Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 1 Thereto, To List and Trade the BearLinxSM, 73397-73401 [E7-24990]

Download as PDF mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 247 / Thursday, December 27, 2007 / Notices Trading Session. Further, the Fund’s Web site will disseminate information relating to the NAV and the Bid/Ask Price for the Shares, as well as the specific holdings of the Fund. The Commission believes that the proposed rule change is reasonably designed to promote fair disclosure of information that may be necessary to appropriately price the Shares. Under Rule 5.2(j)(3)(v), the Exchange is required to obtain a representation from iShares, Inc. that the NAV per Share will be calculated daily and made available to all market participants at the same time. In addition, the Exchange represents that the Web site disclosure of the information regarding the Shares and the portfolio composition of the Fund will be made to all market participants at the same time. The Exchange further represents that MSCI has procedures in place that comply with the requirements of Commentary .01(b)(1) to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3), which relates to restricted access of information concerning changes and adjustments to the Index. The Commission further believes that the trading rules and procedures to which the Shares would be subject pursuant to this proposal are consistent with the Act. The Shares would trade as equity securities and be subject to NYSE Arca’s rules governing the trading of equity securities. The Commission also believes that the Exchange’s trading halt rules under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.5(g)(2)(b) are reasonably designed to prevent trading in the Shares when transparency is impaired. In support of this proposal, the Exchange has made the following representations: 1. The Exchange would utilize its existing surveillance procedures applicable to ICUs to monitor trading of the Shares. The Exchange represents that such surveillance procedures are adequate to properly monitor the trading of the Shares. The Exchange may obtain trading information via the ISG from other exchanges that are members or affiliate members of ISG.20 2. Prior to the commencement of trading, the Exchange will inform its ETP Holders in the Bulletin of the special characteristics and risks (including the risks involved in trading the shares during the Opening and Late Trading Sessions when an updated IOPV will not be calculated or publicly available) associated with trading the Shares. The Bulletin will discuss the procedures for purchases and redemptions of Shares, the Exchange’s 20 See supra note 11. VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:00 Dec 26, 2007 Jkt 214001 suitability requirements, information regarding the IOPV, and prospectus delivery requirements. 3. The Exchange represents that iShares, Inc. is required to comply with Rule 10A–3 under the Act 21 for the initial and continued listing of the Shares. This approval order is based on the Exchange’s representations. The Commission finds good cause, pursuant to section 19(b)(2) of the Act,22 for approving the proposed rule change prior to the 30th day after the date of publication of notice in the Federal Register. The Commission notes that the Shares are substantially similar in structure, operation, and function to the shares of other exchange-traded funds, the shares of which are currently listed and trading in the marketplace.23 As mentioned above, the Commission has previously approved the listing and trading of other derivative securities products based on indices that narrowly missed a quantitative generic listing criterion but satisfied all the others.24 Given that the Shares comply with all of NYSE Arca’s initial generic listing standards for ICUs (except for the one requirement of Commentary .01(a)(B)(2) to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3)) and would be subject to NYSE Arca’s continued listing requirements for ICUs under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.5(g)(2), the listing and trading of the Shares does not appear to present any novel or significant regulatory issues. Therefore, the Commission believes that accelerating approval of this proposal should benefit investors by creating, without undue delay, additional competition in the market for such products. Accordingly, the Commission finds that there is good cause, consistent with section 6(b)(5) of the Act,25 to approve the proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 1 thereto, on an accelerated basis. V. Conclusion IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED, pursuant to section 19(b)(2) under the Act,26 that the proposed rule change 21 17 CFR 240.10A–3. U.S.C. 78s(b)(2). 23 See, e.g., Securities Exchange Release Nos. 52178 (July 29, 2005), 70 FR 46244 (August 9, 2005) (SR–NYSE–2005–41) (approving the listing and trading of shares of the iShares MSCI EAFE Growth Index Fund and the iShares MSCI EAFE Value Index Fund, the underlying indices of which are composed of non-U.S. component stocks) and 52761 (November 10, 2005), 70 FR 70010 (November 18, 2005) (SR–NYSE–2005–76) (approving the listing and trading of shares of a number of iShares foreign equity index funds). 24 See supra note 18. 25 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). 26 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2). 22 15 PO 00000 Frm 00088 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 73397 (SR–NYSEArca–2007–128), as modified by Amendment No. 1 thereto, be, and it hereby is, approved on an accelerated basis. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.27 Florence E. Harmon, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. E7–24988 Filed 12–26–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–56987; File No. SR– NYSEArca-2007–119] Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 1 Thereto, To List and Trade the BearLinxSM Alerian MLP Select Index ETN December 18, 2007. Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder, 2 notice is hereby given that on November 16, 2007, NYSE Arca, Inc. (‘‘Exchange’’), through its wholly-owned subsidiary NYSE Arca Equities, Inc. (‘‘NYSE Arca Equities’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been substantially prepared by the Exchange. On November 20, 2007, NYSE Arca filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change, as amended, from interested persons and to approve the proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 1, on an accelerated basis. I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The Exchange, through its whollyowned subsidiary NYSE Arca Equities, proposes to list and trade the BearLinxSM Alerian MLP Select Index ETN (‘‘Notes’’) of Bear Stearns Companies Inc. (‘‘Company’’), which are linked to the performance of the Alerian MLP Select Index (‘‘Index’’), pursuant to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6). The text of the proposed rule change is available at https://www.nyse.com, at the Exchange and at the Commission’s Public Reference Room. 27 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 1 15 E:\FR\FM\27DEN1.SGM 27DEN1 73398 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 247 / Thursday, December 27, 2007 / Notices 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 Exchange included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item III below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements. A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES 1. Purpose Under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6), the Exchange may approve for listing and trading Equity Index-Linked Securities. The Exchange proposes to list and trade the Notes, which are linked to the performance of the Index, under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6). The Index is published by Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (‘‘Sponsor’’), in consultation with Alerian Capital Management LLC (‘‘Alerian’’). The Notes are currently listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange LLC (‘‘NYSE’’).3 Following Commission approval of this proposed rule change, the Notes will list and trade on the Exchange and will cease trading on NYSE. The Exchange represents that the Notes meet each of the ‘‘generic’’ listing requirements of NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6) applicable to listing of Equity Index-Linked Securities, except for one requirement. Specifically, the Index does not meet the requirement of NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6)(B)(I)(1)(b)(2)(ii), that each component security have a trading volume in each of the last six months of not less than one million shares per month. The rule provides an exception for each of the lowest dollar weighted component securities in the Index that in the aggregate account for no more than 10% of the dollar weight of the Index; each of these component securities must have a trading volume of at least 500,000 shares per month in each of the last six months. According 3 