Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Reflect a Change in the Permitted Size of a Basket Applicable to Shares of ETFS Physical Silver Shares Issued by the ETFS Silver Trust, 54142-54144 [2016-19323]
Download as PDF
54142
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 157 / Monday, August 15, 2016 / Notices
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and the
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–78521; File No. SR–
NYSEArca–2016–108]
1. Purpose
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed
Rule Change To Reflect a Change in
the Permitted Size of a Basket
Applicable to Shares of ETFS Physical
Silver Shares Issued by the ETFS
Silver Trust
August 9, 2016.
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 July 27,
2016, 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.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to reflect a
change in the permitted size of a
‘‘Basket’’ applicable to shares of ETFS
Physical Silver Shares (‘‘Fund’’) issued
by the ETFS Silver Trust. The Fund is
currently listed and traded on the
Exchange under NYSE Arca Equities
Rule 8.201. 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.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
In its filing with the Commission, the
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.
1 15
U.S.C.78s(b)(1).
U.S.C. 78a.
3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
2 15
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19:23 Aug 12, 2016
Jkt 238001
The Commission has approved a
proposed rule change relating to listing
and trading on the Exchange of shares
(‘‘Shares’’) of the Fund under NYSE
Arca Equities Rule 8.201, which governs
the listing and trading of CommodityBased Trust Shares.4 The Shares are
offered by ETFS Silver Trust (the
‘‘Trust’’).5 The Shares represent units of
fractional undivided beneficial interest
in and ownership of the Trust. The
investment objective of the Trust is for
the Shares to reflect the performance of
the price of silver bullion, less the
Trust’s expenses.6 ETF Securities USA
LLC is the sponsor of the Trust
(‘‘Sponsor’’), The Bank of New York
Mellon is the trustee of the Trust and
HSBC Bank plc. is the custodian of the
Trust. The Fund’s Shares are currently
listed and traded on the Exchange under
NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201.
As described in the Prior Order,
issuances of Shares will be made only
in ‘‘Baskets’’ of 100,000 Shares or
multiples thereof. The Exchange
proposes to eliminate the representation
in the Prior Order regarding the size of
a Basket. Going forward, the size of a
Basket will be no greater than 100,000
Shares and the size of a Basket will be
subject to change, but always equal to or
4 Commodity-Based Trust Shares are securities
issued by a trust that represent investors’ discrete
identifiable and undivided beneficial ownership
interest in the commodities deposited into the
Trust.
5 The Trust is registered under the Securities Act
of 1933 (‘‘1933 Act’’). See Post-Effective
Amendment No. 1 on Form S–3 under the 1933 Act
for the ETFS Silver Trust, filed with the
Commission on August 8, 2014 (No. 333–195514)
(‘‘Registration Statement’’).
6 The Commission approved listing and trading of
Shares of the Fund on NYSE Arca in Securities
Exchange Act Release No. 59781 (April 14, 2009),
74 FR 18771 (April 24, 2009) (SR–NYSEArca–2009–
28) (Notice of Filing and Order Granting
Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change
Relating to Listing and Trading of Shares of the
ETFS Silver Trust) (‘‘Prior Order’’); See also
Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 72847
(August 14, 2014), 79 FR 49350 (August 20, 2014)
(SR–NYSEArca–2014–88) (Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change
(1) to Reflect a Change to the Value Used by the
iShares Silver Trust, ETFS Silver Trust, ETFS White
Metals Basket Trust and ETFS Precious Metals
Basket Trust with Respect to Calculation of the Net
Asset Value of Shares of each Trust; and (2) to
Reflect a Change to the Underlying Benchmark for
ProShares Ultra Silver and ProShares UltraShort
Silver) (‘‘First Prior Notice’’); 77830 (May 13, 2016),
81 FR 31671 (May 19, 2016) (SR–NYSEArca–2016–
72) (Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of
Proposed Rule Change Relating to Changes to
Procedures Regarding Establishing the LBMA Silver
Price) (‘‘Second Prior Notice’’).
