83_FR_11323 83 FR 11273 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc.; Order Instituting Proceedings To Determine Whether To Approve or Disapprove a Proposed Rule Change To List and Trade Shares of a Series of the Cboe Vest S&P 500 Buffer Protect Strategy ETF Under the ETF Series Solutions Trust Under Rule 14.11(c)(3), Index Fund Shares

83 FR 11273 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc.; Order Instituting Proceedings To Determine Whether To Approve or Disapprove a Proposed Rule Change To List and Trade Shares of a Series of the Cboe Vest S&P 500 Buffer Protect Strategy ETF Under the ETF Series Solutions Trust Under Rule 14.11(c)(3), Index Fund Shares

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 50 (March 14, 2018)

Page Range11273-11275
FR Document2018-05159

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 50 (Wednesday, March 14, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 14, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11273-11275]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05159]


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

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-82842; File No. SR-CboeBZX-2017-005]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc.; Order 
Instituting Proceedings To Determine Whether To Approve or Disapprove a 
Proposed Rule Change To List and Trade Shares of a Series of the Cboe 
Vest S&P 500 Buffer Protect Strategy ETF Under the ETF Series Solutions 
Trust Under Rule 14.11(c)(3), Index Fund Shares

March 9, 2018

I. Introduction

    On November 21, 2017, Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (``Exchange'' or 
``BZX'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission''), pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ a 
proposed rule change to list and trade, under BZX Rule 14.11(c)(3), 
shares (``Shares'') of a series of the Cboe Vest S&P 500[supreg] Buffer 
Protect Strategy ETF (individually, ``Fund,'' and, collectively, 
``Funds'') under the ETF Series Solutions Trust (``Trust''). The 
proposed rule change was published for comment in the Federal Register 
on December 11, 2017.\3\ On January 22, 2018, the Commission extended 
the time period within which to approve the proposed rule change, 
disapprove the proposed rule change, or institute proceedings to 
determine whether to approve or disapprove the proposed rule change to 
March 11, 2018.\4\ The Commission has received no comment letters on 
the proposed rule change. This order institutes proceedings under 
Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the Act \5\ to determine whether to disapprove 
the proposed rule change.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82217 (December 5, 
2017), 82 FR 58243 (``Notice'').
    \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82558, 83 FR 3820 
(January 26, 2018).
    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

II. Exchange's Description of the Proposed Rule Change \6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ A more detailed description of the Trust, the Funds, and the 
Shares, as well as the availability of price information and other 
information regarding the Indexes (as defined herein) and the Funds' 
portfolio holdings, are included in the Notice and Registration 
Statement (as defined herein). See Notice, supra note 3; 
Registration Statement, infra note 7 and accompanying text.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange proposes to list and trade the Shares of the Funds 
under BZX Rule 14.11(c)(3), which governs the listing and trading of 
Index Fund Shares. In total, the Exchange is proposing to list and 
trade Shares of twelve monthly series of the Cboe Vest S&P 500[supreg] 
Buffer Protect Strategy ETF. Each Fund will be an index-based exchange 
traded fund (``ETF''). The Funds will include the following: Cboe Vest 
S&P 500[supreg] Buffer Protect Strategy (January) ETF; Cboe Vest S&P 
500[supreg] Buffer Protect Strategy (February) ETF; Cboe Vest S&P 
500[supreg] Buffer Protect Strategy (March) ETF; Cboe Vest S&P 
500[supreg] Buffer Protect Strategy (April) ETF; Cboe Vest S&P 
500[supreg] Buffer Protect Strategy (May) ETF; Cboe Vest S&P 
500[supreg] Buffer Protect Strategy (June) ETF; Cboe Vest S&P 
500[supreg] Buffer Protect Strategy (July) ETF; Cboe Vest S&P 
500[supreg] Buffer Protect Strategy (August) ETF; Cboe Vest S&P 
500[supreg] Buffer Protect Strategy (September) ETF; Cboe Vest S&P 
500[supreg] Buffer Protect Strategy (October) ETF; Cboe Vest S&P 
500[supreg] Buffer Protect Strategy (November) ETF; and Cboe Vest S&P 
500[supreg] Buffer Protect Strategy (December) ETF. Each Fund will be 
based on the Cboe S&P 500 Buffer Protect Index (Month) Series, where 
``Month'' is the corresponding month associated with the roll date of 
the applicable Fund (individually, ``Index,'' and, collectively, 
``Indexes'').
    The Shares will be offered by the Trust, which was established as a 
Delaware statutory trust on February 9, 2012. The Trust is registered 
with the Commission as an open-end investment company and has filed a 
registration statement on behalf of the Funds on Form N-1A 
(``Registration Statement'') with the Commission.\7\ The Funds' adviser 
will be Cboe Vest Financial, LLC (``Adviser''), and the index provider 
will be Cboe Exchange, Inc. (``Cboe Options'' or ``Index Provider'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ See Registration Statement on Form N-1A for the Trust, dated 
October 24, 2017 (File Nos. 333-179562 and 811-22668). According to 
the Exchange, the Commission has not yet issued an order granting 
exemptive relief to the Trust under the Investment Company Act of 
1940 applicable to the activities of the Funds, but the Funds will 
not be listed on the Exchange until such an order is issued and any 
conditions contained therein are satisfied.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Each Fund's investment objective is to track, before fees and 
expenses, the performance of its respective Index. The value of each 
Index is calculated daily by Cboe Options utilizing an option valuation 
model. The Exchange is submitting this proposed rule change because the 
Indexes for the Funds do not meet the listing requirements of BZX Rule 
14.11(c)(3) applicable to an index that consists of equity securities. 
Specifically, the Indexes for the Funds do not meet the listing 
requirements of BZX Rule 14.11(c)(3) because the Indexes consist of 
options based on an index of U.S. Component Stocks.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ As defined in Rule 14.11(c)(1)(D), the term ``U.S. Component 
Stock'' means an equity security that is registered under Sections 
12(b) or 12(g) of the Act, or an American Depositary receipt, the 
underlying equity security of which is registered under Sections 
12(b) or 12(g) of the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cboe Vest S&P 500[supreg] Buffer Protect Indexes

