Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Order Granting Approval of a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment Nos. 1 and 2, To List and Trade Shares of the JPMorgan Managed Futures ETF Under NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E, 55449-55453 [2017-25136]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 223 / Tuesday, November 21, 2017 / Notices
A proposed rule change filed under
Rule 19b–4(f)(6) normally does not
become operative for 30 days after the
date of its filing. However, Rule 19b–
4(f)(6)(iii) 29 permits the Commission to
designate a shorter time if such action
is consistent with the protection of
investors and the public interest. The
Exchange has requested that the
Commission waive the 30-day operative
delay so that the proposed rule change
will become operative upon filing. The
Exchange states that such waiver will
enable continuous access to the
platform by users and a seamless
transition of ownership of Silexx. The
Commission believes that waiver of the
30-day operative delay is consistent
with the protection of investors and the
public interest because the proposal
does not raise any novel issues and
waiver will allow current users of Silexx
to continue to use the platform without
interruption. Therefore, the Commission
hereby waives the operative delay and
designates the proposed rule change
operative upon filing.30
At any time within 60 days of the
filing of such proposed rule change, the
Commission summarily may
temporarily suspend such rule change if
it appears to the Commission that such
action is necessary or appropriate in the
public interest, for the protection of
investors, or otherwise in furtherance of
the purposes of the Act. If the
Commission takes such action, the
Commission shall institute proceedings
to determine whether the proposed rule
change should be approved or
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:
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
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–
CBOE–2017–068 on the subject line.
of filing of the proposed rule change, or such
shorter time as designated by the Commission.
29 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6)(iii).
30 For purposes only of waiving the 30-day
operative delay, the Commission also has
considered the proposed rule’s impact on
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See
15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:56 Nov 20, 2017
Jkt 244001
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–CBOE–2017–068. 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.
Persons submitting comments are
cautioned that we do not redact or edit
personal identifying information from
comment submissions. You should
submit only information that you wish
to make available publicly. All
submissions should refer to File
Number SR–CBOE–2017–068, and
should be submitted on or before
December 12, 2017.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.31
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017–25144 Filed 11–20–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
31 17
PO 00000
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–82080; File No. SR–
NYSEArca–2017–86]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
Arca, Inc.; Order Granting Approval of
a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified
by Amendment Nos. 1 and 2, To List
and Trade Shares of the JPMorgan
Managed Futures ETF Under NYSE
Arca Rule 8.600–E
November 15, 2017.
I. Introduction
On September 14, 2017, NYSE Arca,
Inc. (‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘NYSE Arca’’) filed
with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant
to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule
19b–4 thereunder,2 a proposed rule
change to list and trade shares
(‘‘Shares’’) of the JPMorgan Managed
Futures ETF (‘‘Fund’’) under NYSE Arca
Rule 8.600–E. The proposed rule change
was published for comment in the
Federal Register on October 5, 2017.3
On October 25, 2017, the Exchange filed
Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule
change.4 On November 9, 2017, the
Exchange filed Amendment No. 2 to the
proposed rule change.5 The Commission
1 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
CFR 240.19b–4.
3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 81766
(September 29, 2017), 82 FR 46566 (‘‘Notice’’).
4 Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change
replaced and superseded the original filing in its
entirety. In Amendment No. 1, the Exchange
clarified (i) the circumstances under which the
Fund reserves the right to honor a redemption
request by delivering a basket of securities or cash
that differs from the Redemption Instruments (as
defined in the Notice); and (ii) that quotation and
last sale information for the Shares and for portfolio
holdings of the Fund that are U.S. exchange-listed,
including preferred stocks and REITs, will be
available via the Consolidated Tape Association
(‘‘CTA’’) high speed line. Amendment No. 1 is
available at: https://www.sec.gov/comments/srnysearca-2017-86/nysearca201786-2655573161380.pdf. Amendment No. 1 is not subject to
notice and comment because it is a technical
amendment that does not materially alter the
substance of the proposed rule change or raise any
novel regulatory issues.
5 Amendment No. 2 to the proposed rule change
replaces and supersedes the original filing, as
modified by Amendment No. 1, in its entirety. In
Amendment No. 2, the Exchange represented that:
(i) Information regarding market price and trading
volume for the Shares will be continually available
on a real-time basis throughout the day on brokers’
computer screens and other electronic services, and
(ii) 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. Amendment No. 2 is available at:
https://www.sec.gov/comments/sr-nysearca-2017–
86/nysearca201786–2678501–161480.pdf.
Amendment No. 2 is not subject to notice and
comment because it is a technical amendment that
2 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
Frm 00106
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
55449
Continued
E:\FR\FM\21NON1.SGM
21NON1
55450
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 223 / Tuesday, November 21, 2017 / Notices
has received no comments on the
proposed rule change. This order
approves the proposed rule change, as
modified by Amendment Nos. 1 and 2.
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
II. The Exchange’s Description of the
Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by
Amendment Nos. 1 and 2 6
The Exchange proposes to list and
trade Shares of the Fund under NYSE
Arca Rule 8.600–E, which governs the
listing and trading of Managed Fund
Shares 7 on the Exchange. The Fund is
a series of J.P. Morgan Exchange-Traded
Fund Trust (‘‘Trust’’), a Delaware
statutory trust.8 J.P. Morgan Investment
Management Inc. (‘‘Adviser’’) will be
the investment adviser to the Fund and
will also provide administrative services
for and oversee the other service
providers for the Fund.9 JPMorgan
does not materially alter the substance of the
proposed rule change or raise any novel regulatory
issues.
6 The Commission notes that additional
information regarding the Trust (as defined below),
the Fund, its investments, and the Shares, including
investment strategies, risks, creation and
redemption procedures, fees, portfolio holdings
disclosure policies, calculation of NAV,
distributions, and taxes, among other things, can be
found in the Notice, Amendment Nos. 1 and 2, and
the Registration Statement (as defined below), as
applicable. See Notice, supra note 3, Amendment
No. 1, supra note 4, Amendment No. 2, supra note
5, and Registration Statement, infra note 8.
7 A Managed Fund Share is a security that
represents an interest in an investment company
registered under the Investment Company Act of
1940 (‘‘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.
8 The Trust is registered under the 1940 Act. On
July 18, 2017, the Trust filed with the Commission
an amendment to its registration statement on Form
N–1A under the Securities Act of 1933 (‘‘Securities
Act’’) and the 1940 Act relating to the Fund (File
Nos. 333–191837 and 811–22903) (‘‘Registration
Statement’’). In addition, the Commission has
issued an order granting certain exemptive relief to
the Trust under the 1940 Act. See Investment
Company Act Release No. 31990 (February 9, 2016)
(‘‘Exemptive Order’’). The Exchange represents that
investments made by the Fund will comply with
the conditions set forth in the Exemptive Order.
9 The Adviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
JPMorgan Asset Management Holdings Inc., which
is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of
JPMorgan Chase & Co., a bank holding company.
