Self-Regulatory Organizations; BATS Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Reflect Changes to the Means of Achieving the Investment Objective Applicable to the iShares Short Maturity Bond Fund, 48809-48811 [2014-19477]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 159 / Monday, August 18, 2014 / Notices
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:
• 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 No. SR–
CME–2014–28 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Secretary, Securities and Exchange
Commission, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC, 20549–1090.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–CME–2014–28. 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 or
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such
filing also will be available for
inspection and copying at the principal
office of CME and on CME’s Web site at
https://www.cmegroup.com/marketregulation/rule-filings.html.
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–CME–2014–28 and should
be submitted on or before September 8,
2014.
16:57 Aug 15, 2014
[FR Doc. 2014–19527 Filed 8–15–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
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 parts of such
statements.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Electronic Comments
VerDate Mar<15>2010
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.14
Kevin M. O’Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
48809
Jkt 232001
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
[Release No. 34–72821; File No. SR–BATS–
2014–031]
1. Purpose
Self-Regulatory Organizations; BATS
Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed
Rule Change To Reflect Changes to
the Means of Achieving the Investment
Objective Applicable to the iShares
Short Maturity Bond Fund
August 12, 2014.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
notice is hereby given that on August 4,
2014, BATS Exchange, Inc. (the
‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘BATS’’) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission
(‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
change as described in Items I and II
below, which Items have been prepared
by the Exchange. 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 the Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange filed a proposal to
reflect changes to the means of
achieving the investment objective
applicable to the iShares Short Maturity
Bond Fund (the ‘‘Fund’’). The shares of
the Fund are currently listed and traded
on the Exchange under BATS Rule
14.11(i).
The text of the proposed rule change
is available at the Exchange’s Web site
at https://www.batstrading.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
Exchange included statements
concerning the purpose of and basis for
the proposed rule change and discussed
any comments it received on the
14 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
1 15
PO 00000
Frm 00090
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
The Commission has approved listing
and trading on the Exchange of shares
of the Fund (‘‘Shares’’), which are
offered by the iShares U.S. ETF Trust
(the ‘‘Trust’’),3 under BATS Rule
14.11(i), which governs the listing of
Managed Fund Shares. The Shares are
currently listed and traded on the
Exchange under BATS Rule 14.11(i).
The Shares are offered by the Trust,
which was established as a Delaware
statutory trust on June 21, 2011. The
Trust is registered with the Commission
as an open-end investment company
and has filed a registration statement on
behalf of the Fund on Form N–1A
(‘‘Registration Statement’’) with the
Commission.4 BlackRock Fund Advisors
is the investment adviser (‘‘BFA’’ or
‘‘Adviser’’) to the Fund.5 BlackRock
Financial Management, Inc. serves as
sub-adviser for the Fund (‘‘SubAdviser’’).6 State Street Bank and Trust
Company is the administrator,
custodian, and transfer agent for the
Trust. BlackRock Investments, LLC
(‘‘Distributor’’) serves as the distributor
for the Trust.
3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67894
(September 20, 2012), 77 FR 59227 (September 26,
2012) (SR–BATS–2012–033 Amendment No. 1) (the
‘‘Prior Filing’’).
4 See Registration Statement on Form N–1A for
the Trust, dated March 1, 2014 (File Nos. 333–
179904 and 811–22649). The descriptions of the
Fund and the Shares contained herein are based, in
part, on information in the Registration Statement.
The Commission has issued an order granting
certain exemptive relief to the Company under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a–
1) (‘‘1940 Act’’) (the ‘‘Exemptive Order’’). See
Investment Company Act Release No. 29571
(January 24, 2011) (File No. 812–13601).
5 BlackRock Fund Advisors is an indirect wholly
owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc.
6 The Adviser manages the Fund’s investments
and its business operations subject to the oversight
of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the ‘‘Board’’).
While BFA is ultimately responsible for the
management of the Fund, it is able to draw upon
the trading, research and expertise of its asset
management affiliates for portfolio decisions and
management with respect to portfolio securities.
