Self-Regulatory Organizations; American Stock Exchange, LLC; Notice of Filing and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment Nos. 1 and 2 Thereto, To List and Trade Shares of the SPDR® Barclays Capital Global Inflation Linked Exchange-Traded Fund, 10314-10317 [E8-3554]
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10314
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 38 / Tuesday, February 26, 2008 / Notices
investors require a suspension of trading
in the securities of the above-listed
company.
Therefore, it is ordered, pursuant to
section 12(k) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, that trading in the abovelisted company is suspended for the
period from 9:30 a.m. EST on February
22, 2008 through 11:59 p.m. EST on
March 6, 2008.
By the Commission.
J. Lynn Taylor,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 08–861 Filed 2–22–08; 10:44 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–57356; File No. SR–Amex–
2007–115]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
American Stock Exchange, LLC;
Notice of Filing and Order Granting
Accelerated Approval of a Proposed
Rule Change, as Modified by
Amendment Nos. 1 and 2 Thereto, To
List and Trade Shares of the SPDR
Barclays Capital Global Inflation
Linked Exchange-Traded Fund
February 20, 2008.
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
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 October
29, 2007, the American Stock Exchange,
LLC (‘‘Amex’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) 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 January 4, 2008, the
Exchange filed Amendment No. 1 to the
proposed rule change. On January 30,
2008, the Exchange filed Amendment
No. 2 to the proposed rule change. This
order provides notice of the proposed
rule change, as amended, and approves
the proposed rule change, as modified
by Amendment Nos. 1 and 2 thereto, on
an accelerated basis.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to list and
trade shares (‘‘Shares’’) of the SPDR
Barclays Capital Global Inflation Linked
Exchange-Traded Fund (‘‘Fund’’).3 The
1 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
CFR 240.19b–4.
3 The Fund is a series of the SPDR Series Trust
(formerly streetTRACKS Series Trust, the ‘‘Trust’’),
an investment company registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (‘‘1940 Act’’).
2 17
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19:29 Feb 25, 2008
Jkt 214001
text of the proposed rule change is
available at the Exchange’s principal
office, the Commission’s Public
Reference Room, and https://
www.amex.com.
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, 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 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
The Exchange proposes to list and
trade Shares of the Fund pursuant to
Amex Rule 1000A–AEMI and Amex
Rules 1001A through 1005A, which
provide listing standards for Index Fund
Shares.4 The Shares represent an
interest in the investment portfolio of
the Fund and are registered under the
Act. The Fund’s investment objective is
to provide investment results that,
before fees and expenses, correspond
generally to the price and yield
performance of the World Government
TIPS Index, an index that tracks the
inflation-protected sector of the global
bond market. The Fund employs an
indexing approach seeking to
substantially replicate, before fees and
expenses, the price and yield
performance of the Barclays World
Government Inflation-Linked Bond
Index (‘‘Index’’).5 The Index measures
the performance of the major
government inflation-linked bond
markets and is constructed from a
selection of country/currency indices
based on rating and size. The Index is
4 An Index Fund Share is a security that is issued
by an open-end management investment company
based on a portfolio of stocks or fixed-income
securities or a combination thereof that seeks to
provide investment results that correspond
generally to the price and yield performance or total
return performance of a specified foreign or
domestic stock index, fixed-income securities
index, or combination thereof. See Amex Rule
1000A–AEMI(b)(1).
5 Barclays Capital, which created and manages
the Index, is the investment banking division of
Barclays Bank PLC, which is regulated by the
Financial Services Authority of the United
Kingdom.
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
designed to include only those markets
in which a global government linker 6
fund is likely to invest and includes the
following ten countries: United
Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Sweden,
United States, France, Italy, Japan,
Germany, and Greece.
The Exchange represents that the
Fund does not satisfy the generic listing
standards in Commentary .03(a)(5) to
Amex Rule 1000A–AEMI, which
requires that the underlying index or
portfolio (excluding one consisting
entirely of exempted securities) must
include a minimum of 13 non-affiliated
issuers.7 Currently, the Index only
includes ten non-affiliated issuers.
Except for Commentary .03(a)(5) to
Amex Rule 1000A–AEMI, Amex states
that the Shares currently satisfy all
applicable generic listing standards for
Index Fund Shares based on Fixed
Income Securities.8 The Exchange
further represents that the continued
listing standards for Index Fund Shares
under Amex Rule 1002A(b) are
applicable to the Shares.9 The issuer of
the Shares, the Trust, is required to
comply with Rule 10A–3 under the
Act 10 for the initial and continued
listing of the Shares.
