Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Regarding Investments of Aware Ultra-Short Duration Enhanced Income ETF, a Series of Tidal ETF Trust, 25863-25872 [2019-11556]
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 107 / Tuesday, June 4, 2019 / Notices
each Subadvised Series. Consistent with
the terms of the Investment
Management Agreement, the Adviser
may, subject to the approval of the
Board, delegate portfolio management
responsibilities of all or a portion of the
assets of a Subadvised Series to one or
more Sub-Advisers.3 The Adviser will
continue to have overall responsibility
for the management and investment of
the assets of each Subadvised Series.
The Adviser will evaluate, select, and
recommend Sub-Advisers to manage the
assets of a Subadvised Series and will
oversee, monitor and review the SubAdvisers and their performance and
recommend the removal or replacement
of Sub-Advisers.
2. Applicants request an order to
permit the Adviser, subject to the
approval of the Board, to enter into
investment sub-advisory agreements
with the Sub-Advisers (each, a ‘‘SubAdvisory Agreement’’) and materially
amend such Sub-Advisory Agreements
without obtaining the shareholder
approval required under section 15(a) of
the Act and rule 18f–2 under the Act.4
Applicants also seek an exemption from
the Disclosure Requirements to permit a
Subadvised Series to disclose (as both a
dollar amount and a percentage of the
Subadvised Series’ net assets): (a) The
aggregate fees paid to the Adviser and
any Wholly-Owned Sub-Adviser; (b) the
aggregate fees paid to Non-Affiliated
Sub-Advisers; and (c) the fee paid to
each Affiliated Sub-Adviser
(collectively, Aggregate Fee
Disclosure’’).5
3. Applicants agree that any order
granting the requested relief will be
subject to the terms and conditions
stated in the application. Such terms
and conditions provide for, among other
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3 As
used herein, a ‘‘Sub-Adviser’’ for a
Subadvised Series is (1) an indirect or direct
‘‘wholly owned subsidiary’’ (as such term is defined
in the Act) of the Adviser for that Subadvised
Series, or (2) a sister company of the Adviser for
that Subadvised Series that is an indirect or direct
‘‘wholly-owned subsidiary’’ of the same company
that, indirectly or directly, wholly owns the Adviser
(each of (1) and (2) a ‘‘Wholly-Owned Sub-Adviser’’
and collectively, the ‘‘Wholly-Owned SubAdvisers’’), or (3) not an ‘‘affiliated person’’ (as such
term is defined in section 2(a)(3) of the Act) of the
Subadvised Series, any Feeder Fund invested in a
Master Fund, any Trust, or the Adviser, except to
the extent that an affiliation arises solely because
the Sub-Adviser serves as a sub-adviser to a
Subadvised Series (‘‘Non-Affiliated Sub-Advisers’’).
4 The requested relief will not extend to any subadviser, other than a Wholly-Owned Sub-Adviser,
who is an affiliated person, as defined in section
2(a)(3) of the Act, of the Subadvised Series, of any
Feeder Fund, or of the Adviser, other than by
reason of serving as a sub-adviser to one or more
of the Subadvised Series (‘‘Affiliated Sub-Adviser’’).
5 For any Subadvised Series that is a Master Fund,
the relief would also permit any Feeder Fund
invested in that Master Fund to disclose Aggregate
Fee Disclosure.
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safeguards, appropriate disclosure to
Subadvised Series’ shareholders and
notification about sub-advisory changes
and enhanced Board oversight to protect
the interests of the Subadvised Series’
shareholders.
4. Section 6(c) of the Act provides that
the Commission may exempt any
person, security, or transaction or any
class or classes of persons, securities, or
transactions from any provisions of the
Act, or any rule thereunder, if such
relief is necessary or appropriate in the
public interest and consistent with the
protection of investors and purposes
fairly intended by the policy and
provisions of the Act. Applicants
believe that the requested relief meets
this standard because, as further
explained in the application, the
Investment Management Agreements
will remain subject to shareholder
approval, while the role of the SubAdvisers is substantially equivalent to
that of individual portfolio managers, so
that requiring shareholder approval of
Sub-Advisory Agreements would
impose unnecessary delays and
expenses on the Subadvised Series.
