Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Use of Derivative Instruments by PIMCO Total Return Exchange Traded Fund, 70610-70615 [2013-28272]

Agencies

• SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 26, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70610-70615]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28272]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-70905; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2013-122]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing 
of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Use of Derivative Instruments 
by PIMCO Total Return Exchange Traded Fund

November 20, 2013.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 (the ``Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby 
given that, on November 6, 2013, NYSE Arca, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or 
``NYSE Arca'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the 
``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II 
below, which Items have been prepared by the self-regulatory 
organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit 
comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C.78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
    \3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to amend the description of the means of 
achieving the investment objective applicable to the PIMCO Total Return 
Exchange Traded Fund relating to its Use [sic] of derivative 
instruments. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the 
Exchange's Web site at www.nyse.com, at the principal office of the 
Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

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

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

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

1. Purpose
    The Commission has approved the listing and trading on the Exchange 
of shares (``Shares'') of the PIMCO Total Return Exchange Traded Fund 
(``Fund''),\4\ under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600, which governs the 
listing and trading of Managed Fund Shares. The Shares are offered by 
PIMCO ETF Trust (the ``Trust''), a statutory trust organized under the 
laws of the State of Delaware and registered with the Commission as an 
open-end management investment company.\5\ The investment manager to 
the Fund is Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (``PIMCO'' or the 
``Adviser'').
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    \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 66321 (February 3, 
2012), 77 FR 6850 (February 9, 2012) (SR-NYSEArca-2011-95) (``Prior 
Order''). See also Securities Exchange Act Release No. 65988 
(December 16, 2011), 76 FR 79741 (December 22, 2011) (SR-NYSEArca-
2011-95) (``Prior Notice,'' and together with the Prior Order, the 
``Prior Release'').
    \5\ The Trust is registered under the Investment Company Act of 
1940 (``1940 Act''). On October 29, 2012 the Trust filed with the 
Commission the most recent post-effective amendment to its 
registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 
77a) (``1933 Act'') and under the 1940 Act relating to the Fund 
(File Nos. 333-155395 and 811-22250) (the ``Registration 
Statement''). The description of the operation of the Trust and the 
Fund herein is based, in part, on the Registration Statement. In 
addition, the Commission has issued an order granting certain 
exemptive relief to the Trust under the 1940 Act. See Investment 
Company Act Release No. 28993 (November 10, 2009) (File No. 812-
13571) (``Exemptive Order'').
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    In this proposed rule change, the Exchange proposes changing the 
description of the Fund's use of derivative instruments, as described 
below.
    On December 6, 2012, the staff of the Commission's Division of 
Investment Management (``Division'') issued a no-action letter (``No-
Action Letter'') relating to the use of derivatives by actively-managed 
exchange traded funds (``ETFs'').\6\ The No-Action Letter noted that, 
in March of 2010, the Commission announced in a press release that the 
staff was conducting a review to evaluate the use of derivatives by 
mutual funds, ETFs, and other investment companies and that, pending 
completion of this review, the staff would defer consideration of 
exemptive requests under the 1940 Act relating to, among others, 
actively-managed ETFs that would make significant investments in 
derivatives.
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    \6\ See No-Action Letter dated December 6, 2012 from Elizabeth 
G. Osterman, Associate Director, Office of Exemptive Applications, 
Division of Investment Management.
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    The No-Action Letter stated that Division staff will no longer 
defer consideration of exemptive requests under the 1940 Act relating 
to actively-managed ETFs that make use of derivatives provided that 
they include representations to address some of the concerns expressed 
in the Commission's March 2010 press release. These representations 
are: (i) That the ETF's board periodically will review and approve the 
ETF's use of derivatives and how the ETF's investment adviser assesses 
and manages risk with respect to the ETF's use of derivatives; and (ii) 
that the ETF's disclosure of its use of derivatives in its offering 
documents and periodic reports is consistent with relevant Commission 
and staff guidance. The No-Action Letter stated that the Division would 
not recommend enforcement action to the Commission under sections 
2(a)(32), 5(a)(1), 17(a),

[[Page 70611]]