    Each Index is a rules-based options index that consists exclusively 
of FLexible EXchange Options on the S&P 500 Index (``FLEX Options'') 
listed on Cboe Options.\9\ The Indexes are designed to provide exposure 
to the large capitalization U.S. equity market with lower volatility 
and downside risks than traditional equity indices, except in 
environments of rapid appreciation in the U.S. equity market over the 
course of one year. On a specified day of the applicable month for each 
Index (``Roll Date''),\10\ the applicable Index

[[Page 11274]]

implements a portfolio of put and call FLEX Options with expirations on 
the next Roll Date that, if held to such Roll Date, seeks to ``buffer 
protect'' against the first 10% decline in the value of the S&P 500 
Index, while providing participation up to a maximum capped gain in the 
value of the S&P 500 Index (``Capped Level''). The Capped Level is 
calculated as of each Roll Date based on the prices of the applicable 
FLEX Options, such that the value of the portfolio of FLEX Options that 
comprises each Index is equivalent to the value of a portfolio 
comprised of the S&P 500 Index constituents. As of the 2017 Roll Date, 
the Capped Level for the January Index was 11%, meaning that the 
January Index is designed to provide participation up to a maximum 11% 
gain in the value of the S&P 500 Index from the 2017 Roll Date to the 
2018 Roll Date, but to not provide any participation for gains in the 
S&P 500 Index in excess of 11%.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ Additional information about the Indexes and methodology is 
available on the Index Provider's website at www.cboe.com.
    \10\ Each of the twelve Indexes is designed to provide returns 
over a defined year long period and, thus, there is an Index 
associated with each month. As such, the Roll Date for a specific 
Index is dependent on the monthly series for which the Index is 
associated. For example, the Roll Date for the Cboe[supreg] S&P 
500[supreg] Buffer Protect Index January Series is in January, and 
the Roll date for the Cboe[supreg] S&P 500[supreg] Buffer Protect 
Index February Series is in February, a pattern which continues 
through the rest of the calendar year.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Each Index is designed to provide the following outcomes between 
Roll Dates:
     If the S&P 500 declines more than 10%: The Index declines 
10% less than the S&P 500 Index (e.g., if the S&P 500 Index returns -
35%, the Index is designed to return -25%);
     If the S&P 500 declines between 0% and 10%: The Index 
provides a total return of zero (0%);
     If the S&P 500 appreciates between 0% and the Capped 
Level: The Index appreciates the same amount as the S&P 500 Index; and
     If the S&P 500 appreciates more than the Capped Level: The 
Index appreciates by the amount of the Capped Level.

Each Index includes a mix of purchased and written (sold) put and call 
FLEX Options structured to achieve the results described above. Such 
results are only applicable for each full 12-month period from one Roll 
Date to the next Roll Date, and the Index may not return such results 
for shorter or longer periods. The value of each Index is calculated 
daily by Cboe Options utilizing a rules-based options valuation model.

