Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Listing and Trading of the Shares of the ProShares UltraPro 3x Natural Gas ETF and ProShares UltraPro 3x Short Natural Gas ETF Under NYSE Arca Rule 8.200-E, 4573-4579 [2019-02377]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 32 / Friday, February 15, 2019 / Notices
substantially similar to the
independence requirements contained
in the listing standards of Nasdaq and
NYSE.
The Exchange believes that by
ensuring its parent company’s
governance documents accurately
reflect the correct legal address of
Parent’s registered office, the proposed
rule change would reduce potential
investor or market participant
confusion.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that
the proposed rule change will impose
any burden on competition that is not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance
of the purposes of the Act. The
proposed rule change is not intended to
address competitive issues but rather is
concerned solely with updating the
Parent Bylaws and Exchange Bylaws to
reflect the changes described above.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
The Exchange neither solicited nor
received comments on the proposed
rule change.
khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
The Exchange has filed the proposed
rule change pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act 10 and Rule
19b–4(f)(6) thereunder.11 Because the
proposed rule change does not: (i)
Significantly affect the protection of
investors or the public interest; (ii)
impose any significant burden on
competition; and (iii) by its terms,
become operative prior to 30 days from
the date on which it was filed, or such
shorter time as the Commission may
designate, if consistent with the
protection of investors and the public
interest, the proposed rule change has
become operative pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b–
4(f)(6) thereunder.
A proposed rule change filed under
Rule 19b–4(f)(6) 12 normally does not
become operative for 30 days after the
date of filing. However, pursuant to
Rule 19b–4(f)(6),13 the Commission may
designate a shorter time if such action
is consistent with the protection of
investors and the public interest. The
Exchange has asked the Commission to
19:41 Feb 14, 2019
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 website (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 website 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–C2–2019–001 and should
be submitted on or before March 8,
2019.
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:
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.15
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Deputy Secretary.
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–
C2–2019–001 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–C2–2019–001. This file
number should be included on the
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).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
11 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).
12 Id.
13 Id.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
waive the 30-day operative delay so that
proposal may become operative upon
filing. The Exchange states that the
proposed changes relating to the ability
of the same person to hold multiple
officer titles and the amended
independence requirements are
consistent with other national securities
exchanges and will enable the Exchange
to continue to be organized and have the
capacity to be able to carry out the
purposes of the Act, including
protecting investors and the public
interest. Further, the proposed change of
updating the zip code of the Parent’s
registered office does not raise any
regulatory issues. For the foregoing
reasons, the Commission believes that
waiving the 30-day operative delay is
consistent with the protection of
investors and the public interest and,
therefore, the Commission designates
the proposed rule change to be operative
upon filing.14
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. If the
Commission takes such action, the
Commission will institute proceedings
to determine whether the proposed rule
change should be approved or
disapproved.
14 For
10 15
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[FR Doc. 2019–02396 Filed 2–14–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–85088; File No. SR–
NYSEArca–2019–02]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed
Rule Change Relating to the Listing
and Trading of the Shares of the
ProShares UltraPro 3x Natural Gas ETF
and ProShares UltraPro 3x Short
Natural Gas ETF Under NYSE Arca
Rule 8.200–E
February 11, 2019.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
15 17
1 15
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CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 32 / Friday, February 15, 2019 / Notices
‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3
notice is hereby given that, on January
28, 2019, NYSE Arca, Inc. (the
‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘NYSE Arca’’) filed with
the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’) the
proposed rule change as described in
Items I, II, and III below, which Items
have been prepared by the selfregulatory organization. The
Commission is publishing this notice to
solicit comments on the proposed rule
change from interested persons.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to list and
trade the shares of the following under
NYSE Arca Rule 8.200–E, Commentary
.02 (‘‘Trust Issued Receipts’’): ProShares
UltraPro 3x Natural Gas ETF and
ProShares UltraPro 3x Short Natural Gas
ETF. The proposed change is available
on the Exchange’s website at
www.nyse.com, at the principal office of
the Exchange, and at the Commission’s
Public Reference Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
In its filing with the Commission, the
self-regulatory organization included
statements concerning the purpose of,
and basis for, the proposed rule change
and discussed any comments it received
on the proposed rule change. The text
of those statements may be examined at
the places specified in Item IV below.
The Exchange has prepared summaries,
set forth in sections A, B, and C below,
of the most significant parts of such
statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and the
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
1. Purpose
The Exchange proposes to list and
trade shares (‘‘Shares’’) of the following
under NYSE Arca Rule 8.200–E,
Commentary .02, which governs the
listing and trading of Trust Issued
Receipts: ProShares UltraPro 3x Natural
Gas ETF and ProShares UltraPro 3x
Short Natural Gas ETF (each a ‘‘Fund’’
and, collectively, the ‘‘Funds’’).4
2 15
U.S.C. 78a.
CFR 240.19b–4.
4 Commentary .02 to NYSE Arca Rule 8.200–E
applies to Trust Issued Receipts that invest in
‘‘Financial Instruments.’’ The term ‘‘Financial
Instruments,’’ as defined in Commentary .02(b)(4) to
NYSE Arca Rule 8.200–E, means any combination
of investments, including cash; securities; options
on securities and indices; futures contracts; options
3 17
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19:41 Feb 14, 2019
Jkt 247001
Each Fund is a series of the ProShares
Trust II (the ‘‘Trust’’), a Delaware
statutory trust.5 The Trust and the
Funds are managed and controlled by
ProShare Capital Management LLC
(‘‘ProShare Capital’’ or the ‘‘Sponsor’’).
ProShare Capital is registered as a
commodity pool operator (‘‘CPO’’) with
the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission (‘‘CFTC’’) and is a member
of the National Futures Association
(‘‘NFA’’).6
In its capacity as the Custodian for the
Funds, the Bank of New York Mellon
(‘‘BNYM’’) may hold the Funds’
securities and cash and/or cash
equivalents pursuant to a custodial
agreement (the ‘‘Custodian’’). The
Custodian is also the transfer agent for
the Shares. In addition, in its capacity
as Administrator for the Funds, BNYM
(the ‘‘Administrator’’) performs certain
administrative and accounting services
for the Funds and prepares certain
Commission, NFA and CFTC reports on
behalf of the Funds. In its capacity as
Distributor for the Funds, SEI
Investments Distribution Co. performs
functions and duties relating to
distribution and marketing.
ProShares UltraPro 3x Natural Gas ETF
According to the Registration
Statement, the investment objective of
the Fund is to seek daily investment
results, before fees and expenses, that
correspond to three times (3x) the
performance of the Bloomberg Natural
Gas SubindexSM (the ‘‘Benchmark’’).7
on futures contracts; forward contracts; equity caps,
collars, and floors; and swap agreements.
5 The Trust is registered under the Securities Act
of 1933. On May 19, 2017, the Trust filed with the
Commission a registration statement on Form S–1
under the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77a)
(‘‘Securities Act’’) relating to the Funds (File No.
333–218136) (the ‘‘Registration Statement’’). The
description of the operation of the Trust and the
Funds herein is based, in part, on the Registration
Statement.
6 The Commission has previously approved
listing of Trust Issued Receipts based on natural gas
on the American Stock Exchange LLC (now known
as NYSE American LLC) and NYSE Arca. See, e.g.,
Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 55632 (April
13, 2007), 72 FR 19987 (April 20, 2007) (SR–Amex–
2006–112) (order approving listing and trading of
shares of United States Natural Gas Fund, LP);
56831 (November 21, 2007), 72 FR 67612
(November 29, 2007) (SR–Amex–2007–98) (order
approving listing and trading of shares of United
States 12 Month Oil Fund, LP and United States 12
Month Natural Gas Fund, LP); 63753 (January 21,
2011), 76 FR 4963 (January 27, 2011) (SR–
NYSEArca–2010–110) (order approving listing and
trading of shares of Teucrium Natural Gas Fund);
and 65136 (August 15, 2011), 76 FR 52037 (August
19, 2011) (SR–NYSEAra–2011–24) (order approving
listing and trading of shares of ProShares Short DJ–
UBS Natural Gas, ProShares Ultra DJ–UBS Natural
Gas and ProShares UltraShort DJ–UBS Natural Gas).
7 According to the Registration Statement, the
Benchmark is a ‘‘rolling index,’’ which means that
the Index performance includes the impact of
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The Fund seeks to achieve its
investment objective for a single day,
not for any other period.8
The Benchmark is intended to reflect
the performance of a rolling position in
natural gas futures contracts listed on
the New York Mercantile Exchange (the
‘‘NYMEX’’, which is part of the CME
Group, Inc. (‘‘CME’’)), including the
impact of rolling, without regard to
income earned on cash positions.