22(d), and 22(e) of the 1940 Act, or rule 22c-1 under the 1940 Act if 
actively-managed ETFs operating in reliance on specified orders (which 
include the Trust's Exemptive Order \7\) invest in options contracts, 
futures contracts or swap agreements provided that they comply with the 
representations stated in the No-Action Letter, as noted above.
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    \7\ See note 5, supra.
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    In the Prior Release, the Exchange stated that, consistent with the 
Trust's Exemptive Order, the Fund would not invest in options 
contracts, futures contracts or swap agreements. In view of the No-
Action Letter, the Exchange is proposing to change this representation 
to permit the Fund to use derivative instruments, as described 
below.\8\
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    \8\ The Adviser represents that the Fund, in connection with its 
use of derivative instruments, will comply with the representations 
stated in the No-Action Letter, as noted above.
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    The Prior Release stated that the Fund will invest under normal 
market circumstances at least 65% of its total assets in a diversified 
portfolio of Fixed Income Instruments of varying maturities.\9\ ``Fixed 
Income Instruments'' include bonds, debt securities and other similar 
instruments issued by various U.S. and non-U.S. public- or private-
sector entities.\10\ The Exchange proposes to revise this statement to 
provide that the Fund will invest under normal market circumstances at 
least 65% of its total assets in a diversified portfolio of Fixed 
Income Instruments of varying maturities, which may be represented by 
derivatives related to Fixed Income Instruments (the ``65% policy'').
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    \9\ As stated in the Prior Release, the term ``under normal 
market circumstances'' includes, but is not limited to, the absence 
of extreme volatility or trading halts in the fixed income markets 
or the financial markets generally; operational issues causing 
dissemination of inaccurate market information; or force majeure 
type events such as systems failure, natural or man-made disaster, 
act of God, armed conflict, act of terrorism, riot or labor 
disruption or any similar intervening circumstance.
    \10\ As noted in the Prior Release, ``Fixed Income 
Instruments,'' as such term is used generally in the Registration 
Statement, include: debt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. 
Government, its agencies or government-sponsored enterprises (``U.S. 
Government Securities''); corporate debt securities of U.S. and non-
U.S. issuers, including convertible securities and corporate 
commercial paper; mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities; 
inflation-indexed bonds issued both by governments and corporations; 
structured notes, including hybrid or ``indexed'' securities and 
event-linked bonds; bank capital and trust preferred securities; 
loan participations and assignments; delayed funding loans and 
revolving credit facilities; bank certificates of deposit, fixed 
time deposits and bankers' acceptances; repurchase agreements on 
Fixed Income Instruments and reverse repurchase agreements on Fixed 
Income Instruments; debt securities issued by states or local 
governments and their agencies, authorities and other government-
sponsored enterprises; obligations of non-U.S. governments or their 
subdivisions, agencies and government-sponsored enterprises; and 
obligations of international agencies or supranational entities. 
Securities issued by U.S. Government agencies or government-
sponsored enterprises may not be guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury.
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    The Prior Release stated that the Fund's investment would not be 
used to enhance leverage. In view of the Exchange's proposal to permit 
the Fund to use derivative instruments, as described below, the Fund's 
investments in derivative instruments may be used to enhance leverage. 
However, as noted in the Prior Release, the Fund's investments will not 
be used to seek performance that is the multiple or inverse multiple 
(e.g., 2xs and 3times;s) of the Fund's broad-based securities market 
index.
The Fund's Use of Derivatives
    With respect to the Fund, derivative instruments primarily will 
include forwards, exchange-traded and over-the-counter (``OTC'') 
options contracts, exchange-traded futures contracts, options on 