The Notes were originally listed on the NYSE under Rule 703.22 of the NYSE’s Listed Company Manual (generic listing standards for Equity IndexLinked Securities). See e-mail dated December 14, 2007 from Tim J. Malinowski, Director, NYSE Euronext to Mitra Mehr, Special Counsel, Division of Trading and Markets, Commission (‘‘NYSEArca E-mail’’). VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:00 Dec 26, 2007 Jkt 214001 to the Exchange, one component security of the Index had a trading volume of 416,447 shares in September 2007.4 Description of the Notes The Notes are a series of mediumterm debt of the Company that provide for a cash payment at maturity or upon earlier exchange at the holder’s option, based on the performance of the Index subject to the adjustments described below. The principal amount of each Note is $38.8915 (‘‘Principal Amount’’).5 The Notes will trade on the NYSE Arca Marketplace and the Exchange’s existing equity trading rules will apply to trading in the Notes. According to the Prospectus, the Notes will not have a minimum principal amount that will be repaid and, accordingly, payment on the Notes prior to or at maturity may be less than the original issue price of the Notes. In fact, the value of the Index must increase for the investor to receive at least the Principal Amount per Note at maturity or upon exchange or redemption. The Notes will have a term of 20 years. The calculation agent for the Notes will be Bear Stearns & Co. Inc. The Notes may be redeemed in amounts of at least 75,000 Notes subject to adjustment by the calculation agent.6 Description of the Index The Sponsor maintains and calculates the Index in consultation with Alerian, a registered investment adviser that manages portfolios exclusively focused on midstream energy master limited partnerships (‘‘MLPs’’). The Index value is a composite of energy MLPs and is calculated by the Sponsor using a floatadjusted, market capitalizationweighted methodology. The Index is disseminated at least every 15 seconds on a price return basis from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern time by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange under the ticker 4 This component is among the lowest dollar weighted component securities, requiring a trading volume of at least 500,000 shares per month in each of the last six months as required by NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6)(B)(I)(b)(2)(ii). See NYSE Arca E-mail, supra note 3. 5 Free Writing Prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 433 under the Securities Act of 1933, Registration No. 333–136666, dated July 20, 2007 (incorporating Pricing Supplement to Prospectus dated August 16, 2006 and Prospectus Supplement dated August 16, 2006) (collectively referred to herein as the ‘‘Prospectus’’). 6 For a detailed discussion of coupon payments, payment at maturity, redemption, the discontinuance of and adjustments to the Index, market disruption events, events of default and acceleration, settlement and payment, the calculation agent, float adjustment, Index rebalancing, the computation of the Index, historical data and license agreement, see Prospectus, supra note 5. PO 00000 Frm 00089 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 symbol ‘‘AMZS.’’ Quotation and lastsale information for the Notes will be widely disseminated pursuant to the CTA Plan.7 The Index began publishing on May 16, 2007. In addition, the Sponsor has calculated over 11 years of historical index data on both a price and total return basis based upon the application of the Index methodology described herein. Alerian publishes relevant constituent data points, such as total market capitalization and dividend yield, on a daily basis. MLPs are added or removed by Alerian based on the methodology described below. According to the Prospectus, as of June 21, 2007, shares of 25 of the Index Components are traded on the New York Stock Exchange and shares of 12 of Index Components are traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market. Alerian will announce changes to the Index on its publicly available Web site, https:// www.alerian.com. Construction of the Index All of the following requirements must be met in order for a MLP to be eligible for inclusion in the Index: 8 • The constituent security must be U.S.-based. The Index uses several factors in determining a MLP’s nationality including, but not limited to, registration location, accounting principles used for financial reporting, and location of headquarters. • The constituent security must be an ‘‘NMS stock’’ as defined in Rule 600 of Regulation NMS under the Act,9 and must be listed on the NYSE, The American Stock Exchange LLC, or The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC. • The constituent security must have at least six months of trading history. • The constituent security must be a publicly traded partnership or limited liability company exempt from corporate taxation as a result of the 1986 Tax Reform Act, and engaged in the transportation, storage, processing, or production of energy commodities. • The constituent security must represent either the limited or general partner interests, or both, of a partnership that is an operating company, or common units of a limited liability company that is an operating company. Closed-end funds, exchangetraded funds, investment vehicles, and royalty or income trusts are not eligible for inclusion. According to the Prospectus, going forward, additional market 7 See NYSE Arca E-mail, supra note 3. requirements are in addition to the relevant ‘‘generic’’ listing requirements of NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6). 9 See NYSE Arca E-mail. 8 These E:\FR\FM\27DEN1.SGM 27DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 247 / Thursday, December 27, 2007 / Notices capitalization, trading liquidity, and financial viability requirements must also be satisfied. These requirements have not been applied historically so as to eliminate any selection bias in the calculation of the Index. The Index has been created to provide a comprehensive benchmark for the historical performance of the energy MLP universe, necessitating the objectivity and transparency of inclusion of all MLPs engaged in energy-related businesses. All current Index Components will remain in future Index calculations and will be exempt from additional Index criteria, subject to review. New Index Components, however, in addition to the requirements listed above, will also be subject to the following conditions: • Market capitalization. Each constituent security must have a market capitalization of at least $500 million. This minimum requirement is reviewed from time to time to ensure consistency with market conditions. • Public float. Each constituent security must have a public float of at least 50% of the total outstanding units. • Financial viability. Each constituent security must maintain trailing twelve months distributable cash flow that exceeds cash distributions paid to unitholders, where distributable cash flow is defined as GAAP net income excluding discontinued operations and extraordinary items, plus non-cash charges such as depreciation and amortization, and minus maintenance capital expenditures.10 Continued Index membership is not necessarily subject to these guidelines. Alerian will announce changes to the Index on its publicly available Web site, https://www.alerian.com. mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES Continued Listing Criteria The Exchange represents that the Notes will meet the Continued Listing Standards for equity index-linked securities set forth in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6)(B)(I)(2).11 The Exchange prohibits the initial and/or continued listing of any security that is not in compliance with Rule 10A–3 under the Act.12 The Exchange will commence delisting or removal proceedings (unless the Commission has approved the continued trading of the Notes), under any of the following circumstances: • If the aggregate market value or the principal amount of the Notes publicly held is less than $400,000; 10 See NYSE Arca E-mail, supra note 3. • If the value of the Index is no longer calculated or widely disseminated through one or more major market data vendors or the Sponsor on at least a 15second basis from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern time; or • If such other event shall occur or condition exists which in the opinion of the Exchange makes further dealings on the Exchange inadvisable. Trading Rules The Exchange deems the Notes to be equity securities, thus rendering trading in the Notes subject to the Exchange’s existing rules governing the trading of equity securities. Notes will trade on the NYSE Arca Marketplace from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time in accordance with NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.34 (Opening, Core and Late Trading Sessions). The Exchange has appropriate rules to facilitate transactions in the Notes during all trading sessions. The minimum trading increment for