The Adviser is not registered as a broker-dealer but
the Adviser is affiliated with a broker-dealer and
has implemented and will maintain a ‘‘fire wall’’
with respect to such broker-dealer affiliate
regarding access to information concerning the
composition of and/or changes to the Fund’s
portfolio. In the event (a) the Adviser becomes
registered as a broker-dealer or newly affiliated with
a broker-dealer, or (b) any new adviser or subadviser is a registered broker-dealer or becomes
affiliated with a broker-dealer, it will implement
and maintain a fire wall with respect to its relevant
personnel or broker-dealer affiliate regarding access
to information concerning the composition of 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.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:56 Nov 20, 2017
Jkt 244001
Distribution Services, Inc. will be the
distributor of the Fund’s Shares.
A. Principal Investments
According to the Exchange, the Fund
will seek to provide long-term total
return. Through the Adviser’s
systematic investment process, the Fund
seeks to achieve its investment objective
by investing globally to exploit
opportunities across a broad range of
asset classes. The Fund will invest its
assets globally to gain exposure, either
directly or through the use of
derivatives, to equity securities (across
market capitalizations) in developed
markets, debt securities (including
below investment grade or high yield
debt securities), commodities (through
its Subsidiary, as defined below), and
currencies (including in emerging
markets). The Fund may use both long
and short positions (achieved primarily
through the use of financial derivative
instruments). The Adviser will make
use of derivatives, including swaps,
futures, options, and forward contracts,
in implementing its strategies.
According to the Exchange, under
normal market conditions,10 the Fund
will invest principally (i.e., at least 50%
of the Fund’s assets) in the securities
and financial instruments described
below, which may be represented by
derivatives relating to such securities
and financial instruments, as further
discussed below.
The Fund may purchase and sell U.S.
and foreign exchange-traded commodity
futures, equity futures, options on
equity futures, bond futures, index
futures, currency futures, and options
on currency futures.
The Fund may invest in over-thecounter (‘‘OTC’’) total return swaps on
equities, fixed income, commodities,
and foreign currencies; currency swaps;
interest rate swaps; credit default swaps
(‘‘CDS’’); CDS index swaps (‘‘CDX’’) and
loan credit default index swaps
(‘‘LCDX’’).
The Fund may invest in the following
forward and spot currency transactions:
Non-deliverable forwards, foreign
currency forward contracts,11 spot
currency transactions, caps, and floors.
The Fund may invest in cash and cash
equivalents, which are investments in
money market funds (including funds
for which the Adviser and/or its
10 The term ‘‘normal market conditions’’ is
defined in NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E(c)(5).
11 A foreign currency forward contract is a
negotiated agreement between the contracting
parties to exchange a specified amount of currency
at a specified future time at a specified rate. The
rate can be higher or lower than the spot rate
between the currencies that are the subject of the
contract.
PO 00000
Frm 00107
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
affiliates may serve as investment
adviser or administrator), bank
obligations,12 and commercial paper.13
The Fund may invest in U.S.
Government obligations, which may
include direct obligations of the U.S.
Treasury, including Treasury bills,
notes, and bonds, all of which are
backed as to principal and interest
payments by the full faith and credit of
the United States, and separately traded
principal and interest component parts
of such obligations that are transferable
through the Federal book-entry system
known as Separate Trading of
Registered Interest and Principal of
Securities (‘‘STRIPS’’) and Coupons
Under Book Entry Safekeeping
(‘‘CUBES’’).
The Fund may invest in U.S. and
foreign corporate debt.
B. Other Investments
While the Fund, under normal market
conditions, will invest at least fifty
percent (50%) of its assets in the
securities and financial instruments
described above, the Fund may invest
its remaining assets in the other assets
and financial instruments described
below.
The Fund may invest in U.S. and
foreign exchange-traded call and put
options on equities, equity indexes, and
equity futures.
The Fund will gain exposure to
commodity markets by investing
directly in commodity-related
instruments or indirectly by investing
up to 20% of its total assets in the
Managed Futures Fund CS Ltd., a
wholly owned subsidiary of the Fund
organized under the laws of the Cayman
Islands (‘‘Subsidiary’’). The Subsidiary
is also advised by the Adviser. The
Subsidiary will only invest in
commodity- or cash-managementrelated investments described above in
the Principal Investments section.
However, the Subsidiary (unlike the
Fund) may invest without limitation in
commodity-related investments,
including derivative instruments linked
to the value of a particular commodity,
commodity index, or commodity futures
contract, as described above. The
12 Bank obligations include the following:
Bankers’ acceptances, certificates of deposit and
time deposits. Bankers’ acceptances are bills of
exchange or time drafts drawn on and accepted by
a commercial bank. Maturities are generally six
months or less. Certificates of deposit are negotiable
certificates issued by a bank for a specified period
of time and earning a specified return. Time
deposits are non-negotiable receipts issued by a
bank in exchange for the deposit of funds.
13 Commercial paper consists of secured and
unsecured short-term promissory notes issued by
corporations and other entities. Maturities generally
vary from a few days to nine months.
E:\FR\FM\21NON1.SGM
21NON1
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 223 / Tuesday, November 21, 2017 / Notices
Subsidiary will otherwise be subject to
the same investment restrictions as the
Fund.
The Fund may invest in U.S.
exchange-listed preferred stock.
The Fund may invest in real estate
investment trusts (‘‘REITs’’) that are
listed and traded on U.S. national
securities exchanges.
The Fund may invest in repurchase
agreements and reverse repurchase
agreements.
The Fund may invest in sovereign
obligations, which are investments in
debt obligations issued or guaranteed by
a foreign sovereign government or its
agencies, authorities, or political
subdivisions. The Fund may also invest
in obligations of supranational entities,
including securities designated or
supported by governmental entities to
promote economic reconstruction or
development of international banking
institutions and related government
agencies.
In addition to money market funds
discussed in the Principal Investments
section, the Fund may invest in shares
of other non-exchange-traded
investment company securities,
including investment company
securities for which the Adviser and/or
its affiliates may serve as investment
adviser or administrator, to the extent
permitted by Section 12(d)(1) of the
1940 Act and the rules thereunder and/
or any applicable exemption or
exemptive order under the 1940 Act
with respect to such investments.
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
C. Investment Restrictions
The Fund’s investments, including
investments in derivatives, will be
consistent with the Fund’s investment
objective and will not be used to
enhance leverage (although certain
derivatives and other investments may
result in leverage). That is, while the
Fund will be permitted to borrow as
permitted under the 1940 Act, the
Fund’s (and the Subsidiary’s)
investments will not be used to seek
performance that is the multiple or
inverse multiple (e.g., 2Xs and 3Xs) of
the Fund’s primary broad-based
securities benchmark index (as defined
in Form N–1A).14
D. Application of Generic Listing
Requirements
The Exchange proposes to list and
trade the Shares under Commentary .01
to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E, which
provides generic listing standards for
Managed Fund Shares. Commentary
14 The Fund’s broad-based securities benchmark
index will be identified in a future amendment to
the Registration Statement following the Fund’s
first full calendar year of performance.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:56 Nov 20, 2017
Jkt 244001
.01(e) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E
currently requires that, on both an
initial and ongoing basis, no more than
20% of the Fund’s assets may be
invested in OTC derivatives (calculated
as the aggregate gross notional value of
the OTC derivatives). The Exchange
states that the portfolio for the Fund
will not meet the generic listing
requirement set forth in Commentary
.01(e) to Rule 8.600–E. Specifically, the
Exchange states that the aggregate gross
notional value of the Fund’s
investments in OTC derivatives may
exceed 20% of Fund assets, calculated
based on the aggregate gross notional
value of such OTC derivatives. The
Exchange states that the Adviser intends
to engage in strategies that utilize OTC
foreign currency forward transactions
and OTC swaps, as further described
above in the Principal Investments
section, and that, depending on market
conditions, the exposure of the Fund to
these strategies may exceed 20% of the
Fund’s assets.
