82_FR_57738 82 FR 57506 - American Century ETF Trust and American Century Investment Management, Inc.

82 FR 57506 - American Century ETF Trust and American Century Investment Management, Inc.

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 232 (December 5, 2017)

Page Range57506-57508
FR Document2017-26114

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 232 (Tuesday, December 5, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 5, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57506-57508]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26114]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Investment Company Act Release No. 32928; 812-14794]


American Century ETF Trust and American Century Investment 
Management, Inc.

November 29, 2017.
AGENCY: Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'').

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice of an application for an order under section 6(c) of the 
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the ``Act'') for an exemption from 
sections 2(a)(32), 5(a)(1), 22(d), and 22(e) of the Act and rule 22c-1 
under the Act, under sections 6(c) and 17(b) of the Act for an 
exemption from sections 17(a)(1) and 17(a)(2) of the Act, and under 
section 12(d)(1)(J) for an exemption from sections 12(d)(1)(A) and 
12(d)(1)(B) of the Act. The requested order would permit (a) index-
based series of certain open-end management investment companies 
(``Funds'') to issue shares redeemable in large aggregations only 
(``Creation Units''); (b) secondary market transactions in Fund shares 
to occur at negotiated market prices rather than at net asset value 
(``NAV''); (c) certain Funds to pay redemption proceeds, under certain 
circumstances, more than seven days after the tender of shares for 
redemption; (d) certain affiliated persons of a Fund to deposit 
securities into, and receive securities from, the Fund in connection 
with the purchase and redemption of Creation Units; (e) certain 
registered management investment companies and unit investment trusts 
outside of the same group of investment companies as the Funds (``Funds 
of Funds'') to acquire shares of the Funds; and (f) certain Funds 
(``Feeder Funds'') to create and redeem Creation Units in-kind in a 
master-feeder structure.
    Applicants: American Century ETF Trust (``Trust''), a Delaware 
statutory trust registered under the Act as an open-end management 
investment company with multiple series, and American Century 
Investment Management, Inc. (``Initial Adviser''), Delaware corporation 
registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act 
of 1940.
    Filing Dates: The application was filed on June 30, 2017, and 
amended on October 31, 2017.
    Hearing or Notification of Hearing: An order granting the requested 
relief will be issued unless the Commission orders a hearing. 
Interested persons may request a hearing by writing to the

[[Page 57507]]

Commission's Secretary and serving applicants with a copy of the 
request, personally or by mail. Hearing requests should be received by 
the Commission by 5:30 p.m. on December 26, 2017, and should be 
accompanied by proof of service on applicants, in the form of an 
affidavit, or for lawyers, a certificate of service. Pursuant to rule 
0-5 under the Act, hearing requests should state the nature of the 
writer's interest, any facts bearing upon the desirability of a hearing 
on the matter, the reason for the request, and the issues contested. 
Persons who wish to be notified of a hearing may request notification 
by writing to the Commission's Secretary.

ADDRESSES: Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street 
NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090; Applicants, 4500 Main Street, Kansas 
City, MO 64111.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christine Y. Greenlees, Senior 
Counsel, at (202) 551-6879, or Andrea Ottomanelli Magovern, Acting 
Branch Chief, at (202) 551-6821 (Division of Investment Management, 
Chief Counsel's Office).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following is a summary of the 
application. The complete application may be obtained via the 
Commission's Web site by searching for the file number, or for an 
applicant using the Company name box, at http://www.sec.gov/search/search.htm or by calling (202) 551-8090.