Notes on the Exchange will be $0.01. With respect to trading halts, the Exchange may consider all relevant factors in exercising its discretion to halt or suspend trading in the Notes. Trading may be halted because of market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in the Notes inadvisable. These may include: (1) The extent to which trading is not occurring in the securities underlying the Index; or (2) whether other unusual conditions or circumstances detrimental to the maintenance of a fair and orderly market are present. In addition, trading in Notes could be halted pursuant to the Exchange’s ‘‘circuit breaker’’ rule 13 or by the halt or suspension of trading of the underlying securities. If the value of the underlying index is not being disseminated as required, the Exchange may halt trading during the day on which such interruption first occurs. If such interruption persists past the trading day in which it occurred, the Exchange will halt trading no later than the beginning of the trading day following the interruption.14 Surveillance The Exchange intends to utilize its existing surveillance procedures applicable to derivative products to monitor trading in the Notes. The Exchange represents that these procedures are adequate to properly monitor Exchange trading of the Notes in all trading sessions and to deter and detect violations of Exchange rules. The Exchange’s current trading surveillance 11 Id. 12 17 CFR 240.10A–3 (setting forth listing standards relating to audit committees). VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:00 Dec 26, 2007 Jkt 214001 13 See 14 See PO 00000 NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.12. NYSE Arca E-mail. Frm 00090 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 73399 focuses on detecting securities trading outside their normal patterns. When such situations are detected, surveillance analysis follows and investigations are opened, where appropriate, to review the behavior of all relevant parties for all relevant trading violations. The Exchange may obtain information via the Intermarket Surveillance Group (‘‘ISG’’) from other exchanges who are members or affiliates of the ISG.15 In addition, the Exchange also has a general policy prohibiting the distribution of material, non-public information by its employees. Information Bulletin Prior to the commencement of trading, the Exchange will inform its ETP Holders in an Information Bulletin of the special characteristics and risks associated with trading the Notes. Specifically, the Information Bulletin will discuss the following: (1) The procedures for redemptions of Notes in amounts of 75,000 Notes or greater (and that Notes are not individually redeemable); (2) NYSE Arca Equities Rule 9.2(a),16 which imposes a duty of due diligence on its ETP Holders to learn the essential facts relating to every customer prior to trading the Notes; (3) the requirement that ETP Holders deliver a prospectus to investors purchasing newly issued Notes prior to or concurrently with the confirmation of a transaction; and (4) trading information. The Information Bulletin will also discuss any exemptive, no-action and interpretive relief granted by the Commission from any rules under the Act.17 15 For a list of the current members and affiliate members of ISG, see www.isgportal.com. 16 NYSE Arca Equities Rule 9.2(a) provides that ETP Holders, before recommending a transaction, must have reasonable grounds to believe that the recommendation is suitable for the customer based on any facts disclosed by the customer as to his other security holdings and as to his financial situation and needs. Further, the rule provides, with a limited exception, that prior to the execution of a transaction recommended to a non-institutional customer, the ETP Holders shall make reasonable efforts to obtain information concerning the customer’s financial status, tax status, investment objectives, and any other information that they believe would be useful to make a recommendation. 17 The Exchange intends to rely on the guidance provided by the Commission in a Letter dated July 27, 2006, from James A. Brigagliano, Division of Market Regulation, to George H. White ( ‘‘Letter’’), with respect to transactions in the Notes. The Exchange understands that the Company has advised NYSE of its view that such relief may be relied upon. The Letter provides certain relief with respect to Regulation M, Section 11(d)(1) of the Act and Rule 11d1–2 under the Act. E:\FR\FM\27DEN1.SGM 27DEN1 73400 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 247 / Thursday, December 27, 2007 / Notices 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with section 6(b) 18 of the Act in general, and furthers the objectives of section 6(b)(5) 19 in particular in that it is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in securities, and to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. 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 Act. mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants or Others The Exchange has neither solicited nor received written comments on the proposed rule change. Internet Web site (https://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 inspection and copying 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 such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–NYSEArca–2007–119 and should be submitted on or before January 17, 2008. IV. Commission’s Findings and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of the Proposed Rule Change III. Solicitation of Comments After careful consideration, the Interested persons are invited to Commission finds that the proposed submit written data, views and rule change, as amended, is consistent arguments concerning the foregoing, with the requirements of the Act and the including whether the proposed rule rules and regulations thereunder change, as amended, is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by applicable to a national securities exchange.20 In particular, the any of the following methods: Commission finds that the proposed Electronic Comments rule change is consistent with section 6(b)(5) of the Act,21 which requires that • Use the Commission’s Internet the rules of an exchange be designed, comment form (https://www.sec.gov/ among other things, to promote just and rules/sro.shtml); or equitable principles of trade, to remove • Send e-mail to ruleimpediments to and perfect the comments@sec.gov. Please include File mechanism of a free and open market Number SR–NYSEArca–2007–119 on and a national market system, and, in the subject line. general, to protect investors and the Paper Comments public interest. Although NYSE Arca • Send paper comments in triplicate Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6) permits the to Nancy M. Morris, Secretary, Exchange to either originally list and Securities and Exchange Commission, trade equity index-linked securities, the 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC Notes do not meet the ‘‘generic’’ listing 20549–1090. requirements of NYSE Arca Rule 5.2(j)(6) (permitting listing in reliance All submissions should refer to File Number SR–NYSEArca–2007–119. This upon Rule 19b–4(e) under the Act 22) because the components of the Index file number should be included on the subject line if e-mail is used. To help the underlying the Fund do not meet the initial listing requirements of NYSE Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use 20 In approving this rule change, the Commission only one method. The Commission will notes that it has considered the proposed rule’s post all comments on the Commission’s impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f). 21 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). 22 17 CFR 240.19b–4(e). 18 15 U.S.C. 78f(b). 