The Exchange states that detailed
descriptions of the Fund, the Index
(including the methodology used to
determine the composition of the
Index), investment objective,
management, and structure of the Fund,
procedures and payment requirements
for creating and redeeming Shares,
transaction fees and expenses,
dividends, distributions, taxes, reports
6A
linker is an inflation-linked bond.
generic listing requirements under
Commentary .03 to Amex Rule 1000A–AEMI permit
the listing and trading of Index Fund Shares
pursuant to Rule 19b–4(e) under the Act (17 CFR
240.19b–4(e)). Rule 19b–4(e) provides that the
listing and trading of a new derivative securities
product by a self-regulatory organization (‘‘SRO’’)
shall not be deemed a proposed rule change,
pursuant to Rule 19b–4(c)(1), if the Commission has
approved, pursuant to Section 19(b) of the Act, the
SRO’s trading rules, procedures, and listing
standards for the product class that would include
the new derivatives securities product, and the SRO
has a surveillance program for the product class.
8 Fixed Income Securities are debt securities that
are notes, bonds, debentures, or evidence of
indebtedness that include, but are not limited to,
U.S. Department of Treasury securities,
government-sponsored entity securities, municipal
securities, trust preferred securities, supranational
debt, and debt of a foreign country or a subdivision
thereof. See Commentary .03 to Amex Rule 1000A–
AEMI.
9 Pursuant to Amex Rule 1002A(a)(i), the
Exchange has established a minimum of 200,000
Shares to be outstanding at the start of trading. The
Exchange believes that the proposed minimum
number of Shares outstanding at the start of trading
is sufficient to provide market liquidity and is
comparable to requirements that have been applied
to previously listed series of Index Fund Shares.
10 17 CFR 240.10A–3.
7 The
E:\FR\FM\26FEN1.SGM
26FEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 38 / Tuesday, February 26, 2008 / Notices
to be distributed to beneficial owners of
the Shares, availability of information
regarding the Shares, and calculation
and dissemination of key values can be
found in the Registration Statement 11
and on the Web site for the Fund
(https://www.SPDRETFS.com), as
applicable.
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
Availability of Information Regarding
the Shares and the Index
Quotations and last sale information
regarding the Shares will be
disseminated through the facilities of
the Consolidated Tape Association
(‘‘CTA’’) and the Consolidated
Quotation (‘‘CQ’’) System.
Dissemination of the value of the Index
will occur at approximately midnight,
London time. The Index value is
published on the Barclays Capital Web
site (https://www.barcap.com/indices)
and is also available through Bloomberg.
In addition, the Exchange will
disseminate through the facilities of the
CTA at least every 15 seconds
throughout the trading day, separately
from the consolidated tape, a
calculation of the estimated net asset
value or ‘‘NAV’’ (also known as the
Intraday Indicative Value or ‘‘IIV’’) of a
Share, as calculated by Interactive Data
Corporation, a third party calculator
(‘‘IIV Calculator’’). The NAV will be
calculated once each business day at the
close of regular trading on the New York
Stock Exchange, LLC (‘‘NYSE’’),
ordinarily at 4 p.m. Eastern Time
(‘‘ET’’).12 The Fund’s Internet Web site,
https://www.SPDRETFS.com, is publicly
accessible, at no charge, and will
contain, among other things, the
following information for the Shares: (1)
The prior business day’s closing NAV;
(2) the mid-point of the bid-ask spread
at the time that the Fund’s NAV is
calculated (‘‘Bid-Ask Price’’) and a
calculation of the premium or discount
of the Bid-Ask Price in relation to the
closing NAV; (3) historical NAV
information; (4) Exchange trading
volume in the Shares; (5) the day’s high
and low price; (6) number of Shares
outstanding; and (7) month-end and
quarter-end performance. The Web site
will also contain links to the Prospectus
11 See Registration Statement on Form N–1A,
Post-Effective Amendment No. 21, filed by
streetTRACKS Series Trust on June 21, 2007 (File
Nos. 333–57793 and 811–08839) (‘‘Registration
Statement’’).
12 Amex represents that if it becomes aware that
the NAV is not being disseminated to all market
participants at the same time, the Exchange will
halt trading in the Shares and will resume trading
in the Shares only when the NAV is disseminated
to all market participants. E-mail from Jeffrey P.
Burns, Vice President and Associate General
Counsel, Amex, to Edward Cho, Special Counsel,
Division of Trading and Markets, Commission,
dated February 19, 2008.
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19:29 Feb 25, 2008
Jkt 214001
and Statement of Additional
Information filed by the Trust.
Amex will also disseminate, on a
daily basis, by means of the CTA and
Consolidated Quote High Speed Lines,
information with respect to the IIV,
recent NAV, number of Shares
outstanding, and the estimated and total
cash amount required to purchase
Creation Units.13 In addition, the
Exchange will make available on its
Web site daily trading volume of the
Shares, closing price, NAV, and final
dividend amounts to be paid for the
Fund.
Trading Rules and Halts
Trading in the Shares will be
governed by the Exchange’s AEMI rules
applicable to exchange-traded funds.
When required under Amex Rule
1002A(b)(ii), the Exchange will halt
trading in the Shares.14 The Shares will
trade on the Exchange until 4:15 p.m.
ET each business day.