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Sfmt 4703
less than 100,000 Shares.7 The Fund
currently plans to change the size of a
Basket to 50,000 Shares.8 The Exchange
believes that the change to the size of a
Basket will not adversely impact
investors or Exchange trading. In
addition, a reduction in the size of a
Basket may provide potential benefits to
investors by facilitating additional
creation and redemption activity in the
Shares, thereby potentially resulting in
increased secondary market trading
activity, tighter bid/ask spreads and
narrower premiums or discounts to
NAV.9
The Sponsor represents that the
proposed change to provide that the size
of a Basket will be no greater than
100,000 Shares and subject to change,
but always equal to or less than 100,000
Shares, as well as to reduce the Basket
size to 50,000 Shares, as described
above, is consistent with the Fund’s
investment objective, and will further
assist the Sponsor to achieve such
investment objective. Except for the
change noted above, all other
representations made in the Prior Order,
the First Prior Notice and the Second
Prior Notice remain unchanged.10 The
Fund and the Shares will continue to
comply with all initial and continued
listing requirements under NYSE Arca
Equities Rule 8.201.
The Sponsor represents that the
investment objective of the Fund is not
changing.
The Sponsor has represented to the
Exchange that it will advise the
7 The Exchange notes that the Commission has
approved the listing and trading of other issues of
exchange-traded products for which the size of a
‘‘Creation Unit’’ is subject to change. See e.g.,
Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 77522 (April
5, 2016), 81 FR 21420 (April 11, 2016) (SR–
NYSEArca–2015–125) (order approving Exchange
listing and trading of Shares of the of RiverFront
Dynamic Unconstrained Income ETF and
RiverFront Dynamic Core Income ETF under NYSE
Arca Equities Rule 8.600); 76719 (December 21,
2015), 80 FR 80859 (December 28, 2015) (SR–
NYSEArca–2015–73) (order approving listing and
trading of shares of the Guggenheim Total Return
Bond ETF under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600).
8 The change to size of a Basket will be effective
upon filing with the Commission of an amendment
to the Trust’s Registration Statement filed pursuant
to Rule 424(b)(3) under the 1933 Act, and
shareholders will be notified of such change by
means of such amendment.
9 The Exchange notes that the Commission has
approved the listing and trading of other issues of
exchange-traded products that have applied a
minimum ‘‘Creation Unit’’ size of 50,000 shares.
See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release Nos.
65458 (September 30, 2011), 76 FR 62112 (October
6, 2011) (SR–NYSEArca–2011–54) (order approving
listing and trading of WisdomTree Dreyfus
Australia and New Zealand Debt Fund); 66112
(January 5, 2012), 77 FR 1761 (January 11, 2012)
(SR–NYSEArca–2011–80) (order approving listing
and trading of Rockledge SectorSAM ETF).
10 See note 6, supra. All terms referenced but not
defined herein are defined in the First Prior Notice.
E:\FR\FM\15AUN1.SGM
15AUN1
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 157 / Monday, August 15, 2016 / Notices
Exchange of any failure by the Fund to
comply with the continued listing
requirements, and, pursuant to its
obligations under Section 19(g)(1) of the
Act, the Exchange will monitor for
compliance with the continued listing
requirements. If the Fund is not in
compliance with the applicable listing
requirements, the Exchange will
commence delisting procedures under
NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.5(m).
Except for the changes noted herein,
all other facts presented and
representations made in the Rule 19b–
4 filing underlying the Prior Order, the
First Prior Notice and the Second Prior
Notice remain unchanged.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
2. Statutory Basis
The basis under the Act for this
proposed rule change is the requirement
under Section 6(b)(5) 11 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.
The proposed rule change is designed
to perfect the mechanism of a free and
open market and, in general, to protect
investors and the public interest. The
Exchange believes that providing for a
Basket size of no greater than 100,000
Shares (with the size of a Basket subject
to change, but always equal to or less
than 100,000 Shares), and changing the
Basket size to 50,000 Shares, will not
adversely impact investors or Exchange
trading. In addition, a reduction in the
size of a Basket may provide potential
benefits to investors by facilitating
additional creation and redemption
activity in the Shares, thereby
potentially resulting in increased
secondary market trading activity,
tighter bid/ask spreads and narrower
premiums or discounts to NAV.