19 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:00 Dec 26, 2007 Jkt 214001 PO 00000 Frm 00091 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6)(B)(I)(1)(b)(ii). This section requires that, upon the initial listing of any series of equity index-linked securities, each component of the index on which the index-linked security is based have a trading volume in each of the last six months of not less than 1,000,000 shares per month. This section provides an exception for each of the lowest dollar weighted component securities in the index that in the aggregate account for no more than 10% of the dollar weight of the index for which the trading volume shall be at least 500,000 shares per month in each of the last six months. The Exchange represents that, in September 2007, one of the lowest dollar weighted component securities in the index that is among the component securities with lowest 10% of the dollar weight of the index, had a trading volume 416,447 shares. Because such percentage misses the minimum required threshold by approximately 83,553 shares, the Notes cannot be listed and traded pursuant to Rule 19b–4(e) under the Act via NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6). The Commission believes, however, that the listing and trading of the Notes, would be consistent with the Act. The Commission notes that it has previously approved exchange rules that contemplate the listing and trading of derivative securities products based on indices that were composed of securities that did not meet certain quantitative generic listing criteria by only a slight margin.23 23 See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 55890 (June 8, 2007), 72 FR 33264 (June 15, 2007) (NYSEArca–2007–37) (approving the listing and trading of shares of four funds of StateShares, Inc. where the Underlying Index of each fund did not meet the requirement of NYSE Arca’s generic listing standards that component stocks representing at least 90% of the weight of each Underlying Index have a minimum monthly trading volume during each of the last six months of at least 250,000 shares); 55699 (May 3, 2007), 72 FR 26435 (May 9, 2007) (SR–NYSEArca–2007–27) (approving the listing and trading of shares of the iShares FTSE NAREIT Residential Index Fund where the weighting of the five highest components of the underlying index was marginally higher than that required by NYSE Arca’s generic listing standards); and 52826 (November 22, 2005), 70 FR 71874 (November 30, 2005) (SR–NYSEArca–2005–67) (approving the listing and trading of shares of the iShares Dow Jones U.S. Energy Sector Index Fund and the iShares Dow Jones U.S. Telecommunications Sector Index Fund where the weightings of the most heavily weighted component stock and the five highest components of the underlying indexes, respectively, were higher than that required by NYSE Arca Inc.’s relevant generic listing standards). See also Securities Exchange Act Release No. 46306 (August 2, 2002), 67 FR 51916 (August 9, 2002) (SR–NYSE–2002–28) (approving the trading pursuant to unlisted trading privileges of shares of Vanguard Total Stock Market VIPERs, iShares Russell 2000 Index Funds, iShares Russell 2000 Value Index Funds and iShares Russell 2000 E:\FR\FM\27DEN1.SGM 27DEN1 mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 247 / Thursday, December 27, 2007 / Notices The Commission further believes that the proposal is consistent with section 11A(a)(1)(C)(iii) of the Act,24 which sets forth Congress’ finding that it is in the public interest and appropriate for the protection of investors and the maintenance of fair and orderly markets to assure the availability to brokers, dealers, and investors of information with respect to quotations for and transactions in securities. Quotation and last-sale information for the Notes will be widely disseminated pursuant to the CTA Plan. Moreover, the Index value will be calculated and disseminated at least every 15 seconds on a price return basis from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. In addition, Alerian will announce any changes to the Index on its publicly available Web site. In sum, the Commission believes that the proposal is reasonably designed to facilitate access to and provide fair disclosure of information that could assist investors in properly valuing the Notes. The Commission finds that the Exchange’s proposed rules and procedures for trading of the Notes are consistent with the Act. The Notes will trade as equity securities, thus rendering trading in the Notes subject to the Exchange’s existing rules governing the trading of equity securities. In support of this proposal, the Exchange has made the following representations: 1. The Exchange would utilize its existing surveillance procedures applicable to derivative products to monitor trading in the Notes. These procedures are adequate to properly monitor Exchange trading of the Notes in all trading sessions and to deter and detect violations of Exchange rules. The Exchange may obtain information via the ISG from other exchanges that are members or affiliates of the ISG. 2. If the Index value applicable to a series of Notes is not being calculated and disseminated as required, the Exchange may halt trading during the day in which the interruption to the calculation or dissemination of the Index value occurs. If the interruption to the calculation and dissemination of the Index value persists past the trading day in which it occurred, the Exchange would halt trading no later than the beginning of the trading day following the interruption. 3. Prior to the commencement of trading, the Exchange will inform its Growth Funds, none of which met the trading volume requirement of the generic listing criteria for NYSE). 24 15 U.S.C. 78k–1(a)(1)(C)(iii). VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:00 Dec 26, 2007 Jkt 214001 ETP Holders in an Information Bulletin of the special characteristics and risks associated with trading the Notes. This order is conditioned on the Exchange’s adherence to the foregoing representations. The Commission finds good cause for approving this proposal before the thirtieth day after the publication of notice thereof in the Federal Register. The Commission notes that it has previously approved exchange rules that contemplate the listing and trading of derivative securities products based on indices that were composed of stocks that did not meet certain generic listing criteria by similar amounts.25 Although the Notes do not meet the initial ‘‘generic’’ listing requirement of NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6) and therefore cannot be listed pursuant to Rule 19b–4(e) under the Act, the Commission believes that the Notes are substantially similar to the other equity index-linked securities trading on the Exchange and will otherwise comply with all other ‘‘generic’’ listing requirements applicable to Equity Index-Linked Securities under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6)(B)(I)(1).26 The listing and trading of the Notes do not appear to present any new or significant regulatory concerns. Therefore, the Commission believes that accelerating approval of this proposal would allow the Notes to trade on the Exchange without undue delay and should generate additional competition in the market for such products. V. Conclusion IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED, pursuant to section 19(b)(2) of the Act,27 that the proposed rule change (SR– NYSEArca–2007–119) as modified by Amendment No. 1 thereto, be and it hereby is, approved on an accelerated basis. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.28 Florence E. Harmon, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. E7–24990 Filed 12–26–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P 25 See 28 17 PO 00000 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2). CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). Frm 00092 Fmt 4703 [Release No. 34–56991; File No. SR–OCC– 2007–15] Self-Regulatory Organizations; the Options Clearing Corporation; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change Relating to Cleared Contracts Carried in a Proprietary Account December 19, 2007. Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’),1 notice is hereby given that on October 23, 2007, the Options Clearing Corporation (‘‘OCC’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which items have been prepared primarily by OCC. OCC filed the proposed rule change pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A)(i) of the Act 2 and Rule 19b–4(f)(1) 3 thereunder so that the proposal was effective upon filing with the Commission. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons. I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The proposed rule change would clarify that existing provisions of OCC’s By-laws and Rules constitute a ‘‘crossmargining or similar arrangement’’ for purposes of the United States Bankruptcy Code with respect to cleared contracts carried in any proprietary account at OCC to the extent that commodity contracts and securities contracts are permitted to be carried in such account. II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change In its filing with the Commission, OCC 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 these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. OCC has prepared summaries, set forth in sections (A), (B), and (C) below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.4 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). U.S.C. 78s–1(b)(3)(A)(i). 3 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(1). 4 The Commission has modified parts of these statements. 2 15 26 Id. 27 15 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 1 15 supra note 23. Sfmt 4703 73401 E:\FR\FM\27DEN1.SGM 27DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 247 (Thursday, December 27, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73397-73401]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24990]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-56987; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2007-119]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing 
and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change, as 
Modified by Amendment No. 1 Thereto, To List and Trade the BearLinx\SM\ 
Alerian MLP Select Index ETN

