83 FR 49442 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend a Representation Relating to the Redemption Procedures Applicable to the Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 190 (October 1, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 190 (Monday, October 1, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49442-49445]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-21232]


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

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-84282; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2018-69]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing 
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend a 
Representation Relating to the Redemption Procedures Applicable to the 
Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust

September 25, 2018.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 (the ``Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby 
given that, on September 14, 2018, NYSE Arca, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or 
``NYSE Arca'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the 
``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II 
below, which Items have been prepared by the self-regulatory 
organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit 
comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
    \3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.

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

[[Page 49443]]

I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to amend a representation relating to the 
redemption procedures applicable to the Sprott Physical Gold and Silver 
Trust (``Trust''), as contained in the rule change filed with and 
approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') 
relating to listing and trading of ``Units'' of the Trust on the 
Exchange. Units of the Trust are currently listed and traded on the 
Exchange under NYSE Arca Rule 8.201-E. The proposed rule change is 
available on the Exchange's website at www.nyse.com, at the principal 
office of the Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, the self-regulatory organization 
included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the 
proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the 
proposed rule change. The text of those statements may be examined at 
the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared 
summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most 
significant parts of such statements.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and the 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    The Commission has approved a proposed rule change relating to 
listing and trading on the Exchange of Units of the Trust under NYSE 
Arca Rule 8.201-E (``Commodity-Based Trust Shares'').\4\ The Exchange 
proposes to amend a representation relating to the procedure for the 
redemption of Units of the Trust for gold and silver as contained in 
the Prior Releases. The Trust's Units commenced trading on the Exchange 
on January 16, 2018.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ See, Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 82116 (November 
17, 2107), 82 FR 55898 (November 24, 2107) (SR-NYSEArca-2017-131) 
(Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change to List and Trade Shares 
of the Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust under NYSE Arca Rule 
8.201-E) (``Prior Notice''); 82448 (January 5, 2018), 83 FR 1428 
(January 11, 2018) (SR-NYSEArca-2017-131) (Notice of Filing of 
Amendment No. 2 and Order Approving on an Accelerated Basis a 
Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 2, to List and 
Trade Shares of the Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust under NYSE 
Arca Rule 8.201-E) (``Prior Order'' and, together with the Prior 
Notice, the ``Prior Releases'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The manager of the Trust is Sprott Asset Management LP 
(``Manager'').\5\ The Trust custodian for the Trust's physical gold and 
silver bullion is the Royal Canadian Mint (``Gold and Silver 
Custodian''-). [sic]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ On January 16, 2018, the Trust filed with the Commission a 
registration statement on Form 8-A under the Exchange Act relating 
to the Trust (File No. 001-38346) (``Registration Statement''). The 
description of the operation of the Trust herein is based, in part, 
on the Registration Statement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Change to Procedure for Redemption of Units for Gold and Silver
    The Prior Releases stated that if a ``Bullion Redemption Notice'' 
\6\ was received by the Transfer Agent from a Unitholder no later than 
4:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the 15th day of the month (or, if such day 
is not a business day, then on the immediately following day that is a 
business day), the amount of physical gold and silver bullion specified 
in the Bullion Redemption Notice would be received by armored 
transportation service carrier for delivery to the Unitholder 
approximately 10 business days after the end of that month.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ As stated in the Prior Releases, a Unitholder that owns a 
sufficient number of Units who desires to exercise redemption 
privileges for physical gold and silver bullion must do so by 
instructing his, her or its broker, who must be a direct or indirect 
participant of CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc. or The 
Depository Trust Company, to deliver to the Transfer Agent on behalf 
of the Unitholder a written notice (``Bullion Redemption Notice'') 
of the Unitholder's intention to redeem Units for physical gold and 
silver bullion.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Prior Notice stated that ``[t]he armored transportation service 
carrier will receive physical gold and silver bullion in connection 
with a redemption of Units approximately 10 business days after the end 
of the month in which the Bullion Redemption Notice is processed.'' The 
Exchange proposes to delete the preceding statement in accordance with 
a pending amendment to the Trust Agreement (the ``Amendment'').\7\ The 
Manager represents that the actual timing of receipt of bullion by the 
armored transportation service carrier varies based on the number of 
redemption requests received in a given month, the Redemption Amount 
per request and the proportion of gold and silver bullion redeemed. The 
Manager represents that, in the event of large numbers or volumes of 
redemption requests, the Gold and Silver Custodian and the armored 
transportation service carrier experience severe constraints in 
performing their required actions within the existing time period 
(i.e., approximately 10 business days). A high frequency of shipments 
in a short period of time places a significant strain on the 
operational and security resources necessary to prepare such shipments, 
resulting in additional expenses and risk to the Trust and the Gold and 
Silver Custodian. The Manager and the Gold and Silver Custodian expect 
that the Amendment will decrease operational expenses and risk caused 
by the 10 business day term currently provided by the Trust Agreement. 
The Manager represents that by mitigating such expenses and risk, it is 
anticipated that the Amendment will allow the Gold and Silver Custodian 
to continue to provide the Trust with low custody pricing. The 
Amendment thereby may result in narrowing of the spread between the 
trading price of Units, which price reflects the performance of the 
trading prices of gold and silver less the expenses of the Trust's 
operations, and the trading prices of gold and silver in accordance 
with the Trust's objectives. Pursuant to the terms of the Trust 
Agreement and the applicable laws of the Province of Ontario, the 
Amendment is being effected on the ground that it provides added 
protection or benefit to Unitholders.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ The Commission has previously approved the listing and 
trading of other gold-based commodity trusts that include a physical 
redemption feature but do not specify any minimum deadline for 
physical delivery of the commodity to the redeeming investor 
following a redemption request. See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act 
Release Nos. 71378 (January 23, 2014), 79 FR 4786 (January 29, 2014) 
(SR-NYSEArca-2013-137) (Order Approving a Proposed Rule Change, as 
Modified by Amendment No. 1 Thereto, to List and Trade Shares of the 
Merk Gold Trust Pursuant to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201); 82593 
(January 26, 2018), 83 FR 4718 (February 1, 2018) (SR-NYSEArca-2017-
140) (Order Approving a Proposed Rule Change to List and Trade 
Shares of the Perth Mint Physical Gold ETF Trust Pursuant to NYSE 
Arca Rule 8.201-E).
    \8\ The Trust will file an amendment to the Trust Agreement or 
amended and restated Trust Agreement, as appropriate, in Canada on 
SEDAR (System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval), the 
electronic filing system for the disclosure documents of issuers 
across Canada. In addition, a brief description of the amendment 
will be included in the Trust's quarterly disclosures. Such filings 
or disclosures would be furnished to the Commission under cover of 
Form 6-K in accordance with Rules 13a-1 and/or 13a-3 under the 
Exchange Act. Pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement, a 
unitholder vote is not required to effect the amendment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Manager represents that the proposed change described above is 
consistent with the Trust's investment objective, and will further 
assist the Manager to achieve such investment objective. Except for the 
change noted above, all other representations made in