Applicants believe that the requested
relief from the Disclosure Requirements
meets this standard because it will
improve the Adviser’s ability to
negotiate fees paid to the Sub-Advisers
that are more advantageous for the
Subadvised Series.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Investment Management, under delegated
authority.
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019–11584 Filed 6–3–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–85955; File No. SR–
NYSEArca–2019–38]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed
Rule Change Regarding Investments of
Aware Ultra-Short Duration Enhanced
Income ETF, a Series of Tidal ETF
Trust
May 29, 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 May 15,
2019, NYSE Arca, Inc. (‘‘NYSE Arca’’ or
the ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission
1 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
U.S.C. 78a.
3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
2 15
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25863
(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.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes certain
changes regarding investments of Aware
Ultra-Short Duration Enhanced Income
ETF (the ‘‘Fund’’), a series of Tidal ETF
Trust (the ‘‘Trust’’). Shares of the Fund
currently are listed and traded on the
Exchange under NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–
E (‘‘Managed Fund Shares’’).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 certain
changes, described below under
‘‘Application of Generic Listing
Requirements,’’ regarding investments
of the Fund. The shares (‘‘Shares’’) of
the Fund commenced trading on the
Exchange on January 29, 2019 pursuant
to the generic listing standards under
Commentary .01 to NYSE Arca Rule
8.600–E 4 (‘‘Managed Fund Shares’’).5
4 The Fund’s investments currently comply with
the generic requirements set forth in Commentary
.01 to Rule 8.600–E.
5 A Managed Fund Share is a security that
represents an interest in an investment company
registered under the Investment Company Act of
1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a–1) (‘‘1940 Act’’) organized as
an open-end investment company or similar entity
that invests in a portfolio of securities selected by
its investment adviser consistent with its
Continued
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 107 / Tuesday, June 4, 2019 / Notices
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Toroso Investments, LLC (the
‘‘Adviser’’) is the investment adviser for
the Fund. Aware Asset Management,
Inc. (the ‘‘Subadviser’’) is the subadviser
to the Fund. U.S. Bank National
Association serves as the custodian
(‘‘Custodian’’) for the Fund. Tidal ETF
Services LLC serves as administrator for
the Fund. U.S. Bancorp Fund Services,
LLC serves as sub-administrator, fund
accountant and transfer agent (‘‘Transfer
Agent’’) for the Fund.6 Foreside Fund
Services, LLC serves as the distributor
(the ‘‘Distributor’’) for the Fund’s
Shares.
Commentary .06 to Rule 8.600–E
provides that, if the investment adviser
to the investment company issuing
Managed Fund Shares is affiliated with
a broker-dealer, such investment adviser
shall erect and maintain a ‘‘fire wall’’
between the investment adviser and the
broker-dealer with respect to access to
information concerning the composition
and/or changes to such investment
company portfolio. In addition,
Commentary .06 further requires that
personnel who make decisions on the
open-end fund’s portfolio composition
must be subject to procedures designed
to prevent the use and dissemination of
material nonpublic information
regarding the open-end fund’s portfolio.
Commentary .06 to Rule 8.600–E is
similar to Commentary .03(a)(i) and (iii)
to NYSE Arca Rule 5.2–E(j)(3); however,
Commentary .06 in connection with the
establishment and maintenance of a
‘‘fire wall’’ between the investment
adviser and the broker-dealer reflects
the applicable open-end fund’s
portfolio, not an underlying benchmark
index, as is the case with index-based
funds. The Adviser and the Subadviser
are not registered as broker-dealers and
are not affiliated with a broker-dealer. In
the event (a) the Adviser or Subadviser
becomes registered as a broker-dealer or
investment objectives and policies. In contrast, an
open-end investment company that issues
Investment Company Units, listed and traded on
the Exchange under NYSE Arca Rule 5.2–E(j)(3),
seeks to provide investment results that correspond
generally to the price and yield performance of a
specific foreign or domestic stock index, fixed
income securities index or combination thereof.
6 The Trust is registered under the 1940 Act. On
December 21, 2018, the Trust filed with the
Commission an amendment to its registration
statement on Form N–1A under the Securities Act
of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77a) (‘‘Securities Act’’), and
under the 1940 Act relating to the Fund (File Nos.