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 Exchange
believes the proposed rule change, by
providing that the size of a Basket is
subject to change, but always equal to or
less than 100,000 Shares, will provide
the Fund with additional flexibility in
administering the creation and
redemption of Shares, which will
enhance competition among issues of
Commodity-Based Trust Shares.
11 15
U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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19:23 Aug 12, 2016
Jkt 238001
54143
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
change should be approved or
disapproved.
No written comments were solicited
or received with respect to the proposed
rule change.
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:
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
Because the proposed rule change
does not (i) significantly affect the
protection of investors or the public
interest; (ii) impose any significant
burden on competition; and (iii) become
operative for 30 days from the date on
which it was filed, or such shorter time
as the Commission may designate, the
proposed rule change has become
effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)
of the Act 12 and Rule 19b–4(f)(6)
thereunder.13
The Exchange has asked the
Commission to waive the 30-day
operative delay so that the proposal may
become operative immediately upon
filing. The Commission believes that
waiver of the 30-day operative delay is
consistent with the protection of
investors and the public interest
because a reduction in the size of a
Basket may provide potential benefits to
investors by facilitating additional
creation and redemption activity in the
Shares, thereby potentially resulting in
increased secondary market trading
activity, tighter bid/ask spreads and
narrower premiums or discounts to
NAV. Therefore, the Commission
designates the proposed rule change to
be operative upon filing.14
At any time within 60 days of the
filing of such proposed rule change, the
Commission summarily may
temporarily suspend such rule change if
it appears to the Commission that such
action is necessary or appropriate in the
public interest, for the protection of
investors, or otherwise in furtherance of
the purposes of the Act. If the
Commission takes such action, the
Commission shall institute proceedings
under Section 19(b)(2)(B) 15 of the Act to
determine whether the proposed rule
12 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). As required under Rule
19b–4(f)(6)(iii), 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, or such
shorter time as designated by the Commission.
14 For purposes only of waiving the 30-day
operative delay, the Commission has considered the
proposed rule’s impact on efficiency, competition,
and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
15 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
13 17
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Frm 00103
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
IV. Solicitation of Comments
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–2016–108 on the subject
line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Secretary, Securities and Exchange
Commission, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549–1090.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–NYSEArca–2016–108. 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–2016–108 and should be
submitted on or before September 6,
2016.
E:\FR\FM\15AUN1.SGM
15AUN1
54144
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 157 / Monday, August 15, 2016 / Notices
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.16
Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016–19323 Filed 8–12–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–78508; File No. SR–C2–
2016–016]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; C2
Options Exchange, Incorporated;
Notice of Filing and Immediate
Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule To
Amend the Fees Schedule
August 9, 2016.
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 1,
2016, C2 Options Exchange,
Incorporated (the ‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘C2’’)
filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’) the
proposed rule change as described in
Items I, II, and III 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 proposes to amend its
Fees Schedule. The text of the proposed
rule change is available on the
Exchange’s Web site (https://
www.c2exchange.com/Legal/), at the
Exchange’s Office of the Secretary, and
at the Commission’s Public Reference
Room.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
In its filing with the Commission, the
Exchange included statements
concerning the purpose of and basis for
the proposed rule change 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.
16 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
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19:23 Aug 12, 2016
Jkt 238001
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
The Exchange proposes to amend its
Fees Schedule. Specifically, the
Exchange proposes to establish a fee
scale for the purchase of Market Maker
Quoting and Order Bandwidth Packets
(‘‘Bandwidth Packets’’), provide for an
allotment scale of CMI CAS Servers, and
adopt a fee for extra CMI CAS Servers.
The Exchange first proposes to adopt
a fee scale for Bandwidth Packets.
Particularly, the Exchange proposes to
provide that the first through ninth
Bandwidth Packets obtained by a
Trading Permit Holder (‘‘TPH’’) would
cost $1,000 per packet per month, the
tenth through fourteenth Bandwidth
Packets obtained by that TPH would
cost $500 per packet per month, and the
fifteenth and each additional Bandwidth
Packet obtained by that TPH would cost
$250 per packet per month. The
Exchange believes the proposed fee
scale will encourage Market Makers to
purchase additional Bandwidth Packets
which will allow them to quote and
trade more on the Exchange, thereby
providing more trading opportunities
for all market participants.