According to the Exchange, the
Adviser represents that the foreign
exchange forward market is OTC and
swaps may be traded OTC, and, as such,
it is not possible to implement these
strategies efficiently using listed
derivatives. Therefore, if the Fund was
limited to investing 20% of its assets in
OTC derivatives, the Fund would have
to exclude or underweight these
strategies and would be less diversified,
concentrating risk in the other strategies
it will utilize. In addition, the Exchange
states that the Adviser represents that
the Fund will follow an investment
strategy utilized within the JP Morgan
Diversified Alternative ETF, shares of
which have previously been approved
by the Commission for Exchange listing
and trading.15
The Exchange states that it believes
that it is appropriate and in the public
interest to allow the Fund to exceed the
20% limit on portfolio assets that may
be invested in OTC derivatives in
Commentary .01(e) to Rule 8.600 for
several reasons. First, the Exchange
states that the limit could result in the
Fund being unable to fully pursue its
investment objective while attempting
to sufficiently mitigate investment risks.
In addition, the Exchange represents
that the Fund’s investments in
derivative instruments will be made in
accordance with the 1940 Act and
consistent with the Fund’s investment
objective and policies and, to limit the
15 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 77904
(May 25, 2016), 81 FR 35101 (June 1, 2016) (SR–
NYSEArca–2016–17) (order approving listing and
trading of shares of the JPMorgan Diversified
Alternative ETF under NYSE Arca Equities Rule
8.600).
PO 00000
Frm 00108
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
55451
potential risk associated with such
transactions, the Fund will segregate or
‘‘earmark’’ assets determined to be
liquid by the Adviser in accordance
with procedures established by the
Trust’s Board of Trustees and in
accordance with the 1940 Act (or, as
permitted by applicable regulation,
enter into certain offsetting positions) to
cover its obligations under derivative
instruments. Furthermore, the Exchange
represents that the Fund will include
appropriate risk disclosure in its
offering documents, including
leveraging risk. The Exchange states
that, because the markets for certain
assets, or the assets themselves, may be
unavailable or cost prohibitive as
compared to derivative instruments,
suitable derivative transactions may be
an efficient alternative for the Fund to
obtain the desired asset exposure. In
addition, the Exchange states that OTC
derivatives may be tailored more
specifically to the assets held by the
Fund than available listed derivatives.
According to the Exchange, other than
Commentary .01(e), the Fund’s portfolio
will meet all other requirements of
NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E.
III. Discussion and Commission’s
Findings
After careful review, the Commission
finds that the proposed rule change, as
modified by Amendment Nos. 1 and 2,
is consistent with the Act and the rules
and regulations thereunder applicable to
a national securities exchange.16 In
particular, the Commission finds that
the proposed rule change, as modified
by Amendment Nos. 1 and 2, is
consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the
Act,17 which requires, among other
things, that the Exchange’s rules be
designed to prevent fraudulent and
manipulative acts and practices, to
promote just and equitable principles of
trade, to remove impediments to and
perfect the mechanism of a free and
open market and a national market
system, and, in general, to protect
investors and the public interest.
As noted above, the Exchange
proposes that more than 20% of the
Fund’s assets (calculated as the
aggregate gross notional value) may be
invested in OTC forwards and swaps.18
16 In approving this proposed rule change, the
Commission notes that it has considered the
proposed rule’s impact on efficiency, competition,
and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
17 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
18 The Exchange states that investments in
derivative instruments will be made in accordance
with the 1940 Act and consistent with the Fund’s
investment objective and policies. To limit the
potential risk associated with such transactions, the
Fund will segregate or ‘‘earmark’’ assets determined
E:\FR\FM\21NON1.SGM
Continued
21NON1
55452
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 223 / Tuesday, November 21, 2017 / Notices
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
The Exchange states that limiting the
Fund’s investments in OTC derivatives
to 20% of the Fund’s assets could result
in the Fund being unable to fully pursue
its investment objective while
attempting to sufficiently mitigate
investment risks. The Exchange states
that if the Fund were limited to
investing up to 20% of assets in OTC
derivatives, the Fund would have to
exclude or underweight the strategies
utilizing OTC forwards and OTC swaps
and the Fund would be less diversified,
concentrating risk in the other strategies
it plans to utilize. The Exchange states
that the Adviser represents that it is not
possible to implement its investment
strategies efficiently using listed
derivatives because the foreign
exchange forward market is OTC and
swaps may be traded OTC. In addition,
the Exchange states that suitable
derivative transactions may be an
efficient alternative for the Fund to
obtain the desired asset exposure
because the markets for certain assets, or
the assets themselves, may be
unavailable or cost prohibitive as
compared to derivative instruments.
Furthermore, the Exchange states that
OTC derivatives may be tailored more
specifically than the available listed
derivatives to the assets held by the
Fund.19 The Exchange represents that
the Fund’s disclosure of derivative
positions in the Disclosed Portfolio will
include information that market
participants can use to value the
derivative positions intraday. As
proposed, on a daily basis, the Fund
will disclose on its Web site the
information regarding the Disclosed
Portfolio required under NYSE Arca
Rule 8.600–E(c)(2) to the extent
applicable.20 The Web site information
will be publicly available at no charge.
to be liquid by the Adviser in accordance with
procedures established by the Trust’s Board of
Trustees and in accordance with the 1940 Act (or,
as permitted by applicable regulation, enter into
certain offsetting positions) to cover its obligations
under derivative instruments. These procedures
have been adopted consistent with Section 18 of the
1940 Act and related Commission guidance. In
addition, the Fund has included appropriate risk
disclosure in its offering documents, including
leveraging risk.
19 In addition, the Adviser represents that the
Fund will follow an investment strategy utilized by
the JP Morgan Diversified Alternatives ETF, shares
of which were previously approved for Exchange
listing and trading by the Commission pursuant to
Section 19(b)(2) of the Act. See supra note 15.