333–227298 and 811–23377) (‘‘Registration
Statement’’). The Trust will file an amendment to
the Registration Statement as necessary to conform
to the representations in this filing. The description
of the operation of the Trust and the Fund herein
is based, in part, on the Registration Statement. In
addition, the Commission has issued an order
granting certain exemptive relief to the Trust under
the 1940 Act. See Investment Company Act Release
No. 33433 (March 29, 2019) (File No. 812–14939).
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affiliated with one or more brokerdealers, or (b) any new adviser or subadviser is a registered broker-dealer or is
affiliated with a broker-dealer, it will
implement and maintain a fire wall with
respect to its relevant personnel or its
broker-dealer affiliate regarding access
to information concerning the
composition and/or changes to the
portfolio, and will be subject to
procedures designed to prevent the use
and dissemination of material nonpublic information regarding such
portfolio.
Aware Ultra-Short Duration Enhanced
Income ETF
According to the Registration
Statement, the investment objective of
the Fund is to seek to maximize current
income while maintaining a portfolio
consistent with the preservation of
capital and daily liquidity.
The Fund seeks to achieve its
investment objective primarily by
investing in ‘‘Fixed Income Securities’’
(as described below).
The Fund’s may invest in the
following fixed income instruments
(‘‘Fixed Income Securities’’) issued by
both U.S. and non-U.S. government and
private sector issuers:
• U.S. government securities;
• Agency and non-agency assetbacked securities (‘‘ABS’’) and
mortgage-backed securities (‘‘MBS’’) and
collateralized mortgage obligations
(‘‘CMOs’’); 7
• floating or variable rate securities;
• collateralized bond obligations
(‘‘CBOs’’), collateralized loan
obligations (‘‘CLOs’’) and other
collateralized debt obligations (‘‘CDOs’’
and, together with CBOs and CLOs,
‘‘CDOs/CBOs/CLOs’’); 8
• corporate debt securities;
• municipal securities;
• floating or variable rate securities;
7 For purposes of this filing, non-agency ABS,
non-agency MBS, and non-agency CMOs are
referred to collectively herein as ‘‘Private ABS/
MBS.’’
8 For purposes of this filing, CDOs, CBOs and
CLOs are excluded from the term Private ABS/MBS.
CLOs are securities issued by a trust or other special
purpose entity that are collateralized by a pool of
loans by U.S. banks and participations in loans by
U.S. banks that are unsecured or secured by
collateral other than real estate. CBOs are securities
issued by a trust or other special purpose entity that
are backed by a diversified pool of fixed income
securities issued by U.S. or foreign governmental
entities or fixed income securities issued by U.S. or
corporate issuers. CDOs/CBOs/CLOs are
distinguishable from ABS because they are
collateralized by bank loans or by corporate or
government fixed income securities and not by
consumer and other loans made by non-bank
lenders, including student loans. As discussed
below, for purposes of this proposed rule change,
CDOs/CBOs/CLOs will not be subject to the 20%
limit set forth in Commentary .01(b)(5) to Rule
8.600–E.
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• inflation-indexed bonds;
• inflation-indexed securities issued
by the U.S. Treasury, commonly known
as ‘‘TIPS’’;
• commercial paper (in addition to
commercial paper that are cash
equivalents); 9
• convertible securities; and
• structured notes.
The Fund may hold cash and cash
equivalents.10
The Fund may enter into dollar rolls
and short sales of Fixed Income
Securities. The Fund may also purchase
securities and other instruments under
when-issued, delayed delivery, to be
announced or forward commitment
transactions.
The Fund may invest in private
placements and Rule 144A securities.
The Fund may hold the following
U.S. and non-U.S. equity securities:
Common stocks, preferred stocks, rights,
warrants, exchange-traded notes
(‘‘ETNs’’),11 exchange-traded funds
(‘‘ETFs’’),12 and securities of other
investment companies, subject to
applicable limitations under Section
12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act.
The Fund may hold the following
U.S. and non-U.S. exchange-listed and
over-the-counter (‘‘OTC’’) derivative
instruments: OTC foreign currency
forwards; U.S. and non-U.S. exchangelisted futures and options on stocks,
Fixed Income Securities, interest rates,
credit, currencies, commodities or
related indices; and OTC options on
stocks, Fixed Income Securities, interest
rates, credit, currencies, commodities or
related indices.13
9 See
note 10, infra.
purposes of this filing, cash equivalents are
the short-term instruments enumerated in
Commentary .01(c) to Rule 8.600–E.