ProShares UltraPro 3x Short Natural Gas
ETF
According to the Registration
Statement, the investment objective of
the Fund is to seek daily investment
results, before fees and expenses, that
correspond to three times the inverse
(¥3x) of the performance of the
Benchmark. The Fund seeks to achieve
its investment objective for a single day,
not for any other period.
Investment Strategies of the Funds
In seeking to achieve the Funds’
investment objectives, the Sponsor will
utilize a mathematical approach to
determine the type, quantity and mix of
investment positions that ProShare
Capital believes, in combination, should
produce daily returns consistent with
the Funds’ respective objectives.
Each Fund will seek to meet its
respective investment objective by
investing, under normal market
conditions,9 in futures contracts traded
in the United States and listed options
on such contracts (together, the
‘‘Futures Contracts’’).10 The Funds will
not invest directly in natural gas. The
Funds’ investments in Futures Contracts
will be used to produce economically
closing out futures contracts that are nearing
expiration and replacing them with futures
contracts with later expirations. This process is
commonly referred to as ‘‘rolling.’’
8 According to the Registration Statement, the
return of a Fund for a period longer than a single
trading day is the result of its return for each day
compounded over the period and thus will usually
differ from a Fund’s multiple times the return of the
Benchmark for the same period.
9 The term ‘‘normal market conditions’’ includes,
but is not limited to, the absence of trading halts
in the applicable financial markets generally;
operational issues (e.g., systems failure) causing
dissemination of inaccurate market information; or
force majeure type events such as natural or
manmade disaster, act of God, armed conflict, act
of terrorism, riot or labor disruption or any similar
intervening circumstance. See NYSE Arca Rule
8.600–E(c)(5).
10 According to the Registration Statement, a
Futures Contract is a standardized contract traded
on, or subject to the rules of, an exchange that calls
for the future delivery of a specified quantity and
type of a particular underlying asset at a specified
time and place or alternatively may call for cash
settlement. The notional size and calendar term
Futures Contracts on a particular underlying asset
are identical and are not subject to any negotiation,
other than with respect to price and the number of
contracts traded between the buyer and seller.
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 32 / Friday, February 15, 2019 / Notices
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‘‘leveraged’’ or ‘‘inverse leveraged’’
investment results for the Funds.
Each Fund also may obtain exposure
to the Benchmark through investment in
over-the-counter (‘‘OTC’’) swap
transactions and forward contracts
referencing such Benchmark (‘‘Financial
Instruments’’). For example, a Fund may
invest in Financial Instruments in the
event position, price or accountability
limits are reached with respect to
Futures Contracts 11 or exposure limits
are reached with a particular futures
commission merchant (‘‘FCM’’) or if the
market for a specific futures contract
experiences emergencies (e.g., natural
disaster, terrorist attack or an act of God)
or disruptions (e.g., a trading halt) or in
situations where the Sponsor deems it
impractical or inadvisable to buy or sell
Futures Contracts (such as during
periods of market volatility or
illiquidity).
Each Fund will also hold cash or cash
equivalents, such as U.S. Treasury
securities or other high credit quality,
short-term fixed-income or similar
securities (such as shares of money
market funds and collateralized
repurchase agreements), pending
investment in Futures Contracts or
Financial Instruments or as collateral for
the Funds’ investments.
In addition, to the extent a Fund
enters into swap agreements and other
over-the-counter transactions, it will do
so only with large, established and well
capitalized financial institutions that
meet the Sponsor’s credit quality
standards and monitoring policies. Each
Fund will use various techniques to
minimize credit risk including early
termination or reset and payment, using
different counterparties and limiting the
net amount due from any individual
counterparty.
The Funds do not intend to hold
Futures Contracts through expiration,
but instead intend to ‘‘roll’’ or close
their respective positions before
expiration. When the market for these
contracts is such that the prices are
higher in the more distant delivery
months than in the nearer delivery
months, the sale during the course of
the ‘‘rolling process’’ of the more nearby
contract would take place at a price that
is lower than the price of the more
distant contract. This pattern of higher
11 According to the Registration Statement, many
designated contract markets, such as the NYMEX,
have established accountability levels and position
limits on the maximum net long or net short futures
contracts in commodity interests that any person or
group of persons under common trading control
may hold, own or control. In addition, NYMEX also
sets price fluctuation limits on futures contracts.
Options do not have individual price limits but
rather are linked to the price limit of Futures
Contracts.
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19:41 Feb 14, 2019
Jkt 247001
futures prices for longer expiration
Futures Contracts is referred to as
‘‘contango.’’ Alternatively, when the
market for these contracts is such that
the prices are higher in the nearer
months than in the more distant
months, the sale during the course of
the ‘‘rolling process’’ of the more nearby
contract would take place at a price that
is higher than the price of the more
distant contract. This pattern of higher
futures prices for shorter expiration
Futures Contracts is referred to as
‘‘backwardation.’’ The presence of
contango in certain Futures Contracts at
the time of rolling could adversely affect
a Fund with long positions, and
positively affect a Fund with short
positions. Similarly, the presence of
backwardation in certain Futures
Contracts 12 at the time of rolling such
contracts could adversely affect a Fund
with short positions and positively
affect a Fund with long positions.
Net Asset Value (‘‘NAV’’)
According to the Registration
Statement, a Fund’s per Share NAV will
be calculated by taking the current
market value of its total assets,
subtracting any liabilities, and dividing
that total by the total number of
outstanding Shares.
Each Fund’s NAV will be calculated
on each day other than a day when the
Exchange is closed for regular trading.
The Funds typically compute their
NAVs as of 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time
(‘‘E.T.’’), which is the designated closing
time of the natural gas futures listed on
NYMEX,13 or an earlier time as set forth
on www.ProShares.com, if necessitated
by NYSE, the Exchange or other
exchange material to the valuation or
operation of such Fund closing early.
Each Fund’s NAV is calculated only
once each trading day.
In calculating the NAV of a Fund,
Futures Contracts generally are valued
at their then current market value,
which typically is based upon the
settlement price or the last traded price
12 The Funds may invest in options on Futures
Contracts. Unlike Futures Contracts, which the
Funds intend to roll before expiration, the Funds
intend to hold ‘‘in-the-money’’ options on Futures
Contracts to expiration. The Funds would exercise
in-the-money options on Futures Contracts at
expiration of the options contract and they would
settle through receipt or delivery of the underlying
Futures Contracts. Out-of-the money options will be
held to expiration and will be expired worthless.
Options on Futures Contracts are subject to the
effects of contango and backwardation to the same
general extent as their underlying Futures
Contracts.
13 The daily value of the Benchmark is calculated
as of 2:30 p.m. E.T. to coincide with the designated
closing time. Futures Contracts, however, continue
to trade past 2:30 p.m. E.T. and through the end of
the NYSE Arca Core Trading Session at 4 p.m. E.T.
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4575
before the NAV time, for that Futures
Contract. The settlement value of a
Fund’s non-exchange traded Financial
Instruments generally is determined by
applying the then-current disseminated
levels for the Benchmark underlying
such Financial Instrument to the terms
of such Fund’s non-exchange traded
Financial Instruments.
In certain circumstances (e.g., if the
Sponsor believes market quotations do
not accurately reflect fair value of an
investment, or a trading halt closes an
exchange or market early), the Sponsor
may, in its sole discretion, choose to
determine a fair value price as the basis
for determining the market value of an
investment for such day. Such fair value
price would generally be determined
based on available inputs about the
current value of the investment and
would be based on principles that the
Sponsor deems fair and equitable.
Money market instruments held by a
Fund generally will be valued using
market prices or at amortized cost.
Indicative Fund Value
In order to provide updated
information relating to a Fund for use by
investors and market professionals, the
Exchange will calculate an updated
‘‘Indicative Fund Value’’ (‘‘IFV’’). The
IFV will be calculated by using the prior
day’s closing NAV per Share of a Fund
as a base and will be updating
throughout the Core Trading Session of
9:30 a.m. E.T. to 4:00 p.m. E.T. to reflect
changes in the approximate aggregate
per Share value of the investments held
by a Fund based on the most recently
available prices for the Fund’s
investments.
The IFV will be disseminated on a per
Share basis every 15 seconds during the
Exchange’s Core Trading Session and be
widely disseminated by one or more
major market data vendors during the
NYSE Arca Core Trading Session.14
Creation and Redemption of Shares
According to the Registration
Statement, each Fund intends to create
and redeem Shares in one or more
‘‘Creation Units’’ of 25,000 Shares each.