Holdings of the Funds

    Under Normal Market Conditions,\11\ each Fund will seek to track 
the total return performance, before fees and expenses, of its 
respective Index. Under Normal Market Conditions, each Fund will invest 
all, or substantially all, of its assets in the FLEX Options that make 
up each respective underlying Index, standardized U.S. exchange-listed 
options contracts based on the S&P 500 (``S&P 500 Index Options''), 
U.S. exchange-listed options based on one or more ETFs \12\ that track 
the performance of the S&P 500 Index and have the same economic 
characteristics as the FLEX Options that make up each Index 
(``Comparable ETF Options''),\13\ as well as cash and cash 
equivalents.\14\ Under Normal Market Conditions, at least 80% of each 
Fund's total assets (exclusive of any collateral held from securities 
lending) will be invested in the FLEX Options that make up the Index. 
The Funds will hold only FLEX Options, S&P 500 Index Options, 
Comparable ETF Options, and cash and cash equivalents. The FLEX Options 
owned by each Fund will have the same terms (i.e., same strike price 
and expiration) for all investors of that Fund within an outcome 
period. The Capped Level is determined with respect to the applicable 
Index on the inception date of the applicable Fund and at the beginning 
of each outcome period.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ The term ``Normal Market Conditions'' includes, but is not 
limited to, the absence of trading halts in the applicable financial 
markets generally; operational issues causing dissemination of 
inaccurate market information or system failures; or force majeure 
type events, such as natural or man-made disaster, act of God, armed 
conflict, act of terrorism, riot or labor disruption, or any similar 
intervening circumstance.
    \12\ For purposes of this proposal, the term ETF means Portfolio 
Depositary Receipts and Index Fund Shares as defined in BZX Rules 
14.11(b) and 14.11(c), respectively, and their equivalents on other 
national securities exchanges.
    \13\ The term ``Comparable ETF Options'' will at any time 
include only the five ETFs based on the S&P 500 Index with the 
greatest options consolidated average daily exchange trading volume 
for the previous quarter.
    \14\ For purposes of this filing, cash equivalents are short-
term instruments with maturities of less than three months, 
including: (i) U.S. Government securities, including bills, notes, 
and bonds differing as to maturity and rates of interest, which are 
either issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or by U.S. 
Government agencies or instrumentalities; (ii) certificates of 
deposit issued against funds deposited in a bank or savings and loan 
association; (iii) bankers acceptances, which are short-term credit 
instruments used to finance commercial transactions; (iv) repurchase 
agreements and reverse repurchase agreements; (v) bank time 
deposits, which are monies kept on deposit with banks or savings and 
loan associations for a stated period of time at a fixed rate of 
interest; (vi) commercial paper, which are short-term unsecured 
promissory notes; and (vii) money market funds.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Proceedings To Determine Whether To Disapprove SR-CboeBZX-2017-005 
and Grounds for Disapproval Under Consideration

    The Commission is instituting proceedings pursuant to Section 
19(b)(2)(B) of the Act \15\ to determine whether the proposed rule 
change should be approved or disapproved. Institution of such 
proceedings is appropriate at this time in view of the legal and policy 
issues raised by the proposed rule change. Institution of proceedings 
does not indicate that the Commission has reached any conclusions with 
respect to any of the issues involved. Rather, as described below, the 
Commission seeks and encourages interested persons to provide comments 
on the proposed rule change.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the Act,\16\ the Commission is 
providing notice of the grounds for disapproval under consideration. 
The Commission is instituting proceedings to allow for additional 
analysis of the proposal's consistency with Section 6(b)(5) of the 
Act,\17\ which requires, among other things, that the rules of a 
national securities exchange be designed to prevent fraudulent and 
manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable 
principles of trade, and to protect investors and the public interest.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ Id.
    \17\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under the proposal, each Fund's investment objective is to track, 
before fees and expenses, the performance of its respective Index, each 
of which consists of a hypothetical portfolio of purchased and written 
(sold) put and call FLEX Options structured to participate in market 
gains and losses of the S&P 500 Index within pre-determined ranges that 
are only applicable for a full 12-month period from one Roll Date to 
the next Roll Date. Specifically, on each Roll Date, the applicable 
Index implements a portfolio of put and call FLEX Options with 
expirations on the next Roll Date that, if held to such Roll Date, 
seeks to buffer protect against the first 10% decline in the value of 
the S&P 500 Index, and to provide participation up to a maximum capped 
gain in the value of the S&P 500 Index. Because of these Index 
characteristics, the Index outcomes that each Fund seeks to track are 
best realized if the Shares are bought at the initial Roll Date and 
sold at the expiration of the next Roll Date. The Commission notes, 
however, that market participants may buy or sell Shares of the Funds 
at any time, not only at the initial or expiration of a Roll Date. 
Consequently, with respect to the pricing of the Shares at any time 
other than the commencement or expiration of a Roll Date, the 
Commission seeks commenters' views on the sufficiency of the 
information provided in the proposed rule change to support a 
determination that the listing and trading of the Shares would be

[[Page 11275]]

consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act.

IV. Procedure: Request for Written Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written views, data, and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule 
change is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) or any other provision of the 
Act, or the rules and regulations thereunder. Although there do not 
appear to be any issues relevant to approval or disapproval that would 
be facilitated by an oral presentation of views, data, and arguments, 
the Commission will consider, pursuant to Rule 19b-4 under the Act, any 
request for an opportunity to make an oral presentation.\18\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ Section 19(b)(2) of the Exchange Act, as amended by the 
Securities Acts Amendments of 1975, Public Law 94-29 (June 4, 1975), 
grants the Commission flexibility to determine what type of 
proceeding--either oral or notice and opportunity for written 
comments--is appropriate for consideration of a particular proposal 
by a self-regulatory organization. See Securities Acts Amendments of 
1975, Senate Comm. on Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs, S. Rep. No. 
75, 94th Cong., 1st Sess. 30 (1975).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments regarding whether the proposal should be approved or 
disapproved by April 4, 2018. Any person who wishes to file a rebuttal 
to any other person's submission must file that rebuttal by April 18, 
2018.
    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 Number SR-CboeBZX-2017-005 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 Number SR-CboeBZX-2017-005. 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 website (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 website viewing and printing in 
the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 
20549 on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 
3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection 
and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments 
received will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are 
cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying 
information from comment submissions. You should submit only 
information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions 
should refer to File Number SR-CboeBZX-2017-005 and should be submitted 
on or before April 4, 2018. Rebuttal comments should be submitted by 
April 18, 2018.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(57).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\19\
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-05159 Filed 3-13-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 50 / Wednesday, March 14, 2018 / Notices                                                    11273