Information Circular
Prior to the commencement of trading
of the Shares, the Exchange, in an
Information Circular to Exchange
members and member organizations,
will inform members and member
organizations of, among other things: (1)
The characteristics and risks associated
with an investment in the Shares; (2) the
procedures for creating and redeeming
the Shares; and (3) the timing and
frequency of the dissemination of the
IIV. The Information Circular will also
inform members and member
organizations regarding the application
of Commentary .03 to Amex Rule
1000A–AEMI and Amex Rule 1002A to
the Fund Shares, Prospectus and/or
Product Description delivery
requirements, any exemptive relief
under the 1940 Act, the Securities Act
of 1933, or the Act granted by the
Commission, and the requirements of
Amex Rule 411 (Duty To Know and
Approve Customers).15
Surveillance
The Exchange represents that its
surveillance procedures are adequate to
properly monitor the trading of the
13 The Fund issues and redeems its Shares on a
continuous basis, at NAV, only in a large specified
number of Shares called a ‘‘Creation Unit,’’
principally in-kind for securities included in the
Index. See Registration Statement, supra note 11.
14 See supra note 12.
15 Under Amex Rule 411, members and member
organizations are required in connection with
recommending transactions in the Shares to have a
reasonable basis to believe that a customer is
suitable for the particular investment given
reasonable inquiry concerning the customer’s
investment objectives, financial situation, needs,
and any other information known by such member.
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Sfmt 4703
10315
Shares. Specifically, Amex will rely on
its existing surveillance procedures
governing Index Fund Shares. In
addition, the Exchange states that it has
a general policy prohibiting the
distribution of material, non-public
information by its employees.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the
proposed rule change is consistent with
Section 6(b) of the Act,16 in general, and
furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5)
of the Act,17 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
regulating, clearing, settling, processing
information with respect to, and
facilitating transactions in securities,
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 imposes 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 states that it did not
receive any 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 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 an e-mail to rulecomments@sec.gov. Please include File
Number SR–Amex–2007–115 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–Amex–2007–115. This file
16 15
17 15
E:\FR\FM\26FEN1.SGM
U.S.C. 78f(b).
U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
26FEN1
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 38 / Tuesday, February 26, 2008 / Notices
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–Amex–2007–115 and
should be submitted on or before March
18, 2008.
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
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 is consistent with the
requirements of the Act and the rules
and regulations thereunder applicable to
a national securities exchange.18 In
particular, the Commission finds that
the proposed rule change is consistent
with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,19 which
requires that the rules of a national
securities 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 Commentary .03 to Amex
Rule 1000A–AEMI permits the
Exchange to list and trade Index Fund
Shares pursuant to Rule 19b–4(e) under
18 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).
19 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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20:06 Feb 25, 2008
Jkt 214001
the Act,20 the Shares do not meet all of
the generic listing requirements under
Commentary .03 to Amex Rule 1000A–
AEMI because the components of the
Index do not meet the specific
requirements of Commentary .03(a)(5).
Commentary .03(a)(5) to Amex Rule
1000A–AEMI requires that, upon the
initial listing of any series of Index
Fund Shares pursuant to Rule 19b–4(e)
under the Act, the underlying index or
portfolio (excluding one consisting
entirely of exempted securities) must
include a minimum of 13 non-affiliated
issuers. According to the Exchange, the
Index currently includes only ten nonaffiliated issuers. As such, the Shares
cannot be listed and traded pursuant to
Rule 19b–4(e) under the Act.
The Commission believes, however,
that the listing and trading of the Shares
is consistent with the Act. The
Commission notes that, based on the
Exchange’s representations, the Shares
otherwise meet all of the other
applicable generic listing standards
under Commentary .03 to Amex Rule
1000A–AEMI. The Commission further
notes that it has previously approved
the listing and trading of derivative
securities products that did not meet
certain quantitative generic listing
criteria by only a slight margin.21
The Commission also finds that the
proposal is consistent with Section
11A(a)(1)(C)(iii) of the Act,22 which sets
forth Congress’ finding that it is in the
public interest and appropriate for the
protection of investors and the
20 See
supra note 7.
e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release Nos.
57047 (December 27, 2007), 73 FR 913 (January 4,
2008) (SR–NYSEArca–2007–127) (approving the
listing and trading of shares of the iShares MSCI
Belgium Index Fund where the component stocks
comprising the index narrowly exceeded the
maximum concentration limits); 56983 (December
18, 2007), 72 FR 73394 (December 27, 2007) (SR–
NYSEArca–2007–128) (approving the listing and
trading of shares of the iShares MSCI Japan Small
Cap Index Fund where the component stocks
comprising the index that individually exceeded
the minimum worldwide monthly trading volume
of 250,000 shares during each of the last six months
accounted, in the aggregate, for 88% of the weight
of the index); 55953 (June 25, 2007), 72 FR 36084
(July 2, 2007) (SR–NYSE–2007–46) (approving the
listing and trading of shares of the HealthSharesTM
Orthopedic Repair exchange-traded fund where the
component stocks comprising the index that
individually exceeded the minimum worldwide
monthly trading volume of 250,000 shares during
each of the last six months accounted, in the
aggregate, for 86.2% of the weight of the index); and
56695 (October 24, 2007), 72 FR 61413 (October 30,
2007) (SR–NYSEArca–2007–111) (approving the
listing and trading of shares Shares of the
HealthSharesTM Ophthalmology exchange-traded
fund where the component stocks comprising the
index that individually exceeded the minimum
worldwide monthly trading volume of 250,000
shares during each of the last six months accounted,
in the aggregate, for only 88.2% of the weight of the
index).