futures contracts and swap agreements. Generally, derivatives are 
financial contracts whose value depends upon, or is derived from, the 
value of an underlying asset, reference rate or index, and may relate 
to stocks, bonds, interest rates, currencies or currency exchange 
rates, commodities, and related indexes. The Fund may, but is not 
required to, use derivative instruments for risk management purposes or 
as part of its investment strategies.\11\
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    \11\ The Fund will seek, where possible, to use counterparties 
whose financial status is such that the risk of default is reduced; 
however, the risk of losses resulting from default is still 
possible. PIMCO's Counterparty Risk Committee evaluates the 
creditworthiness of counterparties on an ongoing basis. In addition 
to information provided by credit agencies, PIMCO credit analysts 
evaluate each approved counterparty using various methods of 
analysis, including company visits, earnings updates, the broker-
dealer's reputation, PIMCO's past experience with the broker-dealer, 
market levels for the counterparty's debt and equity, the 
counterparty's liquidity and its share of market participation.
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    Investments in derivative instruments will be made in accordance 
with the 1940 Act and consistent with the Fund's investment objective 
and policies. As described further below, the Fund will typically use 
derivative instruments as a substitute for taking a position in the 
underlying asset and/or as part of a strategy designed to reduce 
exposure to other risks, such as interest rate or currency risk. The 
Fund may also use derivative instruments to enhance returns. To limit 
the potential risk associated with such transactions, the Fund will 
segregate or ``earmark'' assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in 
accordance with procedures established by the Trust's Board of Trustees 
and in accordance with the 1940 Act (or, as permitted by applicable 
regulation, enter into certain offsetting positions) to cover its 
obligations under derivative instruments. These procedures have been 
adopted consistent with Section 18 of the 1940 Act and related 
Commission guidance. In addition, the Fund will include appropriate 
risk disclosure in its offering documents, including leveraging risk. 
Leveraging risk is the risk that certain transactions of the Fund, 
including the Fund's use of derivatives, may give rise to leverage, 
causing the Fund to be more volatile than if it had not been 
leveraged.\12\ Because the markets for certain securities, or the 
securities themselves, may be unavailable or cost prohibitive as 
compared to derivative instruments, suitable derivative transactions 
may be an efficient alternative for the Fund to obtain the desired 
asset exposure.
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    \12\ To mitigate leveraging risk, the Adviser will segregate or 
``earmark'' liquid assets or otherwise cover the transactions that 
may give rise to such risk.
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    The Adviser believes that derivatives can be an economically 
attractive substitute for an underlying physical security that the Fund 
would otherwise purchase. For example, the Fund could purchase Treasury 
futures contracts instead of physical Treasuries or could sell credit 
default protection on a corporate bond instead of buying a physical 
bond. Economic benefits include potentially lower transaction costs or 
attractive relative valuation of a derivative versus a physical bond 
(e.g., differences in yields).
    The Adviser further believes that derivatives can be used as a more 
liquid means of adjusting portfolio duration as well as targeting 
specific areas of yield curve exposure, with potentially lower 
transaction costs than the underlying securities (e.g., interest rate 
swaps may have lower transaction costs than physical bonds). Similarly, 
money market futures can be used to gain exposure to short-term 
interest rates in order to express views on anticipated changes in 
central bank policy rates. In addition, derivatives can be used to 
protect client assets through selectively hedging downside (or ``tail 
risks'') in the Fund.
    The Fund also can use derivatives to increase or decrease credit 
exposure. Index credit default swaps (CDX) can be used to gain exposure 
to a basket of credit risk by ``selling protection'' against default or 
other credit events, or to hedge broad market credit risk by ``buying 
protection.'' Single name credit default swaps (CDS) can be used to