December 18, 2007.
    Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, \2\ notice is hereby given 
that on November 16, 2007, NYSE Arca, Inc. (``Exchange''), through its 
wholly-owned subsidiary NYSE Arca Equities, Inc. (``NYSE Arca 
Equities'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I and 
II below, which Items have been substantially prepared by the Exchange. 
On November 20, 2007, NYSE Arca filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposed 
rule change. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit 
comments on the proposed rule change, as amended, from interested 
persons and to approve the proposed rule change, as modified by 
Amendment No. 1, on an accelerated basis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

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

    The Exchange, through its wholly-owned subsidiary NYSE Arca 
Equities, proposes to list and trade the BearLinx\SM\ Alerian MLP 
Select Index ETN (``Notes'') of Bear Stearns Companies Inc. 
(``Company''), which are linked to the performance of the Alerian MLP 
Select Index (``Index''), pursuant to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 
5.2(j)(6). The text of the proposed rule change is available at https://
www.nyse.com, at the Exchange and at the Commission's Public Reference 
Room.

[[Page 73398]]

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 Exchange included statements 
concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the proposed rule change. The 
text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in 
Item III below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in 
sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such 
statements.

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

1. Purpose
    Under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6), the Exchange may approve 
for listing and trading Equity Index-Linked Securities. The Exchange 
proposes to list and trade the Notes, which are linked to the 
performance of the Index, under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6). The 
Index is published by Standard & Poor's, a division of The McGraw-Hill 
Companies, Inc. (``Sponsor''), in consultation with Alerian Capital 
Management LLC (``Alerian''). The Notes are currently listed and traded 
on the New York Stock Exchange LLC (``NYSE'').\3\ Following Commission 
approval of this proposed rule change, the Notes will list and trade on 
the Exchange and will cease trading on NYSE.
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    \3\ The Notes were originally listed on the NYSE under Rule 
703.22 of the NYSE's Listed Company Manual (generic listing 
standards for Equity Index-Linked Securities). See e-mail dated 
December 14, 2007 from Tim J. Malinowski, Director, NYSE Euronext to 
Mitra Mehr, Special Counsel, Division of Trading and Markets, 
Commission (``NYSEArca E-mail'').
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    The Exchange represents that the Notes meet each of the ``generic'' 
listing requirements of NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6) applicable to 
listing of Equity Index-Linked Securities, except for one requirement. 
Specifically, the Index does not meet the requirement of NYSE Arca 
Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6)(B)(I)(1)(b)(2)(ii), that each component 
security have a trading volume in each of the last six months of not 
less than one million shares per month. The rule provides an exception 
for each of the lowest dollar weighted component securities in the 
Index that in the aggregate account for no more than 10% of the dollar 
weight of the Index; each of these component securities must have a 
trading volume of at least 500,000 shares per month in each of the last 
six months. According to the Exchange, one component security of the 
Index had a trading volume of 416,447 shares in September 2007.\4\
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    \4\ This component is among the lowest dollar weighted component 
securities, requiring a trading volume of at least 500,000 shares 
per month in each of the last six months as required by NYSE Arca 
Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6)(B)(I)(b)(2)(ii). See NYSE Arca E-mail, supra 
note 3.
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Description of the Notes