Summary of the Application

    1. Applicants request an order that would allow Funds to operate as 
index exchange traded funds (``ETFs'').\1\ Fund shares will be 
purchased and redeemed at their NAV in Creation Units only. All orders 
to purchase Creation Units and all redemption requests will be placed 
by or through an ``Authorized Participant,'' which will have signed a 
participant agreement with the Distributor. Shares will be listed and 
traded individually on a national securities exchange, where share 
prices will be based on the current bid/offer market. Certain Funds may 
operate as Feeder Funds in a master-feeder structure. Any order 
granting the requested relief would be subject to the terms and 
conditions stated in the application (``Application'').
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    \1\ Applicants request that the order apply to the initial 
series of the Trust identified and described in an appendix to the 
Application and any additional series of the Trust, and any other 
open-end management investment company or series thereof (each, 
included in the term ``Fund''), each of which will operate as an ETF 
and will track a specified index comprised of domestic and/or 
foreign equity securities and/or domestic and/or foreign fixed 
income securities (each, an ``Underlying Index''). Each Fund will 
(a) be advised by the Initial Adviser or an entity controlling, 
controlled by, or under common control with the Initial Adviser 
(each of the foregoing and any successor thereto, an ``Adviser'') 
and (b) comply with the terms and conditions of the Application. For 
purposes of the requested Order, a ``successor'' is limited to an 
entity or entities that result from a reorganization into another 
jurisdiction or a change in the type of business organization.
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    2. Each Fund will hold investment positions selected to correspond 
generally to the performance of an Underlying Index. In the case of 
Self-Indexing Funds, an affiliated person, as defined in section 
2(a)(3) of the Act (``Affiliated Person''), or an affiliated person of 
an Affiliated Person (``Second-Tier Affiliate''), of the Trust or a 
Fund, of the Adviser, of any sub-adviser to or promoter of a Fund, or 
of the Distributor will compile, create, sponsor or maintain the 
Underlying Index.\2\
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    \2\ Each Self-Indexing Fund will post on its Web site the 
identities and quantities of the investment positions that will form 
the basis for the Fund's calculation of its NAV at the end of the 
day. Applicants believe that requiring Self-Indexing Funds to 
maintain full portfolio transparency will help address, together 
with other protections, conflicts of interest with respect to such 
Funds.
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    3. Shares will be purchased and redeemed in Creation Units and 
generally on an in-kind basis. Except where the purchase or redemption 
will include cash under the limited circumstances specified in the 
Application, purchasers will be required to purchase Creation Units by 
depositing specified instruments (``Deposit Instruments''), and 
shareholders redeeming their shares will receive specified instruments 
(``Redemption Instruments''). The Deposit Instruments and the 
Redemption Instruments will each correspond pro rata to the positions 
in the Fund's portfolio (including cash positions) except as specified 
in the Application.
    4. Because shares will not be individually redeemable, applicants 
request an exemption from section 5(a)(1) and section 2(a)(32) of the 
Act that would permit the Funds to register as open-end management 
investment companies and issue shares that are redeemable in Creation 
Units only.
    5. Applicants also request an exemption from section 22(d) of the 
Act and rule 22c-1 under the Act as secondary market trading in shares 
will take place at negotiated prices, not at a current offering price 
described in a Fund's prospectus, and not at a price based on NAV. 
Applicants state that (a) secondary market trading in shares does not 
involve a Fund as a party and will not result in dilution of an 
investment in shares, and (b) to the extent different prices exist 
during a given trading day, or from day to day, such variances occur as 
a result of third-party market forces, such as supply and demand. 
Therefore, applicants assert that secondary market transactions in 
shares will not lead to discrimination or preferential treatment among 
purchasers. Finally, applicants represent that share market prices will 
be disciplined by arbitrage opportunities, which should prevent shares 
from trading at a material discount or premium from NAV.
    6. With respect to Funds that effect creations and redemptions of 
Creation Units in kind and that are based on certain Underlying Indexes 
that include foreign securities, applicants request relief from the 
requirement imposed by section 22(e) in order to allow such Funds to 
pay redemption proceeds within fifteen calendar days following the 
tender of Creation Units for redemption. Applicants assert that the 
requested relief would not be inconsistent with the spirit and intent 
of section 22(e) to prevent unreasonable, undisclosed or unforeseen 
delays in the actual payment of redemption proceeds.
    7. Applicants request an exemption to permit Funds of Funds to 
acquire Fund shares beyond the limits of section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 
Act; and the Funds, and any principal underwriter for the Funds, and/or 
any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act, to sell shares 
to Funds of Funds beyond the limits of section 12(d)(1)(B) of the Act. 
The Application's terms and conditions are designed to, among other 
things, help prevent any potential (i) undue influence over a Fund 
through control or voting power, or in connection with certain 
services, transactions, and underwritings, (ii) excessive layering of 
fees, and (iii) overly complex fund structures, which are the concerns 
underlying the limits in sections 12(d)(1)(A) and (B) of the Act.
    8. Applicants request an exemption from sections 17(a)(1) and 
17(a)(2) of the Act to permit persons that are Affiliated Persons, or 
Second-Tier Affiliates, of the Funds, solely by virtue of certain 
ownership interests, to effectuate purchases and redemptions in-kind. 
The deposit procedures for in-kind purchases of Creation Units and the 
redemption procedures for in-kind redemptions of Creation Units will be 
the same for all purchases and redemptions and Deposit Instruments and 
Redemption Instruments will be valued in the same manner as those 
investment positions currently held by the Funds. Applicants also seek 
relief from the prohibitions on affiliated transactions in section 
17(a) to permit a

