Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change To List and Trade the Shares of the First Trust California Municipal High Income ETF, 17314-17324 [2017-07045]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 67 / Monday, April 10, 2017 / Notices
the proposed rule change to be operative
upon filing.27
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.28
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–
OCC–2017–003 on the subject line.
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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–OCC–2017–003. 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
27 For purposes only of waiving the 30-day
operative delay, the Commission has also
considered the proposed rule’s impact on
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See
15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
28 Notwithstanding its immediate effectiveness,
implementation of this rule change will be delayed
until this change is deemed certified under CFTC
Regulation § 40.6.
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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 OCC and on OCC’s Web site at
https://www.theocc.com/components/
docs/legal/rules_and_bylaws/sr_occ_17_
003.pdf
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–OCC–2017–003 and should
be submitted on or before May 1, 2017.
For the Commission by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.29
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017–07047 Filed 4–7–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–80369; File No. SR–
NASDAQ–2017–033]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; The
NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of
Filing of Proposed Rule Change To
List and Trade the Shares of the First
Trust California Municipal High Income
ETF
April 4, 2017.
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 March 24,
2017, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
(‘‘Nasdaq’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission
(‘‘SEC’’ or ‘‘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 Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to list and
trade the shares of the First Trust
California Municipal High Income ETF
(the ‘‘Fund’’) of First Trust ExchangeTraded Fund III (the ‘‘Trust’’) under
Nasdaq Rule 5735 (‘‘Managed Fund
Shares’’).3 The shares of the Fund are
29 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
3 The Commission approved Nasdaq Rule 5735 in
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 57962 (June
1 15
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collectively referred to herein as the
‘‘Shares.’’
The text of the proposed rule change
is available on the Exchange’s Web site
at https://nasdaq.cchwallstreet.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 aspects of such
statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
The Exchange proposes to list and
trade the Shares of the Fund under
Nasdaq Rule 5735, which governs the
listing and trading of Managed Fund
Shares 4 on the Exchange. The Fund will
13, 2008), 73 FR 35175 (June 20, 2008) (SR–
NASDAQ–2008–039). The Exchange notes that the
Commission has previously issued orders with
respect to the First Trust Municipal High Income
ETF, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 78913
(September 23, 2016), 81 FR 69109 (October 5,
2016) (SR–NASDAQ–2016–002); and First Trust
Managed Municipal ETF, Securities Exchange Act
Release No. 71913 (April 9, 2014), 79 FR 21333
(April 15, 2014) (SR–NASDAQ–2014–019). The
Exchange believes the proposed rule change raises
no significant issues not previously addressed in
those prior Commission orders. In addition, the
Exchange notes that the Commission has approved
listing and trading of certain index-based ETFs that
invest in municipal securities. See, e.g., Securities
Exchange Act Release Nos. 75376 (July 7, 2015), 80
FR 40113 (July 13, 2015) (SR–NYSEArca–2015–18)
(order approving listing and trading of Vanguard
Tax-Exempt Bond Index Fund); 71232 (January 3,
2014), 79 FR 1662 (January 9, 2014) (SR–
NYSEArca–2013–118) (order approving listing and
trading of Market Vectors Short High-Yield
Municipal Index ETF); and 63881 (February 9,
2011), 76 FR 9065 (February 16, 2011) (SR–
NYSEArca–2010–120) (order approving listing and
trading of SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal
Bond ETF).
4 A Managed Fund Share is a security that
represents an interest in an investment company
registered under the Investment Company Act of
1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a–1) (the ‘‘1940 Act’’) organized
as an open-end investment company or similar
entity that invests in a portfolio of securities
selected by its investment adviser consistent with
its investment objectives and policies. In contrast,
an open-end investment company that issues Index
Fund Shares, listed and traded on the Exchange
under Nasdaq Rule 5705, seeks to provide
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be an actively-managed exchange-traded
fund (‘‘ETF’’). The Shares will be
offered by the Trust, which was
established as a Massachusetts business
trust on January 9, 2008.5 The Trust is
registered with the Commission as an
investment company and has filed a
registration statement on Form N–1A
(‘‘Registration Statement’’) with the
Commission.6 The Fund will be a series
of the Trust. The Fund intends to
qualify each year as a regulated
investment company (‘‘RIC’’) under
Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended.
First Trust Advisors L.P. will be the
investment adviser (‘‘Adviser’’) to the
Fund. First Trust Portfolios L.P. (the
‘‘Distributor’’) will be the principal
underwriter and distributor of the
Fund’s Shares. Brown Brothers
Harriman & Co. (‘‘BBH’’) will act as the
administrator, accounting agent,
custodian, and transfer agent to the
Fund.
Paragraph (g) of Rule 5735 provides
that if the investment adviser to the
investment company issuing Managed
Fund Shares is affiliated with a brokerdealer, such investment adviser shall
erect a ‘‘fire wall’’ between the
investment adviser and the brokerdealer with respect to access to
information concerning the composition
and/or changes to such investment
company portfolio.7 In addition,
investment results that correspond generally to the
price and yield performance of a specific foreign or
domestic stock index, fixed income securities index
or combination thereof.
5 The Commission has issued an order, upon
which the Trust may rely, granting certain
exemptive relief under the 1940 Act. See
Investment Company Act Release No. 30029 (April
10, 2012) (File No. 812–13795) (the ‘‘Exemptive
Relief’’). In addition, 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 ETFs. See NoAction Letter dated December 6, 2012 from
Elizabeth G. Osterman, Associate Director, Office of
Exemptive Applications, Division of Investment
Management. The No-Action Letter stated that the
Division would not recommend enforcement action
to the Commission under applicable provisions of
and rules under the 1940 Act if actively-managed
ETFs operating in reliance on specified orders
(which include the Exemptive Relief) invest in
options contracts, futures contracts or swap
agreements provided that they comply with certain
representations stated in the No-Action Letter.
6 See Post-Effective Amendment No. 65 to
Registration Statement on Form N–1A for the Trust,
dated March 23, 2017 (File Nos. 333–176976 and
811–22245). The descriptions of the Fund and the
Shares contained herein are based, in part, on
information in the Registration Statement.
7 An investment adviser to an open-end fund is
required to be registered under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940 (the ‘‘Advisers Act’’). As a
result, the Adviser and its related personnel are
subject to the provisions of Rule 204A–1 under the
Advisers Act relating to codes of ethics. This Rule
requires investment advisers to adopt a code of
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paragraph (g) further requires that
personnel who make decisions on the
open-end fund’s portfolio composition
must be subject to procedures designed
to prevent the use and dissemination of
material, non-public information
regarding the open-end fund’s portfolio.
Rule 5735(g) is similar to Nasdaq Rule
5705(b)(5)(A)(i); however, paragraph (g)
in connection with the establishment of
a ‘‘fire wall’’ between the investment
adviser and the broker-dealer reflects
the applicable open-end fund’s
portfolio, not an underlying benchmark
index, as is the case with index-based
funds. The Adviser is not a brokerdealer, but it is affiliated with the
Distributor, a broker-dealer, and has
implemented and will maintain a fire
wall with respect to its broker-dealer
affiliate regarding access to information
concerning the composition and/or
changes to the portfolio.
In addition, personnel who make
decisions on the Fund’s portfolio
composition will be subject to
procedures designed to prevent the use
and dissemination of material nonpublic information regarding the Fund’s
portfolio. In the event (a) the Adviser or
any sub-adviser registers as a brokerdealer or becomes newly affiliated with
a broker-dealer, or (b) any new adviser
or sub-adviser is a registered brokerdealer or becomes affiliated with
another broker-dealer, it will implement
and maintain a fire wall with respect to
its relevant personnel and/or such
broker-dealer affiliate, as applicable,
regarding access to information
concerning the composition and/or
changes to the portfolio and will be
subject to procedures designed to
prevent the use and dissemination of
material non-public information
regarding such portfolio. The Fund
currently does not intend to use a subadviser.
ethics that reflects the fiduciary nature of the
relationship to clients as well as compliance with
other applicable securities laws. Accordingly,
procedures designed to prevent the communication
and misuse of non-public information by an
investment adviser must be consistent with Rule
204A–1 under the Advisers Act. In addition, Rule
206(4)–7 under the Advisers Act makes it unlawful
for an investment adviser to provide investment
advice to clients unless such investment adviser has
(i) adopted and implemented written policies and
procedures reasonably designed to prevent
violation, by the investment adviser and its
supervised persons, of the Advisers Act and the
Commission rules adopted thereunder; (ii)
implemented, at a minimum, an annual review
regarding the adequacy of the policies and
procedures established pursuant to subparagraph (i)
above and the effectiveness of their
implementation; and (iii) designated an individual
(who is a supervised person) responsible for
administering the policies and procedures adopted
under subparagraph (i) above.
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First Trust California Municipal High
Income ETF
Principal Investments
The primary investment objective of
the Fund will be to generate current
income that is exempt from regular
federal income taxes and California
income taxes and its secondary
objective will be long-term capital
appreciation. Under normal market
conditions,8 the Fund will seek to
achieve its investment objectives by
investing at least 80% of its net assets
(including investment borrowings) in
municipal debt securities that pay
interest that is exempt from regular
federal income taxes and California
income taxes (collectively, ‘‘Municipal
Securities’’).9 Municipal Securities will
be issued by or on behalf of the State of
California or territories or possessions of
the U.S. (including without limitation
Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and
Guam), and/or the political
subdivisions, agencies, authorities and
other instrumentalities of such State,
territories or possessions.10
8 The term ‘‘under normal market conditions’’ as
used herein includes, but is not limited to, the
absence of adverse market, economic, political or
other conditions, including 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.
On a temporary basis, including for defensive
purposes, during the initial invest-up period (i.e.,
the six-week period following the commencement
of trading of Shares on the Exchange) and during
periods of high cash inflows or outflows (i.e.,
rolling periods of seven calendar days during which
inflows or outflows of cash, in the aggregate, exceed
10% of the Fund’s net assets as of the opening of
business on the first day of such periods), the Fund
may depart from its principal investment strategies;
for example, it may hold a higher than normal
proportion of its assets in cash. During such
periods, the Fund may not be able to achieve its
investment objectives. The Fund may adopt a
defensive strategy when the Adviser believes
securities in which the Fund normally invests have
elevated risks due to political or economic factors
and in other extraordinary circumstances.
9 Assuming compliance with the investment
requirements and limitations described herein, the
Fund may invest up to 100% of its net assets in
Municipal Securities that pay interest that generates
income subject to the federal alternative minimum
tax.
10 For the avoidance of doubt, Municipal
Securities issued by or on behalf of territories or
possessions of the U.S. and/or the political
subdivisions, agencies, authorities and other
instrumentalities of such territories or possessions
(collectively, ‘‘Territorial Obligations’’) will pay
interest that is exempt from regular federal income
taxes and California income taxes. Under normal
market conditions, except for the initial invest-up
period and periods of high cash inflows or
outflows, the Fund will limit its investments in
Territorial Obligations to 20% of its net assets. (See
note 8 regarding the meaning of the terms ‘‘initial
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The types of Municipal Securities in
which the Fund may invest include
municipal lease obligations (and
certificates of participation in such
obligations), municipal general
obligation bonds, municipal revenue
bonds, municipal notes, municipal cash
equivalents, private activity bonds
(including without limitation industrial
development bonds), and prerefunded 11 and escrowed to maturity
bonds. In addition, Municipal Securities
include securities issued by entities
(referred to as ‘‘Municipal Entities’’)
whose underlying assets are municipal
bonds (i.e., tender option bond (TOB)
trusts and custodial receipts trusts).
The Fund may invest in Municipal
Securities of any maturity. However,
under normal market conditions, except
for the initial invest-up period and
periods of high cash inflows or
outflows,12 the weighted average
maturity of the Fund will be less than
or equal to 14 years.
Under normal market conditions,
except for the initial invest-up period
and periods of high cash inflows or
outflows,13 the Fund will invest at least
50% of its net assets in ‘‘investment
grade Municipal Securities,’’ which are
Municipal Securities that are, at the
time of investment, rated investment
grade (i.e., rated Baa3/BBB¥or above)
by at least one nationally recognized
statistical rating organization
(‘‘NRSRO’’) rating such securities (or
Municipal Securities that are unrated
and determined by the Adviser to be of
comparable quality 14) (the ‘‘Investment
invest-up period’’ and ‘‘periods of high cash inflows
or outflows.’’)
11 A pre-refunded municipal bond is a municipal
bond that has been refunded to a call date on or
before the final maturity of principal and remains
outstanding in the municipal market. The payment
of principal and interest of the pre-refunded
municipal bonds held by the Fund will be funded
from securities in a designated escrow account that
holds U.S. Treasury securities or other obligations
of the U.S. government (including its agencies and
instrumentalities). As the payment of principal and
interest is generated from securities held in a
designated escrow account, the pledge of the
municipality has been fulfilled and the original
pledge of revenue by the municipality is no longer
in place. The escrow account securities pledged to
pay the principal and interest of the pre-refunded
municipal bond do not guarantee the price
movement of the bond before maturity. Investment
in pre-refunded municipal bonds held by the Fund
may subject the Fund to interest rate risk, market
risk and credit risk. In addition, while a secondary
market exists for pre-refunded municipal bonds, if
the Fund sells pre-refunded municipal bonds prior
to maturity, the price received may be more or less
than the original cost, depending on market
conditions at the time of sale.
12 See note 8 regarding the meaning of the terms
‘‘initial invest-up period’’ and ‘‘periods of high cash
inflows or outflows.’’
13 Id.
14 Comparable quality of unrated Municipal
Securities will be determined by the Adviser based
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Grade Requirement’’). The Fund will
consider pre-refunded or escrowed to
maturity bonds, regardless of rating, to
be investment grade Municipal
Securities. The Fund may invest up to
50% of its net assets in Municipal
Securities that are, at the time of
investment, not investment grade
Municipal Securities (commonly
referred to as ‘‘high yield’’ or ‘‘junk’’
bonds).15 If, subsequent to purchase by
the Fund, a Municipal Security held by
the Fund experiences a decrease in
credit quality and is no longer an
investment grade Municipal Security,
the Fund may continue to hold the
Municipal Security and it will not cause
the Fund to violate the Investment
Grade Requirement; however, the
Municipal Security will be taken into
account for purposes of determining
whether purchases of additional
Municipal Securities will cause the
Fund to violate the Investment Grade
Requirement.
Although as described below, certain
of the representations included in this
filing will meet or exceed similar
requirements set forth in the generic
listing standards for actively-managed
ETFs (the ‘‘Generic Listing Standards’’),
it is not anticipated that the Fund will
meet the requirement that components
that in the aggregate account for at least
75% of the fixed income weight of the
portfolio each have a minimum original
principal amount outstanding of $100
million or more.16 In general terms, as
described above, the Fund will operate
as an actively-managed ETF that
normally invests in a portfolio of
Municipal Securities and will be subject
to the Investment Grade Requirement
on fundamental credit analysis of the unrated
security and comparable rated securities. On a best
efforts basis, the Adviser will attempt to make a
rating determination based on publicly available
data. In making a ‘‘comparable quality’’
determination, the Adviser may consider, for
example, whether the issuer of the security has
issued other rated securities, the nature and
provisions of the relevant security, whether the
obligations under the relevant security are
guaranteed by another entity and the rating of such
guarantor (if any), relevant cash flows,
macroeconomic analysis, and/or sector or industry
analysis.