11 ETNs are securities as described in NYSE Arca
Rule 5.2–E(j)(6) (Equity Index-Linked Securities,
Commodity-Linked Securities, Currency-Linked
Securities, Fixed Income Index-Linked Securities,
Futures-Linked Securities and Multifactor IndexLinked Securities).
12 For purposes of this filing, the term ‘‘ETFs’’ are
Investment Company Units (as described in NYSE
Arca Rule 5.2–E(j)(3)); Portfolio Depositary Receipts
(as described in NYSE Arca Rule 8.100–E); and
Managed Fund Shares (as described in NYSE Arca
Rule 8.600–E). All ETFs will be listed and traded
in the U.S. on a national securities exchange. While
the Fund may invest in inverse ETFs, the Fund will
not invest in leveraged (e.g., 2X, ¥2X, 3X or ¥3X)
ETFs.
13 Derivative instruments may be used for
‘‘hedging,’’ which means that they may be used
when the Sub-Adviser seeks to protect the Fund’s
investments from a decline in value resulting from
changes to interest rates, market prices, currency
fluctuations, or other market factors. Derivative
instruments may also be used for other purposes,
including to seek to increase liquidity, provide
efficient portfolio management, broaden investment
opportunities (including taking short or negative
positions), implement a tax or cash management
strategy, gain exposure to a particular security or
segment of the market, modify the effective
10 For
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 107 / Tuesday, June 4, 2019 / Notices
The Fund will not invest in securities
or other financial instruments that have
not been described in this proposed rule
change.
Investment Restrictions
Private ABS/MBS will, in the
aggregate, not exceed more than 20% of
the total assets of the Fund.
The Fund may invest up to 10% of its
total assets in CDOs/CBOs/CLOs.14
Investments in non-exchange-traded
open-end management investment
company securities will not exceed 20%
of the total assets of the Fund.
khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Creation and Redemption of Shares
According to the Registration
Statement, the Trust issues and redeems
Shares only in Creation Units of 25,000
Shares on a continuous basis at their
NAV per Share next determined after
receipt of an order, on any ‘‘Business
Day’’, in proper form pursuant to the
terms of the Authorized Participant
Agreement (‘‘Participant Agreement’’).
The NAV of Shares is calculated each
Business Day as of the scheduled close
of regular trading on the NYSE,
generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time. A
‘‘Business Day’’ is any day on which the
NYSE is open for business. The size of
a Creation Unit is subject to change.
The consideration for purchase of a
Creation Unit of the Fund generally
consists of the in-kind deposit of a
designated portfolio of securities (the
‘‘Deposit Securities’’) per each Creation
Unit, constituting a substantial
replication of the securities included in
the Fund’s portfolio and the Cash
Component (defined below), computed
as described below. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Trust reserves the
right to permit or require the
substitution of a ‘‘cash in lieu’’ amount
(‘‘Deposit Cash’’) to be added to the
Cash Component to replace any Deposit
Security.
Together, the Deposit Securities or
Deposit Cash, as applicable, and the
Cash Component constitute the ‘‘Fund
Deposit,’’ which represents the
minimum initial and subsequent
investment amount for a Creation Unit
of the Fund. The ‘‘Cash Component’’ is
an amount equal to the difference
between the NAV of Shares (per
Creation Unit) and the value of the
Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as
applicable.
The Fund, through the National
Securities Clearing Corporation
(‘‘NSCC’’), makes available on each
duration of the Fund’s portfolio investments and/
or enhance total return.
14 As noted above, CDOs/CBOs/CLOs would be
excluded from the 20% limit on Private ABS/MBS.
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Business Day, prior to the opening of
business on the Exchange (currently
9:30 a.m., Eastern Time), the list of the
names and the required number of
shares of each Deposit Security or the
required amount of Deposit Cash, as
applicable, to be included in the current
Fund Deposit (based on information at
the end of the previous Business Day)
for the Fund.
The Trust reserves the right to permit
or require the substitution of Deposit
Cash to replace any Deposit Security,
which shall be added to the Cash
Component.