The Exchange next proposes to amend
its Fees Schedule with respect to
Connectivity Charges. By way of
background, in order to connect to
CBOE Command, which allows a TPH
to trade on the C2 System, a TPH must
connect via either a CMI or FIX interface
(depending on the configuration of the
TPH’s own systems). For TPHs that
connect via a CMI interface, they must
use CMI CAS Servers. Currently each
TPH is provided one CAS Server plus
access to a pool of shared backup CAS
Servers. In order to ensure that a CAS
Server is not overburdened by quoting
activity for Market Makers, the
Exchange proposes to allot each Market
Maker a certain number of CASs (in
addition to the shared backups) based
on the amount of quoting bandwidth
that they have. Quoting Bandwidth
would be determined by the number of
Bandwidth Packets the TPH holds in
addition to 5 times the number of
Market Maker Trading Permits it holds.3
3 The Exchange notes that a C2 Market Maker
Quoting and Order Entry Bandwidth Packet is
equivalent to 1/5th of a Market Maker Trading
Permit. As such, each Market-Maker Trading Permit
a TPH holds is equivalent to 5 Quoting and Order
Entry Bandwidth Packet for purposes of bandwidth.
Therefore, if a TPH has 2 Market Maker Trading
Permits and 16 Quoting and Order Entry Bandwidth
Packets, the TPH has an equivalent of 26
Bandwidth Packets. The Exchange proposes to
PO 00000
Frm 00104
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Additionally, the Exchange will
aggregate the Market Maker Trading
Permits and Market Maker Quoting and
Order Entry Bandwidth Packets from
affiliated TPHs (TPHs with at least 75%
common ownership between the firms
as reflected on each firm’s Form BD,
Schedule A) for purposes of
determining the number of Trading
Permits and Market Maker Quoting and
Order Entry Bandwidth Packets a TPH
holds. Particularly, the Exchange
proposes to add a chart listing the
amounts of equivalent Bandwidth
Packets and corresponding CAS Servers:
Total bandwidth
packets equivalency
1–25 ..........................
26–50 ........................
51–75 ........................
76–100 ......................
100+ ..........................
CAS Servers
1
2
3
4
5
+
+
+
+
+
shared
shared
shared
shared
shared
backup.
backup.
backup.
backup.
backup.
Next, the Exchange proposes to
provide that if a Market Maker wishes
to connect via an extra CMI CAS Server
(in order to segregate TPH users for
business or availability purposes)
beyond the TPH’s allotted number of
CMI CAS Servers (described above), that
TPH will be assessed a fee of $2,000 per
month for each extra CMI CAS Server.
The purpose of this proposed change is
to manage the allotment of CMI CAS
Servers in a fair manner and to prevent
the Exchange from being required to
expend large amounts of resources (the
provision and management of the CMI
CAS Servers can be costly) in order to
provide TPHs with an unlimited
amount of CMI CAS Servers. The
purpose of the fee for extra CMI CAS
Servers is to cover the costs related to
the provision, management and upkeep
of such CMI CAS Servers.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes the proposed
rule change is consistent with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Act’’) and the rules and regulations
thereunder applicable to the Exchange
and, in particular, the requirements of
Section 6(b) of the Act.4 Specifically,
the Exchange believes the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Section
6(b)(5) 5 requirements that the rules of
an exchange be 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,
include this example in the Fees Schedule to
provide additional clarity.
4 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
5 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
E:\FR\FM\15AUN1.SGM
15AUN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 157 (Monday, August 15, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54142-54144]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-19323]
[[Page 54142]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-78521; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2016-108]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Reflect a Change
in the Permitted Size of a Basket Applicable to Shares of ETFS Physical
Silver Shares Issued by the ETFS Silver Trust
August 9, 2016.
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 July 27, 2016, NYSE Arca, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or
``NYSE Arca'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II
below, which Items have been prepared by the self-regulatory
organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit
comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C.78s(b)(1).
\2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
\3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to reflect a change in the permitted size of
a ``Basket'' applicable to shares of ETFS Physical Silver Shares
(``Fund'') issued by the ETFS Silver Trust. The Fund is currently
listed and traded on the Exchange under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201.