15 These Municipal Securities may include
Municipal Securities that are currently in default
and not expected to pay the current coupon
(‘‘Distressed Municipal Securities’’). The Fund may
invest up to 10% of its net assets in Distressed
Municipal Securities. If, subsequent to purchase by
the Fund, a Municipal Security held by the Fund
becomes a Distressed Municipal Security, the Fund
may continue to hold the Distressed Municipal
Security and it will not cause the Fund to violate
the 10% limitation; however, the Distressed
Municipal Security will be taken into account for
purposes of determining whether purchases of
additional Municipal Securities will cause the Fund
to violate such limitation.
16 See Nasdaq Rule 5735(b)(1)(B)(i).
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(in contrast to, for example, an indexbased ETF that tracks an index
comprised of the largest municipal debt
issuers). The Adviser notes that debt
issuance sizes for municipal obligations
are generally smaller than for corporate
obligations. Furthermore, as a general
matter, municipal borrowers in certain
industries with municipal obligations
rated in the ‘‘A’’ and ‘‘BBB’’ categories
(in which the Fund currently intends to
invest significantly) 17 tend to have less
outstanding debt than municipal
borrowers in other municipal industries.
Therefore, under normal market
conditions, except for the initial investup period and periods of high cash
inflows or outflows,18 at least 40%
(based on dollar amount invested) of the
Municipal Securities in which the Fund
invests 19 will be issued by issuers with
total outstanding debt issuances that, in
the aggregate, have a minimum amount
of municipal debt outstanding at the
time of purchase of $50 million or more
(the ‘‘40/50 Requirement’’). The Adviser
believes that the 40/50 Requirement is
appropriate in light of the Fund’s
investment objectives and the manner in
which the Fund intends to pursue them.
Given the expected availability of
Municipal Securities that will satisfy
the Fund’s investment parameters and
the debt issuance profiles of the
corresponding issuers and borrowers,
the 40/50 Requirement should both
provide the Fund with flexibility to
construct its portfolio and, when
combined with the other representations
in this filing (including certain
representations set forth below
pertaining to fixed income securities
weightings and number of non-affiliated
issuers that are based on, but more
stringent than, the Generic Listing
Standards), should support the potential
for diversity and liquidity, thereby
mitigating the Commission’s concerns
about manipulation.
Under normal market conditions,
except for the initial invest-up period
17 These industries include charter schools, senior
living facilities (i.e., continuing care retirement
communities (CCRCs)) and special tax districts,
among others. See note 35 and accompanying text
regarding the Fund’s exposure to different
industries. In the case of a municipal conduit
financing (in general terms, the issuance of
municipal securities by an issuer to finance a
project to be used primarily by a third party (the
‘‘conduit borrower’’)), the ‘‘borrower’’ is the conduit
borrower (i.e., the party on which a bondholder
must rely for repayment). In the case of other
municipal financings, the ‘‘borrower’’ is the issuer
of the municipal securities.
18 See note 8 regarding the meaning of the terms
‘‘initial invest-up period’’ and ‘‘periods of high cash
inflows or outflows.’’
19 For the avoidance of doubt, in the case of
Municipal Securities that are issued by Municipal
Entities, the underlying municipal bonds will be
taken into account.
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and periods of high cash inflows or
outflows,20 no component fixed income
security (excluding the U.S. government
securities described in ‘‘Other
Investments’’ below) will represent
more than 15% of the Fund’s net assets,
and the five most heavily weighted
component fixed income securities in
the Fund’s portfolio (excluding U.S.
government securities) will not, in the
aggregate, account for more than 25% of
the Fund’s net assets.21 Further, under
normal market conditions, except for
the initial invest-up period and periods
of high cash inflows or outflows,22 the
Fund’s portfolio of Municipal Securities
will include securities from a minimum
of 30 non-affiliated issuers.23 Moreover,
under normal market conditions, except
for the initial invest-up period and
periods of high cash inflows or
outflows,24 component securities that in
the aggregate account for at least 90% of
the weight of the Fund’s portfolio of
Municipal Securities will be exempted
securities as defined in Section 3(a)(12)
of the Act.25 Additionally, to the extent
the Fund invests in Municipal
Securities that are asset-backed
securities,26 such investments will not
20 See note 8 regarding the meaning of the terms
‘‘initial invest-up period’’ and ‘‘periods of high cash
inflows or outflows.’’
21 See the Generic Listing Standards requirement
set forth in Nasdaq Rule 5735(b)(1)(B)(ii), which
provides that that no component fixed income
security (excluding U.S. Treasury securities and
government-sponsored entity (‘‘GSE’’) securities)
may represent more than 30% of the fixed income
weight of the portfolio, and that the five most
heavily weighted component fixed income
securities in the portfolio (excluding U.S. Treasury
securities and GSE securities) may not in the
aggregate account for more than 65% of the fixed
income weight of the portfolio. For the avoidance
of doubt, in the case of Municipal Securities that
are issued by Municipal Entities, the underlying
municipal bonds will be taken into account.
22 See note 8 regarding the meaning of the terms
‘‘initial invest-up period’’ and ‘‘periods of high cash
inflows or outflows.’’
23 See the Generic Listing Standards requirement
set forth in Nasdaq Rule 5735(b)(1)(B)(iii), which
provides that generally an underlying portfolio
(excluding exempted securities) that includes fixed
income securities must include a minimum of 13
non-affiliated issuers. For the avoidance of doubt,
in the case of Municipal Securities that are issued
by Municipal Entities, the underlying municipal
bonds will be taken into account. Additionally, for
purposes of this restriction, each separate political
subdivision, agency, authority, or instrumentality of
the State of California, and each guarantor, if any,
will be treated as separate, non-affiliated issuers of
Municipal Securities.
24 See note 8 regarding the meaning of the terms
‘‘initial invest-up period’’ and ‘‘periods of high cash
inflows or outflows.’’
25 See the Generic Listing Standards requirement
set forth in Nasdaq Rule 5735(b)(1)(B)(iv)(d). For the
avoidance of doubt, in the case of Municipal
Securities that are issued by Municipal Entities, the
underlying municipal bonds will be taken into
account.
26 For the avoidance of doubt, municipal debt
securities backed by mortgages or tax liens will not
be considered asset-backed securities.
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account, in the aggregate, for more than
20% of the weight of the fixed income
portion of the Fund’s portfolio.27
Additional representations pertaining
to the Fund’s portfolio, including
representations relating to exposure to
industries, are set forth below under
‘‘Investment Restrictions’’ (such
representations relating to exposure to
industries, together with the
representations set forth in the two
preceding paragraphs and the
Investment Grade Requirement, are
collectively the ‘‘Portfolio
Representations’’). In light of the
requirements they impose (e.g.,
concerning credit quality, municipal
debt outstanding, fixed income
securities weightings, issuer
diversification, the nature of the
securities in which the Fund will invest
(including representations relating to
exempted securities and asset-backed
securities), and exposure to industries),
the Portfolio Representations should
provide support regarding the
anticipated diversity and liquidity of the
Fund’s Municipal Securities portfolio
and should mitigate the risks associated
with manipulation.
Other Investments
With respect to up to 20% (in the
aggregate) of its net assets, the Fund
may invest in and hold the securities
and other instruments (including cash)
described below.
The Fund may invest in short-term
debt instruments (described below),
money market funds and other cash
equivalents, and taxable and other
municipal securities that are not
Municipal Securities, or it may hold
cash. The percentage of the Fund
invested in such holdings or held in
cash will vary and will depend on
several factors, including market
conditions. Short-term debt
instruments, which do not include
Municipal Securities, are issued by
issuers having a long-term debt rating of
at least A¥/A3 (as applicable) by S&P
Global Ratings (‘‘S&P’’), Moody’s
Investors Service, Inc. (‘‘Moody’s’’) or
Fitch Ratings (‘‘Fitch’’) and have a
maturity of one year or less.
The Fund may invest in the following
short-term debt instruments: (1)Fixed
rate and floating rate U.S. government
securities, including bills, notes and
bonds differing as to maturity and rates
of interest, which are either issued or
guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or by
U.S. government agencies or
instrumentalities; (2) certificates of
deposit issued against funds deposited
27 See the Generic Listing Standards requirement
set forth in Nasdaq Rule 5735(b)(1)(B)(v).
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17317
in a bank or savings and loan
association; (3) bankers’ acceptances,
which are short-term credit instruments
used to finance commercial
transactions; (4) repurchase
agreements,28 which involve purchases
of debt securities; (5) bank time
deposits, which are monies kept on
deposit with banks or savings and loan
associations for a stated period of time
at a fixed rate of interest; and (6)
commercial paper, which is short-term
unsecured promissory notes.29
The Fund may (i) invest in the
securities of other investment
companies registered under the 1940
Act, including money market funds,
ETFs,30 open-end funds (other than
money market funds and other ETFs),
and closed-end funds and (ii) acquire
short positions in the securities of the
foregoing investment companies.
The Fund may (i) invest in exchangelisted options on U.S. Treasury
securities, exchange-listed options on
U.S. Treasury futures contracts, and
exchange-listed U.S. Treasury futures
contracts and (ii) acquire short positions
in the foregoing derivatives.
Transactions in the foregoing
derivatives may allow the Fund to
obtain net long or short exposures to
selected interest rates. These derivatives
may also be used to hedge risks,
including interest rate risks and credit
risks, associated with the Fund’s
portfolio investments. The Fund’s
28 The Fund intends to enter into repurchase
agreements only with financial institutions and
dealers believed by the Adviser to present minimal
credit risks in accordance with criteria approved by
the Board of Trustees of the Trust (‘‘Trust Board’’).
The Adviser will review and monitor the
creditworthiness of such institutions. The Adviser
will monitor the value of the collateral at the time
the transaction is entered into and at all times
during the term of the repurchase agreement.
29 The Fund may only invest in commercial paper
rated A–3 or higher by S&P, Prime–3 or higher by
Moody’s or F3 or higher by Fitch.
30 An ETF is an investment company registered
under the 1940 Act that holds a portfolio of
securities. Many ETFs are designed to track the
performance of a securities index, including
industry, sector, country and region indexes. ETFs
included in the Fund will be listed and traded in
the U.S. on one or more registered exchanges. The
Fund may invest in the securities of certain ETFs
in excess of the limits imposed under the 1940 Act
pursuant to exemptive orders obtained by such
ETFs and their sponsors from the Commission. In
addition, the Fund may invest in the securities of
certain other investment companies in excess of the
limits imposed under the 1940 Act pursuant to an
exemptive order that the Trust has obtained from
the Commission. See Investment Company Act
Release No. 30377 (February 5, 2013) (File No. 812–
13895). The ETFs in which the Fund may invest
include Index Fund Shares (as described in Nasdaq
Rule 5705), Portfolio Depository Receipts (as
described in Nasdaq Rule 5705), and Managed Fund
Shares (as described in Nasdaq Rule 5735). While
the Fund may invest in inverse ETFs, the Fund will
not invest in leveraged or inverse leveraged (e.g., 2X
or ¥3X) ETFs.
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investments in derivative instruments
will be consistent with the Fund’s
investment objectives and the 1940 Act
and will not be used to seek to achieve
a multiple or inverse multiple of the
Fund’s broad-based securities market
index (as defined in Form N–1A).
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Investment Restrictions
The Fund may hold up to an aggregate
amount of 15% of its net assets in
illiquid assets (calculated at the time of
investment), including Rule 144A
securities deemed illiquid by the
Adviser.31 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 assets. Illiquid assets 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.32
The Fund may not invest 25% or
more of the value of its total assets in
securities of issuers in any one industry.
This restriction does not apply to (a)
municipal securities issued by
governments or political subdivisions of
governments, (b) obligations issued or
guaranteed by the U.S. government, its
agencies or instrumentalities, or (c)
securities of other investment
companies.33 In addition, under normal
31 In reaching liquidity decisions, the Adviser
may consider the following factors: The frequency
of trades and quotes for the security; the number of
dealers wishing 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 in which it trades (e.g., the time
needed to dispose of the security, the method of
soliciting offers and the mechanics of transfer).
32 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 Securities Act of 1933).
33 See Form N–1A, Item 9. The Commission has
taken the position that a fund is concentrated if it
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market conditions, except for the initial
invest-up period and periods of high
cash inflows or outflows,34 the Fund’s
investments in Municipal Securities
will provide exposure (based on dollar
amount invested) to at least 10 different
industries 35 (with no more than 25% of
the value of the Fund’s net assets
comprised of Municipal Securities that
provide exposure to any single
industry).36
Creation and Redemption of Shares
The Fund will issue and redeem
Shares on a continuous basis at net asset
value (‘‘NAV’’) 37 only in large blocks of
Shares (‘‘Creation Units’’) in
transactions with authorized
participants, generally including brokerdealers and large institutional investors
(‘‘Authorized Participants’’). Creation
Units generally will consist of 50,000
Shares, although this may change from
time to time. Creation Units, however,
are not expected to consist of less than
50,000 Shares. As described in the
Registration Statement and consistent
with the Exemptive Relief, the Fund
will issue and redeem Creation Units in
exchange for an in-kind portfolio of
instruments and/or cash in lieu of such
instruments (the ‘‘Creation Basket’’).38
In addition, if there is a difference
between the NAV attributable to a
Creation Unit and the market value of
the Creation Basket exchanged for the
Creation Unit, the party conveying
instruments (which may include cashinvests more than 25% of the value of its total
assets in any one industry. See, e.g., Investment
Company Act Release No. 9011 (October 30, 1975),
40 FR 54241 (November 21, 1975).
34 See note 8 regarding the meaning of the terms
‘‘initial invest-up period’’ and ‘‘periods of high cash
inflows or outflows.’’
35 The municipal industry classification system
used by the Fund will divide the municipal
securities universe into distinct categories that are
intended to reflect either the use of proceeds
generated by particular subsets of municipal
securities or the collateral/sources of repayment
securing/backing such municipal securities. For
example, municipal bonds associated with the
airport industry are issued to construct or expand
an airport and/or related facilities and are secured
by revenues generated from the use of the airport.
36 For the avoidance of doubt, in the case of
Municipal Securities that are issued by Municipal
Entities, the underlying municipal bonds will be
taken into account.
37 The NAV of the Fund’s Shares generally will
be calculated once daily Monday through Friday as
of the close of regular trading on the New York
Stock Exchange (‘‘NYSE’’), generally 4:00 p.m.,
Eastern Time (the ‘‘NAV Calculation Time’’). NAV
per Share will be calculated by dividing the Fund’s
net assets by the number of Fund Shares
outstanding.