The Adviser also has ongoing oversight
responsibility. The Sub-Adviser, subject to the
supervision and oversight of the Adviser and the
Board, is responsible for day-to-day management of
the Fund and, as such, typically makes all decisions
with respect to portfolio holdings.
E:\FR\FM\18AUN1.SGM
18AUN1
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 159 / Monday, August 18, 2014 / Notices
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
The Exchange proposes to make the
following change, described below, to
the investment strategy the Sub-Adviser
will use to obtain the Fund’s investment
objective (the ‘‘Proposed
Amendment’’).7 The Prior Filing stated
that the Fund will not invest in swap
agreements, futures contracts, or option
contracts (‘‘Derivatives’’), pursuant to
the Exemptive Order. However, on
December 6, 2012, the Office of
Exemptive Applications/Office of
Investment Company Regulation,
Division of Investment Management,
issued an announcement stating that
they would not recommend
enforcement action to the Commission if
actively-managed ETFs such as the
Fund invested in swap agreements,
futures contracts, or option contracts.
Consequently, going forward, while the
Fund will continue to invest in the
manner described in the Prior Filing,
the Fund is proposing to also be allowed
to invest in Derivatives. Specifically, the
Fund proposes that it may, to a limited
extent (under normal circumstances,
less than 20% of the Fund’s net assets),
engage in transactions in futures
contracts and swaps.8
The Exchange notes that the
Commission has approved similar
representations relating to issues of
Managed Fund Shares proposed to be
listed and traded both on the Exchange
and on other Exchanges.9
7 The Proposed Amendment described herein will
be effective upon filing with the Commission of an
amendment to the Trust’s Registration Statement or
supplement thereto. See supra note 4. The Adviser
represents that the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser
have managed and will continue to manage the
Fund in the manner described in the Prior Filing
and the Fund will not implement the Proposed
Amendment described herein until the instant
proposed rule change is operative.
8 Derivatives might be included in the Fund’s
investments to serve the investment objectives of
the Fund. The Fund proposes to invest in interest
rate futures (and may reference interest rates or
prices of Eurodollars, US federal funds, or Treasury
bonds or notes) and fixed-for-floating interest rate
swaps, in each case, to manage the Fund’s interest
rate exposure. The Fund will invest only in futures
contracts that are traded on an exchange that is a
member of the Intermarket Surveillance Group
(‘‘ISG’’) or with which the Exchange has in place
a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement.
The Derivatives will be exchange traded and/or
centrally cleared, and they will be collateralized.
Derivatives are not a principal investment strategy
of the Fund.
9 See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release Nos.
70986 (December 4, 2013), 78 FR 74212 (December
10, 2013) (SR–BATS–2013–051) (order approving
listing and trading on the Exchange of the iShares
Liquidity Income Fund); 70773 (October 30, 2013),
78 FR 66409 (November 5, 2013) (SR–NYSEArca2013–86) (order approving listing and trading on
NYSE Arca, Inc. of the Franklin Short Duration U.S.
Government ETF); and 70282 (August 29, 2013), 78
FR 54700 (September 5, 2013) (SR–NYSEArca–
2013–70) (order approving listing and trading on
NYSE Arca, Inc. of First Trust Inflation Managed
Fund).
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:57 Aug 15, 2014
Jkt 232001
The value of the securities and other
assets held by the Fund will be
determined pursuant to valuation
policies and procedures approved by
the Board. Futures contracts, including
U.S. Treasury futures contracts, will be
valued at their last sale price or
settlement price as of the close of such
exchange. Interest rate swaps are
generally valued by pricing services by
calculating the new present value of
future cash flows according to the terms
of the swap agreement. The future cash
flows are based on the difference
between the agreed fixed rate and
estimated level of a defined floating rate
on the specified reset date.
Intraday price quotations in swaps of
the type proposed to be held by the
Fund are available from major brokerdealer firms and from third-parties.
Intraday, executable price quotations on
futures are available directly from the
applicable listing exchange. All such
intraday price information is also
available through subscription services,
such as Bloomberg, Thomson Reuters
and International Data Corporation,
which can be accessed by authorized
participants and other investors.