22 15 U.S.C. 78k–1(a)(1)(C)(iii).
21 See,
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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. Quotations
and last-sale information for the Shares
will be disseminated through the
facilities of the CTA and CQ System.
The value of the Index will be published
on the Barclays Capital Web site at
approximately midnight, London time,
and the IIV Calculator will calculate,
and Amex will disseminate, the IIV at
least every 15 seconds through the
facilities of the CTA during Amex
trading hours. In addition, the NAV will
be calculated once each business day at
the close of regular trading on NYSE,
ordinarily at 4 p.m. ET. Further, the
Fund’s Web site will disseminate
information relating to the NAV and the
Bid-Ask Price, trading volume of the
Shares, each day’s high and low price of
the Shares, number of Shares
outstanding, and month-end and
quarter-end performance. Amex will
also disseminate on a daily basis
information with respect to the IIV,
recent NAV, number of Shares
outstanding, and the estimated and total
cash amount required to purchase
Creation Units. In addition, the
Exchange will make available on its
Web site daily trading volume of the
Shares, closing price, NAV, and final
dividend amounts to be paid.
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
Amex Rule 1002A(a)(ii), the Exchange is
required to obtain a representation from
the Trust that the NAV per Share will
be calculated daily and made available
to all market participants at the same
time.23 In addition, the Exchange
represents that, if it becomes aware that
the NAV is not disseminated to all
market participants at the same time,
the Exchange will halt trading in the
Shares until such time when the NAV
is available to all market participants.24
The Commission notes that Barclays
Capital must have procedures in place
to comply with the requirements of
Commentary .03(b)(i) and (iii) to Amex
Rule 1000A–AEMI, which relate to
‘‘firewalls’’ and restricted access, use,
and dissemination of information
concerning changes and adjustments to,
and other material non-public
information regarding, the Index.
The Commission further believes that
the trading rules and procedures to
which the Shares would be subject
23 See
24 See
E:\FR\FM\26FEN1.SGM
supra note 12.
id.
26FEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 38 / Tuesday, February 26, 2008 / Notices
pursuant to this proposal are consistent
with the Act. The Exchange states that
the Shares would be subject to Amex’s
AEMI rules. The Commission also
believes that the Exchange’s trading halt
rules under Amex Rule 1002A(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 will rely on its
existing surveillance procedures
governing Index Fund Shares and has a
general policy prohibiting the
distribution of material, non-public
information by its employees. The
Exchange represents that its
surveillance procedures are adequate to
properly monitor the trading of the
Shares.
2. Prior to the commencement of
trading, the Exchange will inform its
members and member organizations in
an Information Circular of the
characteristics and risks associated with
an investment in the Shares, the
procedures for creating and redeeming
the Shares, the timing and frequency of
the dissemination of the IIV, the
application of Commentary .03 to Amex
Rule 1000A–AEMI and Amex Rule
1002A to the Fund Shares, Prospectus
and/or Product Description delivery
requirements, any exemptive relief
under the 1940 Act, the Securities Act
of 1933, or the Act granted by the
Commission, and the suitability
requirements of Amex Rule 411.25
3. The Exchange represents that the
Trust is required to comply with Rule
10A–3 under the Act 26 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,27 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 similar in structure,
operation, and function to the shares of
other exchange-traded funds based on
an underlying index composed of fixed
income securities, the shares of which
are currently listed and trading in the
marketplace.28 As mentioned above, the
25 See
supra note 15.
CFR 240.10A–3.
27 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
28 See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release Nos.
48881 (December 4, 2003), 68 FR 69739 (December
15, 2003) (SR–NYSE–2003–39) (approving the
listing and trading of shares of the iShares Lehman
U.S. Aggregate Bond Fund and iShares Lehman
TIPS Bond Fund); and 48534 (September 24, 2003),
68 FR 56353 (September 30, 2003) (SR–Amex–
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
26 17
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19:29 Feb 25, 2008
Jkt 214001
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.29 Given that the
Shares comply with all of Amex’s initial
generic listing standards for Index Fund
Shares (except for the one requirement
of Commentary .03(a)(5) to Amex Rule
1000A–AEMI) and would be subject to
Amex’s continued listing requirements
for Index Fund Shares under Amex Rule
1002A, 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,30 to
approve the proposed rule change, as
modified by Amendment Nos. 1 and 2
thereto, on an accelerated basis.