38 Subject to, and in accordance with, the
provisions of the Exemptive Relief, it is expected
that the Fund will typically issue and redeem
Creation Units on a cash basis; however, at times,
it may issue and redeem Creation Units on an inkind (or partially in-kind) basis.
PO 00000
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in-lieu amounts) with the lower value
will pay to the other an amount in cash
equal to the difference (referred to as the
‘‘Cash Component’’).
Creations and redemptions must be
made by or through an Authorized
Participant that has executed an
agreement that has been agreed to by the
Distributor and BBH with respect to
creations and redemptions of Creation
Units. All standard orders to create
Creation Units must be received by the
transfer agent no later than the closing
time of the regular trading session on
the NYSE (ordinarily 4:00 p.m., Eastern
Time) (the ‘‘Closing Time’’), in each
case on the date such order is placed in
order for the creation of Creation Units
to be effected based on the NAV of
Shares as next determined on such date
after receipt of the order in proper form.
Shares may be redeemed only in
Creation Units at their NAV next
determined after receipt, not later than
the Closing Time, of a redemption
request in proper form by the Fund
through the transfer agent and only on
a business day.
The Fund’s custodian, through the
National Securities Clearing
Corporation, will make available on
each business day, prior to the opening
of business of the Exchange, the list of
the names and quantities of the
instruments comprising the Creation
Basket, as well as the estimated Cash
Component (if any), for that day. The
published Creation Basket will apply
until a new Creation Basket is
announced on the following business
day prior to commencement of trading
in the Shares.
Net Asset Value
The Fund’s NAV will be determined
as of the close of regular trading on the
NYSE on each day the NYSE is open for
trading. If the NYSE closes early on a
valuation day, the NAV will be
determined as of that time. NAV per
Share will be calculated for the Fund by
taking the value of the Fund’s total
assets, including interest or dividends
accrued but not yet collected, less all
liabilities, including accrued expenses
and dividends declared but unpaid, and
dividing such amount by the total
number of Shares outstanding. The
result, rounded to the nearest cent, will
be the NAV per Share. All valuations
will be subject to review by the Trust
Board or its delegate.
The Fund’s investments will be
valued daily. As described more
specifically below, investments traded
on an exchange (i.e., a regulated
market), will generally be valued at
market value prices that represent last
sale or official closing prices. In
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addition, as described more specifically
below, non-exchange traded
investments (including Municipal
Securities) will generally be valued
using prices obtained from third-party
pricing services (each, a ‘‘Pricing
Service’’).39 If, however, valuations for
any of the Fund’s investments cannot be
readily obtained as provided in the
preceding manner, or the Pricing
Committee of the Adviser (the ‘‘Pricing
Committee’’) 40 questions the accuracy
or reliability of valuations that are so
obtained, such investments will be
valued at fair value, as determined by
the Pricing Committee, in accordance
with valuation procedures (which may
be revised from time to time) adopted by
the Trust Board (the ‘‘Valuation
Procedures’’), and in accordance with
provisions of the 1940 Act. The Pricing
Committee’s fair value determinations
may require subjective judgments about
the value of an asset. The fair valuations
attempt to estimate the value at which
an asset could be sold at the time of
pricing, although actual sales could
result in price differences, which could
be material.
Certain securities, including in
particular Municipal Securities, in
which the Fund may invest will not be
listed on any securities exchange or
board of trade. Such securities will
typically be bought and sold by
institutional investors in individually
negotiated private transactions that
function in many respects like an overthe-counter secondary market, although
typically no formal market makers will
exist. Certain securities, particularly
debt securities, will have few or no
trades, or trade infrequently, and
information regarding a specific security
may not be widely available or may be
incomplete. Accordingly,
determinations of the value of debt
securities may be based on infrequent
and dated information. Because there is
less reliable, objective data available,
elements of judgment may play a greater
role in valuation of debt securities than
for other types of securities.
The information summarized below is
based on the Valuation Procedures as
currently in effect; however, as noted
above, the Valuation Procedures are
amended from time to time and,
therefore, such information is subject to
change.
The following investments will
typically be valued using information
39 The Adviser may use various Pricing Services
or discontinue the use of any Pricing Services, as
approved by the Trust Board from time to time.
40 The Pricing Committee will be subject to
procedures designed to prevent the use and
dissemination of material non-public information
regarding the Fund’s portfolio.
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20:02 Apr 07, 2017
Jkt 241001
provided by a Pricing Service: (a) Except
as provided below, Municipal
Securities; (b) except as provided below,
short-term U.S. government securities,
commercial paper, and bankers’
acceptances, all as set forth under
‘‘Other Investments’’ (collectively,
‘‘Short-Term Debt Instruments’’); and (c)
except as provided below, taxable and
other municipal securities that are not
Municipal Securities. Debt instruments
may be valued at evaluated mean prices,
as provided by Pricing Services. Pricing
Services typically value non-exchangetraded instruments utilizing a range of
market-based inputs and assumptions,
including readily available market
quotations obtained from broker-dealers
making markets in such instruments,
cash flows, and transactions for
comparable instruments. In pricing
certain instruments, the Pricing Services
may consider information about an
instrument’s issuer or market activity
provided by the Adviser.
Municipal Securities, Short-Term
Debt Instruments, and taxable and other
municipal securities having a remaining
maturity of 60 days or less when
purchased will typically be valued at
cost adjusted for amortization of
premiums and accretion of discounts,
provided the Pricing Committee has
determined that the use of amortized
cost is an appropriate reflection of value
given market and issuer-specific
conditions existing at the time of the
determination.
Repurchase agreements will typically
be valued as follows:
Overnight repurchase agreements will
be valued at amortized cost when it
represents the best estimate of value.
Term repurchase agreements (i.e., those
whose maturity exceeds seven days)
will be valued at the average of the bid
quotations obtained daily from at least
two recognized dealers.
Equity securities (including ETFs and
closed-end funds) listed on any
exchange other than the Exchange will
typically be valued at the last sale price
on the exchange on which they are
principally traded on the business day
as of which such value is being
determined. Such equity securities
(including ETFs and closed-end funds)
listed on the Exchange will typically be
valued at the official closing price on
the business day as of which such value
is being determined. If there has been no
sale on such day, or no official closing
price in the case of securities traded on
the Exchange, such equity securities
will typically be valued using fair value
pricing. Such equity securities traded on
more than one securities exchange will
be valued at the last sale price or official
closing price, as applicable, on the
PO 00000
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17319
business day as of which such value is
being determined at the close of the
exchange representing the principal
market for such securities.
Money market funds and other
registered open-end management
investment companies (other than ETFs,
which will be valued as described
above) will typically be valued at their
net asset values as reported by such
registered open-end management
investment companies to Pricing
Services.
Exchange-listed derivatives (including
options on U.S. Treasury securities,
options on U.S. Treasury futures
contracts, and U.S. Treasury futures
contracts) will typically be valued at the
closing price in the market where such
instruments are principally traded.
Availability of Information
The Fund’s Web site
(www.ftportfolios.com), which will be
publicly available prior to the public
offering of Shares, will include a form
of the prospectus for the Fund that may
be downloaded. The Web site will
include the Shares’ ticker, CUSIP and
exchange information along with
additional quantitative information
updated on a daily basis, including, for
the Fund: (1) Daily trading volume, the
prior business day’s reported NAV and
closing price, mid-point of the bid/ask
spread at the time of calculation of such
NAV (the ‘‘Bid/Ask Price’’),41 and a
calculation of the premium and
discount of the Bid/Ask Price against
the NAV; and (2) data in chart format
displaying the frequency distribution of
discounts and premiums of the daily
Bid/Ask Price against the NAV, within
appropriate ranges, for each of the four
previous calendar quarters. On each
business day, before commencement of
trading in Shares in the Regular Market
Session 42 on the Exchange, the Fund
will disclose on its Web site the
identities and quantities of the portfolio
of securities and other assets (the
‘‘Disclosed Portfolio’’ as defined in
Nasdaq Rule 5735(c)(2)) held by the
Fund that will form the basis for the
41 The Bid/Ask Price of the Fund will be
determined using the midpoint of the highest bid
and the lowest offer on the Exchange as of the time
of calculation of the Fund’s NAV. The records
relating to Bid/Ask Prices will be retained by the
Fund and its service providers.
42 See Nasdaq Rule 4120(b)(4) (describing the
three trading sessions on the Exchange: (1) PreMarket Session from 4 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., Eastern
Time; (2) Regular Market Session from 9:30 a.m. to
4 p.m. or 4:15 p.m., Eastern Time; and (3) PostMarket Session from 4 p.m. or 4:15 p.m. to 8 p.m.,
Eastern Time).
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asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Fund’s calculation of NAV at the end of
the business day.43
The Fund’s disclosure of derivative
positions in the Disclosed Portfolio will
include sufficient information for
market participants to use to value these
positions intraday. On a daily basis, the
Fund will disclose on the Fund’s Web
site the following information regarding
each portfolio holding, as applicable to
the type of holding: Ticker symbol,
CUSIP number or other identifier, if
any; a description of the holding
(including the type of holding); with
respect to holdings in derivatives, the
identity of the security, index or other
asset upon which the derivative is
based; for options, the option strike
price; quantity held (as measured by, for
example, par value, notional value or
number of shares, contracts or units);
maturity date, if any; coupon rate, if
any; effective date, if any; market value
of the holding; and percentage
weighting of the holding in the Fund’s
portfolio. The Web site information will
be publicly available at no charge.
In addition, for the Fund, an
estimated value, defined in Rule
5735(c)(3) as the ‘‘Intraday Indicative
Value,’’ that reflects an estimated
intraday value of the Fund’s Disclosed
Portfolio, will be disseminated.
Moreover, the Intraday Indicative Value,
available on the NASDAQ OMX
Information LLC proprietary index data
service,44 will be based upon the current
value for the components of the
Disclosed Portfolio and will be updated
and widely disseminated by one or
more major market data vendors and
broadly displayed at least every 15
seconds during the Regular Market
Session. The Intraday Indicative Value
will be based on quotes and closing
prices provided by a dealer who makes
a market in those instruments.
Premiums and discounts between the
Intraday Indicative Value and the
market price may occur. This should not
be viewed as a ‘‘real time’’ update of the
NAV per Share of the Fund, which is
calculated only once a day.
43 Under accounting procedures to be followed by
the Fund, trades made on the prior business day
(‘‘T’’) will be booked and reflected in NAV on the
current business day (‘‘T+1’’). Accordingly, the
Fund will be able to disclose at the beginning of the
business day the portfolio that will form the basis
for the NAV calculation at the end of the business
day.
44 Currently, the NASDAQ OMX Global Index
Data Service (‘‘GIDS’’) is the Nasdaq global index
data feed service, offering real-time updates, daily
summary messages, and access to widely followed
indexes and Intraday Indicative Values for ETFs.
GIDS provides investment professionals with the
daily information needed to track or trade Nasdaq
indexes, listed ETFs, or third-party partner indexes
and ETFs.
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The dissemination of the Intraday
Indicative Value, together with the
Disclosed Portfolio, will allow investors
to determine the value of the underlying
portfolio of the Fund on a daily basis
and will provide a close estimate of that
value throughout the trading day.
Investors will also be able to obtain
the Fund’s Statement of Additional
Information (‘‘SAI’’), the Fund’s annual
and semi-annual reports (together,
‘‘Shareholder Reports’’), and its Form
N–CSR and Form N–SAR, filed twice a
year. The Fund’s SAI and Shareholder
Reports will be available free upon
request from the Fund, and those
documents and the Form N–CSR and
Form N–SAR may be viewed on-screen
or downloaded from the Commission’s
Web site at www.sec.gov. Information
regarding market price and trading
volume of the Shares will be continually
available on a real-time basis throughout
the day on brokers’ computer screens
and other electronic services.
Information regarding the previous
day’s closing price and trading volume
information for the Shares will be
published daily in the financial section
of newspapers. Quotation and last sale
information for the Shares will be
available via Nasdaq proprietary quote
and trade services, as well as in
accordance with the Unlisted Trading
Privileges and the Consolidated Tape
Association (‘‘CTA’’) plans for the
Shares. Quotation and last sale
information for exchange-listed equity
securities (including other ETFs and
closed-end funds) will be available from
the exchanges on which they are traded
as well as in accordance with any
applicable CTA plans. Quotation and
last sale information for U.S. exchangelisted options will be available via the
Options Price Reporting Authority.
One source of price information for
Municipal Securities and taxable and
other municipal securities will be the
Electronic Municipal Market Access
(‘‘EMMA’’) of the Municipal Securities
Rulemaking Board (‘‘MSRB’’).45
Additionally, the MSRB offers trade
data subscription services that permit
subscribers to obtain same-day pricing
information about municipal securities
transactions. Moreover, pricing
information for Municipal Securities, as
well as for taxable and other municipal
securities, Short-Term Debt Instruments
(including short-term U.S. government
securities, commercial paper, and
45 Information available on EMMA includes nextday information regarding municipal securities
transactions and par amounts traded. In addition,
a source of price information for certain taxable
municipal securities is the Trade Reporting and
Compliance Engine (‘‘TRACE’’) of the Financial
Industry Regulatory Authority (‘‘FINRA’’).
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bankers’ acceptances), and repurchase
agreements will be available from major
broker-dealer firms and/or major market
data vendors and/or Pricing Services.
Pricing information for exchangelisted derivatives (including options on
U.S. Treasury securities, options on U.S.
Treasury futures contracts, and U.S.
Treasury futures contracts), ETFs and
closed-end funds will be available from
the applicable listing exchange and from
major market data vendors.
Money market funds and other openend funds (excluding ETFs) are
typically priced once each business day
and their prices will be available
through the applicable fund’s Web site
or from major market data vendors.
Additional information regarding the
Fund and the Shares, including
investment strategies, risks, creation and
redemption procedures, fees, Fund
holdings disclosure policies,
distributions and taxes will be included
in the Registration Statement.
Initial and Continued Listing
The Shares will be subject to Rule
5735, which sets forth the initial and
continued listing criteria applicable to
Managed Fund Shares. The Exchange
represents that, for initial and continued
listing, the Fund must be in compliance
with Rule 10A–3 46 under the Act. A
minimum of 100,000 Shares will be
outstanding at the commencement of
trading on the Exchange. The Exchange
will obtain a representation from the
issuer of the Shares that the NAV per
Share will be calculated daily and that
the NAV and the Disclosed Portfolio
will be made available to all market
participants at the same time.
Trading Halts
With respect to trading halts, the
Exchange may consider all relevant
factors in exercising its discretion to
halt or suspend trading in the Shares of
the Fund. Nasdaq will halt trading in
the Shares under the conditions
specified in Nasdaq Rules 4120 and
4121, including the trading pauses
under Nasdaq Rules 4120(a)(11) and
(12). Trading may be halted because of
market conditions or for reasons that, in
the view of the Exchange, make trading
in the Shares inadvisable. These may
include: (1) The extent to which trading
is not occurring in the securities and/or
the other assets constituting the
Disclosed Portfolio of the Fund; or (2)
whether other unusual conditions or
circumstances detrimental to the
maintenance of a fair and orderly
market are present. Trading in the
Shares also will be subject to Rule
46 See
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5735(d)(2)(D), which sets forth
circumstances under which Shares of
the Fund may be halted.