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 BATS Rule
14.11(i). Except for the changes noted
above, all other representations made in
the Prior Filing remain unchanged. The
Fund’s investments will be in
compliance with the 1940 Act and
consistent with the Fund’s investment
objective, and will not be used to
enhance leverage.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the
proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)
of the Act 10 in general and Section
6(b)(5) of the Act 11 in particular in that
it is designed to prevent fraudulent and
manipulative acts and practices, to
promote just and equitable principles of
trade, to foster cooperation and
coordination with persons engaged in
facilitating transactions in securities, 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.
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
10 15
11 15
PO 00000
U.S.C. 78f.
U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
Frm 00091
Fmt 4703
continued listing criteria in BATS Rule
14.11(i). With respect to the proposal to
invest in Derivatives, the Exchange
notes that the Commission has approved
similar representations relating to issues
of Managed Fund Shares proposed to be
listed and traded on the Exchange.12
The Adviser represents that Derivatives
are not a principal investment strategy
of the Fund and that any Derivatives
held by the Fund will be exchange
traded and/or centrally cleared, and
they will be collateralized. The Fund
may hold Derivatives that include
interest rate futures (and may reference
interest rates or prices of Eurodollars,
US federal funds, or Treasury bonds or
notes) and fixed-for-floating interest rate
swaps to manage the Fund’s interest rate
exposure. The value of the securities
and other assets held by the Fund will
be determined pursuant to valuation
policies and procedures approved by
the Board. Futures contracts, including
U.S. Treasury futures contracts, will be
valued at their last sale price or settle
price as of the close of such exchange.
Interest rate swaps are generally valued
by pricing services by calculating the
new present value of future cash flows
according to the terms of the swap
agreement. The future cash flows are
based on the difference between the
agreed fixed rate and estimated level of
a defined floating rate on the specified
reset date. Intraday price quotations in
swaps of the type proposed to be held
by the Fund are available from major
broker-dealer firms and from thirdparties. Intraday, executable price
quotations on futures are available
directly from the applicable listing
exchange. All such intraday price
information is also available through
subscription services, such as
Bloomberg, Thomson Reuters and
International Data Corporation, which
can be accessed by authorized
participants and other investors.
The proposed rule change is designed
to promote just and equitable principles
of trade and to protect investors and the
public interest in that 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 BATS Rule 14.11(i). The Adviser
represents that the purpose of this
change is to provide additional
flexibility to the Adviser to meet the
Fund’s investment objective, as
discussed above.
The proposed rule change is designed
to perfect the mechanism of a free and
open market and, in general, to protect
investors and the public interest in that
12 See
Sfmt 4703
E:\FR\FM\18AUN1.SGM
supra note 9.
18AUN1
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 159 / Monday, August 18, 2014 / Notices
the Fund will continue to comply with
all initial and continued listing
requirements under BATS Rule 14.11(i).
The Adviser represents that the purpose
of this change is to provide additional
flexibility to the Adviser to meet the
Fund’s investment objective, as
discussed above. The Adviser represents
that there is no change to the Fund’s
investment objective. Except for the
changes noted above, all other
representations made in the Prior Filing
remain unchanged.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that
the proposed rule change will impose
any burden on competition that is not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance
of the purpose of the Act. The proposed
changes to the Fund’s means of
achieving the investment objective will
permit the Fund to adjust its portfolio
to allow the Fund to continue to meet
its investment objectives by investing in
Derivatives in a manner consistent with
other actively-managed exchange-traded
funds and will enhance competition
among other issues of Managed Fund
Shares.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
The Exchange has neither solicited
nor received written comments on the
proposed rule change.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
The Exchange has filed the proposed
rule change pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act 13 and Rule 19b–
4(f)(6) thereunder.14 Because the
foregoing proposed rule change does
not: (i) Significantly affect the
protection of investors or the public
interest; (ii) impose any significant
burden on competition; and (iii) become
operative for 30 days from the date on
which it is filed, or such shorter time as
the Commission may designate, it has
become effective pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b–
4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.15
At any time within 60 days of the
filing of the proposed rule change, the
13 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).