V. Conclusion
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to
Section 19(b)(2) under the Act,31 that
the proposed rule change (SR–Amex–
2007–115), as modified by Amendment
Nos. 1 and 2 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.32
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8–3554 Filed 2–25–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–57354; File No. SR–Amex–
2008–10]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
American Stock Exchange, LLC;
Notice of Filing and Immediate
Effectiveness of Proposed Rule
Change Relating to Rule 918–ANTE
February 19, 2008.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
2003–75) (approving the listing and trading of Index
Fund Shares based on indexes of fixed income
securities selected to correspond generally to the
performance of various U.S. bond indexes).
29 See supra note 21.
30 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
31 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
32 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
PO 00000
Frm 00098
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
10317
notice is hereby given that on February
14, 2008, the American Stock Exchange,
LLC (‘‘Amex’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) 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 substantially prepared by the
Exchange. The Amex filed this proposal
pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the
Act,3 and Rule 19b–4(f)(6) thereunder,4
which renders the proposed rule change
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 Exchange seeks to conform Amex
Rule 918—ANTE to non-ANTE Rule 918
in connection with a recent approval to
permit the sending of Principal Acting
as Agent Orders (‘‘P/A Orders’’) through
the Options Intermarket Linkage (the
‘‘Linkage’’) prior to the opening of
trading.5
The text of the proposed rule change
is available at the Amex, at the
Commission’s Public Reference Room,
and at https://www.amex.com.
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 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. 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 the
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
The Commission recently approved
the Exchange’s proposal to adopt
Commentary .06 to Amex Rule 918 to
implement Amendment No. 23 to
Section 7(a)(i) of the Plan for the
Purpose of Creating and Operating an
Intermarket Options Linkage (the
3 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).
5 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 56850
(November 27, 2007), 72 FR 68225 (December 4,
2007) (SR–Amex–2007–123) (‘‘Original Approval’’).
4 17
E:\FR\FM\26FEN1.SGM
26FEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 38 (Tuesday, February 26, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10314-10317]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-3554]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-57356; File No. SR-Amex-2007-115]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; American Stock Exchange, LLC;
Notice of Filing and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of a Proposed
Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment Nos. 1 and 2 Thereto, To List and
Trade Shares of the SPDR[supreg] Barclays Capital Global Inflation
Linked Exchange-Traded Fund
February 20, 2008.
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 October 29, 2007, the American Stock Exchange, LLC (``Amex'' or
``Exchange'') 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 January 4, 2008, the Exchange filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposed
rule change. On January 30, 2008, the Exchange filed Amendment No. 2 to
the proposed rule change. This order provides notice of the proposed
rule change, as amended, and approves the proposed rule change, as
modified by Amendment Nos. 1 and 2 thereto, 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 proposes to list and trade shares (``Shares'') of the
SPDR[supreg] Barclays Capital Global Inflation Linked Exchange-Traded
Fund (``Fund'').\3\ The text of the proposed rule change is available
at the Exchange's principal office, the Commission's Public Reference
Room, and https://www.amex.com.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ The Fund is a series of the SPDR[supreg] Series Trust
(formerly streetTRACKS Series Trust, the ``Trust''), an investment
company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (``1940
Act'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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, 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 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
The Exchange proposes to list and trade Shares of the Fund pursuant
to Amex Rule 1000A-AEMI and Amex Rules 1001A through 1005A, which
provide listing standards for Index Fund Shares.\4\ The Shares
represent an interest in the investment portfolio of the Fund and are
registered under the Act. The Fund's investment objective is to provide
investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally
to the price and yield performance of the World Government TIPS Index,
an index that tracks the inflation-protected sector of the global bond
market. The Fund employs an indexing approach seeking to substantially
replicate, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of
the Barclays World Government Inflation-Linked Bond Index
(``Index'').\5\ The Index measures the performance of the major
government inflation-linked bond markets and is constructed from a
selection of country/currency indices based on rating and size. The
Index is designed to include only those markets in which a global
government linker \6\ fund is likely to invest and includes the
following ten countries: United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Sweden,
United States, France, Italy, Japan, Germany, and Greece.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ An Index Fund Share is a security that is issued by an open-
end management investment company based on a portfolio of stocks or
fixed-income securities or a combination thereof that seeks to
provide investment results that correspond generally to the price
and yield performance or total return performance of a specified
foreign or domestic stock index, fixed-income securities index, or
combination thereof. See Amex Rule 1000A-AEMI(b)(1).
\5\ Barclays Capital, which created and manages the Index, is
the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC, which is
regulated by the Financial Services Authority of the United Kingdom.
