelerated basis, pursuant to Section
                                                    the portfolio, (b) limitations on portfolio             to Secretary, Securities and Exchange
                                                    holdings or reference assets, or (c) the                                                                      19(b)(2) of the Act.43
                                                                                                            Commission, 100 F Street NE.,
                                                    applicability of Exchange rules and                     Washington, DC 20549–1090.                            VI. Conclusion
                                                    surveillance procedures shall constitute                All submissions should refer to File No.                It is therefore ordered, pursuant to
                                                    continued listing requirements for                      SR–NASDAQ–2016–056. This file                         Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,44 that the
                                                    listing the Shares on the Exchange. In                  number should be included on the                      proposed rule change (SR–NASDAQ–
                                                    addition, the issuer has represented to                 subject line if email is used. To help the            2016–056), as modified by Amendment
                                                    the Exchange that it will advise the                    Commission process and review your                    No. 3, be, and it hereby is, approved on
                                                    Exchange of any failure by the Fund to                  comments more efficiently, please use                 an accelerated basis.
                                                    comply with the continued listing                       only one method. The Commission will
                                                    requirements, and, pursuant to its                                                                              For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                                                                            post all comments on the Commission’s                 Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                                    obligations under Section 19(g)(1) of the               Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                authority.45
                                                    Act, the Exchange will monitor for                      rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
                                                    compliance with the continued listing                                                                         Robert W. Errett,
                                                                                                            submission, all subsequent                            Deputy Secretary.
                                                    requirements.40 If the Fund is not in                   amendments, all written statements
                                                    compliance with the applicable listing                                                                        [FR Doc. 2016–18319 Filed 8–2–16; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                            with respect to the proposed rule
                                                    requirements, the Exchange will                         change that are filed with the
                                                                                                                                                                  BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                    commence delisting procedures under                     Commission, and all written
                                                    the Nasdaq 5800 Series.                                 communications relating to the
                                                       This order is based on all of the                                                                          SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                                                                            proposed rule change between the                      COMMISSION
                                                    Exchange’s representations, including                   Commission and any person, other than
                                                    those set forth above and in the Notice,                those that may be withheld from the                   [Release No. 34–78434; File No. 4–700]
                                                    as modified by Amendment No. 3. The                     public in accordance with the
                                                    Commission notes that the Fund and the                                                                        Program for Allocation of Regulatory
                                                                                                            provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
                                                    Shares must comply with the                                                                                   Responsibilities Pursuant to Rule 17d–
                                                                                                            available for Web site viewing and
                                                    requirements of Nasdaq Rule 5735 for                                                                          2; Order Approving and Declaring
                                                                                                            printing in the Commission’s Public
                                                    the Shares to be listed and traded on the                                                                     Effective a Proposed Plan for the
                                                                                                            Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,
                                                    Exchange.                                                                                                     Allocation of Regulatory
                                                                                                            Washington, DC 20549 on official
                                                       For the foregoing reasons, the                                                                             Responsibilities Between the Financial
                                                                                                            business days between the hours of
                                                    Commission finds that the proposed                                                                            Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. and
                                                                                                            10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such
                                                    rule change, as modified by Amendment                                                                         the Investors Exchange LLC
                                                                                                            filing also will be available for
                                                      40 The Commission notes that certain other
                                                                                                            inspection and copying at the principal               July 28, 2016.
                                                    proposals for the listing and trading of Managed        office of the Exchange. All comments                     On June 20, 2016, the Financial
                                                    Fund Shares include a representation that the           received will be posted without change;               Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    exchange will ‘‘surveil’’ for compliance with the       the Commission does not edit personal                 (‘‘FINRA’’) and the Investors Exchange
                                                    continued listing requirements. See, e.g., Securities
                                                    Exchange Act Release No. 77499 (April 1, 2016), 81
                                                                                                            identifying information from                          LLC (‘‘IEX’’) (together with FINRA, the
                                                    FR 20428 (April 7, 2016) (SR–BATS–2016–04). In          submissions. You should submit only                   ‘‘Parties’’) filed with the Securities and
                                                    the context of this representation, it is the           information that you wish to make                     Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’
                                                    Commission’s view that ‘‘monitor’’ and ‘‘surveil’’      available publicly. All submissions                   or ‘‘SEC’’) a plan for the allocation of
                                                    both mean ongoing oversight of a fund’s compliance
                                                    with the continued listing requirements. Therefore,
                                                                                                            should refer to File No. SR–NASDAQ–
                                                                                                                                                                    43 15    U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
                                                    the Commission does not view ‘‘monitor’’ as a more
                                                                                                              41 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).                               44 Id.
                                                    or less stringent obligation than ‘‘surveil’’ with
                                                    respect to the continued listing requirements.            42 15 U.S.C. 78k–1(a)(1)(C)(iii).                     45 17    CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).



                                               VerDate Sep<11>2014   18:21 Aug 02, 2016   Jkt 238001   PO 00000   Frm 00083   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\03AUN1.SGM      03AUN1



Document Created: 2016-08-02 23:43:54
Document Modified: 2016-08-02 23:43:54
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 51251 

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