[[Page 57508]]

Fund to sell its shares to and redeem its shares from a Fund of Funds, 
and to engage in the accompanying in-kind transactions with the Fund of 
Funds.\3\ The purchase of Creation Units by a Fund of Funds directly 
from a Fund will be accomplished in accordance with the policies of the 
Fund of Funds and will be based on the NAVs of the Funds.
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    \3\ The requested relief would apply to direct sales of shares 
in Creation Units by a Fund to a Fund of Funds and redemptions of 
those shares. Applicants, moreover, are not seeking relief from 
section 17(a) for, and the requested relief will not apply to, 
transactions where a Fund could be deemed an Affiliated Person, or a 
Second-Tier Affiliate, of a Fund of Funds because an Adviser or an 
entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with an 
Adviser provides investment advisory services to that Fund of Funds.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    9. Applicants also request relief to permit a Feeder Fund to 
acquire shares of another registered investment company managed by the 
Adviser having substantially the same investment objectives as the 
Feeder Fund (``Master Fund'') beyond the limitations in section 
12(d)(1)(A) and permit the Master Fund, and any principal underwriter 
for the Master Fund, to sell shares of the Master Fund to the Feeder 
Fund beyond the limitations in section 12(d)(1)(B).
    10. Section 6(c) of the Act permits the Commission to exempt any 
persons or transactions from any provision of the Act if such exemption 
is necessary or appropriate in the public interest and consistent with 
the protection of investors and the purposes fairly intended by the 
policy and provisions of the Act. Section 12(d)(1)(J) of the Act 
provides that the Commission may exempt any person, security, or 
transaction, or any class or classes of persons, securities, or 
transactions, from any provision of section 12(d)(1) if the exemption 
is consistent with the public interest and the protection of investors. 
Section 17(b) of the Act authorizes the Commission to grant an order 
permitting a transaction otherwise prohibited by section 17(a) if it 
finds that (a) the terms of the proposed transaction are fair and 
reasonable and do not involve overreaching on the part of any person 
concerned; (b) the proposed transaction is consistent with the policies 
of each registered investment company involved; and (c) the proposed 
transaction is consistent with the general purposes of the Act.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, 
under delegated authority.
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-26114 Filed 12-4-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                57506                        Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 5, 2017 / Notices