\6\ A linker is an inflation-linked bond.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange represents that the Fund does not satisfy the generic
listing standards in Commentary .03(a)(5) to Amex Rule 1000A-AEMI,
which requires that the underlying index or portfolio (excluding one
consisting entirely of exempted securities) must include a minimum of
13 non-affiliated issuers.\7\ Currently, the Index only includes ten
non-affiliated issuers. Except for Commentary .03(a)(5) to Amex Rule
1000A-AEMI, Amex states that the Shares currently satisfy all
applicable generic listing standards for Index Fund Shares based on
Fixed Income Securities.\8\ The Exchange further represents that the
continued listing standards for Index Fund Shares under Amex Rule
1002A(b) are applicable to the Shares.\9\ The issuer of the Shares, the
Trust, is required to comply with Rule 10A-3 under the Act \10\ for the
initial and continued listing of the Shares.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ The generic listing requirements under Commentary .03 to
Amex Rule 1000A-AEMI permit the listing and trading of Index Fund
Shares pursuant to Rule 19b-4(e) under the Act (17 CFR 240.19b-
4(e)). Rule 19b-4(e) provides that the listing and trading of a new
derivative securities product by a self-regulatory organization
(``SRO'') shall not be deemed a proposed rule change, pursuant to
Rule 19b-4(c)(1), if the Commission has approved, pursuant to
Section 19(b) of the Act, the SRO's trading rules, procedures, and
listing standards for the product class that would include the new
derivatives securities product, and the SRO has a surveillance
program for the product class.
\8\ Fixed Income Securities are debt securities that are notes,
bonds, debentures, or evidence of indebtedness that include, but are
not limited to, U.S. Department of Treasury securities, government-
sponsored entity securities, municipal securities, trust preferred
securities, supranational debt, and debt of a foreign country or a
subdivision thereof. See Commentary .03 to Amex Rule 1000A-AEMI.
\9\ Pursuant to Amex Rule 1002A(a)(i), the Exchange has
established a minimum of 200,000 Shares to be outstanding at the
start of trading. The Exchange believes that the proposed minimum
number of Shares outstanding at the start of trading is sufficient
to provide market liquidity and is comparable to requirements that
have been applied to previously listed series of Index Fund Shares.
\10\ 17 CFR 240.10A-3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange states that detailed descriptions of the Fund, the
Index (including the methodology used to determine the composition of
the Index), investment objective, management, and structure of the
Fund, procedures and payment requirements for creating and redeeming
Shares, transaction fees and expenses, dividends, distributions, taxes,
reports
[[Page 10315]]
to be distributed to beneficial owners of the Shares, availability of
information regarding the Shares, and calculation and dissemination of
key values can be found in the Registration Statement \11\ and on the
Web site for the Fund (https://www.SPDRETFS.com), as applicable.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\11\ See Registration Statement on Form N-1A, Post-Effective
Amendment No. 21, filed by streetTRACKS Series Trust on June 21,
2007 (File Nos. 333-57793 and 811-08839) (``Registration
Statement'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Availability of Information Regarding the Shares and the Index
Quotations and last sale information regarding the Shares will be
disseminated through the facilities of the Consolidated Tape
Association (``CTA'') and the Consolidated Quotation (``CQ'') System.
Dissemination of the value of the Index will occur at approximately
midnight, London time. The Index value is published on the Barclays
Capital Web site (https://www.barcap.com/indices) and is also available
through Bloomberg. In addition, the Exchange will disseminate through
the facilities of the CTA at least every 15 seconds throughout the
trading day, separately from the consolidated tape, a calculation of
the estimated net asset value or ``NAV'' (also known as the Intraday
Indicative Value or ``IIV'') of a Share, as calculated by Interactive
Data Corporation, a third party calculator (``IIV Calculator''). The
NAV will be calculated once each business day at the close of regular
trading on the New York Stock Exchange, LLC (``NYSE''), ordinarily at 4
p.m. Eastern Time (``ET'').\12\ The Fund's Internet Web site, https://
www.SPDRETFS.com, is publicly accessible, at no charge, and will
contain, among other things, the following information for the Shares:
(1) The prior business day's closing NAV; (2) the mid-point of the bid-
ask spread at the time that the Fund's NAV is calculated (``Bid-Ask
Price'') and a calculation of the premium or discount of the Bid-Ask
Price in relation to the closing NAV; (3) historical NAV information;
(4) Exchange trading volume in the Shares; (5) the day's high and low
price; (6) number of Shares outstanding; and (7) month-end and quarter-
end performance. The Web site will also contain links to the Prospectus
and Statement of Additional Information filed by the Trust.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\12\ Amex represents that if it becomes aware that the NAV is
not being disseminated to all market participants at the same time,
the Exchange will halt trading in the Shares and will resume trading
in the Shares only when the NAV is disseminated to all market
participants. E-mail from Jeffrey P. Burns, Vice President and
Associate General Counsel, Amex, to Edward Cho, Special Counsel,
Division of Trading and Markets, Commission, dated February 19,
2008.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amex will also disseminate, on a daily basis, by means of the CTA
and Consolidated Quote High Speed Lines, information with respect to
the IIV, recent NAV, number of Shares outstanding, and the estimated
and total cash amount required to purchase Creation Units.\13\ In
addition, the Exchange will make available on its Web site daily
trading volume of the Shares, closing price, NAV, and final dividend
amounts to be paid for the Fund.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\13\ The Fund issues and redeems its Shares on a continuous
basis, at NAV, only in a large specified number of Shares called a
``Creation Unit,'' principally in-kind for securities included in
the Index. See Registration Statement, supra note 11.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trading Rules and Halts
Trading in the Shares will be governed by the Exchange's AEMI rules