    The Notes are a series of medium-term debt of the Company that 
provide for a cash payment at maturity or upon earlier exchange at the 
holder's option, based on the performance of the Index subject to the 
adjustments described below. The principal amount of each Note is 
$38.8915 (``Principal Amount'').\5\ The Notes will trade on the NYSE 
Arca Marketplace and the Exchange's existing equity trading rules will 
apply to trading in the Notes. According to the Prospectus, the Notes 
will not have a minimum principal amount that will be repaid and, 
accordingly, payment on the Notes prior to or at maturity may be less 
than the original issue price of the Notes. In fact, the value of the 
Index must increase for the investor to receive at least the Principal 
Amount per Note at maturity or upon exchange or redemption. The Notes 
will have a term of 20 years. The calculation agent for the Notes will 
be Bear Stearns & Co. Inc. The Notes may be redeemed in amounts of at 
least 75,000 Notes subject to adjustment by the calculation agent.\6\
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    \5\ Free Writing Prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 433 under the 
Securities Act of 1933, Registration No. 333-136666, dated July 20, 
2007 (incorporating Pricing Supplement to Prospectus dated August 
16, 2006 and Prospectus Supplement dated August 16, 2006) 
(collectively referred to herein as the ``Prospectus'').
    \6\ For a detailed discussion of coupon payments, payment at 
maturity, redemption, the discontinuance of and adjustments to the 
Index, market disruption events, events of default and acceleration, 
settlement and payment, the calculation agent, float adjustment, 
Index rebalancing, the computation of the Index, historical data and 
license agreement, see Prospectus, supra note 5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Description of the Index

    The Sponsor maintains and calculates the Index in consultation with 
Alerian, a registered investment adviser that manages portfolios 
exclusively focused on midstream energy master limited partnerships 
(``MLPs''). The Index value is a composite of energy MLPs and is 
calculated by the Sponsor using a float-adjusted, market 
capitalization-weighted methodology. The Index is disseminated at least 
every 15 seconds on a price return basis from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 
Eastern time by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange under the ticker symbol 
``AMZS.'' Quotation and last-sale information for the Notes will be 
widely disseminated pursuant to the CTA Plan.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ See NYSE Arca E-mail, supra note 3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Index began publishing on May 16, 2007. In addition, the 
Sponsor has calculated over 11 years of historical index data on both a 
price and total return basis based upon the application of the Index 
methodology described herein. Alerian publishes relevant constituent 
data points, such as total market capitalization and dividend yield, on 
a daily basis. MLPs are added or removed by Alerian based on the 
methodology described below. According to the Prospectus, as of June 
21, 2007, shares of 25 of the Index Components are traded on the New 
York Stock Exchange and shares of 12 of Index Components are traded on 
The Nasdaq Stock Market. Alerian will announce changes to the Index on 
its publicly available Web site, https://www.alerian.com.

Construction of the Index

    All of the following requirements must be met in order for a MLP to 
be eligible for inclusion in the Index: \8\
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    \8\ These requirements are in addition to the relevant 
``generic'' listing requirements of NYSE Arca Equities Rule 
5.2(j)(6).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     The constituent security must be U.S.-based. The Index 
uses several factors in determining a MLP's nationality including, but 
not limited to, registration location, accounting principles used for 
financial reporting, and location of headquarters.
     The constituent security must be an ``NMS stock'' as 
defined in Rule 600 of Regulation NMS under the Act,\9\ and must be 
listed on the NYSE, The American Stock Exchange LLC, or The NASDAQ 
Stock Market LLC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ See NYSE Arca E-mail.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     The constituent security must have at least six months of 
trading history.
     The constituent security must be a publicly traded 
partnership or limited liability company exempt from corporate taxation 
as a result of the 1986 Tax Reform Act, and engaged in the 
transportation, storage, processing, or production of energy 
commodities.
     The constituent security must represent either the limited 
or general partner interests, or both, of a partnership that is an 
operating company, or common units of a limited liability company that 
is an operating company. Closed-end funds, exchange-traded funds, 
investment vehicles, and royalty or income trusts are not eligible for 
inclusion.
    According to the Prospectus, going forward, additional market

[[Page 73399]]

capitalization, trading liquidity, and financial viability requirements 
must also be satisfied. These requirements have not been applied 
historically so as to eliminate any selection bias in the calculation 
of the Index. The Index has been created to provide a comprehensive 
benchmark for the historical performance of the energy MLP universe, 
necessitating the objectivity and transparency of inclusion of all MLPs 
engaged in energy-related businesses. All current Index Components will 
remain in future Index calculations and will be exempt from additional 
Index criteria, subject to review. New Index Components, however, in 
addition to the requirements listed above, will also be subject to the 
following conditions:
     Market capitalization. Each constituent security must have 
a market capitalization of at least $500 million. This minimum 
requirement is reviewed from time to time to ensure consistency with 
market conditions.
     Public float. Each constituent security must have a public 
float of at least 50% of the total outstanding units.
     Financial viability. Each constituent security must 
maintain trailing twelve months distributable cash flow that exceeds 
cash distributions paid to unit-holders, where distributable cash flow 
is defined as GAAP net income excluding discontinued operations and 
extraordinary items, plus non-cash charges such as depreciation and 
amortization, and minus maintenance capital expenditures.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ See NYSE Arca E-mail, supra note 3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Continued Index membership is not necessarily subject to these 
guidelines. Alerian will announce changes to the Index on its publicly 
available Web site, https://www.alerian.com.

Continued Listing Criteria

    The Exchange represents that the Notes will meet the Continued 
Listing Standards for equity index-linked securities set forth in NYSE 
Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6)(B)(I)(2).\11\ The Exchange prohibits the 
initial and/or continued listing of any security that is not in 
compliance with Rule 10A-3 under the Act.\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ Id.
    \12\ 17 CFR 240.10A-3 (setting forth listing standards relating 
to audit committees).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange will commence delisting or removal proceedings (unless 
the Commission has approved the continued trading of the Notes), under 
any of the following circumstances:
     If the aggregate market value or the principal amount of 
the Notes publicly held is less than $400,000;
     If the value of the Index is no longer calculated or 
widely disseminated through one or more major market data vendors or 
the Sponsor on at least a 15-second basis from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 
Eastern time; or
     If such other event shall occur or condition exists which 
in the opinion of the Exchange makes further dealings on the Exchange 
inadvisable.