                                                as the Commission may designate, it has                 Electronic Comments                                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                become effective pursuant to Section                                                                           COMMISSION
                                                19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act 7 and                         • Use the Commission’s Internet
                                                                                                        comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                      [Investment Company Act Release No.
                                                subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b–4                                                                              32928; 812–14794]
                                                thereunder.8                                            rules/sro.shtml); or
                                                   A proposed rule change filed under                     • Send an email to rule-comments@                    American Century ETF Trust and
                                                Rule 19b–4(f)(6) normally does not                      sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                American Century Investment
                                                become operative for 30 days after the                  ISE–2017–102 on the subject line.                      Management, Inc.
                                                date of its filing. However, Rule 19b–
                                                                                                        Paper Comments                                         November 29, 2017.
                                                4(f)(6)(iii) 9 permits the Commission to
                                                                                                                                                               AGENCY: Securities and Exchange
                                                designate a shorter time if such action                   • Send paper comments in triplicate                  Commission (‘‘Commission’’).
                                                is consistent with the protection of                    to Secretary, Securities and Exchange
                                                investors and the public interest. The                                                                         ACTION: Notice.
                                                                                                        Commission, 100 F Street NE.,
                                                Exchange has requested that the                         Washington, DC 20549–1090.                                Notice of an application for an order
                                                Commission waive the 30-day operative                                                                          under section 6(c) of the Investment
                                                delay so that the proposed rule change                  All submissions should refer to File                   Company Act of 1940 (the ‘‘Act’’) for an
                                                will become operative upon filing. The                  Number SR–ISE–2017–102. This file                      exemption from sections 2(a)(32),
                                                Exchange states that such waiver will                   number should be included on the                       5(a)(1), 22(d), and 22(e) of the Act and
                                                enable the Exchange to start the process                subject line if email is used. To help the             rule 22c–1 under the Act, under
                                                to reorganize the rulebooks of the                      Commission process and review your                     sections 6(c) and 17(b) of the Act for an
                                                Nasdaq Entities. The Commission                         comments more efficiently, please use                  exemption from sections 17(a)(1) and
                                                believes that waiver of the 30-day                      only one method. The Commission will                   17(a)(2) of the Act, and under section
                                                operative delay is consistent with the                  post all comments on the Commission’s                  12(d)(1)(J) for an exemption from
                                                protection of investors and the public                  Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                 sections 12(d)(1)(A) and 12(d)(1)(B) of
                                                interest because the proposal does not                  rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                        the Act. The requested order would
                                                raise any novel issues and waiver will                  submission, all subsequent                             permit (a) index-based series of certain
                                                allow the Exchange to begin the                         amendments, all written statements                     open-end management investment
                                                reorganization of its Rulebook without                  with respect to the proposed rule                      companies (‘‘Funds’’) to issue shares
                                                delay. Therefore, the Commission                        change that are filed with the                         redeemable in large aggregations only
                                                hereby waives the operative delay and                                                                          (‘‘Creation Units’’); (b) secondary market
                                                                                                        Commission, and all written
                                                designates the proposed rule change                                                                            transactions in Fund shares to occur at
                                                                                                        communications relating to the
                                                operative upon filing.10                                                                                       negotiated market prices rather than at
                                                                                                        proposed rule change between the
                                                   At any time within 60 days of the                    Commission and any person, other than                  net asset value (‘‘NAV’’); (c) certain
                                                filing of the proposed rule change, the                 those that may be withheld from the                    Funds to pay redemption proceeds,
                                                Commission summarily may                                                                                       under certain circumstances, more than
                                                                                                        public in accordance with the
                                                temporarily suspend such rule change if                                                                        seven days after the tender of shares for
                                                                                                        provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
                                                it appears to the Commission that such                                                                         redemption; (d) certain affiliated
                                                                                                        available for Web site viewing and
                                                action is: (i) Necessary or appropriate in                                                                     persons of a Fund to deposit securities
                                                the public interest; (ii) for the protection            printing in the Commission’s Public                    into, and receive securities from, the
                                                of investors; or (iii) otherwise in                     Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,                      Fund in connection with the purchase
                                                furtherance of the purposes of the Act.                 Washington, DC 20549 on official                       and redemption of Creation Units; (e)
                                                If the Commission takes such action, the                business days between the hours of                     certain registered management
                                                Commission shall institute proceedings                  10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                 investment companies and unit
                                                to determine whether the proposed rule                  filing also will be available for                      investment trusts outside of the same
                                                should be approved or disapproved.                      inspection and copying at the principal                group of investment companies as the
                                                                                                        office of the Exchange. All comments                   Funds (‘‘Funds of Funds’’) to acquire
                                                IV. Solicitation of Comments                            received will be posted without change.                shares of the Funds; and (f) certain
                                                  Interested persons are invited to                     Persons submitting comments are                        Funds (‘‘Feeder Funds’’) to create and
                                                submit written data, views, and                         cautioned that we do not redact or edit                redeem Creation Units in-kind in a
                                                arguments concerning the foregoing,                     personal identifying information from                  master-feeder structure.
                                                including whether the proposed rule                     comment submissions. You should                           Applicants: American Century ETF
                                                change is consistent with the Act.                      submit only information that you wish                  Trust (‘‘Trust’’), a Delaware statutory
                                                Comments may be submitted by any of                     to make available publicly. All                        trust registered under the Act as an
                                                the following methods:                                  submissions should refer to File                       open-end management investment
                                                                                                        Number SR–ISE–2017–102, and should                     company with multiple series, and
                                                  7 15  U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).                       be submitted on or before December 26,                 American Century Investment
                                                  8 17  CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). As required under Rule     2017.                                                  Management, Inc. (‘‘Initial Adviser’’),
                                                19b–4(f)(6)(iii), the Exchange provided the                                                                    Delaware corporation registered as an
                                                Commission with written notice of its intent to file      For the Commission, by the Division of               investment adviser under the
                                                the proposed rule change, along with a brief            Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                                description and the text of the proposed rule
                                                                                                                                                               Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
                                                                                                        authority.11
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES




                                                change, at least five business days prior to the date                                                             Filing Dates: The application was
                                                of filing of the proposed rule change, or such          Eduardo A. Aleman,                                     filed on June 30, 2017, and amended on
                                                shorter time as designated by the Commission.           Assistant Secretary.                                   October 31, 2017.
                                                   9 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6)(iii).
                                                                                                        [FR Doc. 2017–26127 Filed 12–4–17; 8:45 am]               Hearing or Notification of Hearing: An
                                                   10 For purposes only of waiving the 30-day
                                                                                                                                                               order granting the requested relief will
                                                operative delay, the Commission also has                BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                considered the proposed rule’s impact on
                                                                                                                                                               be issued unless the Commission orders
                                                efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See                                                            a hearing. Interested persons may
                                                15 U.S.C. 78c(f).                                         11 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                         request a hearing by writing to the


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                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 5, 2017 / Notices                                            57507

                                                Commission’s Secretary and serving                      traded individually on a national                      prices exist during a given trading day,
                                                applicants with a copy of the request,                  securities exchange, where share prices                or from day to day, such variances occur
                                                personally or by mail. Hearing requests                 will be based on the current bid/offer                 as a result of third-party market forces,
                                                should be received by the Commission                    market. Certain Funds may operate as                   such as supply and demand. Therefore,
                                                by 5:30 p.m. on December 26, 2017, and                  Feeder Funds in a master-feeder                        applicants assert that secondary market
                                                should be accompanied by proof of                       structure. Any order granting the                      transactions in shares will not lead to
                                                service on applicants, in the form of an                requested relief would be subject to the               discrimination or preferential treatment
                                                affidavit, or for lawyers, a certificate of             terms and conditions stated in the                     among purchasers. Finally, applicants
                                                service. Pursuant to rule 0–5 under the                 application (‘‘Application’’).                         represent that share market prices will
                                                Act, hearing requests should state the                     2. Each Fund will hold investment                   be disciplined by arbitrage
                                                nature of the writer’s interest, any facts              positions selected to correspond                       opportunities, which should prevent
                                                bearing upon the desirability of a                      generally to the performance of an                     shares from trading at a material
                                                hearing on the matter, the reason for the               Underlying Index. In the case of Self-                 discount or premium from NAV.
                                                request, and the issues contested.                      Indexing Funds, an affiliated person, as                  6. With respect to Funds that effect
                                                Persons who wish to be notified of a                    defined in section 2(a)(3) of the Act                  creations and redemptions of Creation
                                                hearing may request notification by                     (‘‘Affiliated Person’’), or an affiliated              Units in kind and that are based on
                                                writing to the Commission’s Secretary.                  person of an Affiliated Person (‘‘Second-              certain Underlying Indexes that include
                                                ADDRESSES: Secretary, Securities and                    Tier Affiliate’’), of the Trust or a Fund,             foreign securities, applicants request
                                                Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE.,                  of the Adviser, of any sub-adviser to or               relief from the requirement imposed by
                                                Washington, DC 20549–1090;                              promoter of a Fund, or of the Distributor              section 22(e) in order to allow such
                                                Applicants, 4500 Main Street, Kansas                    will compile, create, sponsor or                       Funds to pay redemption proceeds
                                                City, MO 64111.                                         maintain the Underlying Index.2                        within fifteen calendar days following
                                                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                           3. Shares will be purchased and                     the tender of Creation Units for
                                                Christine Y. Greenlees, Senior Counsel,                 redeemed in Creation Units and                         redemption. Applicants assert that the
                                                at (202) 551–6879, or Andrea                            generally on an in-kind basis. Except                  requested relief would not be
                                                                                                        where the purchase or redemption will                  inconsistent with the spirit and intent of
                                                Ottomanelli Magovern, Acting Branch
                                                                                                        include cash under the limited                         section 22(e) to prevent unreasonable,
                                                Chief, at (202) 551–6821 (Division of
                                                                                                        circumstances specified in the                         undisclosed or unforeseen delays in the
                                                Investment Management, Chief
                                                                                                        Application, purchasers will be required               actual payment of redemption proceeds.
                                                Counsel’s Office).                                                                                                7. Applicants request an exemption to
                                                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
                                                                                                        to purchase Creation Units by
                                                                                                        depositing specified instruments                       permit Funds of Funds to acquire Fund
                                                following is a summary of the                                                                                  shares beyond the limits of section
                                                application. The complete application                   (‘‘Deposit Instruments’’), and
                                                                                                        shareholders redeeming their shares                    12(d)(1)(A) of the Act; and the Funds,