20 NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E(c)(2) requires that the
Web site for each series of Managed Fund Shares
disclose the following information regarding the
Disclosed Portfolio, to the extent applicable: (A)
Ticker symbol; (B) CUSIP or other identifier; (C)
description of the holding; (D) with respect to
holdings in derivatives, the identity of the security,
commodity, index or other asset upon which the
derivative is based; (E) the strike price for any
options; (F) the quantity of each security or other
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:56 Nov 20, 2017
Jkt 244001
The Commission also finds that the
proposal is consistent with Section
11A(a)(1)(C)(iii) of the Act,21 which sets
forth Congress’s finding that it is in the
public interest and appropriate for the
protection of investors and the
maintenance of fair and orderly markets
to assure the availability to brokers,
dealers, and investors of information
with respect to quotations for, and
transactions in, securities. Quotation
and last-sale information for the Shares
will be available via the CTA high-speed
line. The Portfolio Indicative Value
(‘‘PIV’’) for the Fund, as defined in
NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E(c)(3), will be
widely disseminated by one or more
major market data vendors at least every
15 seconds during the Exchange’s Core
Trading Session.22 Information
regarding market price and trading
volume for 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 portfolio holdings of the Fund that
are U.S. exchange-listed, including
preferred stocks and REITs, will be
available via the CTA high speed line
and from the exchanges on which they
are listed. Quotation and last sale
information for U.S. and foreign
exchange-traded futures will be
available from the exchanges on which
they are listed. Quotation and last sale
information for exchange-listed options
cleared via the Options Clearing
Corporation will be available via the
Options Price Reporting Authority.
Price information for preferred stocks
will also be available from one or more
major market data vendors or from
broker-dealers. Quotation information
for cash equivalents, swaps, obligations
of supranational agencies, nonexchange-listed investment company
securities (including money market
funds), U.S. Government obligations,
U.S. Government agency obligations,
sovereign obligations, repurchase
agreements, reverse repurchase
agreements, and U.S. and foreign
corporate debt may be obtained from
asset held as measured by (i) par value, (ii) notional
value, (iii) number of shares, (iv) number of
contracts, and (v) number of units; (G) maturity
date; (H) coupon rate; (I) effective date; (J) market
value; and (K) percentage weighting of the holding
in the portfolio.
21 15 U.S.C. 78k–1(a)(1)(C)(iii).
22 Currently, it is the Exchange’s understanding
that several major market data vendors display and/
or make widely available PIVs taken from the CTA
or other data feeds.
PO 00000
Frm 00109
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
brokers and dealers who make markets
in such securities or through nationally
recognized pricing services through
subscription agreements. The U.S.
dollar value of foreign securities,
instruments, and currencies can be
derived by using foreign currency
exchange rate quotations obtained from
nationally recognized pricing services.
Forwards and spot currency price
information will be available from major
market data vendors. In addition, the
Fund’s Web site, which will be publicly
available prior to the public offering of
the Shares, will include a form of the
prospectus for the Fund and additional
data relating to NAV and other
applicable quantitative information.
The Commission also believes that the
proposal is reasonably designed to
promote fair disclosure of information
that may be necessary to price the
Shares appropriately and to prevent
trading when a reasonable degree of
transparency cannot be assured. 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 in Shares of the Fund will be
halted if the circuit-breaker parameters
in NYSE Arca Rule 7.12–E have been
reached. Trading also may be halted
because of market conditions or for
reasons that, in the view of the
Exchange, make trading in the Shares
inadvisable. Moreover, trading in the
Shares will be subject to NYSE Arca
Rule 8.600–E(d)(2)(D), which sets forth
circumstances under which Shares of
the Fund may be halted.
The Exchange states that it has a
general policy prohibiting the
distribution of material, non-public
information by its employees. The
Exchange states that the Adviser is not
registered as a broker-dealer but the
Adviser is affiliated with a broker-dealer
and has implemented and will maintain
a ‘‘fire wall’’ with respect to that brokerdealer regarding access to information
concerning the composition of and/or
changes to the Fund’s portfolio.23
Further, the Commission notes that the
Reporting Authority that provides the
Disclosed Portfolio must implement and
maintain, or be subject to, procedures
designed to prevent the use and
dissemination of material, non-public
information regarding the actual
components of the portfolio.24
23 The Exchange also represents that an
investment adviser to an open-end fund is required
to be registered under the Investment Advisers Act
of 1940.
24 See NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E(d)(2)(B)(ii).
E:\FR\FM\21NON1.SGM
21NON1
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 223 / Tuesday, November 21, 2017 / Notices
The Exchange deems the Shares to be
equity securities, thus rendering trading
in the Shares subject to the Exchange’s
existing rules governing the trading of
equity securities. In support of this
proposal, the Exchange represents that:
(1) Other than Commentary .01(e), the
Fund’s portfolio will meet all other
requirements of NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–
E.
(2) The aggregate gross notional value
of the Fund’s investments in OTC
derivatives may exceed 20% of Fund
assets, calculated based on the aggregate
gross notional value of such OTC
derivatives.
(3) A minimum of 100,000 Shares of
the Fund will be outstanding at the
commencement of trading on the
Exchange.
(4) Trading in the Shares will be
subject to the existing trading
surveillances administered by the
Exchange, as well as cross-market
surveillances administered by the
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
(‘‘FINRA’’) on behalf of the Exchange,
and 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.
(5) The Exchange or FINRA, on behalf
of the Exchange, or both, will
communicate as needed regarding
trading in the Shares, exchange-listed
equity securities, certain futures, and
certain exchange-traded options with
other markets and other entities that are
members of the Intermarket
Surveillance Group (‘‘ISG’’), and the
Exchange or FINRA, on behalf of the
Exchange, or both, may obtain trading
information regarding trading in such
securities and financial instruments
from such markets and other entities. In
addition, the Exchange may obtain
information regarding trading in such
securities and financial instruments
from markets and other entities that are
members of ISG or with which the
Exchange has in place a comprehensive
surveillance sharing agreement. FINRA,
on behalf of the Exchange, is able to
access, as needed, trade information for
certain fixed income securities held by
the Fund reported to FINRA’s Trade
Reporting and Compliance Engine.
(6) Prior to the commencement of
trading, the Exchange will inform its
Equity Trading Permit Holders in an
Information Bulletin of the special
characteristics and risks associated with
trading the Shares. Specifically, the
Information Bulletin will discuss: (a)
The procedures for purchases and
redemptions of Shares in creation units
(and that Shares are not individually
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:56 Nov 20, 2017
Jkt 244001
redeemable); (b) NYSE Arca Rule 9.2–
E(a), which imposes a duty of due
diligence on its Equity Trading Permit
Holders to learn the essential facts
relating to every customer prior to
trading the Shares; (c) the risks involved
in trading the Shares during the Early
and Late Trading Sessions when an
updated PIV will not be calculated or
publicly disseminated; (d) how
information regarding the PIV and the
Disclosed Portfolio is disseminated; (e)
the requirement that Equity Trading
Permit Holders deliver a prospectus to
investors purchasing newly issued
Shares prior to or concurrently with the
confirmation of a transaction; and (f)
trading information. In addition, the
Information Bulletin will discuss any
exemptive, no-action, and interpretive
relief granted by the Commission from
any rules under the Act.
(7) The Exchange has appropriate
rules to facilitate transactions in the
Shares during all trading sessions.
(8) For initial and continued listing,
the Fund will be in compliance with
Rule 10A–3 under the Act.25
(9) The Fund’s investments, including
derivatives, will be consistent with the
Fund’s investment objective and will
not be used to enhance leverage. That is,
while the Fund will be permitted to
borrow as permitted under the 1940 Act,
the Fund’s (and the Subsidiary’s)
investments will not be used to seek
performance that is the multiple or
inverse multiple (e.g., 2Xs and 3Xs) of
the Fund’s primary broad-based
securities benchmark index (as defined
in Form N–1A).