                                               Commission and any person, other than                   was published for comment in the                      Delaware statutory trust on February 9,
                                               those that may be withheld from the                     Federal Register on December 11,                      2012. The Trust is registered with the
                                               public in accordance with the                           2017.3 On January 22, 2018, the                       Commission as an open-end investment
                                               provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                     Commission extended the time period                   company and has filed a registration
                                               available for website viewing and                       within which to approve the proposed                  statement on behalf of the Funds on
                                               printing in the Commission’s Public                     rule change, disapprove the proposed                  Form N–1A (‘‘Registration Statement’’)
                                               Reference Room, 100 F Street NE,                        rule change, or institute proceedings to              with the Commission.7 The Funds’
                                               Washington, DC 20549, on official                       determine whether to approve or                       adviser will be Cboe Vest Financial, LLC
                                               business days between the hours of                      disapprove the proposed rule change to                (‘‘Adviser’’), and the index provider will
                                               10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                  March 11, 2018.4 The Commission has                   be Cboe Exchange, Inc. (‘‘Cboe Options’’
                                               filing also will be available for                       received no comment letters on the                    or ‘‘Index Provider’’).
                                               inspection and copying at the principal                 proposed rule change. This order                         Each Fund’s investment objective is to
                                               office of the Exchange. All comments                    institutes proceedings under Section                  track, before fees and expenses, the
                                               received will be posted without change.                 19(b)(2)(B) of the Act 5 to determine                 performance of its respective Index. The
                                               Persons submitting comments are                         whether to disapprove the proposed                    value of each Index is calculated daily
                                               cautioned that we do not redact or edit                 rule change.                                          by Cboe Options utilizing an option
                                               personal identifying information from                                                                         valuation model. The Exchange is
                                                                                                       II. Exchange’s Description of the
                                               comment submissions. You should                                                                               submitting this proposed rule change
                                                                                                       Proposed Rule Change 6
                                               submit only information that you wish                                                                         because the Indexes for the Funds do
                                               to make available publicly. All                            The Exchange proposes to list and                  not meet the listing requirements of
                                               submissions should refer to File                        trade the Shares of the Funds under                   BZX Rule 14.11(c)(3) applicable to an
                                               Number SR–PEARL–2018–04, and                            BZX Rule 14.11(c)(3), which governs the               index that consists of equity securities.
                                               should be submitted on or before April                  listing and trading of Index Fund                     Specifically, the Indexes for the Funds
                                               4, 2018.                                                Shares. In total, the Exchange is                     do not meet the listing requirements of
                                                                                                       proposing to list and trade Shares of                 BZX Rule 14.11(c)(3) because the
                                                 For the Commission, by the Division of
                                               Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated              twelve monthly series of the Cboe Vest                Indexes consist of options based on an
                                               authority.35                                            S&P 500® Buffer Protect Strategy ETF.                 index of U.S. Component Stocks.8
                                               Eduardo A. Aleman,                                      Each Fund will be an index-based
                                                                                                       exchange traded fund (‘‘ETF’’). The                   Cboe Vest S&P 500® Buffer Protect
                                               Assistant Secretary.                                                                                          Indexes
                                                                                                       Funds will include the following: Cboe
                                               [FR Doc. 2018–05073 Filed 3–13–18; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                       Vest S&P 500® Buffer Protect Strategy                    Each Index is a rules-based options
                                               BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                                                                       (January) ETF; Cboe Vest S&P 500®                     index that consists exclusively of
                                                                                                       Buffer Protect Strategy (February) ETF;               FLexible EXchange Options on the S&P
                                                                                                       Cboe Vest S&P 500® Buffer Protect                     500 Index (‘‘FLEX Options’’) listed on
                                               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                                                                       Strategy (March) ETF; Cboe Vest S&P                   Cboe Options.9 The Indexes are
                                               COMMISSION
                                                                                                       500® Buffer Protect Strategy (April)                  designed to provide exposure to the
                                               [Release No. 34–82842; File No. SR–                     ETF; Cboe Vest S&P 500® Buffer Protect                large capitalization U.S. equity market
                                               CboeBZX–2017–005]                                       Strategy (May) ETF; Cboe Vest S&P 500®                with lower volatility and downside risks
                                                                                                       Buffer Protect Strategy (June) ETF; Cboe              than traditional equity indices, except
                                               Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe                     Vest S&P 500® Buffer Protect Strategy                 in environments of rapid appreciation
                                               BZX Exchange, Inc.; Order Instituting                   (July) ETF; Cboe Vest S&P 500® Buffer                 in the U.S. equity market over the
                                               Proceedings To Determine Whether To                     Protect Strategy (August) ETF; Cboe                   course of one year. On a specified day
                                               Approve or Disapprove a Proposed                        Vest S&P 500® Buffer Protect Strategy                 of the applicable month for each Index
                                               Rule Change To List and Trade Shares                    (September) ETF; Cboe Vest S&P 500®                   (‘‘Roll Date’’),10 the applicable Index
                                               of a Series of the Cboe Vest S&P 500                    Buffer Protect Strategy (October) ETF;
                                               Buffer Protect Strategy ETF Under the                   Cboe Vest S&P 500® Buffer Protect                        7 See Registration Statement on Form N–1A for
                                               ETF Series Solutions Trust Under Rule                   Strategy (November) ETF; and Cboe Vest                the Trust, dated October 24, 2017 (File Nos. 333–
                                               14.11(c)(3), Index Fund Shares                          S&P 500® Buffer Protect Strategy                      179562 and 811–22668). According to the
                                                                                                                                                             Exchange, the Commission has not yet issued an
                                               March 9, 2018                                           (December) ETF. Each Fund will be                     order granting exemptive relief to the Trust under
                                                                                                       based on the Cboe S&P 500 Buffer                      the Investment Company Act of 1940 applicable to
                                               I. Introduction                                         Protect Index (Month) Series, where                   the activities of the Funds, but the Funds will not
                                                                                                       ‘‘Month’’ is the corresponding month                  be listed on the Exchange until such an order is
                                                  On November 21, 2017, Cboe BZX                                                                             issued and any conditions contained therein are
                                               Exchange, Inc. (‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘BZX’’)                associated with the roll date of the                  satisfied.
                                               filed with the Securities and Exchange                  applicable Fund (individually, ‘‘Index,’’                8 As defined in Rule 14.11(c)(1)(D), the term ‘‘U.S.