                                                may be obtained via the Commission’s                                                                           and any principal underwriter for the
                                                Web site by searching for the file                      will receive specified instruments
                                                                                                        (‘‘Redemption Instruments’’). The                      Funds, and/or any broker or dealer
                                                number, or for an applicant using the                                                                          registered under the Exchange Act, to
                                                Company name box, at http://                            Deposit Instruments and the
                                                                                                        Redemption Instruments will each                       sell shares to Funds of Funds beyond
                                                www.sec.gov/search/search.htm or by                                                                            the limits of section 12(d)(1)(B) of the
                                                calling (202) 551–8090.                                 correspond pro rata to the positions in
                                                                                                        the Fund’s portfolio (including cash                   Act. The Application’s terms and
                                                Summary of the Application                              positions) except as specified in the                  conditions are designed to, among other
                                                                                                        Application.                                           things, help prevent any potential (i)
                                                   1. Applicants request an order that                                                                         undue influence over a Fund through
                                                would allow Funds to operate as index                      4. Because shares will not be
                                                                                                        individually redeemable, applicants                    control or voting power, or in
                                                exchange traded funds (‘‘ETFs’’).1 Fund                                                                        connection with certain services,
                                                shares will be purchased and redeemed                   request an exemption from section
                                                                                                        5(a)(1) and section 2(a)(32) of the Act                transactions, and underwritings, (ii)
                                                at their NAV in Creation Units only. All                                                                       excessive layering of fees, and (iii)
                                                orders to purchase Creation Units and                   that would permit the Funds to register
                                                                                                        as open-end management investment                      overly complex fund structures, which
                                                all redemption requests will be placed                                                                         are the concerns underlying the limits
                                                by or through an ‘‘Authorized                           companies and issue shares that are
                                                                                                        redeemable in Creation Units only.                     in sections 12(d)(1)(A) and (B) of the
                                                Participant,’’ which will have signed a                                                                        Act.
                                                participant agreement with the                             5. Applicants also request an
                                                                                                        exemption from section 22(d) of the Act                   8. Applicants request an exemption
                                                Distributor. Shares will be listed and                                                                         from sections 17(a)(1) and 17(a)(2) of the
                                                                                                        and rule 22c–1 under the Act as
                                                                                                        secondary market trading in shares will                Act to permit persons that are Affiliated
                                                   1 Applicants request that the order apply to the
                                                                                                        take place at negotiated prices, not at a              Persons, or Second-Tier Affiliates, of the
                                                initial series of the Trust identified and described
                                                in an appendix to the Application and any               current offering price described in a                  Funds, solely by virtue of certain
                                                additional series of the Trust, and any other open-     Fund’s prospectus, and not at a price                  ownership interests, to effectuate
                                                end management investment company or series
                                                                                                        based on NAV. Applicants state that (a)                purchases and redemptions in-kind. The
                                                thereof (each, included in the term ‘‘Fund’’), each                                                            deposit procedures for in-kind
                                                of which will operate as an ETF and will track a        secondary market trading in shares does
                                                specified index comprised of domestic and/or            not involve a Fund as a party and will                 purchases of Creation Units and the
                                                foreign equity securities and/or domestic and/or                                                               redemption procedures for in-kind
                                                                                                        not result in dilution of an investment
                                                foreign fixed income securities (each, an                                                                      redemptions of Creation Units will be
                                                ‘‘Underlying Index’’). Each Fund will (a) be advised    in shares, and (b) to the extent different
                                                                                                                                                               the same for all purchases and
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES




                                                by the Initial Adviser or an entity controlling,
                                                controlled by, or under common control with the            2 Each Self-Indexing Fund will post on its Web      redemptions and Deposit Instruments
                                                Initial Adviser (each of the foregoing and any          site the identities and quantities of the investment   and Redemption Instruments will be
                                                successor thereto, an ‘‘Adviser’’) and (b) comply       positions that will form the basis for the Fund’s      valued in the same manner as those
                                                with the terms and conditions of the Application.       calculation of its NAV at the end of the day.          investment positions currently held by
                                                For purposes of the requested Order, a ‘‘successor’’    Applicants believe that requiring Self-Indexing
                                                is limited to an entity or entities that result from    Funds to maintain full portfolio transparency will
                                                                                                                                                               the Funds. Applicants also seek relief
                                                a reorganization into another jurisdiction or a         help address, together with other protections,         from the prohibitions on affiliated
                                                change in the type of business organization.            conflicts of interest with respect to such Funds.      transactions in section 17(a) to permit a