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 the
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
The Commission has approved a proposed rule change relating to
listing and trading on the Exchange of shares (``Shares'') of the Fund
under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201, which governs the listing and
trading of Commodity-Based Trust Shares.\4\ The Shares are offered by
ETFS Silver Trust (the ``Trust'').\5\ The Shares represent units of
fractional undivided beneficial interest in and ownership of the Trust.
The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the
performance of the price of silver bullion, less the Trust's
expenses.\6\ ETF Securities USA LLC is the sponsor of the Trust
(``Sponsor''), The Bank of New York Mellon is the trustee of the Trust
and HSBC Bank plc. is the custodian of the Trust. The Fund's Shares are
currently listed and traded on the Exchange under NYSE Arca Equities
Rule 8.201.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ Commodity-Based Trust Shares are securities issued by a
trust that represent investors' discrete identifiable and undivided
beneficial ownership interest in the commodities deposited into the
Trust.
\5\ The Trust is registered under the Securities Act of 1933
(``1933 Act''). See Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form S-3 under
the 1933 Act for the ETFS Silver Trust, filed with the Commission on
August 8, 2014 (No. 333-195514) (``Registration Statement'').
\6\ The Commission approved listing and trading of Shares of the
Fund on NYSE Arca in Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59781
(April 14, 2009), 74 FR 18771 (April 24, 2009) (SR-NYSEArca-2009-28)
(Notice of Filing and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of
Proposed Rule Change Relating to Listing and Trading of Shares of
the ETFS Silver Trust) (``Prior Order''); See also Securities
Exchange Act Release Nos. 72847 (August 14, 2014), 79 FR 49350
(August 20, 2014) (SR-NYSEArca-2014-88) (Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change (1) to Reflect a
Change to the Value Used by the iShares Silver Trust, ETFS Silver
Trust, ETFS White Metals Basket Trust and ETFS Precious Metals
Basket Trust with Respect to Calculation of the Net Asset Value of
Shares of each Trust; and (2) to Reflect a Change to the Underlying
Benchmark for ProShares Ultra Silver and ProShares UltraShort
Silver) (``First Prior Notice''); 77830 (May 13, 2016), 81 FR 31671
(May 19, 2016) (SR-NYSEArca-2016-72) (Notice of Filing and Immediate
Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Changes to
Procedures Regarding Establishing the LBMA Silver Price) (``Second
Prior Notice'').
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As described in the Prior Order, issuances of Shares will be made
only in ``Baskets'' of 100,000 Shares or multiples thereof. The
Exchange proposes to eliminate the representation in the Prior Order
regarding the size of a Basket. Going forward, the size of a Basket
will be no greater than 100,000 Shares and the size of a Basket will be
subject to change, but always equal to or less than 100,000 Shares.\7\
The Fund currently plans to change the size of a Basket to 50,000
Shares.\8\ The Exchange believes that the change to the size of a
Basket will not adversely impact investors or Exchange trading. In
addition, a reduction in the size of a Basket may provide potential
benefits to investors by facilitating additional creation and
redemption activity in the Shares, thereby potentially resulting in
increased secondary market trading activity, tighter bid/ask spreads
and narrower premiums or discounts to NAV.\9\
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\7\ The Exchange notes that the Commission has approved the
listing and trading of other issues of exchange-traded products for
which the size of a ``Creation Unit'' is subject to change. See
e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 77522 (April 5, 2016), 81
FR 21420 (April 11, 2016) (SR-NYSEArca-2015-125) (order approving
Exchange listing and trading of Shares of the of RiverFront Dynamic
Unconstrained Income ETF and RiverFront Dynamic Core Income ETF
under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600); 76719 (December 21, 2015), 80
FR 80859 (December 28, 2015) (SR-NYSEArca-2015-73) (order approving
listing and trading of shares of the Guggenheim Total Return Bond
ETF under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600).
\8\ The change to size of a Basket will be effective upon filing
with the Commission of an amendment to the Trust's Registration
Statement filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) under the 1933 Act, and
shareholders will be notified of such change by means of such
amendment.