                                               Commission (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant                   and, collectively, ‘‘Indexes’’).                      Component Stock’’ means an equity security that is
                                               to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities                      The Shares will be offered by the                  registered under Sections 12(b) or 12(g) of the Act,
                                                                                                                                                             or an American Depositary receipt, the underlying
                                               Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule               Trust, which was established as a                     equity security of which is registered under
                                               19b–4 thereunder,2 a proposed rule                                                                            Sections 12(b) or 12(g) of the Act.
                                                                                                         3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82217
                                               change to list and trade, under BZX                                                                              9 Additional information about the Indexes and
                                                                                                       (December 5, 2017), 82 FR 58243 (‘‘Notice’’).         methodology is available on the Index Provider’s
                                               Rule 14.11(c)(3), shares (‘‘Shares’’) of a                4 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82558,
                                                                                                                                                             website at www.cboe.com.
                                               series of the Cboe Vest S&P 500® Buffer                 83 FR 3820 (January 26, 2018).                           10 Each of the twelve Indexes is designed to
                                               Protect Strategy ETF (individually,
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                         5 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
                                                                                                                                                             provide returns over a defined year long period and,
                                               ‘‘Fund,’’ and, collectively, ‘‘Funds’’)                   6 A more detailed description of the Trust, the     thus, there is an Index associated with each month.
                                               under the ETF Series Solutions Trust                    Funds, and the Shares, as well as the availability    As such, the Roll Date for a specific Index is
                                               (‘‘Trust’’). The proposed rule change                   of price information and other information            dependent on the monthly series for which the
                                                                                                       regarding the Indexes (as defined herein) and the     Index is associated. For example, the Roll Date for
                                                                                                       Funds’ portfolio holdings, are included in the        the Cboe® S&P 500® Buffer Protect Index January
                                                 35 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                            Notice and Registration Statement (as defined         Series is in January, and the Roll date for the Cboe®
                                                 1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                                herein). See Notice, supra note 3; Registration       S&P 500® Buffer Protect Index February Series is in
                                                 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                   Statement, infra note 7 and accompanying text.                                                     Continued




                                          VerDate Sep<11>2014   18:17 Mar 13, 2018   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00106   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\14MRN1.SGM   14MRN1


                                               11274                        Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 50 / Wednesday, March 14, 2018 / Notices