Trading Rules
Nasdaq deems the Shares to be equity
securities, thus rendering trading in the
Shares subject to Nasdaq’s existing rules
governing the trading of equity
securities. Nasdaq will allow trading in
the Shares from 4:00 a.m. until 8:00
p.m., Eastern Time. The Exchange has
appropriate rules to facilitate
transactions in the Shares during all
trading sessions. As provided in Nasdaq
Rule 5735(b)(3), the minimum price
variation for quoting and entry of orders
in Managed Fund Shares traded on the
Exchange is $0.01.
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Surveillance
The Exchange represents that trading
in the Shares will be subject to the
existing trading surveillances,
administered by both Nasdaq and also
FINRA on behalf of the Exchange,
which are designed to detect violations
of Exchange rules and applicable federal
securities laws.47 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.
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 and the exchangelisted securities and instruments held
by the Fund (including closed-end
funds, ETFs, exchange-listed options on
U.S. Treasury securities, exchange-listed
options on U.S. Treasury futures
contracts, and exchange-listed U.S.
Treasury futures contracts) with other
markets and other entities that are
members of the Intermarket
Surveillance Group (‘‘ISG’’),48 and
FINRA may obtain trading information
47 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.
48 For a list of the current members of ISG, see
www.isgportal.org. The Exchange notes that not all
components of the Disclosed Portfolio 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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20:02 Apr 07, 2017
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regarding trading in the Shares and such
exchange-listed securities and
instruments held by the Fund from such
markets and other entities. In addition,
the Exchange may obtain information
regarding trading in the Shares and the
exchange-listed securities and
instruments held by the Fund from
markets and other entities that are
members of ISG, which includes
securities and futures exchanges, or
with which the Exchange has in place
a comprehensive surveillance sharing
agreement. Moreover, FINRA, on behalf
of the Exchange, will be able to access,
as needed, trade information for certain
fixed income securities held by the
Fund reported to FINRA’s TRACE.49
At least 90% of the Fund’s net assets
that are invested in exchange-listed
options on U.S. Treasury securities,
exchange-listed options on U.S.
Treasury futures contracts, and
exchange-listed U.S. Treasury futures
contracts (in the aggregate) will be
invested in instruments that trade in
markets that are members of ISG or are
parties to a comprehensive surveillance
sharing agreement with the Exchange.
All of the Fund’s net assets that are
invested in exchange-listed equity
securities (including closed-end funds
and ETFs) will be invested in securities
that trade in markets that are members
of ISG or are parties to a comprehensive
surveillance sharing agreement with the
Exchange.
In addition, the Exchange also has a
general policy prohibiting the
distribution of material, non-public
information by its employees.
Information Circular
Prior to the commencement of
trading, the Exchange will inform its
members in an Information Circular of
the special characteristics and risks
associated with trading the Shares.
Specifically, the Information Circular
will discuss the following: (1) The
procedures for purchases and
redemptions of Shares in Creation Units
(and that Shares are not individually
redeemable); (2) Nasdaq Rule 2111A,
which imposes suitability obligations on
Nasdaq members with respect to
recommending transactions in the
Shares to customers; (3) how
information regarding the Intraday
Indicative Value and the Disclosed
Portfolio is disseminated; (4) the risks
involved in trading the Shares during
the Pre-Market and Post-Market
Sessions when an updated Intraday
Indicative Value will not be calculated
or publicly disseminated; (5) the
49 For Municipal Securities, trade information can
generally be found on the MSRB’s EMMA.
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17321
requirement that members deliver a
prospectus to investors purchasing
newly issued Shares prior to or
concurrently with the confirmation of a
transaction; and (6) trading information.
The Information Circular will also
discuss any exemptive, no-action and
interpretive relief granted by the
Commission from any rules under the
Act.
Additionally, the Information Circular
will reference that the Fund is subject
to various fees and expenses described
in the Registration Statement. The
Information Circular will also disclose
the trading hours of the Shares of the
Fund and the applicable NAV
Calculation Time for the Shares. The
Information Circular will disclose that
information about the Shares of the
Fund will be publicly available on the
Fund’s Web site.
Continued Listing Representations
All statements and representations
made in this filing regarding (a) the
description of the portfolio, (b)
limitations on portfolio holdings or
reference assets, or (c) the applicability
of Exchange rules and surveillance
procedures shall constitute continued
listing requirements for listing the
Shares on the Exchange. In addition, the
issuer has represented to the Exchange
that it will advise the 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 the Nasdaq 5800
Series.
2. Statutory Basis
Nasdaq believes that the proposal is
consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act
in general and Section 6(b)(5) of the Act
in particular in that it is designed to
prevent fraudulent and manipulative
acts and practices, to promote just and
equitable principles of trade, to foster
cooperation and coordination with
persons engaged in facilitating
transactions in securities, and to remove
impediments to and perfect the
mechanism of a free and open market
and, 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
be listed and traded on the Exchange
pursuant to the initial and continued
listing criteria in Nasdaq Rule 5735. The
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Exchange represents that trading in the
Shares will be subject to the existing
trading surveillances, administered by
both Nasdaq and also FINRA on behalf
of the Exchange, which are designed to
detect violations of Exchange rules and
applicable federal securities laws.
The Adviser is not a broker-dealer,
but it is affiliated with a broker-dealer
and is required to implement and
maintain a ‘‘fire wall’’ with respect to
such broker-dealer affiliate regarding
access to information concerning the
composition and/or changes to the
Fund’s portfolio. In addition, paragraph
(g) of Nasdaq Rule 5735 further requires
that personnel who make decisions on
the open-end fund’s portfolio
composition must be subject to
procedures designed to prevent the use
and dissemination of material nonpublic information regarding the openend fund’s portfolio.
FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange,
will communicate as needed regarding
trading in the Shares and the exchangelisted securities and instruments held
by the Fund (including closed-end
funds, ETFs, exchange-listed options on
U.S. Treasury securities, exchange-listed
options on U.S. Treasury futures
contracts, and exchange-listed U.S.
Treasury futures contracts) with other
markets and other entities that are
members of ISG, and FINRA may obtain
trading information regarding trading in
the Shares and such exchange-listed
securities and instruments held by the
Fund from such markets and other
entities.
In addition, the Exchange may obtain
information regarding trading in the
Shares and the exchange-listed
securities and instruments held by the
Fund from markets and other entities
that are members of ISG, which includes
securities and futures exchanges, or
with which the Exchange has in place
a comprehensive surveillance sharing
agreement. Moreover, FINRA, on behalf
of the Exchange, will be able to access,
as needed, trade information for certain
fixed income securities held by the
Fund reported to FINRA’s TRACE. At
least 90% of the Fund’s net assets that
are invested in exchange-listed options
on U.S. Treasury securities, exchangelisted options on U.S. Treasury futures
contracts, and exchange-listed U.S.
Treasury futures contracts (in the
aggregate) will be invested in
instruments that trade in markets that
are members of ISG or are parties to a
comprehensive surveillance sharing
agreement with the Exchange. All of the
Fund’s net assets that are invested in
exchange-listed equity securities
(including closed-end funds and ETFs)
will be invested in securities that trade
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20:02 Apr 07, 2017
Jkt 241001
in markets that are members of ISG or
are parties to a comprehensive
surveillance sharing agreement with the
Exchange.
The primary investment objective of
the Fund will be to generate current
income that is exempt from regular
federal income taxes and California
income taxes, and its secondary
objective will be long-term capital
appreciation. Under normal market
conditions, the Fund will seek to
achieve its investment objectives by
investing at least 80% of its net assets
(including investment borrowings) in
Municipal Securities. Under normal
market conditions, except for the initial
invest-up period and periods of high
cash inflows or outflows, the Fund will
limit its investments in Territorial
Obligations to 20% of its net assets. The
Fund will invest in accordance with the
Portfolio Representations. In light of the
requirements they impose (e.g.,
concerning credit quality, municipal
debt outstanding, fixed income
securities weightings, issuer
diversification, the nature of the
securities in which the Fund will invest
(including representations relating to
exempted securities and asset-backed
securities), and exposure to industries),
the Exchange believes that the Portfolio
Representations should provide support
regarding the anticipated diversity and
liquidity of the Fund’s Municipal
Securities portfolio and should mitigate
the risks associated with manipulation.
The Fund may invest up to 20% of its
net assets in taxable and other
municipal securities that are not
Municipal Securities. In addition, the
Fund may invest up to 10% of its net
assets in Distressed Municipal
Securities. With respect to up to 20% of
its net assets, the Fund may (i) invest in
exchange-listed options on U.S.
Treasury securities, exchange-listed
options on U.S. Treasury futures
contracts, and exchange-listed U.S.
Treasury futures contracts and (ii)
acquire short positions in the foregoing
derivatives. The Fund’s investments in
derivative instruments will be
consistent with the Fund’s investment
objectives and the 1940 Act and will not
be used to seek to achieve a multiple or
inverse multiple of the Fund’s broadbased securities market index (as
defined in Form N–1A). Also, the Fund
may hold up to an aggregate amount of
15% of its net assets in illiquid assets
(calculated at the time of investment),
including Rule 144A securities deemed
illiquid by the Adviser. 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
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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
assets. Illiquid assets 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.
The Fund’s investments will be
valued daily. Investments traded on an
exchange (i.e., a regulated market), will
generally be valued at market value
prices that represent last sale or official
closing prices. Non-exchange traded
investments (including Municipal
Securities) will generally be valued
using prices obtained from a Pricing
Service. If, however, valuations for any
of the Fund’s investments cannot be
readily obtained as provided in the
preceding manner, or the Pricing
Committee questions the accuracy or
reliability of valuations that are so
obtained, such investments will be
valued at fair value, as determined by
the Pricing Committee, in accordance
with the Valuation Procedures and in
accordance with provisions of the 1940
Act.
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 Exchange will
obtain a representation from the issuer
of the Shares that the NAV per Share
will be calculated daily and that the
NAV and the Disclosed Portfolio will be
made available to all market
participants at the same time. In
addition, a large amount of information
will be publicly available regarding the
Fund and the Shares, thereby promoting
market transparency. Moreover, the
Intraday Indicative Value, available on
the NASDAQ OMX Information LLC
proprietary index data service, will be
widely disseminated by one or more
major market data vendors and broadly
displayed at least every 15 seconds
during the Regular Market Session.
On each business day, before
commencement of trading in Shares in
the Regular Market Session on the
Exchange, the Fund will disclose on its
Web site the Disclosed Portfolio that
will form the basis for the Fund’s
calculation of NAV at the end of the
business day. Information regarding
market price and trading volume of the
Shares will be continually available on
a real-time basis throughout the day on
brokers’ computer screens and other
electronic services, and quotation and
last sale information for the Shares will
be available via Nasdaq proprietary
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quote and trade services, as well as in
accordance with the Unlisted Trading
Privileges and the CTA plans for the
Shares. One source of price information
for Municipal Securities and taxable
and other municipal securities will be
the MSRB’s EMMA.
Additionally, the MSRB offers trade
data subscription services that permit
subscribers to obtain same-day pricing
information about municipal securities
transactions. Moreover, pricing
information for Municipal Securities, as
well as for taxable and other municipal
securities, Short-Term Debt Instruments
(including short-term U.S. government
securities, commercial paper, and
bankers’ acceptances), and repurchase
agreements will be available from major
broker-dealer firms and/or major market
data vendors and/or Pricing Services.
Pricing information for exchangelisted derivatives (including options on
U.S. Treasury securities, options on U.S.
Treasury futures contracts, and U.S.
Treasury futures contracts), ETFs and
closed-end funds will be available from
the applicable listing exchange and from
major market data vendors.
Money market funds and other openend funds (excluding ETFs) are
typically priced once each business day
and their prices will be available
through the applicable fund’s Web site
or from major market data vendors.
The Fund’s Web site will include a
form of the prospectus for the Fund and
additional data relating to NAV and
other applicable quantitative
information. Trading in Shares of the
Fund will be halted under the
conditions specified in Nasdaq Rules
4120 and 4121 or because of market
conditions or for reasons that, in the
view of the Exchange, make trading in
the Shares inadvisable, and trading in
the Shares will be subject to Nasdaq
Rule 5735(d)(2)(D), which sets forth
circumstances under which Shares of
the Fund may be halted. In addition, as
noted above, investors will have ready
access to information regarding the
Fund’s holdings, the Intraday Indicative
Value, the Disclosed Portfolio, and
quotation and last sale information for
the Shares.
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
it will facilitate the listing and trading
of an additional type of activelymanaged exchange-traded product that
will enhance competition among market
participants, to the benefit of investors
and the marketplace. As noted above,
FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, will
communicate as needed regarding
trading in the Shares and the exchange-
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listed securities and instruments held
by the Fund (including closed-end
funds, ETFs, exchange-listed options on
U.S. Treasury securities, exchange-listed
options on U.S. Treasury futures
contracts, and exchange-listed U.S.
Treasury futures contracts) with other
markets and other entities that are
members of ISG, and FINRA may obtain
trading information regarding trading in
the Shares and such exchange-listed
securities and instruments held by the
Fund from such markets and other
entities.
In addition, the Exchange may obtain
information regarding trading in the
Shares and the exchange-listed
securities and instruments held by the
Fund from markets and other entities
that are members of ISG, which includes
securities and futures exchanges, or
with which the Exchange has in place
a comprehensive surveillance sharing
agreement. Furthermore, as noted above,
investors will have ready access to
information regarding the Fund’s
holdings, the Intraday Indicative Value,
the Disclosed Portfolio, and quotation
and last sale information for the Shares.
For the above reasons, Nasdaq
believes the proposed rule change is
consistent with the requirements of
Section 6(b)(5) of the Act.
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
Exchange believes that the proposed
rule change will facilitate the listing and
trading of an additional type of activelymanaged exchange-traded fund that will
enhance competition among market
participants, to the benefit of investors
and the marketplace.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
No written comments were either
solicited or received.
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 (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 such
PO 00000
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17323
proposed rule change; or (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–
NASDAQ–2017–033 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–NASDAQ–2017–033. 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–
NASDAQ–2017–033 and should be
submitted on or before May 1, 2017.
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For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.50
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017–07045 Filed 4–7–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
[Disaster Declaration #15100 and #15101]
California Disaster #CA–00267
This is a Notice of the
Presidential declaration of a major
disaster for Public Assistance Only for
the State of California (FEMA–4308–
DR), dated 04/01/2017.
Incident: Severe Winter Storms,
Flooding, and Mudslides.
Incident Period: 02/01/2017 Through
02/23/2017.
Effective Date: 04/01/2017.