The Exchange represents that all
statements and representations made in
the filing regarding (1) the description of
the portfolio; (2) limitations on portfolio
holdings or reference assets; or (3) the
applicability of Exchange listing rules
specified in the rule filing 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 26 for
25 See
17 CFR 240.10A–3.
Commission notes that certain proposals
for the listing and trading of exchange-traded
products include a representation that the exchange
will ‘‘surveil’’ for compliance with the continued
listing requirements. See, e.g., Securities Exchange
Act Release No. 77499 (April 1, 2016), 81 FR 20428,
20432 (April 7, 2016) (SR–BATS–2016–04). In the
context of this representation, it is the
Commission’s view that ‘‘monitor’’ and ‘‘surveil’’
both mean ongoing oversight of compliance with
the continued listing requirements. Therefore, the
Commission does not view ‘‘monitor’’ as a more or
26 The
PO 00000
Frm 00110
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
55453
compliance with the continued listing
requirements. If the Fund is not in
compliance with the applicable listing
requirements, the Exchange will
commence delisting procedures under
NYSE Arca Rule 5.5–E(m).
This approval order is based on all of
the Exchange’s statements and
representations, including those set
forth above and in Amendment Nos. 1
and 2.
For the foregoing reasons, the
Commission finds that the proposed
rule change, as modified by Amendment
Nos. 1 and 2, is consistent with Section
6(b)(5) of the Act 27 and Section
11A(a)(1)(C)(iii) of the Act 28 and the
rules and regulations thereunder
applicable to a national securities
exchange.
IV. Conclusion
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to
Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,29 that the
proposed rule change (SR–NYSEArca–
2017–86), as modified by Amendment
Nos. 1 and 2, be, and it hereby is,
approved on an accelerated basis.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.30
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017–25136 Filed 11–20–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–82083; File No. SR–
NYSEARCA–2017–125]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed
Rule Change To Amend the Governing
Documents of Its Intermediate Parent
Companies Intercontinental Exchange
Holdings, Inc., NYSE Holdings LLC and
NYSE Group, Inc. To Make Them More
Consistent With the Governing
Documents of Their Ultimate Parent
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.
November 15, 2017.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Act’’ or ‘‘Exchange Act’’) 2 and Rule
19b–4 thereunder,3 notice is hereby
less stringent obligation than ‘‘surveil’’ with respect
to the continued listing requirements.
27 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
28 15 U.S.C. 78k–1(a)(1)(C)(iii).
29 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
30 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
1 15 U.S.C.78s(b)(1).
2 15 U.S.C. 78a.
3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
E:\FR\FM\21NON1.SGM
21NON1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 223 (Tuesday, November 21, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55449-55453]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-25136]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-82080; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2017-86]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Order Granting
Approval of a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment Nos. 1 and
2, To List and Trade Shares of the JPMorgan Managed Futures ETF Under
NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E
November 15, 2017.
I. Introduction
On September 14, 2017, NYSE Arca, Inc. (``Exchange'' or ``NYSE
Arca'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(``Commission''), pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ a
proposed rule change to list and trade shares (``Shares'') of the
JPMorgan Managed Futures ETF (``Fund'') under NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E.
The proposed rule change was published for comment in the Federal
Register on October 5, 2017.\3\ On October 25, 2017, the Exchange filed
Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change.\4\ On November 9, 2017,
the Exchange filed Amendment No. 2 to the proposed rule change.\5\ The
Commission
[[Page 55450]]
has received no comments on the proposed rule change. This order
approves the proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment Nos. 1 and
2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
\3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 81766 (September 29,
2017), 82 FR 46566 (``Notice'').
\4\ Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change replaced and
superseded the original filing in its entirety. In Amendment No. 1,
the Exchange clarified (i) the circumstances under which the Fund
reserves the right to honor a redemption request by delivering a
basket of securities or cash that differs from the Redemption
Instruments (as defined in the Notice); and (ii) that quotation and
last sale information for the Shares and for portfolio holdings of
the Fund that are U.S. exchange-listed, including preferred stocks
and REITs, will be available via the Consolidated Tape Association
(``CTA'') high speed line. Amendment No. 1 is available at: https://www.sec.gov/comments/sr-nysearca-2017-86/nysearca201786-2655573-161380.pdf. Amendment No. 1 is not subject to notice and comment
because it is a technical amendment that does not materially alter
the substance of the proposed rule change or raise any novel
regulatory issues.
\5\ Amendment No. 2 to the proposed rule change replaces and
supersedes the original filing, as modified by Amendment No. 1, in
its entirety. In Amendment No. 2, the Exchange represented that: (i)
Information regarding market price and trading volume for the Shares
will be continually available on a real-time basis throughout the
day on brokers' computer screens and other electronic services, and
(ii) 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. Amendment No. 2 is available
at: https://www.sec.gov/comments/sr-nysearca-2017-86/nysearca201786-2678501-161480.pdf. Amendment No. 2 is not subject to notice and
comment because it is a technical amendment that does not materially
alter the substance of the proposed rule change or raise any novel
regulatory issues.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
II. The Exchange's Description of the Proposed Rule Change, as Modified
by Amendment Nos. 1 and 2 \6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ The Commission notes that additional information regarding
the Trust (as defined below), the Fund, its investments, and the
Shares, including investment strategies, risks, creation and
redemption procedures, fees, portfolio holdings disclosure policies,
calculation of NAV, distributions, and taxes, among other things,
can be found in the Notice, Amendment Nos. 1 and 2, and the
Registration Statement (as defined below), as applicable. See
Notice, supra note 3, Amendment No. 1, supra note 4, Amendment No.
2, supra note 5, and Registration Statement, infra note 8.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange proposes to list and trade Shares of the Fund under
NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E, which governs the listing and trading of
Managed Fund Shares \7\ on the Exchange. The Fund is a series of J.P.
Morgan Exchange-Traded Fund Trust (``Trust''), a Delaware statutory
trust.\8\ J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (``Adviser'') will be
the investment adviser to the Fund and will also provide administrative
services for and oversee the other service providers for the Fund.\9\
JPMorgan Distribution Services, Inc. will be the distributor of the
Fund's Shares.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ A Managed Fund Share is a security that represents an
interest in an investment company registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (``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.
\8\ The Trust is registered under the 1940 Act. On July 18,
2017, the Trust filed with the Commission an amendment to its
registration statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933
(``Securities Act'') and the 1940 Act relating to the Fund (File
Nos. 333-191837 and 811-22903) (``Registration Statement''). In
addition, the Commission has issued an order granting certain
exemptive relief to the Trust under the 1940 Act. See Investment
Company Act Release No. 31990 (February 9, 2016) (``Exemptive
Order''). The Exchange represents that investments made by the Fund
will comply with the conditions set forth in the Exemptive Order.