                                               implements a portfolio of put and call                   expenses, of its respective Index. Under                   appropriate at this time in view of the
                                               FLEX Options with expirations on the                     Normal Market Conditions, each Fund                        legal and policy issues raised by the
                                               next Roll Date that, if held to such Roll                will invest all, or substantially all, of its              proposed rule change. Institution of
                                               Date, seeks to ‘‘buffer protect’’ against                assets in the FLEX Options that make up                    proceedings does not indicate that the
                                               the first 10% decline in the value of the                each respective underlying Index,                          Commission has reached any
                                               S&P 500 Index, while providing                           standardized U.S. exchange-listed                          conclusions with respect to any of the
                                               participation up to a maximum capped                     options contracts based on the S&P 500                     issues involved. Rather, as described
                                               gain in the value of the S&P 500 Index                   (‘‘S&P 500 Index Options’’), U.S.                          below, the Commission seeks and
                                               (‘‘Capped Level’’). The Capped Level is                  exchange-listed options based on one or                    encourages interested persons to
                                               calculated as of each Roll Date based on                 more ETFs 12 that track the performance                    provide comments on the proposed rule
                                               the prices of the applicable FLEX                        of the S&P 500 Index and have the same                     change.
                                               Options, such that the value of the                      economic characteristics as the FLEX                          Pursuant to Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the
                                               portfolio of FLEX Options that                           Options that make up each Index                            Act,16 the Commission is providing
                                               comprises each Index is equivalent to                    (‘‘Comparable ETF Options’’),13 as well                    notice of the grounds for disapproval
                                               the value of a portfolio comprised of the                as cash and cash equivalents.14 Under                      under consideration. The Commission is
                                               S&P 500 Index constituents. As of the                    Normal Market Conditions, at least 80%                     instituting proceedings to allow for
                                               2017 Roll Date, the Capped Level for the                 of each Fund’s total assets (exclusive of                  additional analysis of the proposal’s
                                               January Index was 11%, meaning that                      any collateral held from securities                        consistency with Section 6(b)(5) of the
                                               the January Index is designed to provide                 lending) will be invested in the FLEX                      Act,17 which requires, among other
                                               participation up to a maximum 11%                        Options that make up the Index. The                        things, that the rules of a national
                                               gain in the value of the S&P 500 Index                   Funds will hold only FLEX Options,                         securities exchange be designed to
                                               from the 2017 Roll Date to the 2018 Roll                 S&P 500 Index Options, Comparable                          prevent fraudulent and manipulative
                                               Date, but to not provide any                             ETF Options, and cash and cash                             acts and practices, to promote just and
                                               participation for gains in the S&P 500                   equivalents. The FLEX Options owned                        equitable principles of trade, and to
                                               Index in excess of 11%.                                  by each Fund will have the same terms                      protect investors and the public interest.
                                                  Each Index is designed to provide the                 (i.e., same strike price and expiration)                      Under the proposal, each Fund’s
                                               following outcomes between Roll Dates:                   for all investors of that Fund within an
                                                  • If the S&P 500 declines more than                                                                              investment objective is to track, before
                                                                                                        outcome period. The Capped Level is                        fees and expenses, the performance of
                                               10%: The Index declines 10% less than                    determined with respect to the
                                               the S&P 500 Index (e.g., if the S&P 500                                                                             its respective Index, each of which
                                                                                                        applicable Index on the inception date                     consists of a hypothetical portfolio of
                                               Index returns ¥35%, the Index is                         of the applicable Fund and at the
                                               designed to return ¥25%);                                                                                           purchased and written (sold) put and
                                                                                                        beginning of each outcome period.                          call FLEX Options structured to
                                                  • If the S&P 500 declines between 0%
                                               and 10%: The Index provides a total                      III. Proceedings To Determine Whether                      participate in market gains and losses of
                                               return of zero (0%);                                     To Disapprove SR–CboeBZX–2017–005                          the S&P 500 Index within pre-
                                                  • If the S&P 500 appreciates between                  and Grounds for Disapproval Under                          determined ranges that are only
                                               0% and the Capped Level: The Index                       Consideration                                              applicable for a full 12-month period
                                               appreciates the same amount as the S&P                                                                              from one Roll Date to the next Roll Date.
                                                                                                           The Commission is instituting
                                               500 Index; and                                                                                                      Specifically, on each Roll Date, the
                                                                                                        proceedings pursuant to Section
                                                  • If the S&P 500 appreciates more                                                                                applicable Index implements a portfolio
                                                                                                        19(b)(2)(B) of the Act 15 to determine
                                               than the Capped Level: The Index                                                                                    of put and call FLEX Options with
                                                                                                        whether the proposed rule change                           expirations on the next Roll Date that,
                                               appreciates by the amount of the
                                                                                                        should be approved or disapproved.                         if held to such Roll Date, seeks to buffer
                                               Capped Level.
                                                                                                        Institution of such proceedings is                         protect against the first 10% decline in
                                               Each Index includes a mix of purchased
                                               and written (sold) put and call FLEX                       12 For purposes of this proposal, the term ETF
                                                                                                                                                                   the value of the S&P 500 Index, and to
                                               Options structured to achieve the results                means Portfolio Depositary Receipts and Index              provide participation up to a maximum
                                               described above. Such results are only                   Fund Shares as defined in BZX Rules 14.11(b) and           capped gain in the value of the S&P 500
                                               applicable for each full 12-month period                 14.11(c), respectively, and their equivalents on           Index. Because of these Index
                                                                                                        other national securities exchanges.                       characteristics, the Index outcomes that
                                               from one Roll Date to the next Roll Date,                  13 The term ‘‘Comparable ETF Options’’ will at
                                               and the Index may not return such                        any time include only the five ETFs based on the
                                                                                                                                                                   each Fund seeks to track are best
                                               results for shorter or longer periods. The               S&P 500 Index with the greatest options                    realized if the Shares are bought at the
                                               value of each Index is calculated daily                  consolidated average daily exchange trading                initial Roll Date and sold at the
                                                                                                        volume for the previous quarter.                           expiration of the next Roll Date. The
                                               by Cboe Options utilizing a rules-based                    14 For purposes of this filing, cash equivalents are
                                               options valuation model.                                                                                            Commission notes, however, that
                                                                                                        short-term instruments with maturities of less than
                                                                                                        three months, including: (i) U.S. Government               market participants may buy or sell
                                               Holdings of the Funds                                                                                               Shares of the Funds at any time, not
                                                                                                        securities, including bills, notes, and bonds
                                                 Under Normal Market Conditions,11                      differing as to maturity and rates of interest, which      only at the initial or expiration of a Roll
                                               each Fund will seek to track the total                   are either issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury       Date. Consequently, with respect to the
                                                                                                        or by U.S. Government agencies or
                                               return performance, before fees and                      instrumentalities; (ii) certificates of deposit issued     pricing of the Shares at any time other
                                                                                                        against funds deposited in a bank or savings and           than the commencement or expiration
                                               February, a pattern which continues through the          loan association; (iii) bankers acceptances, which         of a Roll Date, the Commission seeks
                                               rest of the calendar year.                               are short-term credit instruments used to finance          commenters’ views on the sufficiency of
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES




                                                  11 The term ‘‘Normal Market Conditions’’              commercial transactions; (iv) repurchase
                                               includes, but is not limited to, the absence of          agreements and reverse repurchase agreements; (v)          the information provided in the
                                               trading halts in the applicable financial markets        bank time deposits, which are monies kept on               proposed rule change to support a
                                               generally; operational issues causing dissemination      deposit with banks or savings and loan associations        determination that the listing and
                                               of inaccurate market information or system failures;     for a stated period of time at a fixed rate of interest;   trading of the Shares would be
                                               or force majeure type events, such as natural or         (vi) commercial paper, which are short-term
                                               man-made disaster, act of God, armed conflict, act       unsecured promissory notes; and (vii) money
                                                                                                        market funds.                                               16 Id.
                                               of terrorism, riot or labor disruption, or any similar
                                               intervening circumstance.                                  15 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).                                17 15    U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).



                                          VerDate Sep<11>2014   18:17 Mar 13, 2018   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00107    Fmt 4703    Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\14MRN1.SGM         14MRN1


                                                                           Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 50 / Wednesday, March 14, 2018 / Notices                                                    11275

                                               consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the                  communications relating to the                        Register on August 18, 2017.3 On
                                               Act.                                                    proposed rule change between the                      September 28, 2017, pursuant to Section
                                                                                                       Commission and any person, other than                 19(b)(2) of the Act,4 the Commission
                                               IV. Procedure: Request for Written
                                                                                                       those that may be withheld from the                   designated a longer period within which
                                               Comments
                                                                                                       public in accordance with the                         to approve the proposed rule change,
                                                  Interested persons are invited to                    provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                   disapprove the proposed rule change, or
                                               submit written views, data, and                         available for website viewing and                     institute proceedings to determine
                                               arguments concerning the foregoing,                     printing in the Commission’s Public                   whether to disapprove the proposed
                                               including whether the proposed rule                     Reference Room, 100 F Street NE,                      rule change.5 On September 29, 2017,
                                               change is consistent with Section 6(b)(5)               Washington, DC 20549 on official
                                               or any other provision of the Act, or the                                                                     the Exchange filed Amendment No. 1 to
                                                                                                       business days between the hours of                    the proposed rule change, which
                                               rules and regulations thereunder.                       10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the
                                               Although there do not appear to be any                                                                        amended and superseded the proposed
                                                                                                       filing also will be available for
                                               issues relevant to approval or                                                                                rule change as originally filed. On
                                                                                                       inspection and copying at the principal
                                               disapproval that would be facilitated by                                                                      November 14, 2017, the Exchange filed
                                                                                                       office of the Exchange. All comments
                                               an oral presentation of views, data, and                received will be posted without change.               Amendment No. 2 to the proposed rule
                                               arguments, the Commission will                          Persons submitting comments are                       change, which amended and superseded
                                               consider, pursuant to Rule 19b–4 under                  cautioned that we do not redact or edit               the proposed rule change as modified by
                                               the Act, any request for an opportunity                 personal identifying information from                 Amendment No. 1. On November 16,
                                               to make an oral presentation.18                         comment submissions. You should                       2017, the Commission published notice
                                                  Interested persons are invited to                    submit only information that you wish                 of Amendment No. 2 and instituted
                                               submit written data, views, and                         to make available publicly. All                       proceedings under Section 19(b)(2)(B) of
                                               arguments regarding whether the                         submissions should refer to File                      the Act 6 to determine whether to
                                               proposal should be approved or                          Number SR–CboeBZX–2017–005 and                        approve or disapprove the proposed
                                               disapproved by April 4, 2018. Any                       should be submitted on or before April                rule change, as modified by Amendment
                                               person who wishes to file a rebuttal to                 4, 2018. Rebuttal comments should be                  No. 2.7 On February 9, 2018, pursuant
                                               any other person’s submission must file                 submitted by April 18, 2018.                          to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,8 the
                                               that rebuttal by April 18, 2018.                                                                              Commission designated a longer period
                                                  Comments may be submitted by any                       For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                                                                       Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated            within which to approve or disapprove
                                               of the following methods:
                                                                                                       authority.19                                          the proposed rule change, as modified