[[Page 70612]]

allow the Fund to increase or decrease exposure to specific issuers, 
saving investor capital through lower trading costs. The Fund can use 
total return swap contracts to obtain the total return of a reference 
asset or index in exchange for paying a financing cost. A total return 
swap may be much more efficient than buying underlying securities of an 
index, potentially lowering transaction costs.
    The Adviser believes that the use of derivatives will allow the 
Fund to selectively add diversifying sources of return from selling 
options. Option purchases and sales can also be used to hedge specific 
exposures in the portfolio, and can provide access to return streams 
available to long-term investors such as the persistent difference 
between implied and realized volatility. Option strategies can generate 
income or improve execution prices (i.e., covered calls).
Other Investments
    In addition to the Fund's use of derivatives in connection with the 
65% policy, under the proposal the Fund would seek to invest in 
derivative instruments not based on Fixed Income Instruments, 
consistent with the Fund's investment restrictions relating to exposure 
to those asset classes.
    The Prior Release also stated that the Fund may invest in debt 
securities and instruments that are economically tied to foreign (non-
U.S.) countries. The Prior Release stated further that PIMCO generally 
considers an instrument to be economically tied to a non-U.S. country 
if the issuer is a foreign government (or any political subdivision, 
agency, authority or instrumentality of such government), or if the 
issuer is organized under the laws of a non-U.S. country. In the case 
of applicable money market instruments, such instruments will be 
considered economically tied to a non-U.S. country if either the issuer 
or the guarantor of such money market instrument is organized under the 
laws of a non-U.S. country.
    The Exchange proposes to add to this representation that, with 
respect to derivative instruments, as proposed to be used, PIMCO 
generally will consider such instruments to be economically tied to 
non-U.S. countries if the underlying assets are foreign currencies (or 
baskets or indexes of such currencies), or instruments or securities 
that are issued by foreign governments (or any political subdivision, 
agency, authority or instrumentality of such governments) or issuers 
organized under the laws of a non-U.S. country (or if the underlying 
assets are money market instruments, as applicable, if either the 
issuer or the guarantor of such money market instruments is organized 
under the laws of a non-U.S. country).
    The Fund's investments, including investments in derivative 
instruments, are subject to all of the restrictions under the 1940 Act, 
including restrictions with respect to illiquid securities. The Fund 
may hold up to an aggregate amount of 15% of its net assets in illiquid 
securities (calculated at the time of investment), including Rule 144A 
securities deemed illiquid by the Adviser,\13\ consistent with 
Commission guidance.\14\ The Fund will monitor its portfolio liquidity 
on an ongoing basis to determine whether, in light of current 
circumstances, an adequate level of liquidity is being maintained, and 
will consider taking appropriate steps in order to maintain adequate 
liquidity if, through a change in values, net assets, or other 
circumstances, more than 15% of the Fund's net assets are held in 
illiquid securities. Illiquid securities include securities subject to 
contractual or other restrictions on resale and other instruments that 
lack readily available markets as determined in accordance with 
Commission staff guidance.\15\
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    \13\ In reaching liquidity decisions with respect to Rule 144A 
securities, the Adviser may consider the following factors: The 
frequency of trades and quotes for the security; the number of 
dealers willing to purchase or sell the security and the number of 
other potential purchasers; dealer undertakings to make a market in 
the security; and the nature of the security and the nature of the 