Trading Rules

    The Exchange deems the Notes to be equity securities, thus 
rendering trading in the Notes subject to the Exchange's existing rules 
governing the trading of equity securities. Notes will trade on the 
NYSE Arca Marketplace from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time in accordance 
with NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.34 (Opening, Core and Late Trading 
Sessions). The Exchange has appropriate rules to facilitate 
transactions in the Notes during all trading sessions. The minimum 
trading increment for Notes on the Exchange will be $0.01.
    With respect to trading halts, the Exchange may consider all 
relevant factors in exercising its discretion to halt or suspend 
trading in the Notes. Trading may be halted because of market 
conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make 
trading in the Notes inadvisable. These may include: (1) The extent to 
which trading is not occurring in the securities underlying the Index; 
or (2) whether other unusual conditions or circumstances detrimental to 
the maintenance of a fair and orderly market are present. In addition, 
trading in Notes could be halted pursuant to the Exchange's ``circuit 
breaker'' rule \13\ or by the halt or suspension of trading of the 
underlying securities. If the value of the underlying index is not 
being disseminated as required, the Exchange may halt trading during 
the day on which such interruption first occurs. If such interruption 
persists past the trading day in which it occurred, the Exchange will 
halt trading no later than the beginning of the trading day following 
the interruption.\14\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ See NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.12.
    \14\ See NYSE Arca E-mail.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Surveillance

    The Exchange intends to utilize its existing surveillance 
procedures applicable to derivative products to monitor trading in the 
Notes. The Exchange represents that these procedures are adequate to 
properly monitor Exchange trading of the Notes in all trading sessions 
and to deter and detect violations of Exchange rules. The Exchange's 
current trading surveillance focuses on detecting securities trading 
outside their normal patterns. When such situations are detected, 
surveillance analysis follows and investigations are opened, where 
appropriate, to review the behavior of all relevant parties for all 
relevant trading violations.
    The Exchange may obtain information via the Intermarket 
Surveillance Group (``ISG'') from other exchanges who are members or 
affiliates of the ISG.\15\ In addition, the Exchange also has a general 
policy prohibiting the distribution of material, non-public information 
by its employees.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ For a list of the current members and affiliate members of 
ISG, see www.isgportal.com.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Information Bulletin

    Prior to the commencement of trading, the Exchange will inform its 
ETP Holders in an Information Bulletin of the special characteristics 
and risks associated with trading the Notes. Specifically, the 
Information Bulletin will discuss the following: (1) The procedures for 
redemptions of Notes in amounts of 75,000 Notes or greater (and that 
Notes are not individually redeemable); (2) NYSE Arca Equities Rule 
9.2(a),\16\ which imposes a duty of due diligence on its ETP Holders to 
learn the essential facts relating to every customer prior to trading 
the Notes; (3) the requirement that ETP Holders deliver a prospectus to 
investors purchasing newly issued Notes prior to or concurrently with 
the confirmation of a transaction; and (4) trading information.
    The Information Bulletin will also discuss any exemptive, no-action 
and interpretive relief granted by the Commission from any rules under 
the Act.\17\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ NYSE Arca Equities Rule 9.2(a) provides that ETP Holders, 
before recommending a transaction, must have reasonable grounds to 
believe that the recommendation is suitable for the customer based 
on any facts disclosed by the customer as to his other security 
holdings and as to his financial situation and needs. Further, the 
rule provides, with a limited exception, that prior to the execution 
of a transaction recommended to a non-institutional customer, the 
ETP Holders shall make reasonable efforts to obtain information 
concerning the customer's financial status, tax status, investment 
objectives, and any other information that they believe would be 
useful to make a recommendation.
    \17\ The Exchange intends to rely on the guidance provided by 
the Commission in a Letter dated July 27, 2006, from James A. 
Brigagliano, Division of Market Regulation, to George H. White ( 
``Letter''), with respect to transactions in the Notes. The Exchange 
understands that the Company has advised NYSE of its view that such 
relief may be relied upon. The Letter provides certain relief with 
respect to Regulation M, Section 11(d)(1) of the Act and Rule 11d1-2 
under the Act.

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[[Page 73400]]

2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with section 6(b) \18\ of the Act in general, and furthers the 
objectives of section 6(b)(5) \19\ in particular in that it is designed 
to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote 
just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and 
coordination with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in 
securities, and to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a 
free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to 
protect investors and the public interest.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \19\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 Act.

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

    The Exchange has neither solicited nor received written comments on 
the proposed rule change.

III. Solicitation of Comments

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

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (https://
www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send e-mail to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File 
Number SR-NYSEArca-2007-119 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEArca-2007-119. This 
file number should be included on the subject line if e-mail is used. 
To help the Commission process and review your comments more 
efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all 
comments on the Commission's Internet Web site (https://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 inspection 
and copying 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 such filing also will be available for 
inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All 
comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does 
not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should 
submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All 
submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEArca-2007-119 and should 
be submitted on or before January 17, 2008.