Physical Loan Application Deadline
Date: 05/31/2017.
Economic Injury (EIDL) Loan
Application Deadline Date: 01/02/2018.
ADDRESSES: Submit completed loan
applications to: U.S. Small Business
Administration, Processing and
Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport
Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A.
Escobar, Office of Disaster Assistance,
U.S. Small Business Administration,
409 3rd Street SW., Suite 6050,
Washington, DC 20416.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is
hereby given that as a result of the
President’s major disaster declaration on
04/01/2017, Private Non-Profit
organizations that provide essential
services of governmental nature may file
disaster loan applications at the address
listed above or other locally announced
locations.
The following areas have been
determined to be adversely affected by
the disaster:
Primary Counties: Alameda, Alpine,
Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa,
Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado,
Glenn, Humboldt, Kings, Lake,
Lassen, Marin, Mariposa, Merced,
Modoc, Monterey, Napa, Nevada,
Plumas, Sacramento, San Benito,
San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San
Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara,
Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou,
Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter,
Tehama, Trinity, Tuolumne, Yolo,
Yuba
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50 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
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20:02 Apr 07, 2017
Jkt 241001
Percent
For Physical Damage:
Non-Profit Organizations With
Credit Available Elsewhere ...
Non-Profit Organizations Without Credit Available Elsewhere .....................................
For Economic Injury:
Non-Profit Organizations Without Credit Available Elsewhere .....................................
2.500
2.500
2.500
The number assigned to this disaster
for physical damage is 151006 and for
economic injury is 151016.
U.S. Small Business
Administration.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY:
The Interest Rates are:
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Number 59008)
James E. Rivera,
Associate Administrator for Disaster
Assistance.
[FR Doc. 2017–07114 Filed 4–7–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8025–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket Number FRA–2017–0023]
Notice of Application for Approval of
Discontinuance or Modification of a
Railroad Signal System
Under part 235 of Title 49 of the Code
of Federal Regulations and 49 U.S.C.
20502(a), this document provides the
public notice that on March 10, 2017,
National Railroad Passenger Corporation
(Amtrak) petitioned the Federal
Railroad Administration (FRA) seeking
approval for the discontinuance or
modification of a signal system. FRA
assigned the petition Docket Number
FRA–2017–0023.
Applicant: National Railroad
Passenger Corporation, Mr. Nicholas J.
Croce III, Deputy Chief Engineer C&S,
Acting, 2995 Market Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Amtrak seeks to remove all four
derails, one for each track in each
direction at the Pelham Bay movable
bridge interlocking, located at milepost
15.5 on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor,
New York Division, Hutchinson River,
Bronx, NY.
Each of the interlocking home signals
protecting these derails, and the
associated movable bridge, are equipped
with the Northeast Corridor 100Hz
coded cab signal system with speed
control (also known as Automatic Train
Control (ATC)). The interlocking is also
equipped with Advanced Civil Speed
Enforcement System (ACSES). The
derails have been rendered obsolete by
PO 00000
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ATC and ACSES technologies, which
enforce slowing and stopping of trains
prior to passing the interlocking home
signals in stop position, rather than
derail the train after it passes the stop
signal.
The reason for removal of the derails
is to eliminate maintenance and
operation of obsolete hardware no
longer needed, and to reduce delays to
trains caused by failures of the derails.
A copy of the petition, as well as any
written communications concerning the
petition, is available for review online at
www.regulations.gov and in person at
the U.S. Department of Transportation’s
(DOT) Docket Operations Facility, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE., W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590. The Docket
Operations Facility is open from 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal Holidays.
Interested parties are invited to
participate in these proceedings by
submitting written views, data, or
comments. FRA does not anticipate
scheduling a public hearing in
connection with these proceedings since
the facts do not appear to warrant a
hearing. If any interested parties desire
an opportunity for oral comment and a
public hearing, they should notify FRA,
in writing, before the end of the
comment period and specify the basis
for their request.
All communications concerning these
proceedings should identify the
appropriate docket number and may be
submitted by any of the following
methods:
• Web site: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: 202–493–2251.
• Mail: Docket Operations Facility,
U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE., W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590.
• Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., Room W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal Holidays.
Communications received by May 25,
2017 will be considered by FRA before
final action is taken. Comments received
after that date will be considered if
practicable.
Anyone can search the electronic
form of any written communications
and comments received into any of our
dockets by the name of the individual
submitting the comment (or signing the
document, if submitted on behalf of an
association, business, labor union, etc.).
Under 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits
comments from the public to better
inform its processes. DOT posts these
comments, without edit, including any
E:\FR\FM\10APN1.SGM
10APN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 67 (Monday, April 10, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17314-17324]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07045]
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-80369; File No. SR-NASDAQ-2017-033]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC;
Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change To List and Trade the Shares
of the First Trust California Municipal High Income ETF
April 4, 2017.
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 March 24, 2017, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (``Nasdaq'' or
``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(``SEC'' or ``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.
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\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 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 list and trade the shares of the First
Trust California Municipal High Income ETF (the ``Fund'') of First
Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III (the ``Trust'') under Nasdaq Rule 5735
(``Managed Fund Shares'').\3\ The shares of the Fund are collectively
referred to herein as the ``Shares.''
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\3\ The Commission approved Nasdaq Rule 5735 in Securities
Exchange Act Release No. 57962 (June 13, 2008), 73 FR 35175 (June
20, 2008) (SR-NASDAQ-2008-039). The Exchange notes that the
Commission has previously issued orders with respect to the First
Trust Municipal High Income ETF, Securities Exchange Act Release No.
78913 (September 23, 2016), 81 FR 69109 (October 5, 2016) (SR-
NASDAQ-2016-002); and First Trust Managed Municipal ETF, Securities
Exchange Act Release No. 71913 (April 9, 2014), 79 FR 21333 (April
15, 2014) (SR-NASDAQ-2014-019). The Exchange believes the proposed
rule change raises no significant issues not previously addressed in
those prior Commission orders. In addition, the Exchange notes that
the Commission has approved listing and trading of certain index-
based ETFs that invest in municipal securities. See, e.g.,
Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 75376 (July 7, 2015), 80 FR
40113 (July 13, 2015) (SR-NYSEArca-2015-18) (order approving listing
and trading of Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond Index Fund); 71232 (January
3, 2014), 79 FR 1662 (January 9, 2014) (SR-NYSEArca-2013-118) (order
approving listing and trading of Market Vectors Short High-Yield
Municipal Index ETF); and 63881 (February 9, 2011), 76 FR 9065
(February 16, 2011) (SR-NYSEArca-2010-120) (order approving listing
and trading of SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal Bond ETF).
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The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's
Web site at https://nasdaq.cchwallstreet.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 aspects of such
statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
The Exchange proposes to list and trade the Shares of the Fund
under Nasdaq Rule 5735, which governs the listing and trading of
Managed Fund Shares \4\ on the Exchange. The Fund will
[[Page 17315]]
be an actively-managed exchange-traded fund (``ETF''). The Shares will
be offered by the Trust, which was established as a Massachusetts
business trust on January 9, 2008.\5\ The Trust is registered with the
Commission as an investment company and has filed a registration
statement on Form N-1A (``Registration Statement'') with the
Commission.\6\ The Fund will be a series of the Trust. The Fund intends
to qualify each year as a regulated investment company (``RIC'') under
Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
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\4\ A Managed Fund Share is a security that represents an
interest in an investment company registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-1) (the ``1940 Act'') organized
as an open-end investment company or similar entity that invests in
a portfolio of securities selected by its investment adviser
consistent with its investment objectives and policies. In contrast,
an open-end investment company that issues Index Fund Shares, listed
and traded on the Exchange under Nasdaq Rule 5705, seeks to provide
investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield
performance of a specific foreign or domestic stock index, fixed
income securities index or combination thereof.
\5\ The Commission has issued an order, upon which the Trust may
rely, granting certain exemptive relief under the 1940 Act. See
Investment Company Act Release No. 30029 (April 10, 2012) (File No.
812-13795) (the ``Exemptive Relief''). In addition, 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
ETFs. See No-Action Letter dated December 6, 2012 from Elizabeth G.
Osterman, Associate Director, Office of Exemptive Applications,
Division of Investment Management. The No-Action Letter stated that
the Division would not recommend enforcement action to the
Commission under applicable provisions of and rules under the 1940
Act if actively-managed ETFs operating in reliance on specified
orders (which include the Exemptive Relief) invest in options
contracts, futures contracts or swap agreements provided that they
comply with certain representations stated in the No-Action Letter.
\6\ See Post-Effective Amendment No. 65 to Registration
Statement on Form N-1A for the Trust, dated March 23, 2017 (File
Nos. 333-176976 and 811-22245). The descriptions of the Fund and the
Shares contained herein are based, in part, on information in the
Registration Statement.
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First Trust Advisors L.P. will be the investment adviser
(``Adviser'') to the Fund. First Trust Portfolios L.P. (the
``Distributor'') will be the principal underwriter and distributor of
the Fund's Shares. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (``BBH'') will act as
the administrator, accounting agent, custodian, and transfer agent to
the Fund.
Paragraph (g) of Rule 5735 provides that if the investment adviser
to the investment company issuing Managed Fund Shares is affiliated
with a broker-dealer, such investment adviser shall erect a ``fire
wall'' between the investment adviser and the broker-dealer with
respect to access to information concerning the composition and/or
changes to such investment company portfolio.\7\ In addition, paragraph
(g) further requires that personnel who make decisions on the open-end
fund's portfolio composition must be subject to procedures designed to
prevent the use and dissemination of material, non-public information
regarding the open-end fund's portfolio.
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\7\ An investment adviser to an open-end fund is required to be
registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the ``Advisers
Act''). As a result, the Adviser and its related personnel are
subject to the provisions of Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act
relating to codes of ethics. This Rule requires investment advisers
to adopt a code of ethics that reflects the fiduciary nature of the
relationship to clients as well as compliance with other applicable
securities laws. Accordingly, procedures designed to prevent the
communication and misuse of non-public information by an investment
adviser must be consistent with Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act.
In addition, Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act makes it unlawful
for an investment adviser to provide investment advice to clients
unless such investment adviser has (i) adopted and implemented
written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent
violation, by the investment adviser and its supervised persons, of
the Advisers Act and the Commission rules adopted thereunder; (ii)
implemented, at a minimum, an annual review regarding the adequacy
of the policies and procedures established pursuant to subparagraph
(i) above and the effectiveness of their implementation; and (iii)
designated an individual (who is a supervised person) responsible
for administering the policies and procedures adopted under
subparagraph (i) above.
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Rule 5735(g) is similar to Nasdaq Rule 5705(b)(5)(A)(i); however,
paragraph (g) in connection with the establishment of a ``fire wall''
between the investment adviser and the broker-dealer reflects the
applicable open-end fund's portfolio, not an underlying benchmark
index, as is the case with index-based funds. The Adviser is not a
broker-dealer, but it is affiliated with the Distributor, a broker-
dealer, and has implemented and will maintain a fire wall with respect
to its broker-dealer affiliate regarding access to information
concerning the composition and/or changes to the portfolio.
In addition, personnel who make decisions on the Fund's portfolio
composition will be subject to procedures designed to prevent the use
and dissemination of material non-public information regarding the
Fund's portfolio. In the event (a) the Adviser or any sub-adviser
registers as a broker-dealer or becomes newly affiliated with a broker-
dealer, or (b) any new adviser or sub-adviser is a registered broker-
dealer or becomes affiliated with another broker-dealer, it will
implement and maintain a fire wall with respect to its relevant
personnel and/or such broker-dealer affiliate, as applicable, regarding
access to information concerning the composition and/or changes to the
portfolio and will be subject to procedures designed to prevent the use
and dissemination of material non-public information regarding such
portfolio. The Fund currently does not intend to use a sub-adviser.
First Trust California Municipal High Income ETF
Principal Investments
The primary investment objective of the Fund will be to generate
current income that is exempt from regular federal income taxes and
California income taxes and its secondary objective will be long-term
capital appreciation. Under normal market conditions,\8\ the Fund will
seek to achieve its investment objectives by investing at least 80% of
its net assets (including investment borrowings) in municipal debt
securities that pay interest that is exempt from regular federal income
taxes and California income taxes (collectively, ``Municipal
Securities'').\9\ Municipal Securities will be issued by or on behalf
of the State of California or territories or possessions of the U.S.
(including without limitation Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and
Guam), and/or the political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and
other instrumentalities of such State, territories or possessions.\10\
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\8\ The term ``under normal market conditions'' as used herein
includes, but is not limited to, the absence of adverse market,
economic, political or other conditions, including 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. On a temporary
basis, including for defensive purposes, during the initial invest-
up period (i.e., the six-week period following the commencement of
trading of Shares on the Exchange) and during periods of high cash
inflows or outflows (i.e., rolling periods of seven calendar days
during which inflows or outflows of cash, in the aggregate, exceed
10% of the Fund's net assets as of the opening of business on the
first day of such periods), the Fund may depart from its principal
investment strategies; for example, it may hold a higher than normal
proportion of its assets in cash. During such periods, the Fund may
not be able to achieve its investment objectives. The Fund may adopt
a defensive strategy when the Adviser believes securities in which
the Fund normally invests have elevated risks due to political or
economic factors and in other extraordinary circumstances.
\9\ Assuming compliance with the investment requirements and
limitations described herein, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its
net assets in Municipal Securities that pay interest that generates
income subject to the federal alternative minimum tax.
\10\ For the avoidance of doubt, Municipal Securities issued by
or on behalf of territories or possessions of the U.S. and/or the
political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and other
instrumentalities of such territories or possessions (collectively,
``Territorial Obligations'') will pay interest that is exempt from
regular federal income taxes and California income taxes. Under
normal market conditions, except for the initial invest-up period
and periods of high cash inflows or outflows, the Fund will limit
its investments in Territorial Obligations to 20% of its net assets.
(See note 8 regarding the meaning of the terms ``initial invest-up
period'' and ``periods of high cash inflows or outflows.'')
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[[Page 17316]]
The types of Municipal Securities in which the Fund may invest
include municipal lease obligations (and certificates of participation
in such obligations), municipal general obligation bonds, municipal
revenue bonds, municipal notes, municipal cash equivalents, private
activity bonds (including without limitation industrial development
bonds), and pre-refunded \11\ and escrowed to maturity bonds. In
addition, Municipal Securities include securities issued by entities
(referred to as ``Municipal Entities'') whose underlying assets are
municipal bonds (i.e., tender option bond (TOB) trusts and custodial
receipts trusts).