\9\ The Exchange notes that the Commission has approved the
listing and trading of other issues of exchange-traded products that
have applied a minimum ``Creation Unit'' size of 50,000 shares. See,
e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 65458 (September 30,
2011), 76 FR 62112 (October 6, 2011) (SR-NYSEArca-2011-54) (order
approving listing and trading of WisdomTree Dreyfus Australia and
New Zealand Debt Fund); 66112 (January 5, 2012), 77 FR 1761 (January
11, 2012) (SR-NYSEArca-2011-80) (order approving listing and trading
of Rockledge SectorSAM ETF).
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The Sponsor represents that the proposed change to provide that the
size of a Basket will be no greater than 100,000 Shares and subject to
change, but always equal to or less than 100,000 Shares, as well as to
reduce the Basket size to 50,000 Shares, as described above, is
consistent with the Fund's investment objective, and will further
assist the Sponsor to achieve such investment objective. Except for the
change noted above, all other representations made in the Prior Order,
the First Prior Notice and the Second Prior Notice remain
unchanged.\10\ The Fund and the Shares will continue to comply with all
initial and continued listing requirements under NYSE Arca Equities
Rule 8.201.
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\10\ See note 6, supra. All terms referenced but not defined
herein are defined in the First Prior Notice.
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The Sponsor represents that the investment objective of the Fund is
not changing.
The Sponsor has represented to the Exchange that it will advise the
[[Page 54143]]
Exchange of any failure by the Fund to comply with the continued
listing requirements, and, pursuant to its obligations under Section
19(g)(1) of the Act, the Exchange will monitor for compliance with the
continued listing requirements. If the Fund is not in compliance with
the applicable listing requirements, the Exchange will commence
delisting procedures under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.5(m).
Except for the changes noted herein, all other facts presented and
representations made in the Rule 19b-4 filing underlying the Prior
Order, the First Prior Notice and the Second Prior Notice remain
unchanged.
2. Statutory Basis
The basis under the Act for this proposed rule change is the
requirement under Section 6(b)(5) \11\ 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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\11\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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The proposed rule change is designed to perfect the mechanism of a
free and open market and, in general, to protect investors and the
public interest. The Exchange believes that providing for a Basket size
of no greater than 100,000 Shares (with the size of a Basket subject to
change, but always equal to or less than 100,000 Shares), and changing
the Basket size to 50,000 Shares, will not adversely impact investors
or Exchange trading. In addition, a reduction in the size of a Basket
may provide potential benefits to investors by facilitating additional
creation and redemption activity in the Shares, thereby potentially
resulting in increased secondary market trading activity, tighter bid/
ask spreads and narrower premiums or discounts to NAV.
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 Exchange believes the
proposed rule change, by providing that the size of a Basket is subject
to change, but always equal to or less than 100,000 Shares, will
provide the Fund with additional flexibility in administering the
creation and redemption of Shares, which will enhance competition among
issues of Commodity-Based Trust Shares.
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
Because the proposed rule change does not (i) significantly affect
the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any
significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative for 30
days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the
Commission may designate, the proposed rule change has become effective
pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \12\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6)
thereunder.\13\
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\12\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
\13\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). As required under Rule 19b-
4(f)(6)(iii), 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, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission.
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The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative
delay so that the proposal may become operative immediately upon
filing. The Commission believes that waiver of the 30-day operative
delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public
interest because a reduction in the size of a Basket may provide
potential benefits to investors by facilitating additional creation and
redemption activity in the Shares, thereby potentially resulting in
increased secondary market trading activity, tighter bid/ask spreads
and narrower premiums or discounts to NAV. Therefore, the Commission
designates the proposed rule change to be operative upon filing.\14\
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\14\ For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay,
the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C.
78c(f).
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At any time within 60 days of the filing of such proposed rule
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission
takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings under
Section 19(b)(2)(B) \15\ of the Act to determine whether the proposed
rule change should be approved or disapproved.
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\15\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
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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-2016-108 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEArca-2016-108. 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-2016-108 and should
be submitted on or before September 6, 2016.
[[Page 54144]]
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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Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-19323 Filed 8-12-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P