IV. Commission's Findings and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of 
the Proposed Rule Change

    After careful consideration, the Commission finds that the proposed 
rule change, as amended, is consistent with the requirements of the Act 
and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a national 
securities exchange.\20\ In particular, the Commission finds that the 
proposed rule change is consistent with section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\21\ 
which requires that the rules of an exchange be designed, among other 
things, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove 
impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and 
a national market system, and, in general, to protect investors and the 
public interest. Although NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6) permits the 
Exchange to either originally list and trade equity index-linked 
securities, the Notes do not meet the ``generic'' listing requirements 
of NYSE Arca Rule 5.2(j)(6) (permitting listing in reliance upon Rule 
19b-4(e) under the Act \22\) because the components of the Index 
underlying the Fund do not meet the initial listing requirements of 
NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6)(B)(I)(1)(b)(ii). This section 
requires that, upon the initial listing of any series of equity index-
linked securities, each component of the index on which the index-
linked security is based have a trading volume in each of the last six 
months of not less than 1,000,000 shares per month. This section 
provides an exception for each of the lowest dollar weighted component 
securities in the index that in the aggregate account for no more than 
10% of the dollar weight of the index for which the trading volume 
shall be at least 500,000 shares per month in each of the last six 
months. The Exchange represents that, in September 2007, one of the 
lowest dollar weighted component securities in the index that is among 
the component securities with lowest 10% of the dollar weight of the 
index, had a trading volume 416,447 shares. Because such percentage 
misses the minimum required threshold by approximately 83,553 shares, 
the Notes cannot be listed and traded pursuant to Rule 19b-4(e) under 
the Act via NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6). The Commission believes, 
however, that the listing and trading of the Notes, would be consistent 
with the Act. The Commission notes that it has previously approved 
exchange rules that contemplate the listing and trading of derivative 
securities products based on indices that were composed of securities 
that did not meet certain quantitative generic listing criteria by only 
a slight margin.\23\
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    \20\ In approving this rule change, the Commission notes that it 
has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, 
competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
    \21\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
    \22\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(e).
    \23\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 55890 (June 8, 
2007), 72 FR 33264 (June 15, 2007) (NYSEArca-2007-37) (approving the 
listing and trading of shares of four funds of StateShares, Inc. 
where the Underlying Index of each fund did not meet the requirement 
of NYSE Arca's generic listing standards that component stocks 
representing at least 90% of the weight of each Underlying Index 
have a minimum monthly trading volume during each of the last six 
months of at least 250,000 shares); 55699 (May 3, 2007), 72 FR 26435 
(May 9, 2007) (SR-NYSEArca-2007-27) (approving the listing and 
trading of shares of the iShares FTSE NAREIT Residential Index Fund 
where the weighting of the five highest components of the underlying 
index was marginally higher than that required by NYSE Arca's 
generic listing standards); and 52826 (November 22, 2005), 70 FR 
71874 (November 30, 2005) (SR-NYSEArca-2005-67) (approving the 
listing and trading of shares of the iShares Dow Jones U.S. Energy 
Sector Index Fund and the iShares Dow Jones U.S. Telecommunications 
Sector Index Fund where the weightings of the most heavily weighted 
component stock and the five highest components of the underlying 
indexes, respectively, were higher than that required by NYSE Arca 
Inc.'s relevant generic listing standards). See also Securities 
Exchange Act Release No. 46306 (August 2, 2002), 67 FR 51916 (August 
9, 2002) (SR-NYSE-2002-28) (approving the trading pursuant to 
unlisted trading privileges of shares of Vanguard Total Stock Market 
VIPERs, iShares Russell 2000 Index Funds, iShares Russell 2000 Value 
Index Funds and iShares Russell 2000 Growth Funds, none of which met 
the trading volume requirement of the generic listing criteria for 
NYSE).

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[[Page 73401]]

    The Commission further believes that the proposal is consistent 
with section 11A(a)(1)(C)(iii) of the Act,\24\ which sets forth 
Congress' finding that it is in the public interest and appropriate for 
the protection of investors and the maintenance of fair and orderly 
markets to assure the availability to brokers, dealers, and investors 
of information with respect to quotations for and transactions in 
securities. Quotation and last-sale information for the Notes will be 
widely disseminated pursuant to the CTA Plan. Moreover, the Index value 
will be calculated and disseminated at least every 15 seconds on a 
price return basis from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time by the Chicago 
Mercantile Exchange. In addition, Alerian will announce any changes to 
the Index on its publicly available Web site. In sum, the Commission 
believes that the proposal is reasonably designed to facilitate access 
to and provide fair disclosure of information that could assist 
investors in properly valuing the Notes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \24\ 15 U.S.C. 78k-1(a)(1)(C)(iii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission finds that the Exchange's proposed rules and 
procedures for trading of the Notes are consistent with the Act. The 
Notes will trade as equity securities, thus rendering trading in the 
Notes subject to the Exchange's existing rules governing the trading of 
equity securities.
    In support of this proposal, the Exchange has made the following 
representations:
    1. The Exchange would utilize its existing surveillance procedures 
applicable to derivative products to monitor trading in the Notes. 
These procedures are adequate to properly monitor Exchange trading of 
the Notes in all trading sessions and to deter and detect violations of 
Exchange rules. The Exchange may obtain information via the ISG from 
other exchanges that are members or affiliates of the ISG.
    2. If the Index value applicable to a series of Notes is not being 
calculated and disseminated as required, the Exchange may halt trading 
during the day in which the interruption to the calculation or 
dissemination of the Index value occurs. If the interruption to the 
calculation and dissemination of the Index value persists past the 
trading day in which it occurred, the Exchange would halt trading no 
later than the beginning of the trading day following the interruption.
    3. Prior to the commencement of trading, the Exchange will inform 
its ETP Holders in an Information Bulletin of the special 
characteristics and risks associated with trading the Notes.
    This order is conditioned on the Exchange's adherence to the 
foregoing representations.
    The Commission finds good cause for approving this proposal before 
the thirtieth day after the publication of notice thereof in the 
Federal Register. The Commission notes that it has previously approved 
exchange rules that contemplate the listing and trading of derivative 
securities products based on indices that were composed of stocks that 
did not meet certain generic listing criteria by similar amounts.\25\ 
Although the Notes do not meet the initial ``generic'' listing 
requirement of NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6) and therefore cannot 
be listed pursuant to Rule 19b-4(e) under the Act, the Commission 
believes that the Notes are substantially similar to the other equity 
index-linked securities trading on the Exchange and will otherwise 
comply with all other ``generic'' listing requirements applicable to 
Equity Index-Linked Securities under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 
5.2(j)(6)(B)(I)(1).\26\ The listing and trading of the Notes do not 
appear to present any new or significant regulatory concerns. 
Therefore, the Commission believes that accelerating approval of this 
proposal would allow the Notes to trade on the Exchange without undue 
delay and should generate additional competition in the market for such 
products.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \25\ See supra note 23.
    \26\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

V. Conclusion

    IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED, pursuant to section 19(b)(2) of the 
Act,\27\ that the proposed rule change (SR-NYSEArca-2007-119) as 
modified by Amendment No. 1 thereto, be and it hereby is, approved on 
an accelerated basis.
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    \27\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\28\
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
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    \28\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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 [FR Doc. E7-24990 Filed 12-26-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
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