15 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6)(iii). As required under
Rule 19b–4(f)(6), the Exchange provided the
Commission with written notice of its intent to file
the proposed rule change, along with a brief
description and the text of the proposed rule
change, at least five business days prior to the date
of filing of the proposed rule change.
14 17
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:57 Aug 15, 2014
Jkt 232001
Commission summarily may
temporarily suspend such rule change if
it appears to the Commission that such
action is necessary or appropriate in the
public interest, for the protection of
investors, or otherwise in furtherance of
the purposes of the Act.
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–
BATS–2014–031 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Secretary, Securities and Exchange
Commission, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549–1090.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–BATS–2014–031. 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 at 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549–1090 on official
business days between the hours of
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 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–BATS–
2014–031, and should be submitted on
or before September 8, 2014.
PO 00000
Frm 00092
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
48811
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.16
Kevin M. O’Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014–19477 Filed 8–15–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–72816; File No. SR–ISE–
2014–37]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
International Securities Exchange,
LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate
Effectiveness of Proposed Rule
Change on Non-Customer Linkage and
Sweep Orders
August 12, 2014.
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 July 31,
2014, the International Securities
Exchange, LLC (‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘ISE’’)
filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘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.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The ISE proposes to amend its rules
to introduce away market routing for
Non-Customer Orders, and to
implement a new order type: the
‘‘Sweep Order.’’ The text of the
proposed rule change is available on the
Exchange’s Web site (https://
www.ise.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 these statements may be examined at
the places specified in Item IV below.
The self-regulatory organization has
16 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
1 15
E:\FR\FM\18AUN1.SGM
18AUN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 159 (Monday, August 18, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48809-48811]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-19477]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-72821; File No. SR-BATS-2014-031]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; BATS Exchange, Inc.; Notice of
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Reflect
Changes to the Means of Achieving the Investment Objective Applicable
to the iShares Short Maturity Bond Fund
August 12, 2014.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(the ``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given
that on August 4, 2014, BATS Exchange, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or
``BATS'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I and
II below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The
Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the
proposed rule change from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of the
Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange filed a proposal to reflect changes to the means of
achieving the investment objective applicable to the iShares Short
Maturity Bond Fund (the ``Fund''). The shares of the Fund are currently
listed and traded on the Exchange under BATS Rule 14.11(i).
The text of the proposed rule change is available at the Exchange's
Web site at https://www.batstrading.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 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 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 listing and trading on the Exchange of
shares of the Fund (``Shares''), which are offered by the iShares U.S.
ETF Trust (the ``Trust''),\3\ under BATS Rule 14.11(i), which governs
the listing of Managed Fund Shares. The Shares are currently listed and
traded on the Exchange under BATS Rule 14.11(i).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67894 (September 20,
2012), 77 FR 59227 (September 26, 2012) (SR-BATS-2012-033 Amendment
No. 1) (the ``Prior Filing'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Shares are offered by the Trust, which was established as a
Delaware statutory trust on June 21, 2011. The Trust is registered with
the Commission as an open-end investment company and has filed a
registration statement on behalf of the Fund on Form N-1A
(``Registration Statement'') with the Commission.\4\ BlackRock Fund
Advisors is the investment adviser (``BFA'' or ``Adviser'') to the
Fund.\5\ BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. serves as sub-adviser for
the Fund (``Sub-Adviser'').\6\ State Street Bank and Trust Company is
the administrator, custodian, and transfer agent for the Trust.
BlackRock Investments, LLC (``Distributor'') serves as the distributor
for the Trust.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ See Registration Statement on Form N-1A for the Trust, dated
March 1, 2014 (File Nos. 333-179904 and 811-22649). The descriptions
of the Fund and the Shares contained herein are based, in part, on
information in the Registration Statement. The Commission has issued
an order granting certain exemptive relief to the Company under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-1) (``1940 Act'') (the
``Exemptive Order''). See Investment Company Act Release No. 29571
(January 24, 2011) (File No. 812-13601).
\5\ BlackRock Fund Advisors is an indirect wholly owned
subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc.