14 Several major market data vendors display and/
or make widely available IFVs taken from the CTA
or other data feeds. In addition, circumstances may
arise in which the NYSE Arca Core Trading Session
is in progress, but trading in Futures Contracts is
not occurring. Such circumstances may result from
reasons including, but not limited to, a futures
exchange having a separate holiday schedule than
the NYSE Arca, a futures exchange closing prior to
the close of the NYSE Arca, price fluctuation limits
being reached in Futures Contracts, or a futures
exchange imposing any other suspension or
limitation on trading in Futures Contracts. In such
instances, the IFV would be static or priced at the
applicable early cut-off time of the exchange trading
the applicable Futures Contracts.
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The size of the Creation Units is subject
to change. Creation Units in a Fund are
expected to be created when there is
sufficient demand for Shares in such
Fund that the market price per Share is
at a premium to the NAV per Share. A
creation transaction generally takes
place when an Authorized Participant
deposits a specified amount of cash in
exchange for a specified number of
Creation Units. Similarly, Shares can be
redeemed only in Creation Units, and
generally only for cash. The prices at
which creations and redemptions occur
are based on the next calculation of the
NAV after an order is received.
‘‘Authorized Participants’’ will be the
only persons that may place orders to
create and redeem Creation Units. An
Authorized Participant is an entity that
has entered into an Authorized
Participant Agreement with the Trust
and ProShare Capital.
Creation Procedures
On any ‘‘Business Day’’, an
Authorized Participant may place an
order with the Distributor to create one
or more Creation Units. For purposes of
processing both purchase and
redemption orders, a ‘‘Business Day’’ for
each Fund means any day on which the
NAV of such Fund is determined.
Purchase and redemption orders for
Creation Units must be placed by 2:00
p.m. E.T. or earlier if NYSE Arca or
other exchange material to the valuation
or operation of such Fund closes before
the cut-off time.15 The day on which the
Distributor receives a valid purchase
order is referred to as the purchase order
date. If the purchase order is received
after the applicable cut-off time, the
purchase order date will be the next
Business Day. Purchase orders are
irrevocable.
By placing a purchase order, an
Authorized Participant generally agrees
to deposit cash with the Custodian.
khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Redemption Procedures
According to the Registration
Statement, the procedures by which an
Authorized Participant can redeem one
or more Creation Units will mirror the
procedures for the creation of Creation
Units. On any Business Day, an
Authorized Participant may place an
order with the Distributor to redeem one
or more Creation Units.
15 The 2:00 p.m. E.T. creation and redemption
cut-off time is designed to provide the Funds with
sufficient time prior to the NAV calculation time to
assess the potential impact of creation and
redemption activity on a Fund’s portfolio and to
buy (or sell) Futures Contracts or other Financial
Instruments in an orderly fashion and in a manner
designed to position the Fund’s portfolio so that its
exposure to the Benchmark is consistent with its
daily investment objective.
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19:41 Feb 14, 2019
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The redemption procedures allow
Authorized Participants to redeem
Creation Units. Individual shareholders
may not redeem directly from a Fund.
By placing a redemption order, an
Authorized Participant agrees to deliver
the Creation Units to be redeemed
through DTC’s book entry system to the
applicable Fund not later than noon E.T.
on the first Business Day immediately
following the redemption order date
(T+1). ProShare Capital can extend the
deadline for a Fund to receive the
Creation Units required for settlement
up to the third Business Day following
the redemption order date (T+3).
Upon request of an Authorized
Participant made at the time of a
redemption order, ProShare Capital may
determine, in addition to delivering
redemption proceeds, to transfer futures
contracts to the Authorized Participant
pursuant to a futures contract for related
position (‘‘EFCRP’’) or to a block trade
sale of futures contracts to the
Authorized Participant.
Determination of Redemption
Distribution
The redemption proceeds from a
Fund will consist of the cash
redemption amount and, if permitted by
ProShare Capital with respect to a Fund,
an EFCRP or block trade with the
relevant Fund as described above. The
cash redemption amount is equal to the
NAV of the number of Creation Unit(s)
of such Fund requested in the
Authorized Participant’s redemption
order as of the time of the calculation of
such Fund’s NAV on the redemption
order date. The Benchmark will be
disseminated by one or more major
market data vendors every 15 seconds
during the NYSE Arca Core Trading
Session of 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. E.T.
Availability of Information
The NAV for the Funds’ Shares will
be disseminated daily to all market
participants at the same time. The
intraday, closing prices, and settlement
prices of the Futures Contracts will be
readily available from the applicable
futures exchange websites, automated
quotation systems, published or other
public sources, or major market data
vendors.
Complete real-time data for the
Futures Contracts is available by
subscription through on-line
information services. ICE Futures U.S.
and NYMEX also provide delayed
futures and options on futures
information on current and past trading
sessions and market news free of charge
on their respective websites. The
specific contract specifications for
Futures Contracts are also available on
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
such websites, as well as other financial
informational sources. Quotation and
last-sale information regarding the
Shares will be disseminated through the
facilities of the Consolidated Tape
Association (‘‘CTA’’). Quotation
information for cash equivalents and
OTC swaps may be obtained from
brokers and dealers who make markets
in such instruments. Quotation
information for exchange-traded swaps
will be available from the applicable
exchange and major market vendors.
Intra-day price and closing price level
information for the Benchmark will be
available from major market data
vendors. The IFV will be available
through on-line information services.
In addition, the Funds’ website,
www.ProShares.com, will display the
applicable end of day closing NAV. The
daily holdings of each Fund will be
available on the Funds’ website. The
Funds’ website will also include a form
of the prospectus for the Funds that may
be downloaded. The website will
include the Shares’ ticker and CUSIP
information along with additional
quantitative information updated on a
daily basis, including, for each Fund: (1)
Daily trading volume, the prior Business
Day’s reported NAV and closing price,
and a calculation of the premium and
discount of the closing price or midpoint of the bid/ask spread at the time
of NAV calculation (the ‘‘Bid/Ask
Price’’) against the NAV; and (2) data in
chart format displaying the frequency
distribution of discounts and premiums
of the daily closing price or Bid/Ask
Price against the NAV, within
appropriate ranges, for at least each of
the four previous calendar quarters. The
website disclosure of portfolio holdings
will be made daily and will include, as
applicable, (i) the name, quantity, value,
expiration and strike price of Futures
Contracts and Options, (ii) the
counterparty to and value of swap
agreements and forward contracts, and
(ii) the aggregate net value of other
assets (i.e., Treasury securities, cash
equivalents and cash) held in each
Fund’s portfolio, if applicable.
The Funds’ website will be publicly
available at the time of the public
offering of Shares and accessible at no
charge. The spot price of natural gas
also is available on a 24-hour basis from
major market data vendors.
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
a Fund.16 Trading in Shares of a Fund
16 See
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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.
The Exchange may halt trading during
the day in which an interruption to the
dissemination of the IFV or the value of
the Benchmark occurs. If the
interruption to the dissemination of the
IFV, or the value of the or the value of
the Benchmark persists past the trading
day in which it occurred, the Exchange
will halt trading no later than the
beginning of the trading day following
the interruption. In addition, if the
Exchange becomes aware that the NAV
with respect to the Shares is not
disseminated to all market participants
at the same time, it will halt trading in
the Shares until such time as the NAV
is available to all market participants.
Trading Rules
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. Shares will trade on
the NYSE Arca Marketplace from 4 a.m.
to 8 p.m. E.T. in accordance with NYSE
Arca Rule 7.34–E (Early, Core, and Late
Trading Sessions). The Exchange has
appropriate rules to facilitate
transactions in the Shares during all
trading sessions. As provided in NYSE
Arca Rule 7.6–E, the minimum price
variation (‘‘MPV’’) for quoting and entry
of orders in equity securities traded on
the NYSE Arca Marketplace is $0.01,
with the exception of securities that are
priced less than $1.00 for which the
MPV for order entry is $0.0001.
The Shares will conform to the initial
and continued listing criteria under
NYSE Arca Rule 8.200–E. The trading of
the Shares will be subject to NYSE Arca
Rule 8.200–E, Commentary .02(e),
which sets forth certain restrictions on
Equity Trading Permit (‘‘ETP’’) Holders
acting as registered Market Makers in
Trust Issued Receipts to facilitate
surveillance. The Exchange represents
that, for initial and/or continued listing,
each Fund will be in compliance with
Rule 10A–3 17 under the Act, as
provided by NYSE Arca Rule 5.3–E. A
minimum of 100,000 Shares of each
Fund will be outstanding at the
commencement of trading on the
Exchange.
Surveillance
The Exchange represents that trading
in the Shares of each Fund will be
17 17
CFR 240.10A–3.