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\11\ A pre-refunded municipal bond is a municipal bond that has
been refunded to a call date on or before the final maturity of
principal and remains outstanding in the municipal market. The
payment of principal and interest of the pre-refunded municipal
bonds held by the Fund will be funded from securities in a
designated escrow account that holds U.S. Treasury securities or
other obligations of the U.S. government (including its agencies and
instrumentalities). As the payment of principal and interest is
generated from securities held in a designated escrow account, the
pledge of the municipality has been fulfilled and the original
pledge of revenue by the municipality is no longer in place. The
escrow account securities pledged to pay the principal and interest
of the pre-refunded municipal bond do not guarantee the price
movement of the bond before maturity. Investment in pre-refunded
municipal bonds held by the Fund may subject the Fund to interest
rate risk, market risk and credit risk. In addition, while a
secondary market exists for pre-refunded municipal bonds, if the
Fund sells pre-refunded municipal bonds prior to maturity, the price
received may be more or less than the original cost, depending on
market conditions at the time of sale.
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The Fund may invest in Municipal Securities of any maturity.
However, under normal market conditions, except for the initial invest-
up period and periods of high cash inflows or outflows,\12\ the
weighted average maturity of the Fund will be less than or equal to 14
years.
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\12\ See note 8 regarding the meaning of the terms ``initial
invest-up period'' and ``periods of high cash inflows or outflows.''
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Under normal market conditions, except for the initial invest-up
period and periods of high cash inflows or outflows,\13\ the Fund will
invest at least 50% of its net assets in ``investment grade Municipal
Securities,'' which are Municipal Securities that are, at the time of
investment, rated investment grade (i.e., rated Baa3/BBB-or above) by
at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization
(``NRSRO'') rating such securities (or Municipal Securities that are
unrated and determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality \14\)
(the ``Investment Grade Requirement''). The Fund will consider pre-
refunded or escrowed to maturity bonds, regardless of rating, to be
investment grade Municipal Securities. The Fund may invest up to 50% of
its net assets in Municipal Securities that are, at the time of
investment, not investment grade Municipal Securities (commonly
referred to as ``high yield'' or ``junk'' bonds).\15\ If, subsequent to
purchase by the Fund, a Municipal Security held by the Fund experiences
a decrease in credit quality and is no longer an investment grade
Municipal Security, the Fund may continue to hold the Municipal
Security and it will not cause the Fund to violate the Investment Grade
Requirement; however, the Municipal Security will be taken into account
for purposes of determining whether purchases of additional Municipal
Securities will cause the Fund to violate the Investment Grade
Requirement.
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\13\ Id.
\14\ Comparable quality of unrated Municipal Securities will be
determined by the Adviser based on fundamental credit analysis of
the unrated security and comparable rated securities. On a best
efforts basis, the Adviser will attempt to make a rating
determination based on publicly available data. In making a
``comparable quality'' determination, the Adviser may consider, for
example, whether the issuer of the security has issued other rated
securities, the nature and provisions of the relevant security,
whether the obligations under the relevant security are guaranteed
by another entity and the rating of such guarantor (if any),
relevant cash flows, macroeconomic analysis, and/or sector or
industry analysis.
\15\ These Municipal Securities may include Municipal Securities
that are currently in default and not expected to pay the current
coupon (``Distressed Municipal Securities''). The Fund may invest up
to 10% of its net assets in Distressed Municipal Securities. If,
subsequent to purchase by the Fund, a Municipal Security held by the
Fund becomes a Distressed Municipal Security, the Fund may continue
to hold the Distressed Municipal Security and it will not cause the
Fund to violate the 10% limitation; however, the Distressed
Municipal Security will be taken into account for purposes of
determining whether purchases of additional Municipal Securities
will cause the Fund to violate such limitation.
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Although as described below, certain of the representations
included in this filing will meet or exceed similar requirements set
forth in the generic listing standards for actively-managed ETFs (the
``Generic Listing Standards''), it is not anticipated that the Fund
will meet the requirement that components that in the aggregate account
for at least 75% of the fixed income weight of the portfolio each have
a minimum original principal amount outstanding of $100 million or
more.\16\ In general terms, as described above, the Fund will operate
as an actively-managed ETF that normally invests in a portfolio of
Municipal Securities and will be subject to the Investment Grade
Requirement (in contrast to, for example, an index-based ETF that
tracks an index comprised of the largest municipal debt issuers). The
Adviser notes that debt issuance sizes for municipal obligations are
generally smaller than for corporate obligations. Furthermore, as a
general matter, municipal borrowers in certain industries with
municipal obligations rated in the ``A'' and ``BBB'' categories (in
which the Fund currently intends to invest significantly) \17\ tend to
have less outstanding debt than municipal borrowers in other municipal
industries.
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\16\ See Nasdaq Rule 5735(b)(1)(B)(i).
\17\ These industries include charter schools, senior living
facilities (i.e., continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs))
and special tax districts, among others. See note 35 and
accompanying text regarding the Fund's exposure to different
industries. In the case of a municipal conduit financing (in general
terms, the issuance of municipal securities by an issuer to finance
a project to be used primarily by a third party (the ``conduit
borrower'')), the ``borrower'' is the conduit borrower (i.e., the
party on which a bondholder must rely for repayment). In the case of
other municipal financings, the ``borrower'' is the issuer of the
municipal securities.
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Therefore, under normal market conditions, except for the initial
invest-up period and periods of high cash inflows or outflows,\18\ at
least 40% (based on dollar amount invested) of the Municipal Securities
in which the Fund invests \19\ will be issued by issuers with total
outstanding debt issuances that, in the aggregate, have a minimum
amount of municipal debt outstanding at the time of purchase of $50
million or more (the ``40/50 Requirement''). The Adviser believes that
the 40/50 Requirement is appropriate in light of the Fund's investment
objectives and the manner in which the Fund intends to pursue them.
Given the expected availability of Municipal Securities that will
satisfy the Fund's investment parameters and the debt issuance profiles
of the corresponding issuers and borrowers, the 40/50 Requirement
should both provide the Fund with flexibility to construct its
portfolio and, when combined with the other representations in this
filing (including certain representations set forth below pertaining to
fixed income securities weightings and number of non-affiliated issuers
that are based on, but more stringent than, the Generic Listing
Standards), should support the potential for diversity and liquidity,
thereby mitigating the Commission's concerns about manipulation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\18\ See note 8 regarding the meaning of the terms ``initial
invest-up period'' and ``periods of high cash inflows or outflows.''
\19\ For the avoidance of doubt, in the case of Municipal
Securities that are issued by Municipal Entities, the underlying
municipal bonds will be taken into account.
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Under normal market conditions, except for the initial invest-up
period
[[Page 17317]]
and periods of high cash inflows or outflows,\20\ no component fixed
income security (excluding the U.S. government securities described in
``Other Investments'' below) will represent more than 15% of the Fund's
net assets, and the five most heavily weighted component fixed income
securities in the Fund's portfolio (excluding U.S. government
securities) will not, in the aggregate, account for more than 25% of
the Fund's net assets.\21\ Further, under normal market conditions,
except for the initial invest-up period and periods of high cash
inflows or outflows,\22\ the Fund's portfolio of Municipal Securities
will include securities from a minimum of 30 non-affiliated
issuers.\23\ Moreover, under normal market conditions, except for the
initial invest-up period and periods of high cash inflows or
outflows,\24\ component securities that in the aggregate account for at
least 90% of the weight of the Fund's portfolio of Municipal Securities
will be exempted securities as defined in Section 3(a)(12) of the
Act.\25\ Additionally, to the extent the Fund invests in Municipal
Securities that are asset-backed securities,\26\ such investments will
not account, in the aggregate, for more than 20% of the weight of the
fixed income portion of the Fund's portfolio.\27\
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\20\ See note 8 regarding the meaning of the terms ``initial
invest-up period'' and ``periods of high cash inflows or outflows.''
\21\ See the Generic Listing Standards requirement set forth in
Nasdaq Rule 5735(b)(1)(B)(ii), which provides that that no component
fixed income security (excluding U.S. Treasury securities and
government-sponsored entity (``GSE'') securities) may represent more
than 30% of the fixed income weight of the portfolio, and that the
five most heavily weighted component fixed income securities in the
portfolio (excluding U.S. Treasury securities and GSE securities)
may not in the aggregate account for more than 65% of the fixed
income weight of the portfolio. For the avoidance of doubt, in the
case of Municipal Securities that are issued by Municipal Entities,
the underlying municipal bonds will be taken into account.
\22\ See note 8 regarding the meaning of the terms ``initial
invest-up period'' and ``periods of high cash inflows or outflows.''
\23\ See the Generic Listing Standards requirement set forth in
Nasdaq Rule 5735(b)(1)(B)(iii), which provides that generally an
underlying portfolio (excluding exempted securities) that includes
fixed income securities must include a minimum of 13 non-affiliated
issuers. For the avoidance of doubt, in the case of Municipal
Securities that are issued by Municipal Entities, the underlying
municipal bonds will be taken into account. Additionally, for
purposes of this restriction, each separate political subdivision,
agency, authority, or instrumentality of the State of California,
and each guarantor, if any, will be treated as separate, non-
affiliated issuers of Municipal Securities.
\24\ See note 8 regarding the meaning of the terms ``initial
invest-up period'' and ``periods of high cash inflows or outflows.''
\25\ See the Generic Listing Standards requirement set forth in
Nasdaq Rule 5735(b)(1)(B)(iv)(d). For the avoidance of doubt, in the
case of Municipal Securities that are issued by Municipal Entities,
the underlying municipal bonds will be taken into account.
\26\ For the avoidance of doubt, municipal debt securities
backed by mortgages or tax liens will not be considered asset-backed
securities.
\27\ See the Generic Listing Standards requirement set forth in
Nasdaq Rule 5735(b)(1)(B)(v).
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Additional representations pertaining to the Fund's portfolio,
including representations relating to exposure to industries, are set
forth below under ``Investment Restrictions'' (such representations
relating to exposure to industries, together with the representations
set forth in the two preceding paragraphs and the Investment Grade
Requirement, are collectively the ``Portfolio Representations''). In
light of the requirements they impose (e.g., concerning credit quality,
municipal debt outstanding, fixed income securities weightings, issuer
diversification, the nature of the securities in which the Fund will
invest (including representations relating to exempted securities and
asset-backed securities), and exposure to industries), the Portfolio
Representations should provide support regarding the anticipated
diversity and liquidity of the Fund's Municipal Securities portfolio
and should mitigate the risks associated with manipulation.
Other Investments
With respect to up to 20% (in the aggregate) of its net assets, the
Fund may invest in and hold the securities and other instruments
(including cash) described below.
The Fund may invest in short-term debt instruments (described
below), money market funds and other cash equivalents, and taxable and
other municipal securities that are not Municipal Securities, or it may
hold cash. The percentage of the Fund invested in such holdings or held
in cash will vary and will depend on several factors, including market
conditions. Short-term debt instruments, which do not include Municipal
Securities, are issued by issuers having a long-term debt rating of at
least A-/A3 (as applicable) by S&P Global Ratings (``S&P''), Moody's
Investors Service, Inc. (``Moody's'') or Fitch Ratings (``Fitch'') and
have a maturity of one year or less.
The Fund may invest in the following short-term debt instruments:
(1)Fixed rate and floating rate U.S. government securities, including
bills, notes and bonds differing as to maturity and rates of interest,
which are either issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or by U.S.
government agencies or instrumentalities; (2) certificates of deposit
issued against funds deposited in a bank or savings and loan
association; (3) bankers' acceptances, which are short-term credit
instruments used to finance commercial transactions; (4) repurchase
agreements,\28\ which involve purchases of debt securities; (5) bank
time deposits, which are monies kept on deposit with banks or savings
and loan associations for a stated period of time at a fixed rate of
interest; and (6) commercial paper, which is short-term unsecured
promissory notes.\29\
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\28\ The Fund intends to enter into repurchase agreements only
with financial institutions and dealers believed by the Adviser to
present minimal credit risks in accordance with criteria approved by
the Board of Trustees of the Trust (``Trust Board''). The Adviser
will review and monitor the creditworthiness of such institutions.
The Adviser will monitor the value of the collateral at the time the
transaction is entered into and at all times during the term of the
repurchase agreement.
\29\ The Fund may only invest in commercial paper rated A-3 or
higher by S&P, Prime-3 or higher by Moody's or F3 or higher by
Fitch.
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The Fund may (i) invest in the securities of other investment
companies registered under the 1940 Act, including money market funds,
ETFs,\30\ open-end funds (other than money market funds and other
ETFs), and closed-end funds and (ii) acquire short positions in the
securities of the foregoing investment companies.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\30\ An ETF is an investment company registered under the 1940
Act that holds a portfolio of securities. Many ETFs are designed to
track the performance of a securities index, including industry,
sector, country and region indexes. ETFs included in the Fund will
be listed and traded in the U.S. on one or more registered
exchanges. The Fund may invest in the securities of certain ETFs in
excess of the limits imposed under the 1940 Act pursuant to
exemptive orders obtained by such ETFs and their sponsors from the
Commission. In addition, the Fund may invest in the securities of
certain other investment companies in excess of the limits imposed
under the 1940 Act pursuant to an exemptive order that the Trust has
obtained from the Commission. See Investment Company Act Release No.
30377 (February 5, 2013) (File No. 812-13895). The ETFs in which the
Fund may invest include Index Fund Shares (as described in Nasdaq
Rule 5705), Portfolio Depository Receipts (as described in Nasdaq
Rule 5705), and Managed Fund Shares (as described in Nasdaq Rule
5735). While the Fund may invest in inverse ETFs, the Fund will not
invest in leveraged or inverse leveraged (e.g., 2X or -3X) ETFs.
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The Fund may (i) invest in exchange-listed options on U.S. Treasury
securities, exchange-listed options on U.S. Treasury futures contracts,
and exchange-listed U.S. Treasury futures contracts and (ii) acquire
short positions in the foregoing derivatives. Transactions in the
foregoing derivatives may allow the Fund to obtain net long or short
exposures to selected interest rates. These derivatives may also be
used to hedge risks, including interest rate risks and credit risks,
associated with the Fund's portfolio investments. The Fund's
[[Page 17318]]
investments in derivative instruments will be consistent with the
Fund's investment objectives and the 1940 Act and will not be used to
seek to achieve a multiple or inverse multiple of the Fund's broad-
based securities market index (as defined in Form N-1A).
Investment Restrictions
The Fund may hold up to an aggregate amount of 15% of its net
assets in illiquid assets (calculated at the time of investment),
including Rule 144A securities deemed illiquid by the Adviser.\31\ 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 assets. Illiquid assets 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.\32\
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\31\ In reaching liquidity decisions, the Adviser may consider
the following factors: The frequency of trades and quotes for the
security; the number of dealers wishing 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 in which it trades (e.g.,
the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting
offers and the mechanics of transfer).
\32\ 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 Securities Act of 1933).
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The Fund may not invest 25% or more of the value of its total
assets in securities of issuers in any one industry. This restriction
does not apply to (a) municipal securities issued by governments or
political subdivisions of governments, (b) obligations issued or
guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities,
or (c) securities of other investment companies.\33\ In addition, under
normal market conditions, except for the initial invest-up period and
periods of high cash inflows or outflows,\34\ the Fund's investments in
Municipal Securities will provide exposure (based on dollar amount
invested) to at least 10 different industries \35\ (with no more than
25% of the value of the Fund's net assets comprised of Municipal
Securities that provide exposure to any single industry).\36\
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\33\ See Form N-1A, Item 9. The Commission has taken the
position that a fund is concentrated if it invests more than 25% of
the value of its total assets in any one industry. See, e.g.,
Investment Company Act Release No. 9011 (October 30, 1975), 40 FR
54241 (November 21, 1975).