\6\ The Adviser manages the Fund's investments and its business
operations subject to the oversight of the Board of Trustees of the
Trust (the ``Board''). While BFA is ultimately responsible for the
management of the Fund, it is able to draw upon the trading,
research and expertise of its asset management affiliates for
portfolio decisions and management with respect to portfolio
securities. The Adviser also has ongoing oversight responsibility.
The Sub-Adviser, subject to the supervision and oversight of the
Adviser and the Board, is responsible for day-to-day management of
the Fund and, as such, typically makes all decisions with respect to
portfolio holdings.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 48810]]
The Exchange proposes to make the following change, described
below, to the investment strategy the Sub-Adviser will use to obtain
the Fund's investment objective (the ``Proposed Amendment'').\7\ The
Prior Filing stated that the Fund will not invest in swap agreements,
futures contracts, or option contracts (``Derivatives''), pursuant to
the Exemptive Order. However, on December 6, 2012, the Office of
Exemptive Applications/Office of Investment Company Regulation,
Division of Investment Management, issued an announcement stating that
they would not recommend enforcement action to the Commission if
actively-managed ETFs such as the Fund invested in swap agreements,
futures contracts, or option contracts. Consequently, going forward,
while the Fund will continue to invest in the manner described in the
Prior Filing, the Fund is proposing to also be allowed to invest in
Derivatives. Specifically, the Fund proposes that it may, to a limited
extent (under normal circumstances, less than 20% of the Fund's net
assets), engage in transactions in futures contracts and swaps.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ The Proposed Amendment described herein will be effective
upon filing with the Commission of an amendment to the Trust's
Registration Statement or supplement thereto. See supra note 4. The
Adviser represents that the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser have managed
and will continue to manage the Fund in the manner described in the
Prior Filing and the Fund will not implement the Proposed Amendment
described herein until the instant proposed rule change is
operative.
\8\ Derivatives might be included in the Fund's investments to
serve the investment objectives of the Fund. The Fund proposes to
invest in interest rate futures (and may reference interest rates or
prices of Eurodollars, US federal funds, or Treasury bonds or notes)
and fixed-for-floating interest rate swaps, in each case, to manage
the Fund's interest rate exposure. The Fund will invest only in
futures contracts that are traded on an exchange that is a member of
the Intermarket Surveillance Group (``ISG'') or with which the
Exchange has in place a comprehensive surveillance sharing
agreement. The Derivatives will be exchange traded and/or centrally
cleared, and they will be collateralized. Derivatives are not a
principal investment strategy of the Fund.
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The Exchange notes that the Commission has approved similar
representations relating to issues of Managed Fund Shares proposed to
be listed and traded both on the Exchange and on other Exchanges.\9\
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\9\ See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 70986
(December 4, 2013), 78 FR 74212 (December 10, 2013) (SR-BATS-2013-
051) (order approving listing and trading on the Exchange of the
iShares Liquidity Income Fund); 70773 (October 30, 2013), 78 FR
66409 (November 5, 2013) (SR-NYSEArca-2013-86) (order approving
listing and trading on NYSE Arca, Inc. of the Franklin Short
Duration U.S. Government ETF); and 70282 (August 29, 2013), 78 FR
54700 (September 5, 2013) (SR-NYSEArca-2013-70) (order approving
listing and trading on NYSE Arca, Inc. of First Trust Inflation
Managed Fund).
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The value of the securities and other assets held by the Fund will
be determined pursuant to valuation policies and procedures approved by
the Board. Futures contracts, including U.S. Treasury futures
contracts, will be valued at their last sale price or settlement price
as of the close of such exchange. Interest rate swaps are generally
valued by pricing services by calculating the new present value of
future cash flows according to the terms of the swap agreement. The
future cash flows are based on the difference between the agreed fixed
rate and estimated level of a defined floating rate on the specified
reset date.
Intraday price quotations in swaps of the type proposed to be held
by the Fund are available from major broker-dealer firms and from
third-parties. Intraday, executable price quotations on futures are
available directly from the applicable listing exchange. All such
intraday price information is also available through subscription
services, such as Bloomberg, Thomson Reuters and International Data
Corporation, which can be accessed by authorized participants and other
investors.