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19:41 Feb 14, 2019
Jkt 247001
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,
which are designed to detect violations
of Exchange rules and applicable federal
securities laws.18 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 federal
securities laws applicable to trading on
the Exchange.
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.
The Exchange or FINRA, on behalf of
the Exchange, or both, will
communicate as needed regarding
trading in the Shares and certain
Futures Contracts with other markets
and other entities that are members of
the ISG, and the Exchange or FINRA, on
behalf of the Exchange, or both, may
obtain trading information regarding
trading in the Shares and certain
Futures Contracts from such markets
and other entities. In addition, the
Exchange may obtain information
regarding trading in the Shares and
certain Futures Contracts from markets
and other entities that are members of
ISG or with which the Exchange has in
place a comprehensive surveillance
sharing agreement (‘‘CSSA’’).19 The
Exchange is also able to obtain
information regarding trading in the
Shares, the physical commodities
underlying Futures Contracts through
ETP Holders, in connection with such
ETP Holders’ proprietary or customer
trades which they effect through ETP
Holders on any relevant market. The
Exchange can obtain market
surveillance information, including
customer identity information, with
respect to transactions (including
transactions in Futures Contracts)
18 FINRA conducts cross-market surveillances on
behalf of the Exchange pursuant to a regulatory
services agreement. The Exchange is responsible for
FINRA’s performance under this regulatory services
agreement.
19 For a list of the current members of ISG, see
www.isgportal.org. The Exchange notes that not all
components of a Fund may trade on markets that
are members of ISG or with which the Exchange has
in place a CSSA.
PO 00000
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4577
occurring on U.S. futures exchanges,
which are members of the ISG.
Not more than 10% of the net assets
of a Fund in the aggregate invested in
Futures Contracts shall consist of
Futures Contracts whose principal
market is not a member of the ISG or is
a market with which the Exchange does
not have a CSSA.
In addition, the Exchange also has a
general policy prohibiting the
distribution of material, non-public
information by its employees.
All statements and representations
made in this filing regarding (a) the
description of the portfolios of the
Funds or Benchmark, (b) limitations on
portfolio holdings or the Benchmark, or
(c) the applicability of Exchange listing
rules specified in this rule filing shall
constitute continued listing
requirements for listing the Shares on
the Exchange.
The issuer has represented to the
Exchange that it will advise the
Exchange of any failure by the Funds 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 a Fund is not in
compliance with the applicable listing
requirements, the Exchange will
commence delisting procedures under
NYSE Arca Rule 5.5–E(m).
Information Bulletin
Prior to the commencement of
trading, the Exchange will inform its
ETP Holders in an Information Bulletin
of the special characteristics and risks
associated with trading the Shares.
Specifically, the Information Bulletin
will discuss the following: (1) The risks
involved in trading the Shares during
the Early and Late Trading Sessions
when an updated IFV will not be
calculated or publicly disseminated; (2)
the procedures for purchases and
redemptions of Shares in Creation Units
(and that Shares are not individually
redeemable); (3) NYSE Arca Rule 9.2–
E(a), which imposes a duty of due
diligence on its ETP Holders to learn the
essential facts relating to every customer
prior to trading the Shares; (4) how
information regarding the IFV is
disseminated; (5) how information
regarding portfolio holdings is
disseminated; (6) the requirement that
ETP Holders deliver a prospectus to
investors purchasing newly issued
Shares prior to or concurrently with the
confirmation of a transaction; (7) trading
information, and (8) NYSE Arca
suitability rules.
Further, the Exchange states that
FINRA has implemented increased sales
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15FEN1
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practice and customer margin
requirements for FINRA members
applicable to inverse, leveraged and
inverse leveraged securities (which
include the Shares) and options on such
securities, as described in FINRA
Regulatory Notices 09–31 (June 2009),
09–53 (August 2009), and 09–65
(November 2009) (collectively, ‘‘FINRA
Regulatory Notices’’). ETP Holders that
carry customer accounts will be
required to follow the FINRA guidance
set forth in these notices. As noted
above, each Fund will seek daily
investment results, before fees and
expenses, that correspond to either three
times (3x) or three times the inverse
(¥3x) of the performance of the
Benchmark. The return of a Fund for a
period longer than a single day is the
result of its return for each day
compounded over the period and
usually will differ in amount and
possibly even direction from the Fund’s
stated multiple times the return of the
Fund’s Benchmark for the same period.
These differences can be significant.
The Information Bulletin will also
discuss any exemptive, no-action, and
interpretive relief granted by the
Commission from any rules under the
Act. In addition, the Information
Bulletin will reference that a Fund is
subject to various fees and expenses
described in the Registration Statement.
The Information Bulletin will also
disclose the trading hours of the Shares
and that the NAV for the Shares will be
calculated after 2:30 p.m. E.T. each
trading day. The Information Bulletin
will disclose that information about the
Shares will be publicly available on the
Funds’ website.
2. Statutory Basis
The basis under the Act for this
proposed rule change is the requirement
under Section 6(b)(5) 20 that an
exchange have rules that are designed to
prevent fraudulent and manipulative
acts and practices, to promote just and
equitable principles of trade, to remove
impediments to, and perfect the
mechanism of a free and open market
and, in general, to protect investors and
the public interest.
The Exchange believes that the
proposed rule change is designed to
prevent fraudulent and manipulative
acts and practices and to protect
investors and the public interest in that
the Shares will be listed and traded on
the Exchange pursuant to the initial and
continued listing criteria in NYSE Arca
Rule 8.200–E. The Exchange has in
place surveillance procedures that are
adequate to properly monitor trading in
20 15
U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:41 Feb 14, 2019
Jkt 247001
the Shares in all trading sessions and to
deter and detect violations of Exchange
rules and applicable federal securities
laws. The Exchange or FINRA, on behalf
of the Exchange, or both, will
communicate as needed regarding
trading in the Shares and certain
Futures Contracts with other markets
and other entities that are members of
the ISG, and the Exchange or FINRA, on
behalf of the Exchange, or both, may
obtain trading information regarding
trading in the Shares and certain
Futures Contracts from such markets
and other entities. In addition, the
Exchange may obtain information
regarding trading in the Shares and
certain Futures Contracts from markets
and other entities that are members of
ISG or with which the Exchange has in
place a CSSA. The Exchange is also able
to obtain information regarding trading
in the Shares, the physical commodities
underlying Futures Contracts through
ETP Holders, in connection with such
ETP Holders’ proprietary or customer
trades which they effect through ETP
Holders on any relevant market. The
Exchange can obtain market
surveillance information, including
customer identity information, with
respect to transactions (including
transactions in Futures Contracts)
occurring on U.S. futures exchanges,
which are members of the ISG. Not more
than 10% of the net assets of a Fund in
the aggregate invested in Futures
Contracts shall consist of Futures
Contracts whose principal market is not
a member of the ISG or is a market with
which the Exchange does not have a
CSSA. The intraday, closing prices, and
settlement prices of the Futures
Contracts will be readily available from
the applicable futures exchange
websites, automated quotation systems,
published or other public sources, or
major market data vendors website or
on-line information services.
Complete real-time data for the
Futures Contracts is available by
subscription from on-line information
services. ICE Futures U.S. and NYMEX
also provide delayed futures
information on current and past trading
sessions and market news free of charge
on the Funds’ website. The specific
contract specifications for Futures
Contracts are also available on such
websites, as well as other financial
informational sources. Information
regarding options will be available from
the applicable exchanges or major
market data vendors. Quotation and
last-sale information regarding the
Shares will be disseminated through the
facilities of the CTA. The IFV will be
disseminated on a per Share basis every
PO 00000
Frm 00147
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
15 seconds during the Exchange’s Core
Trading Session and be widely
disseminated by one or more major
market data vendors during the NYSE
Arca Core Trading Session. The Funds’
website will also include a form of the
prospectus for the Funds that may be
downloaded. The website will include
the Shares’ ticker and CUSIP
information along with additional
quantitative information updated on a
daily basis, including, for each Fund: (1)
Daily trading volume, the prior business
day’s reported NAV and closing price,
and a calculation of the premium and
discount of the closing price or midpoint 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
closing price or Bid/Ask Price against
the NAV, within appropriate ranges, for
at least each of the four previous
calendar quarters. The website
disclosure of portfolio holdings will be
made daily and will include, as
applicable, (i) the name, quantity, value,
expiration and strike price of Futures
Contracts and Options, (ii) the
counterparty to and value of swap
agreements and forward contracts, and
(ii) the aggregate net value of other
assets (i.e. Treasury securities, cash
equivalents and cash) held in each
Fund’s portfolio, if applicable.