marketplace trades (e.g., the time needed to dispose of the 
security, the method of soliciting offers, and the mechanics of 
transfer).
    \14\ The Commission has stated that long-standing Commission 
guidelines have required open-end funds to hold no more than 15% of 
their net assets in illiquid securities and other illiquid assets. 
See Investment Company Act Release No. 28193 (March 11, 2008), 73 FR 
14618 (March 18, 2008), footnote 34. See also, Investment Company 
Act Release No. 5847 (October 21, 1969), 35 FR 19989 (December 31, 
1970) (Statement Regarding ``Restricted Securities''); Investment 
Company Act Release No. 18612 (March 12, 1992), 57 FR 9828 (March 
20, 1992) (Revisions of Guidelines to Form N-1A). A fund's portfolio 
security is illiquid if it cannot be disposed of in the ordinary 
course of business within seven days at approximately the value 
ascribed to it by the fund. See Investment Company Act Release No. 
14983 (March 12, 1986), 51 FR 9773 (March 21, 1986) (adopting 
amendments to Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act); Investment Company Act 
Release No. 17452 (April 23, 1990), 55 FR 17933 (April 30, 1990) 
(adopting Rule 144A under the 1933 Act).
    \15\ See note 14, supra.
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    The changes described herein will be effective upon (i) the 
effectiveness of an amendment to the Trust's Registration Statement 
disclosing the Fund's intended use of derivative instruments and (ii) 
when this proposed rule change has become operative. The Adviser 
represents that the Adviser has managed and will continue to manage the 
Fund in the manner described in the Prior Release, and will not 
implement the changes described herein until this proposed rule change 
is operative.
    The Adviser represents that there is no change to the Fund's 
investment objective. The Fund will continue to comply with all initial 
and continued listing requirements under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600.
    Except for the changes noted above, all other facts presented and 
representations made in the Prior Release remain unchanged.
    All terms referenced but not defined herein are defined in the 
Prior Release.
Derivatives Valuation Methodology for Purposes of Determining Net Asset 
Value
    According to the Registration Statement, the net asset value 
(``NAV'') of the Fund's Shares is determined by dividing the total 
value of the Fund's portfolio investments and other assets, less any 
liabilities, by the total number of Shares outstanding. Fund Shares are 
valued as of the close of regular trading (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern 
time (``E.T.'')) (the ``NYSE Close'') on each day NYSE Arca is open 
(``Business Day''). Information that becomes known to the Fund or its 
agents after the NAV has been calculated on a particular day will not 
generally be used to retroactively adjust the price of a portfolio 
asset or the NAV determined earlier that day. The Fund reserves the 
right to change the time its NAV is calculated if the Fund closes 
earlier, or as permitted by the Commission.
    For purposes of calculating NAV, portfolio securities and other 
assets for which market quotes are readily available are valued at 
market value. Market value is generally determined on the basis of last 
reported sales prices, or if no sales are reported, based on quotes 
obtained from a quotation reporting system, established market makers, 
or pricing services. Domestic and foreign fixed income securities and 
non-exchange-traded derivatives will normally be valued on the basis of 
quotes obtained from brokers and dealers or pricing services using data 
reflecting the earlier closing of the principal markets for those 
assets. Prices obtained from independent pricing services use 
information provided by market makers or estimates of market values 
obtained from yield data relating to investments or securities with 
similar characteristics. Exchange-traded options, futures and options 
on futures will generally be valued at the settlement price determined 
by the applicable exchange.