[[Page 49444]]

the Prior Releases remained unchanged.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ See note 4, supra. All terms referenced but not defined 
herein are defined in the Prior Releases.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Statutory Basis
    The basis under the Exchange Act for this proposed rule change is 
the requirement under Section 6(b)(5) \10\ that an exchange have rules 
that are designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and 
practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove 
impediments to, and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market 
and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The proposed rule change is designed to perfect the mechanism of a 
free and open market and, in general, to protect investors and the 
public interest. The Exchange believes that the Amendment may provide 
potential benefits to investors by decreasing operational expenses and 
risk caused by the 10 business day time frame currently provided by the 
Trust Agreement. The Manager represents that by mitigating such 
expenses and risk, it is anticipated that the Amendment will allow the 
Gold and Silver Custodian to continue to provide the Trust with low 
custody pricing and may result in the narrowing of the spread between 
the trading price of Units, which price reflects the performance of the 
trading prices of gold and silver less the expenses of the Trust's 
operations, and the trading prices of gold and silver in accordance 
with the Trust's objectives.
    The Manager represents that the proposed changes described above 
are consistent with the Trust's investment objective, and will further 
assist the Manager to achieve such investment objective. The Manager 
also represents that all unitholders will be subject to the Amendment; 
that the Manager has determined that the Amendment will provide added 
protection or benefit to unitholders; and that the Amendment is being 
proposed to mitigate the practical constraints associated with the high 
volume of redemption requests.
    Except for the change noted above, all other representations made 
in the Prior Releases remained unchanged.

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will 
impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate 
in furtherance of the purposes of the Exchange Act. The Exchange 
believes the proposed rule change, by decreasing the Trust's 
operational expenses and risk relating to redemptions, will enhance 
competition among issues of Commodity-Based Trust Shares relating to 
physical gold and silver.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed 
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the 
proposed rule change.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for 
Commission Action

    The Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \11\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\12\ 
Because the proposed rule change does not: (i) Significantly affect the 
protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any 
significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative prior to 
30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as 
the Commission may designate, if consistent with the protection of 
investors and the public interest, the proposed rule change has become 
effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.\13\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
    \12\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \13\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) \14\ normally 
does not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the 
filing. However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii),\15\ the Commission 
may designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the 
protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange has asked 
the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal 
may become operative immediately upon filing. The Exchange states that 
waiver of the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection 
of investors and the public interest because the Commission has 
previously approved the listing and trading of other gold-based 
commodity trusts that include a physical redemption feature but do not 
specify any minimum deadline for physical delivery of the commodity to 
the redeeming investor following a redemption request,\16\ and the 
proposed rule change may provide potential benefits to investors by 
decreasing operational expenses and risk caused by the 10 business day 
timeframe (as described above) currently provided by the Trust 
Agreement. In addition, the Exchange represents that, in the absence of 
large numbers or volumes of redemption requests or other factors 
causing delay, the armored transportation service carrier will 
typically receive physical gold and silver bullion in accordance with 
the 10 business day time frame contained in the Prior Notice, and the 
Commission notes that Units of the Trust have commenced trading on the 
Exchange. The Commission believes that waiver of the 30-day operative 
delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public 
interest for these reasons. Accordingly, the Commission hereby waives 
the 30-day operative delay and designates the proposed rule change 
operative upon filing.\17\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \15\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
    \16\ See note 7, supra.
    \17\ For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, 
the Commission has also considered the proposed rule's impact on 
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 
78c(f).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    At any time within 60 days of the filing of such proposed rule 
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule 
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or 
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission 
takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings under 
Section 19(b)(2)(B) \18\ of the Act to determine whether the proposed 
rule change should be approved or disapproved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule 
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of 
the following methods:

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-NYSEArca-2018-69 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-NYSEArca-2018-69. This

[[Page 49445]]

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 a.m. and 3 
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-NYSEArca-2018-69, and should be 
submitted on or before October 22, 2018.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\19\
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-21232 Filed 9-28-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P