Moreover, 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 and of the suitability
requirements of NYSE Arca Rule 9.2–
E(a). The Information Bulletin will
advise ETP Holders, prior to the
commencement of trading, of the
prospectus delivery requirements
applicable to a Fund. The Information
Bulletin will also discuss any
exemptive, no-action, and interpretive
relief granted by the Commission from
any rules under the Act. In addition, the
Information Bulletin will reference that
a Fund is subject to various fees and
expenses described in the Registration
Statement. The Information Bulletin
will also reference that the CFTC has
regulatory jurisdiction over the trading
of Futures Contracts traded on U.S.
markets. The Information Bulletin will
also disclose the trading hours of the
Shares and that the NAV for the Shares
will be calculated after 2:30 p.m. E.T.
each trading day. The Information
Bulletin will disclose that information
about the Shares will be publicly
available on the Funds’ website.
Trading in Shares of a Fund will be
halted if the circuit breaker parameters
in NYSE Arca Rule 7.12–E have been
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reached or because of market conditions
or for reasons that, in the view of the
Exchange, make trading in the Shares
inadvisable
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 additional types of Trust Issued
Receipts based on natural gas prices that
will enhance competition among market
participants, to the benefit of investors
and the marketplace. As noted above,
the Exchange has in place surveillance
procedures that are adequate to properly
monitor trading in the Shares in all
trading sessions and to deter and detect
violations of Exchange rules and
applicable federal securities laws.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that
the proposed rule change will impose
any burden on competition that is not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance
of the purpose of the Act. The Exchange
notes that the proposed rule change will
facilitate the listing and trading of
additional types of Trust Issued
Receipts based on natural gas prices and
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 solicited
or received with respect to the proposed
rule change.
khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
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 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
the 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
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19:41 Feb 14, 2019
Jkt 247001
change is consistent with the Act.
Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Electronic Comments
[Release No. 34–85094; File No. SR–
NYSEARCA–2019–05]
• Use the Commission’s internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an email to rule-comments@
sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
NYSEArca–2019–02 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Secretary, Securities and Exchange
Commission, 100 F Street NE,
Washington, DC 20549–1090.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–NYSEArca–2019–02. 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 website (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 website 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–NYSEArca–2019–02, and
should be submitted on or before March
8, 2019.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.21
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Deputy Secretary.
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed
Rule Change To Amend the NYSE Arca
Equities Fees and Charges
February 11, 2019.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3
notice is hereby given that, on January
31, 2019, NYSE Arca, Inc. (the
‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘NYSE Arca’’) filed with
the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’) the
proposed rule change as described in
Items I, II, and III below, which Items
have been prepared by the selfregulatory organization. The
Commission is publishing this notice to
solicit comments on the proposed rule
change from interested persons.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend the
NYSE Arca Equities Fees and Charges
(the ‘‘Fee Schedule’’). The Exchange
proposes to implement the proposed fee
change on February 1, 2019. The
proposed rule change is available on the
Exchange’s website at www.nyse.com, at
the principal office of the Exchange, and
at the Commission’s Public Reference
Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
In its filing with the Commission, the
self-regulatory organization included
statements concerning the purpose of,
and basis for, the proposed rule change
and discussed any comments it received
on the proposed rule change. The text
of those statements may be examined at
the places specified in Item IV below.
The Exchange has prepared summaries,
set forth in sections A, B, and C below,
of the most significant parts of such
statements.
[FR Doc. 2019–02377 Filed 2–14–19; 8:45 am]
1 15
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
U.S.C. 78a.
3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
2 15
21 17
PO 00000
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
Frm 00148
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 32 (Friday, February 15, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4573-4579]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-02377]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-85088; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2019-02]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing
of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Listing and Trading of the
Shares of the ProShares UltraPro 3x Natural Gas ETF and ProShares
UltraPro 3x Short Natural Gas ETF Under NYSE Arca Rule 8.200-E
February 11, 2019.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the
[[Page 4574]]
``Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby given that,
on January 28, 2019, NYSE Arca, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or ``NYSE
Arca'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II,
and III below, which Items have been prepared by the self-regulatory
organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit
comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
\3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to list and trade the shares of the following
under NYSE Arca Rule 8.200-E, Commentary .02 (``Trust Issued
Receipts''): ProShares UltraPro 3x Natural Gas ETF and ProShares
UltraPro 3x Short Natural Gas ETF. The proposed change is available on
the Exchange's website at www.nyse.com, at the principal office of the
Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, the self-regulatory organization
included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the
proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the
proposed rule change. The text of those statements may be examined at
the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared
summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most
significant parts of such statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and the
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
The Exchange proposes to list and trade shares (``Shares'') of the
following under NYSE Arca Rule 8.200-E, Commentary .02, which governs
the listing and trading of Trust Issued Receipts: ProShares UltraPro 3x
Natural Gas ETF and ProShares UltraPro 3x Short Natural Gas ETF (each a
``Fund'' and, collectively, the ``Funds'').\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ Commentary .02 to NYSE Arca Rule 8.200-E applies to Trust
Issued Receipts that invest in ``Financial Instruments.'' The term
``Financial Instruments,'' as defined in Commentary .02(b)(4) to
NYSE Arca Rule 8.200-E, means any combination of investments,
including cash; securities; options on securities and indices;
futures contracts; options on futures contracts; forward contracts;
equity caps, collars, and floors; and swap agreements.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Each Fund is a series of the ProShares Trust II (the ``Trust''), a
Delaware statutory trust.\5\ The Trust and the Funds are managed and
controlled by ProShare Capital Management LLC (``ProShare Capital'' or
the ``Sponsor''). ProShare Capital is registered as a commodity pool
operator (``CPO'') with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
(``CFTC'') and is a member of the National Futures Association
(``NFA'').\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ The Trust is registered under the Securities Act of 1933. On
May 19, 2017, the Trust filed with the Commission a registration
statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C.
77a) (``Securities Act'') relating to the Funds (File No. 333-
218136) (the ``Registration Statement''). The description of the
operation of the Trust and the Funds herein is based, in part, on
the Registration Statement.
\6\ The Commission has previously approved listing of Trust
Issued Receipts based on natural gas on the American Stock Exchange
LLC (now known as NYSE American LLC) and NYSE Arca. See, e.g.,
Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 55632 (April 13, 2007), 72 FR
19987 (April 20, 2007) (SR-Amex-2006-112) (order approving listing
and trading of shares of United States Natural Gas Fund, LP); 56831
(November 21, 2007), 72 FR 67612 (November 29, 2007) (SR-Amex-2007-
98) (order approving listing and trading of shares of United States
12 Month Oil Fund, LP and United States 12 Month Natural Gas Fund,
LP); 63753 (January 21, 2011), 76 FR 4963 (January 27, 2011) (SR-
NYSEArca-2010-110) (order approving listing and trading of shares of
Teucrium Natural Gas Fund); and 65136 (August 15, 2011), 76 FR 52037
(August 19, 2011) (SR-NYSEAra-2011-24) (order approving listing and
trading of shares of ProShares Short DJ-UBS Natural Gas, ProShares
Ultra DJ-UBS Natural Gas and ProShares UltraShort DJ-UBS Natural
Gas).
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In its capacity as the Custodian for the Funds, the Bank of New
York Mellon (``BNYM'') may hold the Funds' securities and cash and/or
cash equivalents pursuant to a custodial agreement (the ``Custodian'').
The Custodian is also the transfer agent for the Shares. In addition,
in its capacity as Administrator for the Funds, BNYM (the
``Administrator'') performs certain administrative and accounting
services for the Funds and prepares certain Commission, NFA and CFTC
reports on behalf of the Funds. In its capacity as Distributor for the
Funds, SEI Investments Distribution Co. performs functions and duties
relating to distribution and marketing.
ProShares UltraPro 3x Natural Gas ETF
According to the Registration Statement, the investment objective
of the Fund is to seek daily investment results, before fees and
expenses, that correspond to three times (3x) the performance of the
Bloomberg Natural Gas Subindex\SM\ (the ``Benchmark'').\7\ The Fund
seeks to achieve its investment objective for a single day, not for any
other period.\8\
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\7\ According to the Registration Statement, the Benchmark is a
``rolling index,'' which means that the Index performance includes
the impact of closing out futures contracts that are nearing
expiration and replacing them with futures contracts with later
expirations. This process is commonly referred to as ``rolling.''
\8\ According to the Registration Statement, the return of a
Fund for a period longer than a single trading day is the result of
its return for each day compounded over the period and thus will
usually differ from a Fund's multiple times the return of the
Benchmark for the same period.