\34\ See note 8 regarding the meaning of the terms ``initial
invest-up period'' and ``periods of high cash inflows or outflows.''
\35\ The municipal industry classification system used by the
Fund will divide the municipal securities universe into distinct
categories that are intended to reflect either the use of proceeds
generated by particular subsets of municipal securities or the
collateral/sources of repayment securing/backing such municipal
securities. For example, municipal bonds associated with the airport
industry are issued to construct or expand an airport and/or related
facilities and are secured by revenues generated from the use of the
airport.
\36\ For the avoidance of doubt, in the case of Municipal
Securities that are issued by Municipal Entities, the underlying
municipal bonds will be taken into account.
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Creation and Redemption of Shares
The Fund will issue and redeem Shares on a continuous basis at net
asset value (``NAV'') \37\ only in large blocks of Shares (``Creation
Units'') in transactions with authorized participants, generally
including broker-dealers and large institutional investors
(``Authorized Participants''). Creation Units generally will consist of
50,000 Shares, although this may change from time to time. Creation
Units, however, are not expected to consist of less than 50,000 Shares.
As described in the Registration Statement and consistent with the
Exemptive Relief, the Fund will issue and redeem Creation Units in
exchange for an in-kind portfolio of instruments and/or cash in lieu of
such instruments (the ``Creation Basket'').\38\ In addition, if there
is a difference between the NAV attributable to a Creation Unit and the
market value of the Creation Basket exchanged for the Creation Unit,
the party conveying instruments (which may include cash-in-lieu
amounts) with the lower value will pay to the other an amount in cash
equal to the difference (referred to as the ``Cash Component'').
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\37\ The NAV of the Fund's Shares generally will be calculated
once daily Monday through Friday as of the close of regular trading
on the New York Stock Exchange (``NYSE''), generally 4:00 p.m.,
Eastern Time (the ``NAV Calculation Time''). NAV per Share will be
calculated by dividing the Fund's net assets by the number of Fund
Shares outstanding.
\38\ Subject to, and in accordance with, the provisions of the
Exemptive Relief, it is expected that the Fund will typically issue
and redeem Creation Units on a cash basis; however, at times, it may
issue and redeem Creation Units on an in-kind (or partially in-kind)
basis.
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Creations and redemptions must be made by or through an Authorized
Participant that has executed an agreement that has been agreed to by
the Distributor and BBH with respect to creations and redemptions of
Creation Units. All standard orders to create Creation Units must be
received by the transfer agent no later than the closing time of the
regular trading session on the NYSE (ordinarily 4:00 p.m., Eastern
Time) (the ``Closing Time''), in each case on the date such order is
placed in order for the creation of Creation Units to be effected based
on the NAV of Shares as next determined on such date after receipt of
the order in proper form. Shares may be redeemed only in Creation Units
at their NAV next determined after receipt, not later than the Closing
Time, of a redemption request in proper form by the Fund through the
transfer agent and only on a business day.
The Fund's custodian, through the National Securities Clearing
Corporation, will make available on each business day, prior to the
opening of business of the Exchange, the list of the names and
quantities of the instruments comprising the Creation Basket, as well
as the estimated Cash Component (if any), for that day. The published
Creation Basket will apply until a new Creation Basket is announced on
the following business day prior to commencement of trading in the
Shares.
Net Asset Value
The Fund's NAV will be determined as of the close of regular
trading on the NYSE on each day the NYSE is open for trading. If the
NYSE closes early on a valuation day, the NAV will be determined as of
that time. NAV per Share will be calculated for the Fund by taking the
value of the Fund's total assets, including interest or dividends
accrued but not yet collected, less all liabilities, including accrued
expenses and dividends declared but unpaid, and dividing such amount by
the total number of Shares outstanding. The result, rounded to the
nearest cent, will be the NAV per Share. All valuations will be subject
to review by the Trust Board or its delegate.
The Fund's investments will be valued daily. As described more
specifically below, investments traded on an exchange (i.e., a
regulated market), will generally be valued at market value prices that
represent last sale or official closing prices. In
[[Page 17319]]
addition, as described more specifically below, non-exchange traded
investments (including Municipal Securities) will generally be valued
using prices obtained from third-party pricing services (each, a
``Pricing Service'').\39\ If, however, valuations for any of the Fund's
investments cannot be readily obtained as provided in the preceding
manner, or the Pricing Committee of the Adviser (the ``Pricing
Committee'') \40\ questions the accuracy or reliability of valuations
that are so obtained, such investments will be valued at fair value, as
determined by the Pricing Committee, in accordance with valuation
procedures (which may be revised from time to time) adopted by the
Trust Board (the ``Valuation Procedures''), and in accordance with
provisions of the 1940 Act. The Pricing Committee's fair value
determinations may require subjective judgments about the value of an
asset. The fair valuations attempt to estimate the value at which an
asset could be sold at the time of pricing, although actual sales could
result in price differences, which could be material.
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\39\ The Adviser may use various Pricing Services or discontinue
the use of any Pricing Services, as approved by the Trust Board from
time to time.
\40\ The Pricing Committee will be subject to procedures
designed to prevent the use and dissemination of material non-public
information regarding the Fund's portfolio.
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Certain securities, including in particular Municipal Securities,
in which the Fund may invest will not be listed on any securities
exchange or board of trade. Such securities will typically be bought
and sold by institutional investors in individually negotiated private
transactions that function in many respects like an over-the-counter
secondary market, although typically no formal market makers will
exist. Certain securities, particularly debt securities, will have few
or no trades, or trade infrequently, and information regarding a
specific security may not be widely available or may be incomplete.
Accordingly, determinations of the value of debt securities may be
based on infrequent and dated information. Because there is less
reliable, objective data available, elements of judgment may play a
greater role in valuation of debt securities than for other types of
securities.
The information summarized below is based on the Valuation
Procedures as currently in effect; however, as noted above, the
Valuation Procedures are amended from time to time and, therefore, such
information is subject to change.
The following investments will typically be valued using
information provided by a Pricing Service: (a) Except as provided
below, Municipal Securities; (b) except as provided below, short-term
U.S. government securities, commercial paper, and bankers' acceptances,
all as set forth under ``Other Investments'' (collectively, ``Short-
Term Debt Instruments''); and (c) except as provided below, taxable and
other municipal securities that are not Municipal Securities. Debt
instruments may be valued at evaluated mean prices, as provided by
Pricing Services. Pricing Services typically value non-exchange-traded
instruments utilizing a range of market-based inputs and assumptions,
including readily available market quotations obtained from broker-
dealers making markets in such instruments, cash flows, and
transactions for comparable instruments. In pricing certain
instruments, the Pricing Services may consider information about an
instrument's issuer or market activity provided by the Adviser.
Municipal Securities, Short-Term Debt Instruments, and taxable and
other municipal securities having a remaining maturity of 60 days or
less when purchased will typically be valued at cost adjusted for
amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, provided the
Pricing Committee has determined that the use of amortized cost is an
appropriate reflection of value given market and issuer-specific
conditions existing at the time of the determination.
Repurchase agreements will typically be valued as follows:
Overnight repurchase agreements will be valued at amortized cost
when it represents the best estimate of value. Term repurchase
agreements (i.e., those whose maturity exceeds seven days) will be
valued at the average of the bid quotations obtained daily from at
least two recognized dealers.
Equity securities (including ETFs and closed-end funds) listed on
any exchange other than the Exchange will typically be valued at the
last sale price on the exchange on which they are principally traded on
the business day as of which such value is being determined. Such
equity securities (including ETFs and closed-end funds) listed on the
Exchange will typically be valued at the official closing price on the
business day as of which such value is being determined. If there has
been no sale on such day, or no official closing price in the case of
securities traded on the Exchange, such equity securities will
typically be valued using fair value pricing. Such equity securities
traded on more than one securities exchange will be valued at the last
sale price or official closing price, as applicable, on the business
day as of which such value is being determined at the close of the
exchange representing the principal market for such securities.
Money market funds and other registered open-end management
investment companies (other than ETFs, which will be valued as
described above) will typically be valued at their net asset values as
reported by such registered open-end management investment companies to
Pricing Services.
Exchange-listed derivatives (including options on U.S. Treasury
securities, options on U.S. Treasury futures contracts, and U.S.
Treasury futures contracts) will typically be valued at the closing
price in the market where such instruments are principally traded.
Availability of Information
The Fund's Web site (www.ftportfolios.com), which will be publicly
available prior to the public offering of Shares, will include a form
of the prospectus for the Fund that may be downloaded. The Web site
will include the Shares' ticker, CUSIP and exchange information along
with additional quantitative information updated on a daily basis,
including, for the Fund: (1) Daily trading volume, the prior business
day's reported NAV and closing price, mid-point of the bid/ask spread
at the time of calculation of such NAV (the ``Bid/Ask Price''),\41\ and
a calculation of the premium and discount of the Bid/Ask Price against
the NAV; and (2) data in chart format displaying the frequency
distribution of discounts and premiums of the daily Bid/Ask Price
against the NAV, within appropriate ranges, for each of the four
previous calendar quarters. On each business day, before commencement
of trading in Shares in the Regular Market Session \42\ on the
Exchange, the Fund will disclose on its Web site the identities and
quantities of the portfolio of securities and other assets (the
``Disclosed Portfolio'' as defined in Nasdaq Rule 5735(c)(2)) held by
the Fund that will form the basis for the
[[Page 17320]]
Fund's calculation of NAV at the end of the business day.\43\
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\41\ The Bid/Ask Price of the Fund will be determined using the
midpoint of the highest bid and the lowest offer on the Exchange as
of the time of calculation of the Fund's NAV. The records relating
to Bid/Ask Prices will be retained by the Fund and its service
providers.
\42\ See Nasdaq Rule 4120(b)(4) (describing the three trading
sessions on the Exchange: (1) Pre-Market Session from 4 a.m. to 9:30
a.m., Eastern Time; (2) Regular Market Session from 9:30 a.m. to 4
p.m. or 4:15 p.m., Eastern Time; and (3) Post-Market Session from 4
p.m. or 4:15 p.m. to 8 p.m., Eastern Time).
\43\ Under accounting procedures to be followed by the Fund,
trades made on the prior business day (``T'') will be booked and
reflected in NAV on the current business day (``T+1''). Accordingly,
the Fund will be able to disclose at the beginning of the business
day the portfolio that will form the basis for the NAV calculation
at the end of the business day.
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The Fund's disclosure of derivative positions in the Disclosed
Portfolio will include sufficient information for market participants
to use to value these positions intraday. On a daily basis, the Fund
will disclose on the Fund's Web site the following information
regarding each portfolio holding, as applicable to the type of holding:
Ticker symbol, CUSIP number or other identifier, if any; a description
of the holding (including the type of holding); with respect to
holdings in derivatives, the identity of the security, index or other
asset upon which the derivative is based; for options, the option
strike price; quantity held (as measured by, for example, par value,
notional value or number of shares, contracts or units); maturity date,
if any; coupon rate, if any; effective date, if any; market value of
the holding; and percentage weighting of the holding in the Fund's
portfolio. The Web site information will be publicly available at no
charge.
In addition, for the Fund, an estimated value, defined in Rule
5735(c)(3) as the ``Intraday Indicative Value,'' that reflects an
estimated intraday value of the Fund's Disclosed Portfolio, will be
disseminated. Moreover, the Intraday Indicative Value, available on the
NASDAQ OMX Information LLC proprietary index data service,\44\ will be
based upon the current value for the components of the Disclosed
Portfolio and will be updated and widely disseminated by one or more
major market data vendors and broadly displayed at least every 15
seconds during the Regular Market Session. The Intraday Indicative
Value will be based on quotes and closing prices provided by a dealer
who makes a market in those instruments. Premiums and discounts between
the Intraday Indicative Value and the market price may occur. This
should not be viewed as a ``real time'' update of the NAV per Share of
the Fund, which is calculated only once a day.
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\44\ Currently, the NASDAQ OMX Global Index Data Service
(``GIDS'') is the Nasdaq global index data feed service, offering
real-time updates, daily summary messages, and access to widely
followed indexes and Intraday Indicative Values for ETFs. GIDS
provides investment professionals with the daily information needed
to track or trade Nasdaq indexes, listed ETFs, or third-party
partner indexes and ETFs.
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The dissemination of the Intraday Indicative Value, together with
the Disclosed Portfolio, will allow investors to determine the value of
the underlying portfolio of the Fund on a daily basis and will provide
a close estimate of that value throughout the trading day.
Investors will also be able to obtain the Fund's Statement of
Additional Information (``SAI''), the Fund's annual and semi-annual
reports (together, ``Shareholder Reports''), and its Form N-CSR and
Form N-SAR, filed twice a year. The Fund's SAI and Shareholder Reports
will be available free upon request from the Fund, and those documents
and the Form N-CSR and Form N-SAR may be viewed on-screen or downloaded
from the Commission's Web site at www.sec.gov. Information regarding
market price and trading volume of the Shares will be continually
available on a real-time basis throughout the day on brokers' computer
screens and other electronic services.
Information regarding the previous day's closing price and trading
volume information for the Shares will be published daily in the
financial section of newspapers. Quotation and last sale information
for the Shares will be available via Nasdaq proprietary quote and trade
services, as well as in accordance with the Unlisted Trading Privileges
and the Consolidated Tape Association (``CTA'') plans for the Shares.
Quotation and last sale information for exchange-listed equity
securities (including other ETFs and closed-end funds) will be
available from the exchanges on which they are traded as well as in
accordance with any applicable CTA plans. Quotation and last sale
information for U.S. exchange-listed options will be available via the
Options Price Reporting Authority.
One source of price information for Municipal Securities and
taxable and other municipal securities will be the Electronic Municipal
Market Access (``EMMA'') of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board
(``MSRB'').\45\ Additionally, the MSRB offers trade data subscription
services that permit subscribers to obtain same-day pricing information
about municipal securities transactions. Moreover, pricing information
for Municipal Securities, as well as for taxable and other municipal
securities, Short-Term Debt Instruments (including short-term U.S.
government securities, commercial paper, and bankers' acceptances), and
repurchase agreements will be available from major broker-dealer firms
and/or major market data vendors and/or Pricing Services.
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\45\ Information available on EMMA includes next-day information
regarding municipal securities transactions and par amounts traded.
In addition, a source of price information for certain taxable
municipal securities is the Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine
(``TRACE'') of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
(``FINRA'').
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Pricing information for exchange-listed derivatives (including
options on U.S. Treasury securities, options on U.S. Treasury futures
contracts, and U.S. Treasury futures contracts), ETFs and closed-end
funds will be available from the applicable listing exchange and from
major market data vendors.