applicable to exchange-traded funds. When required under Amex Rule
1002A(b)(ii), the Exchange will halt trading in the Shares.\14\ The
Shares will trade on the Exchange until 4:15 p.m. ET each business day.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\14\ See supra note 12.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Information Circular
Prior to the commencement of trading of the Shares, the Exchange,
in an Information Circular to Exchange members and member
organizations, will inform members and member organizations of, among
other things: (1) The characteristics and risks associated with an
investment in the Shares; (2) the procedures for creating and redeeming
the Shares; and (3) the timing and frequency of the dissemination of
the IIV. The Information Circular will also inform members and member
organizations regarding the application of Commentary .03 to Amex Rule
1000A-AEMI and Amex Rule 1002A to the Fund Shares, Prospectus and/or
Product Description delivery requirements, any exemptive relief under
the 1940 Act, the Securities Act of 1933, or the Act granted by the
Commission, and the requirements of Amex Rule 411 (Duty To Know and
Approve Customers).\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\15\ Under Amex Rule 411, members and member organizations are
required in connection with recommending transactions in the Shares
to have a reasonable basis to believe that a customer is suitable
for the particular investment given reasonable inquiry concerning
the customer's investment objectives, financial situation, needs,
and any other information known by such member.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Surveillance
The Exchange represents that its surveillance procedures are
adequate to properly monitor the trading of the Shares. Specifically,
Amex will rely on its existing surveillance procedures governing Index
Fund Shares. In addition, the Exchange states that it has a general
policy prohibiting the distribution of material, non-public information
by its employees.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent
with Section 6(b) of the Act,\16\ in general, and furthers the
objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\17\ 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 regulating,
clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and
facilitating transactions in securities, and, in general, to protect
investors and the public interest.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\16\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\17\ 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 imposes
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 states that it did not receive any 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 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 an e-mail to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include
File Number SR-Amex-2007-115 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-Amex-2007-115. This file
[[Page 10316]]
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-Amex-2007-115 and should be
submitted on or before March 18, 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 is consistent with the requirements of the Act and the
rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a national securities
exchange.\18\ In particular, the Commission finds that the proposed
rule change is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\19\ which
requires that the rules of a national securities 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.
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\18\ 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).
\19\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Although Commentary .03 to Amex Rule 1000A-AEMI permits the
Exchange to list and trade Index Fund Shares pursuant to Rule 19b-4(e)
under the Act,\20\ the Shares do not meet all of the generic listing
requirements under Commentary .03 to Amex Rule 1000A-AEMI because the
components of the Index do not meet the specific requirements of
Commentary .03(a)(5). Commentary .03(a)(5) to Amex Rule 1000A-AEMI
requires that, upon the initial listing of any series of Index Fund
Shares pursuant to Rule 19b-4(e) under the Act, the underlying index or
portfolio (excluding one consisting entirely of exempted securities)
must include a minimum of 13 non-affiliated issuers. According to the
Exchange, the Index currently includes only ten non-affiliated issuers.
As such, the Shares cannot be listed and traded pursuant to Rule 19b-
4(e) under the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\20\ See supra note 7.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Commission believes, however, that the listing and trading of
the Shares is consistent with the Act. The Commission notes that, based
on the Exchange's representations, the Shares otherwise meet all of the
other applicable generic listing standards under Commentary .03 to Amex
Rule 1000A-AEMI. The Commission further notes that it has previously
approved the listing and trading of derivative securities products that
did not meet certain quantitative generic listing criteria by only a
slight margin.\21\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\21\ See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 57047
(December 27, 2007), 73 FR 913 (January 4, 2008) (SR-NYSEArca-2007-
127) (approving the listing and trading of shares of the iShares
MSCI Belgium Index Fund where the component stocks comprising the
index narrowly exceeded the maximum concentration limits); 56983
(December 18, 2007), 72 FR 73394 (December 27, 2007) (SR-NYSEArca-
2007-128) (approving the listing and trading of shares of the
iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap Index Fund where the component stocks
comprising the index that individually exceeded the minimum
worldwide monthly trading volume of 250,000 shares during each of
the last six months accounted, in the aggregate, for 88% of the
weight of the index); 55953 (June 25, 2007), 72 FR 36084 (July 2,
2007) (SR-NYSE-2007-46) (approving the listing and trading of shares
of the HealthShares\TM\ Orthopedic Repair exchange-traded fund where
the component stocks comprising the index that individually exceeded
the minimum worldwide monthly trading volume of 250,000 shares
during each of the last six months accounted, in the aggregate, for
86.2% of the weight of the index); and 56695 (October 24, 2007), 72
FR 61413 (October 30, 2007) (SR-NYSEArca-2007-111) (approving the
listing and trading of shares Shares of the
HealthSharesTM Ophthalmology exchange-traded fund where