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The Benchmark is intended to reflect the performance of a rolling
position in natural gas futures contracts listed on the New York
Mercantile Exchange (the ``NYMEX'', which is part of the CME Group,
Inc. (``CME'')), including the impact of rolling, without regard to
income earned on cash positions.
ProShares UltraPro 3x Short Natural Gas ETF
According to the Registration Statement, the investment objective
of the Fund is to seek daily investment results, before fees and
expenses, that correspond to three times the inverse (-3x) of the
performance of the Benchmark. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment
objective for a single day, not for any other period.
Investment Strategies of the Funds
In seeking to achieve the Funds' investment objectives, the Sponsor
will utilize a mathematical approach to determine the type, quantity
and mix of investment positions that ProShare Capital believes, in
combination, should produce daily returns consistent with the Funds'
respective objectives.
Each Fund will seek to meet its respective investment objective by
investing, under normal market conditions,\9\ in futures contracts
traded in the United States and listed options on such contracts
(together, the ``Futures Contracts'').\10\ The Funds will not invest
directly in natural gas. The Funds' investments in Futures Contracts
will be used to produce economically
[[Page 4575]]
``leveraged'' or ``inverse leveraged'' investment results for the
Funds.
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\9\ The term ``normal market conditions'' includes, but is not
limited to, the absence of trading halts in the applicable financial
markets generally; operational issues (e.g., systems failure)
causing dissemination of inaccurate market information; or force
majeure type events such as natural or manmade disaster, act of God,
armed conflict, act of terrorism, riot or labor disruption or any
similar intervening circumstance. See NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E(c)(5).
\10\ According to the Registration Statement, a Futures Contract
is a standardized contract traded on, or subject to the rules of, an
exchange that calls for the future delivery of a specified quantity
and type of a particular underlying asset at a specified time and
place or alternatively may call for cash settlement. The notional
size and calendar term Futures Contracts on a particular underlying
asset are identical and are not subject to any negotiation, other
than with respect to price and the number of contracts traded
between the buyer and seller.
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Each Fund also may obtain exposure to the Benchmark through
investment in over-the-counter (``OTC'') swap transactions and forward
contracts referencing such Benchmark (``Financial Instruments''). For
example, a Fund may invest in Financial Instruments in the event
position, price or accountability limits are reached with respect to
Futures Contracts \11\ or exposure limits are reached with a particular
futures commission merchant (``FCM'') or if the market for a specific
futures contract experiences emergencies (e.g., natural disaster,
terrorist attack or an act of God) or disruptions (e.g., a trading
halt) or in situations where the Sponsor deems it impractical or
inadvisable to buy or sell Futures Contracts (such as during periods of
market volatility or illiquidity).
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\11\ According to the Registration Statement, many designated
contract markets, such as the NYMEX, have established accountability
levels and position limits on the maximum net long or net short
futures contracts in commodity interests that any person or group of
persons under common trading control may hold, own or control. In
addition, NYMEX also sets price fluctuation limits on futures
contracts. Options do not have individual price limits but rather
are linked to the price limit of Futures Contracts.
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Each Fund will also hold cash or cash equivalents, such as U.S.
Treasury securities or other high credit quality, short-term fixed-
income or similar securities (such as shares of money market funds and
collateralized repurchase agreements), pending investment in Futures
Contracts or Financial Instruments or as collateral for the Funds'
investments.
In addition, to the extent a Fund enters into swap agreements and
other over-the-counter transactions, it will do so only with large,
established and well capitalized financial institutions that meet the
Sponsor's credit quality standards and monitoring policies. Each Fund
will use various techniques to minimize credit risk including early
termination or reset and payment, using different counterparties and
limiting the net amount due from any individual counterparty.
The Funds do not intend to hold Futures Contracts through
expiration, but instead intend to ``roll'' or close their respective
positions before expiration. When the market for these contracts is
such that the prices are higher in the more distant delivery months
than in the nearer delivery months, the sale during the course of the
``rolling process'' of the more nearby contract would take place at a
price that is lower than the price of the more distant contract. This
pattern of higher futures prices for longer expiration Futures
Contracts is referred to as ``contango.'' Alternatively, when the
market for these contracts is such that the prices are higher in the
nearer months than in the more distant months, the sale during the
course of the ``rolling process'' of the more nearby contract would
take place at a price that is higher than the price of the more distant
contract. This pattern of higher futures prices for shorter expiration
Futures Contracts is referred to as ``backwardation.'' The presence of
contango in certain Futures Contracts at the time of rolling could
adversely affect a Fund with long positions, and positively affect a
Fund with short positions. Similarly, the presence of backwardation in
certain Futures Contracts \12\ at the time of rolling such contracts
could adversely affect a Fund with short positions and positively
affect a Fund with long positions.
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\12\ The Funds may invest in options on Futures Contracts.
Unlike Futures Contracts, which the Funds intend to roll before
expiration, the Funds intend to hold ``in-the-money'' options on
Futures Contracts to expiration. The Funds would exercise in-the-
money options on Futures Contracts at expiration of the options
contract and they would settle through receipt or delivery of the
underlying Futures Contracts. Out-of-the money options will be held
to expiration and will be expired worthless. Options on Futures
Contracts are subject to the effects of contango and backwardation
to the same general extent as their underlying Futures Contracts.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Asset Value (``NAV'')
According to the Registration Statement, a Fund's per Share NAV
will be calculated by taking the current market value of its total
assets, subtracting any liabilities, and dividing that total by the
total number of outstanding Shares.
Each Fund's NAV will be calculated on each day other than a day
when the Exchange is closed for regular trading. The Funds typically
compute their NAVs as of 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time (``E.T.''), which is
the designated closing time of the natural gas futures listed on
NYMEX,\13\ or an earlier time as set forth on www.ProShares.com, if
necessitated by NYSE, the Exchange or other exchange material to the
valuation or operation of such Fund closing early. Each Fund's NAV is
calculated only once each trading day.
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\13\ The daily value of the Benchmark is calculated as of 2:30
p.m. E.T. to coincide with the designated closing time. Futures
Contracts, however, continue to trade past 2:30 p.m. E.T. and
through the end of the NYSE Arca Core Trading Session at 4 p.m. E.T.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In calculating the NAV of a Fund, Futures Contracts generally are
valued at their then current market value, which typically is based
upon the settlement price or the last traded price before the NAV time,
for that Futures Contract. The settlement value of a Fund's non-
exchange traded Financial Instruments generally is determined by
applying the then-current disseminated levels for the Benchmark
underlying such Financial Instrument to the terms of such Fund's non-
exchange traded Financial Instruments.
In certain circumstances (e.g., if the Sponsor believes market
quotations do not accurately reflect fair value of an investment, or a
trading halt closes an exchange or market early), the Sponsor may, in
its sole discretion, choose to determine a fair value price as the
basis for determining the market value of an investment for such day.
Such fair value price would generally be determined based on available
inputs about the current value of the investment and would be based on
principles that the Sponsor deems fair and equitable.
Money market instruments held by a Fund generally will be valued
using market prices or at amortized cost.
Indicative Fund Value
In order to provide updated information relating to a Fund for use
by investors and market professionals, the Exchange will calculate an
updated ``Indicative Fund Value'' (``IFV''). The IFV will be calculated
by using the prior day's closing NAV per Share of a Fund as a base and
will be updating throughout the Core Trading Session of 9:30 a.m. E.T.
to 4:00 p.m. E.T. to reflect changes in the approximate aggregate per
Share value of the investments held by a Fund based on the most
recently available prices for the Fund's investments.
The IFV will be disseminated on a per Share basis every 15 seconds
during the Exchange's Core Trading Session and be widely disseminated
by one or more major market data vendors during the NYSE Arca Core
Trading Session.\14\
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\14\ Several major market data vendors display and/or make
widely available IFVs taken from the CTA or other data feeds. In
addition, circumstances may arise in which the NYSE Arca Core
Trading Session is in progress, but trading in Futures Contracts is
not occurring. Such circumstances may result from reasons including,
but not limited to, a futures exchange having a separate holiday
schedule than the NYSE Arca, a futures exchange closing prior to the
close of the NYSE Arca, price fluctuation limits being reached in
Futures Contracts, or a futures exchange imposing any other
suspension or limitation on trading in Futures Contracts. In such
instances, the IFV would be static or priced at the applicable early
cut-off time of the exchange trading the applicable Futures
Contracts.
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Creation and Redemption of Shares
According to the Registration Statement, each Fund intends to
create and redeem Shares in one or more ``Creation Units'' of 25,000
Shares each.