\9\ The Adviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of JPMorgan Asset
Management Holdings Inc., which is an indirect, wholly-owned
subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase & Co., a bank holding company. The
Adviser is not registered as a broker-dealer but the Adviser is
affiliated with a broker-dealer and has implemented and will
maintain a ``fire wall'' with respect to such broker-dealer
affiliate regarding access to information concerning the composition
of and/or changes to the Fund's portfolio. In the event (a) the
Adviser becomes registered as a broker-dealer or newly affiliated
with a broker-dealer, or (b) any new adviser or sub-adviser is a
registered broker-dealer or becomes affiliated with a broker-dealer,
it will implement and maintain a fire wall with respect to its
relevant personnel or broker-dealer affiliate regarding access to
information concerning the composition of 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. Principal Investments
According to the Exchange, the Fund will seek to provide long-term
total return. Through the Adviser's systematic investment process, the
Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing globally to
exploit opportunities across a broad range of asset classes. The Fund
will invest its assets globally to gain exposure, either directly or
through the use of derivatives, to equity securities (across market
capitalizations) in developed markets, debt securities (including below
investment grade or high yield debt securities), commodities (through
its Subsidiary, as defined below), and currencies (including in
emerging markets). The Fund may use both long and short positions
(achieved primarily through the use of financial derivative
instruments). The Adviser will make use of derivatives, including
swaps, futures, options, and forward contracts, in implementing its
strategies.
According to the Exchange, under normal market conditions,\10\ the
Fund will invest principally (i.e., at least 50% of the Fund's assets)
in the securities and financial instruments described below, which may
be represented by derivatives relating to such securities and financial
instruments, as further discussed below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\10\ The term ``normal market conditions'' is defined in NYSE
Arca Rule 8.600-E(c)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund may purchase and sell U.S. and foreign exchange-traded
commodity futures, equity futures, options on equity futures, bond
futures, index futures, currency futures, and options on currency
futures.
The Fund may invest in over-the-counter (``OTC'') total return
swaps on equities, fixed income, commodities, and foreign currencies;
currency swaps; interest rate swaps; credit default swaps (``CDS'');
CDS index swaps (``CDX'') and loan credit default index swaps
(``LCDX'').
The Fund may invest in the following forward and spot currency
transactions: Non-deliverable forwards, foreign currency forward
contracts,\11\ spot currency transactions, caps, and floors.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\11\ A foreign currency forward contract is a negotiated
agreement between the contracting parties to exchange a specified
amount of currency at a specified future time at a specified rate.
The rate can be higher or lower than the spot rate between the
currencies that are the subject of the contract.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund may invest in cash and cash equivalents, which are
investments in money market funds (including funds for which the
Adviser and/or its affiliates may serve as investment adviser or
administrator), bank obligations,\12\ and commercial paper.\13\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\12\ Bank obligations include the following: Bankers'
acceptances, certificates of deposit and time deposits. Bankers'
acceptances are bills of exchange or time drafts drawn on and
accepted by a commercial bank. Maturities are generally six months
or less. Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates issued
by a bank for a specified period of time and earning a specified
return. Time deposits are non-negotiable receipts issued by a bank
in exchange for the deposit of funds.
\13\ Commercial paper consists of secured and unsecured short-
term promissory notes issued by corporations and other entities.
Maturities generally vary from a few days to nine months.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund may invest in U.S. Government obligations, which may
include direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury, including Treasury
bills, notes, and bonds, all of which are backed as to principal and
interest payments by the full faith and credit of the United States,
and separately traded principal and interest component parts of such
obligations that are transferable through the Federal book-entry system
known as Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of
Securities (``STRIPS'') and Coupons Under Book Entry Safekeeping
(``CUBES'').
The Fund may invest in U.S. and foreign corporate debt.
B. Other Investments
While the Fund, under normal market conditions, will invest at
least fifty percent (50%) of its assets in the securities and financial
instruments described above, the Fund may invest its remaining assets
in the other assets and financial instruments described below.
The Fund may invest in U.S. and foreign exchange-traded call and
put options on equities, equity indexes, and equity futures.
The Fund will gain exposure to commodity markets by investing
directly in commodity-related instruments or indirectly by investing up
to 20% of its total assets in the Managed Futures Fund CS Ltd., a
wholly owned subsidiary of the Fund organized under the laws of the
Cayman Islands (``Subsidiary''). The Subsidiary is also advised by the
Adviser. The Subsidiary will only invest in commodity- or cash-
management-related investments described above in the Principal
Investments section. However, the Subsidiary (unlike the Fund) may
invest without limitation in commodity-related investments, including
derivative instruments linked to the value of a particular commodity,
commodity index, or commodity futures contract, as described above. The
[[Page 55451]]
Subsidiary will otherwise be subject to the same investment
restrictions as the Fund.
The Fund may invest in U.S. exchange-listed preferred stock.
The Fund may invest in real estate investment trusts (``REITs'')
that are listed and traded on U.S. national securities exchanges.
The Fund may invest in repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase
agreements.
The Fund may invest in sovereign obligations, which are investments
in debt obligations issued or guaranteed by a foreign sovereign
government or its agencies, authorities, or political subdivisions. The
Fund may also invest in obligations of supranational entities,
including securities designated or supported by governmental entities
to promote economic reconstruction or development of international
banking institutions and related government agencies.
In addition to money market funds discussed in the Principal
Investments section, the Fund may invest in shares of other non-
exchange-traded investment company securities, including investment
company securities for which the Adviser and/or its affiliates may
serve as investment adviser or administrator, to the extent permitted
by Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder and/or any
applicable exemption or exemptive order under the 1940 Act with respect
to such investments.
C. Investment Restrictions
The Fund's investments, including investments in derivatives, will
be consistent with the Fund's investment objective and will not be used
to enhance leverage (although certain derivatives and other investments
may result in leverage). That is, while the Fund will be permitted to
borrow as permitted under the 1940 Act, the Fund's (and the
Subsidiary's) investments will not be used to seek performance that is
the multiple or inverse multiple (e.g., 2Xs and 3Xs) of the Fund's
primary broad-based securities benchmark index (as defined in Form N-
1A).\14\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\14\ The Fund's broad-based securities benchmark index will be
identified in a future amendment to the Registration Statement
following the Fund's first full calendar year of performance.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
D. Application of Generic Listing Requirements
The Exchange proposes to list and trade the Shares under Commentary
.01 to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E, which provides generic listing standards
for Managed Fund Shares. Commentary .01(e) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E
currently requires that, on both an initial and ongoing basis, no more
than 20% of the Fund's assets may be invested in OTC derivatives
(calculated as the aggregate gross notional value of the OTC
derivatives). The Exchange states that the portfolio for the Fund will
not meet the generic listing requirement set forth in Commentary .01(e)
to Rule 8.600-E. Specifically, the Exchange states that the aggregate
gross notional value of the Fund's investments in OTC derivatives may
exceed 20% of Fund assets, calculated based on the aggregate gross
notional value of such OTC derivatives. The Exchange states that the
Adviser intends to engage in strategies that utilize OTC foreign
currency forward transactions and OTC swaps, as further described above
in the Principal Investments section, and that, depending on market
conditions, the exposure of the Fund to these strategies may exceed 20%
of the Fund's assets.