                                               Electronic Comments                                     Eduardo A. Aleman,                                    by Amendment No. 2.9 The Commission
                                                 • Use the Commission’s internet                       Assistant Secretary.                                  has received no comments on the
                                               comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                       [FR Doc. 2018–05159 Filed 3–13–18; 8:45 am]           proposed rule change.
                                               rules/sro.shtml); or                                    BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                  On March 7, 2018, the Exchange
                                                 • Send an email to rule-comments@                                                                           withdrew the proposed rule change
                                               sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                                                                       (SR–NYSEArca–2017–69), as modified
                                               CboeBZX–2017–005 on the subject line.                   SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                               by Amendment No. 2.
                                                                                                       COMMISSION
                                               Paper Comments                                                                                                  For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                  • Send paper comments in triplicate                  [Release No. 34–82850; File No. SR–                   Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                               to Secretary, Securities and Exchange                   NYSEArca–2017–69]                                     authority.10
                                               Commission, 100 F Street NE,                                                                                  Eduardo A. Aleman,
                                                                                                       Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
                                               Washington, DC 20549–1090.                                                                                    Assistant Secretary.
                                                                                                       Arca, Inc.; Notice of Withdrawal of a
                                               All submissions should refer to File                    Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by                  [FR Doc. 2018–05166 Filed 3–13–18; 8:45 am]
                                               Number SR–CboeBZX–2017–005. This                        Amendment No. 2, To List and Trade                    BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                               file number should be included on the                   Shares of ProShares QuadPro Funds
                                               subject line if email is used. To help the              Under NYSE Arca Rule 8.200–E
                                               Commission process and review your
                                               comments more efficiently, please use                   March 9, 2018.
                                               only one method. The Commission will                       On July 31, 2017, NYSE Arca, Inc.
                                               post all comments on the Commission’s                   (‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘NYSE Arca’’) filed                    3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 81388
                                               internet website (http://www.sec.gov/                   with the Securities and Exchange                      (August 14, 2017), 82 FR 39477.
                                               rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                         Commission (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant                    4 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).

                                               submission, all subsequent                              to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities                    5 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 81746,

                                               amendments, all written statements                      Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule             82 FR 46315 (October 4, 2017) (designating
                                               with respect to the proposed rule                       19b–4 thereunder,2 a proposed rule                    November 16, 2017 as the date by which the
                                               change that are filed with the                          change to list and trade shares of                    Commission shall either approve or disapprove, or
                                               Commission, and all written                             ProShares QuadPro U.S. Large Cap,                     institute proceedings to determine whether to
                                                                                                                                                             disapprove, the proposed rule change).
                                                                                                       ProShares QuadPro Short U.S. Large                       6 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
                                                 18 Section 19(b)(2) of the Exchange Act, as
                                                                                                       Cap, ProShares QuadPro U.S. Small                        7 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82105,
                                               amended by the Securities Acts Amendments of            Cap, and ProShares QuadPro Short U.S.
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES




                                               1975, Public Law 94–29 (June 4, 1975), grants the                                                             82 FR 55699 (November 22, 2017).
                                               Commission flexibility to determine what type of        Small Cap under NYSE Arca Rule                           8 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
                                               proceeding—either oral or notice and opportunity        8.200–E. The proposed rule change was                    9 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82684,
                                               for written comments—is appropriate for                 published for comment in the Federal                  83 FR 6914 (February 15, 2018) (designating April
                                               consideration of a particular proposal by a self-
                                               regulatory organization. See Securities Acts                                                                  15, 2018 as the date by which the Commission shall
                                               Amendments of 1975, Senate Comm. on Banking,
                                                                                                         19 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(57).                          either approve or disapprove the proposed rule
                                               Housing & Urban Affairs, S. Rep. No. 75, 94th             1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                              change, as modified by Amendment No. 2).
                                               Cong., 1st Sess. 30 (1975).                               2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                    10 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).




                                          VerDate Sep<11>2014   18:17 Mar 13, 2018   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00108   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 9990   E:\FR\FM\14MRN1.SGM   14MRN1



Document Created: 2018-03-14 01:06:17
Document Modified: 2018-03-14 01:06:17
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 Citation83 FR 11273 

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