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                                                57508                       Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 5, 2017 / Notices

                                                Fund to sell its shares to and redeem its               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                 acquiring all of the interests of the
                                                shares from a Fund of Funds, and to                     COMMISSION                                              International Securities Exchange, LLC
                                                engage in the accompanying in-kind                                                                              (now Nasdaq ISE, LLC), ISE Gemini,
                                                                                                        [Release No. 34–82169; File No. SR–Phlx–
                                                transactions with the Fund of Funds.3                   2017–97]                                                LLC (now Nasdaq GEMX, LLC)
                                                The purchase of Creation Units by a                                                                             (‘‘GEMX’’) and ISE Mercury, LLC (now
                                                Fund of Funds directly from a Fund will                 Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq                   Nasdaq MRX, LLC) (‘‘MRX’’).3 The
                                                be accomplished in accordance with the                  PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing and                          acquisition resulted in a total of six self-
                                                policies of the Fund of Funds and will                  Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed                     regulatory organization licenses for
                                                be based on the NAVs of the Funds.                      Rule Change To Adopt a Shell                            Nasdaq, Inc. which, in addition to the
                                                   9. Applicants also request relief to                 Structure for the Phlx Rulebook                         three aforementioned exchanges, also
                                                permit a Feeder Fund to acquire shares                                                                          include The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
                                                of another registered investment                        November 29, 2017.
                                                                                                                                                                (‘‘Nasdaq’’), Phlx and Nasdaq BX, Inc.
                                                company managed by the Adviser                             Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the                  (‘‘BX’’) (collectively, ‘‘Nasdaq Entities’’).
                                                having substantially the same                           Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                                investment objectives as the Feeder                     (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2                    The Exchange is planning to conform
                                                Fund (‘‘Master Fund’’) beyond the                       notice is hereby given that on November                 the chapters of the various Nasdaq
                                                limitations in section 12(d)(1)(A) and                  17, 2017, Nasdaq PHLX LLC (‘‘Phlx’’ or                  Entity rulebooks for efficiency, and
                                                permit the Master Fund, and any                         ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities                 conformity of certain Nasdaq Entity
                                                principal underwriter for the Master                    and Exchange Commission                                 processes. The Exchange believes that
                                                Fund, to sell shares of the Master Fund                 (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule                      aligning the rules of the Nasdaq Entities
                                                to the Feeder Fund beyond the                           change as described in Items I and II                   will assist market participants in
                                                limitations in section 12(d)(1)(B).                     below, which Items have been prepared                   navigating the various rulebooks.
                                                   10. Section 6(c) of the Act permits the              by the Exchange. The Commission is                      Specifically, the Exchange proposes to
                                                Commission to exempt any persons or                     publishing this notice to solicit                       add a shell structure which would
                                                transactions from any provision of the                  comments on the proposed rule change                    reside alongside the current rulebook.
                                                Act if such exemption is necessary or                   from interested persons.                                The proposed shell would outline the
                                                appropriate in the public interest and                                                                          various chapters of the future rulebook
                                                                                                        I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                consistent with the protection of                                                                               and contains new chapter numbering. A
                                                                                                        Statement of the Terms of the Substance
                                                investors and the purposes fairly                                                                               similar shell would be filed to add the
                                                                                                        of the Proposed Rule Change
                                                intended by the policy and provisions of                                                                        same structure to each of the other
                                                the Act. Section 12(d)(1)(J) of the Act                    The Exchange proposes to adopt a                     Nasdaq Entities. The proposed chapters
                                                provides that the Commission may                        shell structure for the Phlx rulebook                   would be similar for each shell filed for
                                                                                                        (‘‘Rulebook’’) as part of its initiative to             each of the Nasdaq Entities. In
                                                exempt any person, security, or
                                                                                                        structure its Rulebook.                                 subsequent rule changes, each of the
                                                transaction, or any class or classes of
                                                                                                           The text of the proposed rule change                 Nasdaq Entities would file rule changes
                                                persons, securities, or transactions, from              is available on the Exchange’s Web site
                                                any provision of section 12(d)(1) if the                                                                        to move their current rules into the
                                                                                                        at http://nasdaqphlx.cchwallstreet.                     various chapters of the proposed shells
                                                exemption is consistent with the public                 com/, at the principal office of the
                                                interest and the protection of investors.                                                                       for all six markets and delete the
                                                                                                        Exchange, and at the Commission’s                       migrated rule from the current location
                                                Section 17(b) of the Act authorizes the                 Public Reference Room.
                                                Commission to grant an order                                                                                    in the Rulebook.4 The proposed shell
                                                permitting a transaction otherwise                      II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                      would contain a general rule section
                                                prohibited by section 17(a) if it finds                 Statement of the Purpose of, and                        and product specific sections, in this
                                                that (a) the terms of the proposed                      Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                  case equities and options, which would
                                                transaction are fair and reasonable and                 Change                                                  encompass all the rules of the Exchange.
                                                do not involve overreaching on the part                    In its filing with the Commission, the                  The Exchange believes this new
                                                of any person concerned; (b) the                        Exchange included statements                            structure would align the Nasdaq
                                                proposed transaction is consistent with                 concerning the purpose of and basis for                 Entities’ rulebooks for ease of use by
                                                the policies of each registered                         the proposed rule change and discussed                  Members, who are members of more
                                                investment company involved; and (c)                    any comments it received on the                         than one Nasdaq Entity. This proposal
                                                the proposed transaction is consistent                  proposed rule change. The text of these                 would not amend the current Rulebook
                                                with the general purposes of the Act.                   statements may be examined at the                       and is therefore not a substantive
                                                  For the Commission, by the Division of                places specified in Item IV below. The                  change. A Member would continue to be
                                                Investment Management, under delegated                  Exchange has prepared summaries, set                    able to view the current Rulebook
                                                authority.                                              forth in sections A, B, and C below, of                 alongside the proposed reorganized
                                                Eduardo A. Aleman,                                      the most significant aspects of such                    Rulebook. Subsequent rule changes will
                                                Assistant Secretary.                                    statements.                                             be filed to move the rule text into the
                                                [FR Doc. 2017–26114 Filed 12–4–17; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                        A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       shell Rulebook.
                                                BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                  Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                                                                                                                                                   3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 78119
                                                                                                        Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                  3 The  requested relief would apply to direct sales                                                           (June 21, 2016), 81 FR 41611 (June 27, 2016) (SR–
                                                of shares in Creation Units by a Fund to a Fund of
                                                                                                        Change                                                  ISE–2016–11; SR–ISE Gemini–2016–05; SR–ISE
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES




                                                Funds and redemptions of those shares. Applicants,      1. Purpose                                              Mercury–2016–10) (Order Granting Accelerated
                                                moreover, are not seeking relief from section 17(a)                                                             Approval of Proposed Rule Changes, Each as
                                                for, and the requested relief will not apply to,           On March 9, 2016, Nasdaq, Inc.                       Modified by Amendment No. 1 Thereto, Relating to
                                                transactions where a Fund could be deemed an            acquired the capital stock of U.S.                      a Corporate Transaction in Which Nasdaq, Inc. Will
                                                Affiliated Person, or a Second-Tier Affiliate, of a                                                             Become the Indirect Parent of ISE, ISE Gemini, and
                                                Fund of Funds because an Adviser or an entity
                                                                                                        Exchange Holdings, thereby indirectly                   ISE Mercury).
                                                controlling, controlled by or under common control                                                                 4 When relocating the current rule text into the
                                                                                                          1 15   U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                                with an Adviser provides investment advisory                                                                    new shell, the Exchange shall not amend the rule
                                                services to that Fund of Funds.                           2 17   CFR 240.19b–4.                                 text but simply move existing rule text.



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Document Created: 2017-12-04 23:44:36
Document Modified: 2017-12-04 23:44:36
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
ActionNotice.
DatesThe application was filed on June 30, 2017, and amended on October 31, 2017.
ContactChristine Y. Greenlees, Senior Counsel, at (202) 551-6879, or Andrea Ottomanelli Magovern, Acting Branch Chief, at (202) 551-6821 (Division of Investment Management, Chief Counsel's Office).
FR Citation82 FR 57506 

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