According to the Exchange, the Adviser represents that the foreign
exchange forward market is OTC and swaps may be traded OTC, and, as
such, it is not possible to implement these strategies efficiently
using listed derivatives. Therefore, if the Fund was limited to
investing 20% of its assets in OTC derivatives, the Fund would have to
exclude or underweight these strategies and would be less diversified,
concentrating risk in the other strategies it will utilize. In
addition, the Exchange states that the Adviser represents that the Fund
will follow an investment strategy utilized within the JP Morgan
Diversified Alternative ETF, shares of which have previously been
approved by the Commission for Exchange listing and trading.\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\15\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 77904 (May 25,
2016), 81 FR 35101 (June 1, 2016) (SR-NYSEArca-2016-17) (order
approving listing and trading of shares of the JPMorgan Diversified
Alternative ETF under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange states that it believes that it is appropriate and in
the public interest to allow the Fund to exceed the 20% limit on
portfolio assets that may be invested in OTC derivatives in Commentary
.01(e) to Rule 8.600 for several reasons. First, the Exchange states
that the limit could result in the Fund being unable to fully pursue
its investment objective while attempting to sufficiently mitigate
investment risks. In addition, the Exchange represents that the Fund's
investments in derivative instruments will be made in accordance with
the 1940 Act and consistent with the Fund's investment objective and
policies and, to limit the potential risk associated with such
transactions, the Fund will segregate or ``earmark'' assets determined
to be liquid by the Adviser in accordance with procedures established
by the Trust's Board of Trustees and in accordance with the 1940 Act
(or, as permitted by applicable regulation, enter into certain
offsetting positions) to cover its obligations under derivative
instruments. Furthermore, the Exchange represents that the Fund will
include appropriate risk disclosure in its offering documents,
including leveraging risk. The Exchange states that, because the
markets for certain assets, or the assets themselves, may be
unavailable or cost prohibitive as compared to derivative instruments,
suitable derivative transactions may be an efficient alternative for
the Fund to obtain the desired asset exposure. In addition, the
Exchange states that OTC derivatives may be tailored more specifically
to the assets held by the Fund than available listed derivatives.
According to the Exchange, other than Commentary .01(e), the Fund's
portfolio will meet all other requirements of NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E.
III. Discussion and Commission's Findings
After careful review, the Commission finds that the proposed rule
change, as modified by Amendment Nos. 1 and 2, is consistent with the
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a national
securities exchange.\16\ In particular, the Commission finds that the
proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment Nos. 1 and 2, is
consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\17\ which requires, among
other things, that the Exchange's rules be designed to prevent
fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and
equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments to and perfect the
mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and,
in general, to protect investors and the public interest.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\16\ In approving this proposed rule change, the Commission
notes that it has considered the proposed rule's impact on
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C.
78c(f).
\17\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As noted above, the Exchange proposes that more than 20% of the
Fund's assets (calculated as the aggregate gross notional value) may be
invested in OTC forwards and swaps.\18\
[[Page 55452]]
The Exchange states that limiting the Fund's investments in OTC
derivatives to 20% of the Fund's assets could result in the Fund being
unable to fully pursue its investment objective while attempting to
sufficiently mitigate investment risks. The Exchange states that if the
Fund were limited to investing up to 20% of assets in OTC derivatives,
the Fund would have to exclude or underweight the strategies utilizing
OTC forwards and OTC swaps and the Fund would be less diversified,
concentrating risk in the other strategies it plans to utilize. The
Exchange states that the Adviser represents that it is not possible to
implement its investment strategies efficiently using listed
derivatives because the foreign exchange forward market is OTC and
swaps may be traded OTC. In addition, the Exchange states that suitable
derivative transactions may be an efficient alternative for the Fund to
obtain the desired asset exposure because the markets for certain
assets, or the assets themselves, may be unavailable or cost
prohibitive as compared to derivative instruments. Furthermore, the
Exchange states that OTC derivatives may be tailored more specifically
than the available listed derivatives to the assets held by the
Fund.\19\ The Exchange represents that the Fund's disclosure of
derivative positions in the Disclosed Portfolio will include
information that market participants can use to value the derivative
positions intraday. As proposed, on a daily basis, the Fund will
disclose on its Web site the information regarding the Disclosed
Portfolio required under NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E(c)(2) to the extent
applicable.\20\ The Web site information will be publicly available at
no charge.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\18\ The Exchange states that investments in derivative
instruments will be made in accordance with the 1940 Act and
consistent with the Fund's investment objective and policies. To
limit the potential risk associated with such transactions, the Fund
will segregate or ``earmark'' assets determined to be liquid by the
Adviser in accordance with procedures established by the Trust's
Board of Trustees and in accordance with the 1940 Act (or, as
permitted by applicable regulation, enter into certain offsetting
positions) to cover its obligations under derivative instruments.
These procedures have been adopted consistent with Section 18 of the
1940 Act and related Commission guidance. In addition, the Fund has
included appropriate risk disclosure in its offering documents,
including leveraging risk.
\19\ In addition, the Adviser represents that the Fund will
follow an investment strategy utilized by the JP Morgan Diversified
Alternatives ETF, shares of which were previously approved for
Exchange listing and trading by the Commission pursuant to Section
19(b)(2) of the Act. See supra note 15.
\20\ NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E(c)(2) requires that the Web site for
each series of Managed Fund Shares disclose the following
information regarding the Disclosed Portfolio, to the extent
applicable: (A) Ticker symbol; (B) CUSIP or other identifier; (C)
description of the holding; (D) with respect to holdings in
derivatives, the identity of the security, commodity, index or other
asset upon which the derivative is based; (E) the strike price for
any options; (F) the quantity of each security or other asset held
as measured by (i) par value, (ii) notional value, (iii) number of
shares, (iv) number of contracts, and (v) number of units; (G)
maturity date; (H) coupon rate; (I) effective date; (J) market
value; and (K) percentage weighting of the holding in the portfolio.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Commission also finds that the proposal is consistent with
Section 11A(a)(1)(C)(iii) of the Act,\21\ which sets forth Congress's
finding that it is in the public interest and appropriate for the
protection of investors and the maintenance of fair and orderly markets
to assure the availability to brokers, dealers, and investors of
information with respect to quotations for, and transactions in,
securities. Quotation and last-sale information for the Shares will be
available via the CTA high-speed line. The Portfolio Indicative Value
(``PIV'') for the Fund, as defined in NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E(c)(3),
will be widely disseminated by one or more major market data vendors at
least every 15 seconds during the Exchange's Core Trading Session.\22\
Information regarding market price and trading volume for 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\21\ 15 U.S.C. 78k-1(a)(1)(C)(iii).