[[Page 4576]]
The size of the Creation Units is subject to change. Creation Units in
a Fund are expected to be created when there is sufficient demand for
Shares in such Fund that the market price per Share is at a premium to
the NAV per Share. A creation transaction generally takes place when an
Authorized Participant deposits a specified amount of cash in exchange
for a specified number of Creation Units. Similarly, Shares can be
redeemed only in Creation Units, and generally only for cash. The
prices at which creations and redemptions occur are based on the next
calculation of the NAV after an order is received.
``Authorized Participants'' will be the only persons that may place
orders to create and redeem Creation Units. An Authorized Participant
is an entity that has entered into an Authorized Participant Agreement
with the Trust and ProShare Capital.
Creation Procedures
On any ``Business Day'', an Authorized Participant may place an
order with the Distributor to create one or more Creation Units. For
purposes of processing both purchase and redemption orders, a
``Business Day'' for each Fund means any day on which the NAV of such
Fund is determined. Purchase and redemption orders for Creation Units
must be placed by 2:00 p.m. E.T. or earlier if NYSE Arca or other
exchange material to the valuation or operation of such Fund closes
before the cut-off time.\15\ The day on which the Distributor receives
a valid purchase order is referred to as the purchase order date. If
the purchase order is received after the applicable cut-off time, the
purchase order date will be the next Business Day. Purchase orders are
irrevocable.
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\15\ The 2:00 p.m. E.T. creation and redemption cut-off time is
designed to provide the Funds with sufficient time prior to the NAV
calculation time to assess the potential impact of creation and
redemption activity on a Fund's portfolio and to buy (or sell)
Futures Contracts or other Financial Instruments in an orderly
fashion and in a manner designed to position the Fund's portfolio so
that its exposure to the Benchmark is consistent with its daily
investment objective.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
By placing a purchase order, an Authorized Participant generally
agrees to deposit cash with the Custodian.
Redemption Procedures
According to the Registration Statement, the procedures by which an
Authorized Participant can redeem one or more Creation Units will
mirror the procedures for the creation of Creation Units. On any
Business Day, an Authorized Participant may place an order with the
Distributor to redeem one or more Creation Units.
The redemption procedures allow Authorized Participants to redeem
Creation Units. Individual shareholders may not redeem directly from a
Fund. By placing a redemption order, an Authorized Participant agrees
to deliver the Creation Units to be redeemed through DTC's book entry
system to the applicable Fund not later than noon E.T. on the first
Business Day immediately following the redemption order date (T+1).
ProShare Capital can extend the deadline for a Fund to receive the
Creation Units required for settlement up to the third Business Day
following the redemption order date (T+3).
Upon request of an Authorized Participant made at the time of a
redemption order, ProShare Capital may determine, in addition to
delivering redemption proceeds, to transfer futures contracts to the
Authorized Participant pursuant to a futures contract for related
position (``EFCRP'') or to a block trade sale of futures contracts to
the Authorized Participant.
Determination of Redemption Distribution
The redemption proceeds from a Fund will consist of the cash
redemption amount and, if permitted by ProShare Capital with respect to
a Fund, an EFCRP or block trade with the relevant Fund as described
above. The cash redemption amount is equal to the NAV of the number of
Creation Unit(s) of such Fund requested in the Authorized Participant's
redemption order as of the time of the calculation of such Fund's NAV
on the redemption order date. The Benchmark will be disseminated by one
or more major market data vendors every 15 seconds during the NYSE Arca
Core Trading Session of 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. E.T.
Availability of Information
The NAV for the Funds' Shares will be disseminated daily to all
market participants at the same time. The intraday, closing prices, and
settlement prices of the Futures Contracts will be readily available
from the applicable futures exchange websites, automated quotation
systems, published or other public sources, or major market data
vendors.
Complete real-time data for the Futures Contracts is available by
subscription through on-line information services. ICE Futures U.S. and
NYMEX also provide delayed futures and options on futures information
on current and past trading sessions and market news free of charge on
their respective websites. The specific contract specifications for
Futures Contracts are also available on such websites, as well as other
financial informational sources. Quotation and last-sale information
regarding the Shares will be disseminated through the facilities of the
Consolidated Tape Association (``CTA''). Quotation information for cash
equivalents and OTC swaps may be obtained from brokers and dealers who
make markets in such instruments. Quotation information for exchange-
traded swaps will be available from the applicable exchange and major
market vendors. Intra-day price and closing price level information for
the Benchmark will be available from major market data vendors. The IFV
will be available through on-line information services.
In addition, the Funds' website, www.ProShares.com, will display
the applicable end of day closing NAV. The daily holdings of each Fund
will be available on the Funds' website. The Funds' website will also
include a form of the prospectus for the Funds that may be downloaded.
The website will include the Shares' ticker and CUSIP information along
with additional quantitative information updated on a daily basis,
including, for each Fund: (1) Daily trading volume, the prior Business
Day's reported NAV and closing price, and a calculation of the premium
and discount of the closing price or mid-point of the bid/ask spread at
the time of NAV calculation (the ``Bid/Ask Price'') against the NAV;
and (2) data in chart format displaying the frequency distribution of
discounts and premiums of the daily closing price or Bid/Ask Price
against the NAV, within appropriate ranges, for at least each of the
four previous calendar quarters. The website disclosure of portfolio
holdings will be made daily and will include, as applicable, (i) the
name, quantity, value, expiration and strike price of Futures Contracts
and Options, (ii) the counterparty to and value of swap agreements and
forward contracts, and (ii) the aggregate net value of other assets
(i.e., Treasury securities, cash equivalents and cash) held in each
Fund's portfolio, if applicable.
The Funds' website will be publicly available at the time of the
public offering of Shares and accessible at no charge. The spot price
of natural gas also is available on a 24-hour basis from major market
data vendors.
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 a Fund.\16\ Trading in Shares of a Fund
[[Page 4577]]
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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\16\ See NYSE Arca Rule 7.12-E.
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The Exchange may halt trading during the day in which an
interruption to the dissemination of the IFV or the value of the
Benchmark occurs. If the interruption to the dissemination of the IFV,
or the value of the or the value of the Benchmark persists past the
trading day in which it occurred, the Exchange will halt trading no
later than the beginning of the trading day following the interruption.
In addition, if the Exchange becomes aware that the NAV with respect to
the Shares is not disseminated to all market participants at the same
time, it will halt trading in the Shares until such time as the NAV is
available to all market participants.
Trading Rules
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. Shares will trade on
the NYSE Arca Marketplace from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. E.T. in accordance with
NYSE Arca Rule 7.34-E (Early, Core, and Late Trading Sessions). The
Exchange has appropriate rules to facilitate transactions in the Shares
during all trading sessions. As provided in NYSE Arca Rule 7.6-E, the
minimum price variation (``MPV'') for quoting and entry of orders in
equity securities traded on the NYSE Arca Marketplace is $0.01, with
the exception of securities that are priced less than $1.00 for which
the MPV for order entry is $0.0001.
The Shares will conform to the initial and continued listing
criteria under NYSE Arca Rule 8.200-E. The trading of the Shares will
be subject to NYSE Arca Rule 8.200-E, Commentary .02(e), which sets
forth certain restrictions on Equity Trading Permit (``ETP'') Holders
acting as registered Market Makers in Trust Issued Receipts to
facilitate surveillance. The Exchange represents that, for initial and/
or continued listing, each Fund will be in compliance with Rule 10A-3
\17\ under the Act, as provided by NYSE Arca Rule 5.3-E. A minimum of
100,000 Shares of each Fund will be outstanding at the commencement of
trading on the Exchange.
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\17\ 17 CFR 240.10A-3.
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Surveillance
The Exchange represents that trading in the Shares of each Fund
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, which are designed to detect violations of Exchange rules and
applicable federal securities laws.\18\ 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 federal securities laws applicable to trading on
the Exchange.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\18\ FINRA conducts cross-market surveillances on behalf of 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.
The Exchange or FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, or both, will
communicate as needed regarding trading in the Shares and certain
Futures Contracts with other markets and other entities that are
members of the ISG, and the Exchange or FINRA, on behalf of the
Exchange, or both, may obtain trading information regarding trading in
the Shares and certain Futures Contracts from such markets and other
entities. In addition, the Exchange may obtain information regarding
trading in the Shares and certain Futures Contracts from markets and
other entities that are members of ISG or with which the Exchange has
in place a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement (``CSSA'').\19\
The Exchange is also able to obtain information regarding trading in
the Shares, the physical commodities underlying Futures Contracts
through ETP Holders, in connection with such ETP Holders' proprietary
or customer trades which they effect through ETP Holders on any
relevant market. The Exchange can obtain market surveillance
information, including customer identity information, with respect to
transactions (including transactions in Futures Contracts) occurring on
U.S. futures exchanges, which are members of the ISG.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\19\ For a list of the current members of ISG, see
www.isgportal.org. The Exchange notes that not all components of a
Fund may trade on markets that are members of ISG or with which the
Exchange has in place a CSSA.