[[Page 70613]]

    Derivatives for which market quotes are readily available will be 
valued at market value. Local closing prices will be used for all 
instrument valuation purposes.
    For the Fund's 4:00 p.m. E.T. futures holdings, estimated prices 
from Reuters will be used if any cumulative futures margin impact is 
greater than $0.005 to the NAV due to futures movement after the fixed 
income futures market closes (3:00 p.m. E.T.) and up to the NYSE Close 
(generally 4:00 p.m. E.T.). Swaps traded on exchanges such as the 
Chicago Mercantile Exchange (``CME'') or the Intercontinental Exchange 
(``ICE-US'') will use the applicable exchange closing price where 
available.
Derivatives Valuation Methodology for Purposes of Determining Intra-Day 
Indicative Value
    On each Business Day, before commencement of trading in Fund Shares 
on NYSE Arca, the Fund discloses on its Web site the identities and 
quantities of the portfolio instruments and other assets held by the 
Fund that will form the basis for the Fund's calculation of NAV at the 
end of the Business Day.
    In order to provide additional information regarding the intra-day 
value of Shares of the Fund, the NYSE Arca or a market data vendor 
disseminates every 15 seconds through the facilities of the 
Consolidated Tape Association or other widely disseminated means an 
updated Intra-day Indicative Value (``IIV'') for the Fund as calculated 
by an information provider or market data vendor.
    A third party market data provider is currently calculating the IIV 
for the Fund. For the purposes of determining the IIV, the third party 
market data provider's valuation of derivatives is expected to be 
similar to their valuation of all securities. The third party market 
data provider may use market quotes if available or may fair value 
securities against proxies (such as swap or yield curves).
    With respect to specific derivatives:
     Foreign currency derivatives may be valued intraday using 
market quotes, or another proxy as determined to be appropriate by the 
third party market data provider.
     Futures may be valued intraday using the relevant futures 
exchange data, or another proxy as determined to be appropriate by the 
third party market data provider.
     Interest rate swaps may be mapped to a swap curve and 
valued intraday based on changes of the swap curve, or another proxy as 
determined to be appropriate by the third party market data provider.
     CDX/CDS may be valued using intraday data from market 
vendors, or based on underlying asset price, or another proxy as 
determined to be appropriate by the third party market data provider.
     Total return swaps may be valued intraday using the 
underlying asset price, or another proxy as determined to be 
appropriate by the third party market data provider.
     Exchange listed options may be valued intraday using the 
relevant exchange data, or another proxy as determined to be 
appropriate by the third party market data provider.
     OTC options may be valued intraday through option 
valuation models (e.g., Black-Scholes) or using exchange traded options 
as a proxy, or another proxy as determined to be appropriate by the 
third party market data provider.
Disclosed Portfolio
    The Fund's disclosure of derivative positions in the Disclosed 
Portfolio will include information that market participants can use to 
value these positions intraday. This information will vary by line 
item, and may include tickers or other identifiers which would identify 
the listing or clearing exchange for exchange-traded and cleared 
derivatives, strike price(s), underlying asset, swap or index, coupon, 
effective date, maturity, and quantities or exposure. For example, a 
Treasury future would require only a ticker/identifier and quantity. An 
OTC option may require underlying asset or swap details, strike price, 
quantity and expiration date. For the avoidance of doubt, exchange-
traded and cleared derivatives will be identified by ticker or other 
identifiers which would identify the listing or clearing exchange for 
those instruments.
Impact on Arbitrage Mechanism
    The Adviser believes there will be minimal, if any, impact to the 
arbitrage mechanism as a result of the use of derivatives. Market 
makers and participants should be able to value derivatives as long as 
the positions are disclosed with relevant information. The Adviser 
believes that the price at which Shares trade will continue to be 
disciplined by arbitrage opportunities created by the ability to 
purchase or redeem creation Shares at their NAV, which should ensure 
that Shares will not trade at a material discount or premium in 
relation to their NAV.
    The Adviser does not believe there will be any significant impacts 
to the settlement or operational aspects of the Fund's arbitrage 
mechanism due to the use of derivatives. Because derivatives generally 
are not eligible for in-kind transfer, they will typically be 
substituted with a ``cash in lieu'' amount when the Fund processes 
purchases or redemptions of creation units in-kind.
Surveillance
    The Exchange represents that trading in the Shares will be subject 
to the existing trading surveillances, administered by the Financial 
Industry Regulatory Authority (``FINRA'') on behalf of the Exchange, 
which are designed to detect violations of Exchange rules and 
applicable federal securities laws.\16\ The Exchange represents that 
these procedures are adequate to properly monitor Exchange trading of 
the Shares in all trading sessions and to deter and detect violations 
of Exchange rules and applicable federal securities laws.
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    \16\ FINRA surveils trading on the Exchange pursuant to a 
regulatory services agreement. The Exchange is responsible for 
FINRA's performance under this regulatory services agreement.
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    The surveillances referred to above generally focus on detecting 
securities trading outside their normal patterns, which could be 
indicative of manipulative or other violative activity. 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.
    FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, will communicate as needed 
regarding trading in the Shares, exchange traded options, futures and 
options on futures with other markets or other entities that are 
members of the Intermarket Surveillance Group (``ISG''), and FINRA may 
obtain trading information regarding trading in the Shares, exchange 
traded options, futures and options on futures from such markets or 
entities. In addition, the Exchange may obtain information regarding 
trading in the Shares, exchange traded options, futures and options on 
futures from markets or other entities that are members of ISG or with 
which the Exchange has in place a comprehensive surveillance sharing 
agreement.\17\ In addition, FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, is able 
to access, as needed, trade information for certain fixed income 
securities held by the Fund