\22\ Currently, it is the Exchange's understanding that several
major market data vendors display and/or make widely available PIVs
taken from the CTA or other data feeds.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quotation and last sale information for portfolio holdings of the
Fund that are U.S. exchange-listed, including preferred stocks and
REITs, will be available via the CTA high speed line and from the
exchanges on which they are listed. Quotation and last sale information
for U.S. and foreign exchange-traded futures will be available from the
exchanges on which they are listed. Quotation and last sale information
for exchange-listed options cleared via the Options Clearing
Corporation will be available via the Options Price Reporting
Authority. Price information for preferred stocks will also be
available from one or more major market data vendors or from broker-
dealers. Quotation information for cash equivalents, swaps, obligations
of supranational agencies, non-exchange-listed investment company
securities (including money market funds), U.S. Government obligations,
U.S. Government agency obligations, sovereign obligations, repurchase
agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, and U.S. and foreign
corporate debt may be obtained from brokers and dealers who make
markets in such securities or through nationally recognized pricing
services through subscription agreements. The U.S. dollar value of
foreign securities, instruments, and currencies can be derived by using
foreign currency exchange rate quotations obtained from nationally
recognized pricing services. Forwards and spot currency price
information will be available from major market data vendors. In
addition, the Fund's Web site, which will be publicly available prior
to the public offering of the Shares, will include a form of the
prospectus for the Fund and additional data relating to NAV and other
applicable quantitative information.
The Commission also believes that the proposal is reasonably
designed to promote fair disclosure of information that may be
necessary to price the Shares appropriately and to prevent trading when
a reasonable degree of transparency cannot be assured. 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 in Shares of the Fund will be halted if the circuit-
breaker parameters in NYSE Arca Rule 7.12-E have been reached. Trading
also may be halted because of market conditions or for reasons that, in
the view of the Exchange, make trading in the Shares inadvisable.
Moreover, trading in the Shares will be subject to NYSE Arca Rule
8.600-E(d)(2)(D), which sets forth circumstances under which Shares of
the Fund may be halted.
The Exchange states that it has a general policy prohibiting the
distribution of material, non-public information by its employees. The
Exchange states that the Adviser is not registered as a broker-dealer
but the Adviser is affiliated with a broker-dealer and has implemented
and will maintain a ``fire wall'' with respect to that broker-dealer
regarding access to information concerning the composition of and/or
changes to the Fund's portfolio.\23\ Further, the Commission notes that
the Reporting Authority that provides the Disclosed Portfolio must
implement and maintain, or be subject to, procedures designed to
prevent the use and dissemination of material, non-public information
regarding the actual components of the portfolio.\24\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\23\ The Exchange also represents that an investment adviser to
an open-end fund is required to be registered under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940.
\24\ See NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E(d)(2)(B)(ii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 55453]]
The Exchange deems the Shares to be equity securities, thus
rendering trading in the Shares subject to the Exchange's existing
rules governing the trading of equity securities. In support of this
proposal, the Exchange represents that:
(1) Other than Commentary .01(e), the Fund's portfolio will meet
all other requirements of NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E.
(2) The aggregate gross notional value of the Fund's investments in
OTC derivatives may exceed 20% of Fund assets, calculated based on the
aggregate gross notional value of such OTC derivatives.
(3) A minimum of 100,000 Shares of the Fund will be outstanding at
the commencement of trading on the Exchange.
(4) Trading in the Shares will be subject to the existing trading
surveillances administered by the Exchange, as well as cross-market
surveillances administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority (``FINRA'') on behalf of the Exchange, and 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.
(5) The Exchange or FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, or both, will
communicate as needed regarding trading in the Shares, exchange-listed
equity securities, certain futures, and certain exchange-traded options
with other markets and other entities that are members of the
Intermarket Surveillance Group (``ISG''), and the Exchange or FINRA, on
behalf of the Exchange, or both, may obtain trading information
regarding trading in such securities and financial instruments from
such markets and other entities. In addition, the Exchange may obtain
information regarding trading in such securities and financial
instruments from markets and other entities that are members of ISG or
with which the Exchange has in place a comprehensive surveillance
sharing agreement. FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, is able to access,
as needed, trade information for certain fixed income securities held
by the Fund reported to FINRA's Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine.
(6) Prior to the commencement of trading, the Exchange will inform
its Equity Trading Permit Holders in an Information Bulletin of the
special characteristics and risks associated with trading the Shares.
Specifically, the Information Bulletin will discuss: (a) The procedures
for purchases and redemptions of Shares in creation units (and that
Shares are not individually redeemable); (b) NYSE Arca Rule 9.2-E(a),
which imposes a duty of due diligence on its Equity Trading Permit
Holders to learn the essential facts relating to every customer prior
to trading the Shares; (c) the risks involved in trading the Shares
during the Early and Late Trading Sessions when an updated PIV will not
be calculated or publicly disseminated; (d) how information regarding
the PIV and the Disclosed Portfolio is disseminated; (e) the
requirement that Equity Trading Permit Holders deliver a prospectus to
investors purchasing newly issued Shares prior to or concurrently with
the confirmation of a transaction; and (f) trading information. In
addition, the Information Bulletin will discuss any exemptive, no-
action, and interpretive relief granted by the Commission from any
rules under the Act.
(7) The Exchange has appropriate rules to facilitate transactions
in the Shares during all trading sessions.
(8) For initial and continued listing, the Fund will be in
compliance with Rule 10A-3 under the Act.\25\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\25\ See 17 CFR 240.10A-3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(9) The Fund's investments, including derivatives, will be
consistent with the Fund's investment objective and will not be used to
enhance leverage. That is, while the Fund will be permitted to borrow
as permitted under the 1940 Act, the Fund's (and the Subsidiary's)
investments will not be used to seek performance that is the multiple
or inverse multiple (e.g., 2Xs and 3Xs) of the Fund's primary broad-
based securities benchmark index (as defined in Form N-1A).
The Exchange represents that all statements and representations
made in the filing regarding (1) the description of the portfolio; (2)
limitations on portfolio holdings or reference assets; or (3) the
applicability of Exchange listing rules specified in the rule filing
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 \26\ for
compliance with the continued listing requirements. If the Fund is not
in compliance with the applicable listing requirements, the Exchange
will commence delisting procedures under NYSE Arca Rule 5.5-E(m).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\26\ The Commission notes that certain proposals for the listing
and trading of exchange-traded products include a representation
that the exchange will ``surveil'' for compliance with the continued
listing requirements. See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release No.
77499 (April 1, 2016), 81 FR 20428, 20432 (April 7, 2016) (SR-BATS-
2016-04). In the context of this representation, it is the
Commission's view that ``monitor'' and ``surveil'' both mean ongoing
oversight of compliance with the continued listing requirements.
Therefore, the Commission does not view ``monitor'' as a more or
less stringent obligation than ``surveil'' with respect to the
continued listing requirements.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This approval order is based on all of the Exchange's statements
and representations, including those set forth above and in Amendment
Nos. 1 and 2.
For the foregoing reasons, the Commission finds that the proposed
rule change, as modified by Amendment Nos. 1 and 2, is consistent with
Section 6(b)(5) of the Act \27\ and Section 11A(a)(1)(C)(iii) of the
Act \28\ and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a
national securities exchange.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\27\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
\28\ 15 U.S.C. 78k-1(a)(1)(C)(iii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
IV. Conclusion
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the
Act,\29\ that the proposed rule change (SR-NYSEArca-2017-86), as
modified by Amendment Nos. 1 and 2, be, and it hereby is, approved on
an accelerated basis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\29\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\30\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\30\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-25136 Filed 11-20-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P