Money market funds and other open-end funds (excluding ETFs) are
typically priced once each business day and their prices will be
available through the applicable fund's Web site or from major market
data vendors.
Additional information regarding the Fund and the Shares, including
investment strategies, risks, creation and redemption procedures, fees,
Fund holdings disclosure policies, distributions and taxes will be
included in the Registration Statement.
Initial and Continued Listing
The Shares will be subject to Rule 5735, which sets forth the
initial and continued listing criteria applicable to Managed Fund
Shares. The Exchange represents that, for initial and continued
listing, the Fund must be in compliance with Rule 10A-3 \46\ under the
Act. A minimum of 100,000 Shares will be outstanding at the
commencement of trading on the Exchange. The Exchange will obtain a
representation from the issuer of the Shares that the NAV per Share
will be calculated daily and that the NAV and the Disclosed Portfolio
will be made available to all market participants at the same time.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\46\ See 17 CFR 240.10A-3.
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Trading Halts
With respect to trading halts, the Exchange may consider all
relevant factors in exercising its discretion to halt or suspend
trading in the Shares of the Fund. Nasdaq will halt trading in the
Shares under the conditions specified in Nasdaq Rules 4120 and 4121,
including the trading pauses under Nasdaq Rules 4120(a)(11) and (12).
Trading may be halted because of market conditions or for reasons that,
in the view of the Exchange, make trading in the Shares inadvisable.
These may include: (1) The extent to which trading is not occurring in
the securities and/or the other assets constituting the Disclosed
Portfolio of the Fund; or (2) whether other unusual conditions or
circumstances detrimental to the maintenance of a fair and orderly
market are present. Trading in the Shares also will be subject to Rule
[[Page 17321]]
5735(d)(2)(D), which sets forth circumstances under which Shares of the
Fund may be halted.
Trading Rules
Nasdaq deems the Shares to be equity securities, thus rendering
trading in the Shares subject to Nasdaq's existing rules governing the
trading of equity securities. Nasdaq will allow trading in the Shares
from 4:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time. The Exchange has
appropriate rules to facilitate transactions in the Shares during all
trading sessions. As provided in Nasdaq Rule 5735(b)(3), the minimum
price variation for quoting and entry of orders in Managed Fund Shares
traded on the Exchange is $0.01.
Surveillance
The Exchange represents that trading in the Shares will be subject
to the existing trading surveillances, administered by both Nasdaq and
also FINRA on behalf of the Exchange, which are designed to detect
violations of Exchange rules and applicable federal securities
laws.\47\ 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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\47\ 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 and the exchange-listed securities and
instruments held by the Fund (including closed-end funds, ETFs,
exchange-listed options on U.S. Treasury securities, exchange-listed
options on U.S. Treasury futures contracts, and exchange-listed U.S.
Treasury futures contracts) with other markets and other entities that
are members of the Intermarket Surveillance Group (``ISG''),\48\ and
FINRA may obtain trading information regarding trading in the Shares
and such exchange-listed securities and instruments held by the Fund
from such markets and other entities. In addition, the Exchange may
obtain information regarding trading in the Shares and the exchange-
listed securities and instruments held by the Fund from markets and
other entities that are members of ISG, which includes securities and
futures exchanges, or with which the Exchange has in place a
comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement. Moreover, FINRA, on
behalf of the Exchange, will be able to access, as needed, trade
information for certain fixed income securities held by the Fund
reported to FINRA's TRACE.\49\
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\48\ For a list of the current members of ISG, see
www.isgportal.org. The Exchange notes that not all components of the
Disclosed Portfolio may trade on markets that are members of ISG or
with which the Exchange has in place a comprehensive surveillance
sharing agreement.
\49\ For Municipal Securities, trade information can generally
be found on the MSRB's EMMA.
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At least 90% of the Fund's net assets that are invested in
exchange-listed options on U.S. Treasury securities, exchange-listed
options on U.S. Treasury futures contracts, and exchange-listed U.S.
Treasury futures contracts (in the aggregate) will be invested in
instruments that trade in markets that are members of ISG or are
parties to a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement with the
Exchange. All of the Fund's net assets that are invested in exchange-
listed equity securities (including closed-end funds and ETFs) will be
invested in securities that trade in markets that are members of ISG or
are parties to a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement with the
Exchange.
In addition, the Exchange also has a general policy prohibiting the
distribution of material, non-public information by its employees.
Information Circular
Prior to the commencement of trading, the Exchange will inform its
members in an Information Circular of the special characteristics and
risks associated with trading the Shares. Specifically, the Information
Circular will discuss the following: (1) The procedures for purchases
and redemptions of Shares in Creation Units (and that Shares are not
individually redeemable); (2) Nasdaq Rule 2111A, which imposes
suitability obligations on Nasdaq members with respect to recommending
transactions in the Shares to customers; (3) how information regarding
the Intraday Indicative Value and the Disclosed Portfolio is
disseminated; (4) the risks involved in trading the Shares during the
Pre-Market and Post-Market Sessions when an updated Intraday Indicative
Value will not be calculated or publicly disseminated; (5) the
requirement that members deliver a prospectus to investors purchasing
newly issued Shares prior to or concurrently with the confirmation of a
transaction; and (6) trading information. The Information Circular will
also discuss any exemptive, no-action and interpretive relief granted
by the Commission from any rules under the Act.
Additionally, the Information Circular will reference that the Fund
is subject to various fees and expenses described in the Registration
Statement. The Information Circular will also disclose the trading
hours of the Shares of the Fund and the applicable NAV Calculation Time
for the Shares. The Information Circular will disclose that information
about the Shares of the Fund will be publicly available on the Fund's
Web site.
Continued Listing Representations
All statements and representations made in this filing regarding
(a) the description of the portfolio, (b) limitations on portfolio
holdings or reference assets, or (c) the applicability of Exchange
rules and surveillance procedures shall constitute continued listing
requirements for listing the Shares on the Exchange. In addition, the
issuer has represented to the Exchange that it will advise the 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 the Nasdaq 5800 Series.
2. Statutory Basis
Nasdaq believes that the proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)
of the Act in general and Section 6(b)(5) of the Act in particular in
that it is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and
practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster
cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in facilitating
transactions in securities, and to remove impediments to and perfect
the mechanism of a free and open market and, 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 be listed and traded on the Exchange pursuant to the
initial and continued listing criteria in Nasdaq Rule 5735. The
[[Page 17322]]
Exchange represents that trading in the Shares will be subject to the
existing trading surveillances, administered by both Nasdaq and also
FINRA on behalf of the Exchange, which are designed to detect
violations of Exchange rules and applicable federal securities laws.
The Adviser is not a broker-dealer, but it is affiliated with a
broker-dealer and is required to implement and maintain a ``fire wall''
with respect to such broker-dealer affiliate regarding access to
information concerning the composition and/or changes to the Fund's
portfolio. In addition, paragraph (g) of Nasdaq Rule 5735 further
requires that personnel who make decisions on the open-end fund's
portfolio composition must be subject to procedures designed to prevent
the use and dissemination of material non-public information regarding
the open-end fund's portfolio.
FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, will communicate as needed
regarding trading in the Shares and the exchange-listed securities and
instruments held by the Fund (including closed-end funds, ETFs,
exchange-listed options on U.S. Treasury securities, exchange-listed
options on U.S. Treasury futures contracts, and exchange-listed U.S.
Treasury futures contracts) with other markets and other entities that
are members of ISG, and FINRA may obtain trading information regarding
trading in the Shares and such exchange-listed securities and
instruments held by the Fund from such markets and other entities.
In addition, the Exchange may obtain information regarding trading
in the Shares and the exchange-listed securities and instruments held
by the Fund from markets and other entities that are members of ISG,
which includes securities and futures exchanges, or with which the
Exchange has in place a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement.
Moreover, FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, will be able to access, as
needed, trade information for certain fixed income securities held by
the Fund reported to FINRA's TRACE. At least 90% of the Fund's net
assets that are invested in exchange-listed options on U.S. Treasury
securities, exchange-listed options on U.S. Treasury futures contracts,
and exchange-listed U.S. Treasury futures contracts (in the aggregate)
will be invested in instruments that trade in markets that are members
of ISG or are parties to a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement
with the Exchange. All of the Fund's net assets that are invested in
exchange-listed equity securities (including closed-end funds and ETFs)
will be invested in securities that trade in markets that are members
of ISG or are parties to a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement
with the Exchange.
The primary investment objective of the Fund will be to generate
current income that is exempt from regular federal income taxes and
California income taxes, and its secondary objective will be long-term
capital appreciation. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will
seek to achieve its investment objectives by investing at least 80% of
its net assets (including investment borrowings) in Municipal
Securities. Under normal market conditions, except for the initial
invest-up period and periods of high cash inflows or outflows, the Fund
will limit its investments in Territorial Obligations to 20% of its net
assets. The Fund will invest in accordance with the Portfolio
Representations. In light of the requirements they impose (e.g.,
concerning credit quality, municipal debt outstanding, fixed income
securities weightings, issuer diversification, the nature of the
securities in which the Fund will invest (including representations
relating to exempted securities and asset-backed securities), and
exposure to industries), the Exchange believes that the Portfolio
Representations should provide support regarding the anticipated
diversity and liquidity of the Fund's Municipal Securities portfolio
and should mitigate the risks associated with manipulation.
The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in taxable and
other municipal securities that are not Municipal Securities. In
addition, the Fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in Distressed
Municipal Securities. With respect to up to 20% of its net assets, the
Fund may (i) invest in exchange-listed options on U.S. Treasury
securities, exchange-listed options on U.S. Treasury futures contracts,
and exchange-listed U.S. Treasury futures contracts and (ii) acquire
short positions in the foregoing derivatives. The Fund's investments in
derivative instruments will be consistent with the Fund's investment
objectives and the 1940 Act and will not be used to seek to achieve a
multiple or inverse multiple of the Fund's broad-based securities
market index (as defined in Form N-1A). Also, the Fund may hold up to
an aggregate amount of 15% of its net assets in illiquid assets
(calculated at the time of investment), including Rule 144A securities
deemed illiquid by the Adviser. 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 assets. Illiquid assets 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.
The Fund's investments will be valued daily. Investments traded on
an exchange (i.e., a regulated market), will generally be valued at
market value prices that represent last sale or official closing
prices. Non-exchange traded investments (including Municipal
Securities) will generally be valued using prices obtained from a
Pricing Service. If, however, valuations for any of the Fund's
investments cannot be readily obtained as provided in the preceding
manner, or the Pricing Committee questions the accuracy or reliability
of valuations that are so obtained, such investments will be valued at
fair value, as determined by the Pricing Committee, in accordance with
the Valuation Procedures and in accordance with provisions of the 1940
Act.
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 Exchange will obtain a representation from the issuer of the
Shares that the NAV per Share will be calculated daily and that the NAV
and the Disclosed Portfolio will be made available to all market
participants at the same time. In addition, a large amount of
information will be publicly available regarding the Fund and the
Shares, thereby promoting market transparency. Moreover, the Intraday
Indicative Value, available on the NASDAQ OMX Information LLC
proprietary index data service, will be widely disseminated by one or
more major market data vendors and broadly displayed at least every 15
seconds during the Regular Market Session.
On each business day, before commencement of trading in Shares in
the Regular Market Session on the Exchange, the Fund will disclose on
its Web site the Disclosed Portfolio that will form the basis for the
Fund's calculation of NAV at the end of the business day. Information
regarding market price and trading volume of the Shares will be
continually available on a real-time basis throughout the day on
brokers' computer screens and other electronic services, and quotation
and last sale information for the Shares will be available via Nasdaq
proprietary
[[Page 17323]]
quote and trade services, as well as in accordance with the Unlisted
Trading Privileges and the CTA plans for the Shares. One source of
price information for Municipal Securities and taxable and other
municipal securities will be the MSRB's EMMA.
Additionally, the MSRB offers trade data subscription services that
permit subscribers to obtain same-day pricing information about
municipal securities transactions. Moreover, pricing information for
Municipal Securities, as well as for taxable and other municipal
securities, Short-Term Debt Instruments (including short-term U.S.
government securities, commercial paper, and bankers' acceptances), and
repurchase agreements will be available from major broker-dealer firms
and/or major market data vendors and/or Pricing Services.
Pricing information for exchange-listed derivatives (including
options on U.S. Treasury securities, options on U.S. Treasury futures
contracts, and U.S. Treasury futures contracts), ETFs and closed-end
funds will be available from the applicable listing exchange and from
major market data vendors.
Money market funds and other open-end funds (excluding ETFs) are
typically priced once each business day and their prices will be
available through the applicable fund's Web site or from major market
data vendors.
The Fund's Web site will include a form of the prospectus for the
Fund and additional data relating to NAV and other applicable
quantitative information. Trading in Shares of the Fund will be halted
under the conditions specified in Nasdaq Rules 4120 and 4121 or because
of market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange,
make trading in the Shares inadvisable, and trading in the Shares will
be subject to Nasdaq Rule 5735(d)(2)(D), which sets forth circumstances
under which Shares of the Fund may be halted. In addition, as noted
above, investors will have ready access to information regarding the
Fund's holdings, the Intraday Indicative Value, the Disclosed
Portfolio, and quotation and last sale information for the Shares.
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 it will facilitate the listing and trading of
an additional type of actively-managed exchange-traded product that
will enhance competition among market participants, to the benefit of
investors and the marketplace. As noted above, FINRA, on behalf of the
Exchange, will communicate as needed regarding trading in the Shares
and the exchange-listed securities and instruments held by the Fund
(including closed-end funds, ETFs, exchange-listed options on U.S.
Treasury securities, exchange-listed options on U.S. Treasury futures
contracts, and exchange-listed U.S. Treasury futures contracts) with
other markets and other entities that are members of ISG, and FINRA may
obtain trading information regarding trading in the Shares and such
exchange-listed securities and instruments held by the Fund from such
markets and other entities.
In addition, the Exchange may obtain information regarding trading
in the Shares and the exchange-listed securities and instruments held
by the Fund from markets and other entities that are members of ISG,
which includes securities and futures exchanges, or with which the
Exchange has in place a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement.
Furthermore, as noted above, investors will have ready access to
information regarding the Fund's holdings, the Intraday Indicative
Value, the Disclosed Portfolio, and quotation and last sale information
for the Shares.
For the above reasons, Nasdaq believes the proposed rule change is
consistent with the requirements of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act.
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 Exchange believes that
the proposed rule change will facilitate the listing and trading of an
additional type of actively-managed exchange-traded fund that will
enhance competition among market participants, to the benefit of
investors and the marketplace.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
No written comments were either solicited or received.
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 (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 such proposed rule change; or (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-NASDAQ-2017-033 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-NASDAQ-2017-033. 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-NASDAQ-2017-033 and should
be submitted on or before May 1, 2017.
[[Page 17324]]
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\50\
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\50\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-07045 Filed 4-7-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P