the component stocks comprising the index that individually exceeded
the minimum worldwide monthly trading volume of 250,000 shares
during each of the last six months accounted, in the aggregate, for
only 88.2% of the weight of the index).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Commission also finds that the proposal is consistent with
Section 11A(a)(1)(C)(iii) of the Act,\22\ 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. Quotations and last-sale information for the Shares will be
disseminated through the facilities of the CTA and CQ System. The value
of the Index will be published on the Barclays Capital Web site at
approximately midnight, London time, and the IIV Calculator will
calculate, and Amex will disseminate, the IIV at least every 15 seconds
through the facilities of the CTA during Amex trading hours. In
addition, the NAV will be calculated once each business day at the
close of regular trading on NYSE, ordinarily at 4 p.m. ET. Further, the
Fund's Web site will disseminate information relating to the NAV and
the Bid-Ask Price, trading volume of the Shares, each day's high and
low price of the Shares, number of Shares outstanding, and month-end
and quarter-end performance. Amex will also disseminate on a daily
basis information with respect to the IIV, recent NAV, number of Shares
outstanding, and the estimated and total cash amount required to
purchase Creation Units. In addition, the Exchange will make available
on its Web site daily trading volume of the Shares, closing price, NAV,
and final dividend amounts to be paid.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\22\ 15 U.S.C. 78k-1(a)(1)(C)(iii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Amex Rule
1002A(a)(ii), the Exchange is required to obtain a representation from
the Trust that the NAV per Share will be calculated daily and made
available to all market participants at the same time.\23\ In addition,
the Exchange represents that, if it becomes aware that the NAV is not
disseminated to all market participants at the same time, the Exchange
will halt trading in the Shares until such time when the NAV is
available to all market participants.\24\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\23\ See supra note 12.
\24\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Commission notes that Barclays Capital must have procedures in
place to comply with the requirements of Commentary .03(b)(i) and (iii)
to Amex Rule 1000A-AEMI, which relate to ``firewalls'' and restricted
access, use, and dissemination of information concerning changes and
adjustments to, and other material non-public information regarding,
the Index.
The Commission further believes that the trading rules and
procedures to which the Shares would be subject
[[Page 10317]]
pursuant to this proposal are consistent with the Act. The Exchange
states that the Shares would be subject to Amex's AEMI rules. The
Commission also believes that the Exchange's trading halt rules under
Amex Rule 1002A(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 will rely on its existing surveillance procedures
governing Index Fund Shares and has a general policy prohibiting the
distribution of material, non-public information by its employees. The
Exchange represents that its surveillance procedures are adequate to
properly monitor the trading of the Shares.
2. Prior to the commencement of trading, the Exchange will inform
its members and member organizations in an Information Circular of the
characteristics and risks associated with an investment in the Shares,
the procedures for creating and redeeming the Shares, the timing and
frequency of the dissemination of the IIV, the application of
Commentary .03 to Amex Rule 1000A-AEMI and Amex Rule 1002A to the Fund
Shares, Prospectus and/or Product Description delivery requirements,
any exemptive relief under the 1940 Act, the Securities Act of 1933, or
the Act granted by the Commission, and the suitability requirements of
Amex Rule 411.\25\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\25\ See supra note 15.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. The Exchange represents that the Trust is required to comply
with Rule 10A-3 under the Act \26\ for the initial and continued
listing of the Shares.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\26\ 17 CFR 240.10A-3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This approval order is based on the Exchange's representations.
The Commission finds good cause, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of
the Act,\27\ 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 similar in structure,
operation, and function to the shares of other exchange-traded funds
based on an underlying index composed of fixed income securities, the
shares of which are currently listed and trading in the
marketplace.\28\ 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.\29\ Given that the
Shares comply with all of Amex's initial generic listing standards for
Index Fund Shares (except for the one requirement of Commentary
.03(a)(5) to Amex Rule 1000A-AEMI) and would be subject to Amex's
continued listing requirements for Index Fund Shares under Amex Rule
1002A, 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,\30\ to
approve the proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment Nos. 1 and 2
thereto, on an accelerated basis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\27\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
\28\ See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 48881
(December 4, 2003), 68 FR 69739 (December 15, 2003) (SR-NYSE-2003-
39) (approving the listing and trading of shares of the iShares
Lehman U.S. Aggregate Bond Fund and iShares Lehman TIPS Bond Fund);
and 48534 (September 24, 2003), 68 FR 56353 (September 30, 2003)
(SR-Amex-2003-75) (approving the listing and trading of Index Fund
Shares based on indexes of fixed income securities selected to
correspond generally to the performance of various U.S. bond
indexes).
\29\ See supra note 21.
\30\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
V. Conclusion
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) under the
Act,\31\ that the proposed rule change (SR-Amex-2007-115), as modified
by Amendment Nos. 1 and 2 thereto, be, and it hereby is, approved on an
accelerated basis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\31\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\32\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\32\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-3554 Filed 2-25-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P