[[Page 70614]]

reported to FINRA's Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (``TRACE'').
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    \17\ For a list of the current members of ISG, see 
www.isgportal.org. The Exchange notes that not all components of the 
Disclosed Portfolio for the Fund may trade on markets that are 
members of ISG or with which the Exchange has in place a 
comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement.
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    In addition, the Exchange also has a general policy prohibiting the 
distribution of material, non-public information by its employees.
2. Statutory Basis
    The basis under the Act \18\ for this proposed rule change is the 
requirement under Section 6(b)(5) \19\ that an exchange have rules that 
are designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, 
to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove 
impediments to, and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market 
and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest.
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    \18\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
    \19\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is designed to 
prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices in that the 
Shares will continue to be listed and traded on the Exchange pursuant 
to the initial and continued listing criteria in NYSE Arca Equities 
Rule 8.600. The Fund will continue to comply with all initial and 
continued listing requirements under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600.
    The Fund's investments will be consistent with the Fund's 
investment objective, which remains unchanged. The proposed amendments 
permitting the Fund to invest in derivative instruments, such as 
options contracts, futures contracts and swap agreements, promotes just 
and equitable principals of trade and furthers the protection of 
investors and the public interest. The Fund's investments will not be 
used to seek performance that is the multiple or inverse multiple 
(e.g., 2Xs and 3Xs) of the Fund's broad-based securities market index.
    Permitting the use of derivatives will provide additional 
flexibility to the Adviser in seeking to achieve the Fund's investment 
objective. For example, because the markets for certain securities, or 
the securities themselves, may be unavailable or cost prohibitive as 
compared to derivative instruments, suitable derivative transactions 
may be an efficient alternative for the Fund to obtain the desired 
asset exposure. Additionally, derivatives allow parties to replicate 
desired returns while eliminating the costs associated with acquiring 
or holding the underlying asset. As such, the increased flexibility 
afforded by the ability to use derivatives may enhance investor returns 
by facilitating the Fund's ability to more economically seek its 
investment objective, thereby reducing the costs--actual, opportunity 
or otherwise--incurred by the Fund.
    Investor protection and the public interest are further advanced as 
a result of the following factors:
    (1) The Fund's compliance with the requirements of the federal 
securities laws, in particular, the restrictions under the 1940 Act 
regarding limitation on investments in illiquid securities, and 
diversification requirements set forth in Section 5(b)(1) [sic] 1940 
Act;
    (2) The central clearing of U.S. exchange-traded futures and 
options contracts;
    (3) In the case of swaps, the Adviser represents that it has 
implemented detailed policies and procedures which govern the selection 
of counterparties to reduce the risks associated with swaps, including, 
but not limited to, counterparty risk and concentration risk.
    (4) The Adviser represents that the Fund will comply with the 
representations stated in the No-Action Letter, as stated above. In 
addition, all other representations in the Prior Release remain as 
stated therein and no other changes are being made.
    (5) Investments in derivative instruments will be made in 
accordance with the 1940 Act and consistent with the Fund's investment 
objectives and policies. To limit the potential risk associated with 
transactions in derivative instruments, the Fund will segregate or 
``earmark'' assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with 
procedures established by the Trust's Board of Trustees and in 
accordance with the 1940 Act (or, as permitted by applicable 
regulation, enter into certain offsetting positions) to cover its 
obligations under derivative instruments. These procedures have been 
adopted consistent with Section 18 of the 1940 Act and related 
Commission guidance. In addition, the Fund will include appropriate 
risk disclosure in its offering documents, including leveraging risk.
    (6) The listing and trading of Shares of the Fund is governed by 
Exchange initial and continued listing rules as approved by the 
Commission, including NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600.
    (7) As described in the Prior Release under ``Availability of 
Information'', the Fund's Web site discloses specified quantitative 
information updated on a daily basis, as well as the Disclosed 
Portfolio as defined in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600(c)(2) that will 
form the basis for the Fund's calculation of NAV at the end of the 
business day. On a daily basis, the Adviser discloses for each 
portfolio security or other financial instrument of the Fund the 
following information: Ticker symbol (if applicable), name of security 
or financial instrument, number of shares or dollar value of financial 
instruments held in the portfolio, and percentage weighting of the 
security or financial instrument in the portfolio. The Web site 
information is publicly available at no charge. In addition, price 
information for the debt securities held by the Fund is available 
through major market data vendors.
    The proposed rule change helps to perfect the mechanism of a free 
and open market by enhancing investor choice and providing investors a 
cost effective and efficient means to access an asset class through a 
diversified vehicle that is listed and traded on an exchange.

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. The proposed rule change 
will allow the Fund to use derivative instruments as a more efficient 
substitute for taking a position in the underlying asset and/or as part 
of a strategy designed to reduce exposure to risks (such as interest 
rate or currency risk) or to enhance investment returns. The proposed 
change, therefore, will provide additional flexibility to the Adviser 
to seek the Fund's investment objective and will enhance the Fund's 
ability to compete with other actively managed exchange-traded funds 
and mutual funds.

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

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

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

    Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register or within such longer period up to 90 days after 
publication (i) as the Commission may designate if it finds such longer 
period to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or 
(ii) as to which the self-regulatory organization consents, the 
Commission will:
    (A) By order approve or disapprove the proposed rule change, or

[[Page 70615]]

    (B) institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule 
change should be disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

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

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please 
include File Number SR-NYSEArca-2013-122 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy, 
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20549-1090.
    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEArca-2013-122. 
This file number should be included on the subject line if email is 
used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more 
efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all 
comments on the Commission's Internet 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 Web site 
viewing and printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F 
Street NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the 
hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be 
available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the 
Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change; 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-2013-122 and should be submitted on or before December 17, 
2013.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant 
to delegated authority.\20\
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    \20\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-28272 Filed 11-25-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P