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 BATS Rule 14.11(i). Except for
the changes noted above, all other representations made in the Prior
Filing remain unchanged. The Fund's investments will be in compliance
with the 1940 Act and consistent with the Fund's investment objective,
and will not be used to enhance leverage.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with Section
6(b) of the Act \10\ in general and Section 6(b)(5) of the Act \11\ in
particular in that it is designed to prevent fraudulent and
manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable
principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with
persons engaged in facilitating transactions in securities, 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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\10\ 15 U.S.C. 78f.
\11\ 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 BATS Rule 14.11(i).
With respect to the proposal to invest in Derivatives, the Exchange
notes that the Commission has approved similar representations relating
to issues of Managed Fund Shares proposed to be listed and traded on
the Exchange.\12\ The Adviser represents that Derivatives are not a
principal investment strategy of the Fund and that any Derivatives held
by the Fund will be exchange traded and/or centrally cleared, and they
will be collateralized. The Fund may hold Derivatives that include
interest rate futures (and may reference interest rates or prices of
Eurodollars, US federal funds, or Treasury bonds or notes) and fixed-
for-floating interest rate swaps to manage the Fund's interest rate
exposure. The value of the securities and other assets held by the Fund
will be determined pursuant to valuation policies and procedures
approved by the Board. Futures contracts, including U.S. Treasury
futures contracts, will be valued at their last sale price or settle
price as of the close of such exchange. Interest rate swaps are
generally valued by pricing services by calculating the new present
value of future cash flows according to the terms of the swap
agreement. The future cash flows are based on the difference between
the agreed fixed rate and estimated level of a defined floating rate on
the specified reset date. Intraday price quotations in swaps of the
type proposed to be held by the Fund are available from major broker-
dealer firms and from third-parties. Intraday, executable price
quotations on futures are available directly from the applicable
listing exchange. All such intraday price information is also available
through subscription services, such as Bloomberg, Thomson Reuters and
International Data Corporation, which can be accessed by authorized
participants and other investors.
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\12\ See supra note 9.
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The proposed rule change is designed to promote just and equitable
principles of trade and to protect investors and the public interest in
that 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 BATS Rule 14.11(i). The
Adviser represents that the purpose of this change is to provide
additional flexibility to the Adviser to meet the Fund's investment
objective, as discussed above.
The proposed rule change is designed to perfect the mechanism of a
free and open market and, in general, to protect investors and the
public interest in that
[[Page 48811]]
the Fund will continue to comply with all initial and continued listing
requirements under BATS Rule 14.11(i). The Adviser represents that the
purpose of this change is to provide additional flexibility to the
Adviser to meet the Fund's investment objective, as discussed above.
The Adviser represents that there is no change to the Fund's investment
objective. Except for the changes noted above, all other
representations made in the Prior Filing remain unchanged.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will
impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate
in furtherance of the purpose of the Act. The proposed changes to the
Fund's means of achieving the investment objective will permit the Fund
to adjust its portfolio to allow the Fund to continue to meet its
investment objectives by investing in Derivatives in a manner
consistent with other actively-managed exchange-traded funds and will
enhance competition among other issues of Managed Fund Shares.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
The Exchange has neither solicited nor received written comments on
the proposed rule change.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
The Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \13\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\14\
Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not: (i) Significantly
affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose
any significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative for
30 days from the date on which it is filed, or such shorter time as the
Commission may designate, it has become effective pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.\15\
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\13\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
\14\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
\15\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii). As required under Rule 19b-
4(f)(6), the Exchange provided the Commission with written notice of
its intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a brief
description and the text of the proposed rule change, at least five
business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule
change.
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At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
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-BATS-2014-031 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-BATS-2014-031. 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 at 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549-1090 on official business days between the hours
of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 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-
BATS-2014-031, and should be submitted on or before September 8, 2014.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\16\
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\16\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-19477 Filed 8-15-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P