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Not more than 10% of the net assets of a Fund in the aggregate
invested in Futures Contracts shall consist of Futures Contracts whose
principal market is not a member of the ISG or is a market with which
the Exchange does not have a CSSA.
In addition, the Exchange also has a general policy prohibiting the
distribution of material, non-public information by its employees.
All statements and representations made in this filing regarding
(a) the description of the portfolios of the Funds or Benchmark, (b)
limitations on portfolio holdings or the Benchmark, or (c) the
applicability of Exchange listing rules specified in this rule filing
shall constitute continued listing requirements for listing the Shares
on the Exchange.
The issuer has represented to the Exchange that it will advise the
Exchange of any failure by the Funds 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 a Fund is not in compliance with the
applicable listing requirements, the Exchange will commence delisting
procedures under NYSE Arca Rule 5.5-E(m).
Information Bulletin
Prior to the commencement of trading, the Exchange will inform its
ETP Holders in an Information Bulletin of the special characteristics
and risks associated with trading the Shares. Specifically, the
Information Bulletin will discuss the following: (1) The risks involved
in trading the Shares during the Early and Late Trading Sessions when
an updated IFV will not be calculated or publicly disseminated; (2) the
procedures for purchases and redemptions of Shares in Creation Units
(and that Shares are not individually redeemable); (3) NYSE Arca Rule
9.2-E(a), which imposes a duty of due diligence on its ETP Holders to
learn the essential facts relating to every customer prior to trading
the Shares; (4) how information regarding the IFV is disseminated; (5)
how information regarding portfolio holdings is disseminated; (6) the
requirement that ETP Holders deliver a prospectus to investors
purchasing newly issued Shares prior to or concurrently with the
confirmation of a transaction; (7) trading information, and (8) NYSE
Arca suitability rules.
Further, the Exchange states that FINRA has implemented increased
sales
[[Page 4578]]
practice and customer margin requirements for FINRA members applicable
to inverse, leveraged and inverse leveraged securities (which include
the Shares) and options on such securities, as described in FINRA
Regulatory Notices 09-31 (June 2009), 09-53 (August 2009), and 09-65
(November 2009) (collectively, ``FINRA Regulatory Notices''). ETP
Holders that carry customer accounts will be required to follow the
FINRA guidance set forth in these notices. As noted above, each Fund
will seek daily investment results, before fees and expenses, that
correspond to either three times (3x) or three times the inverse (-3x)
of the performance of the Benchmark. The return of a Fund for a period
longer than a single day is the result of its return for each day
compounded over the period and usually will differ in amount and
possibly even direction from the Fund's stated multiple times the
return of the Fund's Benchmark for the same period. These differences
can be significant.
The Information Bulletin will also discuss any exemptive, no-
action, and interpretive relief granted by the Commission from any
rules under the Act. In addition, the Information Bulletin will
reference that a Fund is subject to various fees and expenses described
in the Registration Statement.
The Information Bulletin will also disclose the trading hours of
the Shares and that the NAV for the Shares will be calculated after
2:30 p.m. E.T. each trading day. The Information Bulletin will disclose
that information about the Shares will be publicly available on the
Funds' website.
2. Statutory Basis
The basis under the Act for this proposed rule change is the
requirement under Section 6(b)(5) \20\ that an exchange have rules that
are designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices,
to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove
impediments to, and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market
and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\20\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is designed to
prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices and to protect
investors and the public interest in that the Shares will be listed and
traded on the Exchange pursuant to the initial and continued listing
criteria in NYSE Arca Rule 8.200-E. The Exchange has in place
surveillance procedures that are adequate to properly monitor trading
in the Shares in all trading sessions and to deter and detect
violations of Exchange rules and applicable federal securities laws.
The Exchange or FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, or both, will
communicate as needed regarding trading in the Shares and certain
Futures Contracts with other markets and other entities that are
members of the ISG, and the Exchange or FINRA, on behalf of the
Exchange, or both, may obtain trading information regarding trading in
the Shares and certain Futures Contracts from such markets and other
entities. In addition, the Exchange may obtain information regarding
trading in the Shares and certain Futures Contracts from markets and
other entities that are members of ISG or with which the Exchange has
in place a CSSA. The Exchange is also able to obtain information
regarding trading in the Shares, the physical commodities underlying
Futures Contracts through ETP Holders, in connection with such ETP
Holders' proprietary or customer trades which they effect through ETP
Holders on any relevant market. The Exchange can obtain market
surveillance information, including customer identity information, with
respect to transactions (including transactions in Futures Contracts)
occurring on U.S. futures exchanges, which are members of the ISG. Not
more than 10% of the net assets of a Fund in the aggregate invested in
Futures Contracts shall consist of Futures Contracts whose principal
market is not a member of the ISG or is a market with which the
Exchange does not have a CSSA. The intraday, closing prices, and
settlement prices of the Futures Contracts will be readily available
from the applicable futures exchange websites, automated quotation
systems, published or other public sources, or major market data
vendors website or on-line information services.
Complete real-time data for the Futures Contracts is available by
subscription from on-line information services. ICE Futures U.S. and
NYMEX also provide delayed futures information on current and past
trading sessions and market news free of charge on the Funds' website.
The specific contract specifications for Futures Contracts are also
available on such websites, as well as other financial informational
sources. Information regarding options will be available from the
applicable exchanges or major market data vendors. Quotation and last-
sale information regarding the Shares will be disseminated through the
facilities of the CTA. The IFV will be disseminated on a per Share
basis every 15 seconds during the Exchange's Core Trading Session and
be widely disseminated by one or more major market data vendors during
the NYSE Arca Core Trading Session. The Funds' website will also
include a form of the prospectus for the Funds that may be downloaded.
The website will include the Shares' ticker and CUSIP information along
with additional quantitative information updated on a daily basis,
including, for each Fund: (1) Daily trading volume, the prior business
day's reported NAV and closing price, and a calculation of the premium
and discount of the closing price or mid-point 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 closing price or
Bid/Ask Price against the NAV, within appropriate ranges, for at least
each of the four previous calendar quarters. The website disclosure of
portfolio holdings will be made daily and will include, as applicable,
(i) the name, quantity, value, expiration and strike price of Futures
Contracts and Options, (ii) the counterparty to and value of swap
agreements and forward contracts, and (ii) the aggregate net value of
other assets (i.e. Treasury securities, cash equivalents and cash) held
in each Fund's portfolio, if applicable.
Moreover, 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 and of the suitability requirements of NYSE Arca Rule 9.2-E(a).
The Information Bulletin will advise ETP Holders, prior to the
commencement of trading, of the prospectus delivery requirements
applicable to a Fund. The Information Bulletin will also discuss any
exemptive, no-action, and interpretive relief granted by the Commission
from any rules under the Act. In addition, the Information Bulletin
will reference that a Fund is subject to various fees and expenses
described in the Registration Statement. The Information Bulletin will
also reference that the CFTC has regulatory jurisdiction over the
trading of Futures Contracts traded on U.S. markets. The Information
Bulletin will also disclose the trading hours of the Shares and that
the NAV for the Shares will be calculated after 2:30 p.m. E.T. each
trading day. The Information Bulletin will disclose that information
about the Shares will be publicly available on the Funds' website.
Trading in Shares of a Fund will be halted if the circuit breaker
parameters in NYSE Arca Rule 7.12-E have been
[[Page 4579]]
reached or because of market conditions or for reasons that, in the
view of the Exchange, make trading in the Shares inadvisable
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
additional types of Trust Issued Receipts based on natural gas prices
that will enhance competition among market participants, to the benefit
of investors and the marketplace. As noted above, the Exchange has in
place surveillance procedures that are adequate to properly monitor
trading in the Shares in all trading sessions and to deter and detect
violations of Exchange rules and applicable federal securities laws.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will
impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate
in furtherance of the purpose of the Act. The Exchange notes that the
proposed rule change will facilitate the listing and trading of
additional types of Trust Issued Receipts based on natural gas prices
and 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 solicited or received with respect to the
proposed rule change.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the
Federal Register or 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 the 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-NYSEArca-2019-02 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEArca-2019-02. 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 website (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 website 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-NYSEArca-2019-02, and should be
submitted on or before March 8, 2019.
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\21\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\21\
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-02377 Filed 2-14-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P