To be eligible to place orders with the
Transfer Agent to purchase a Creation
Unit of the Fund, an entity must be (i)
a ‘‘Participating Party’’, i.e., a brokerdealer or other participant in the
clearing process through the Continuous
Net Settlement System of the NSCC (the
‘‘Clearing Process’’), a clearing agency
that is registered with the Commission;
or (ii) a Depository Trust Company
(‘‘DTC’’) Participant. In addition, each
Participating Party or DTC Participant
(each, an ‘‘Authorized Participant’’)
must execute a Participant Agreement.
The order cut-off time for the Fund for
orders to purchase Creation Units is
expected to be 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time,
which time may be modified by the
Fund from time-to-time by amendment
to the Participant Agreement and/or
applicable order form.
Shares may be redeemed only in
Creation Units at their NAV next
determined after receipt of a redemption
request in proper form by the Fund
through the Transfer Agent and only on
a Business Day.
With respect to the Fund, the
Custodian, through the NSCC, makes
available prior to the opening of
business on the Exchange (currently
9:30 a.m., Eastern Time) on each
Business Day, the list of the names and
share quantities of the Fund’s portfolio
securities that will be applicable
(subject to possible amendment or
correction) to redemption requests
received in proper form on that day
(‘‘Fund Securities’’). Fund Securities
received on redemption may not be
identical to Deposit Securities.
Redemption proceeds for a Creation
Unit are paid either in-kind or in cash,
or combination thereof, as determined
by the Trust. With respect to in-kind
redemptions of the Fund, redemption
proceeds for a Creation Unit will consist
of Fund Securities—as announced by
the Custodian on the Business Day of
the request for redemption received in
proper form plus cash in an amount
equal to the difference between the NAV
of Shares being redeemed, as next
determined after a receipt of a request
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25865
in proper form, and the value of the
Fund Securities (the ‘‘Cash Redemption
Amount’’), less a fixed redemption
transaction fee, as applicable. In the
event that the Fund Securities have a
value greater than the NAV of Shares, a
compensating cash payment equal to the
differential is required to be made by or
through an Authorized Participant by
the redeeming shareholder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, at the
Trust’s discretion, an Authorized
Participant may receive the
corresponding cash value of the
securities in lieu of the in-kind
securities value representing one or
more Fund Securities.15
Orders to redeem Creation Units must
be submitted in proper form to the
Transfer Agent prior to 4:00 p.m.
Eastern Time.
Use of Derivatives by the Fund
Investments in derivative instruments
will be made in accordance with the
Fund’s investment objectives and
policies.
To limit the potential risk associated
with such transactions, the Fund may
enter into offsetting transactions or
segregate or ‘‘earmark’’ assets
determined to be liquid by the Adviser
in accordance with procedures
established by the Fund’s Board of
Trustees (the ‘‘Board’’). In addition, the
Fund has included appropriate risk
disclosure in its offering documents,
including leveraging risk. Leveraging
risk is the risk that certain transactions
of the Fund, including the Fund’s use of
derivatives, may give rise to leverage,
causing the Fund to be more volatile
than if it had not been leveraged.
Impact on Arbitrage Mechanism
The Adviser and the Subadviser
believe there will be minimal, if any,
impact to the arbitrage mechanism as a
result of the Fund’s use of derivatives.
The Adviser and the Subadviser
understand that market makers and
participants should be able to value
derivatives as long as the positions are
disclosed with relevant information.
The Adviser and the Subadviser believe
that the price at which Shares of the
Fund trade will continue to be
disciplined by arbitrage opportunities
created by the ability to purchase or
redeem Shares of the Fund at their
NAV, which should ensure that Shares
of the Fund will not trade at a material
discount or premium in relation to their
NAV.
15 The Adviser represents that, to the extent the
Trust effects the creation or redemption of Shares
wholly or partially in cash, such transactions will
be effected in the same manner for all Authorized
Participants.
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 107 / Tuesday, June 4, 2019 / Notices
khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Application of Generic Listing
Requirements
The Exchange is submitting this
proposed rule change because the
changes described below would result
in the portfolio for the Fund not meeting
all of the ‘‘generic’’ listing requirements
of Commentary .01 to NYSE Arca Rule
8.600–E applicable to the listing of
Managed Fund Shares. The Fund’s
portfolio would meet all such
requirements except for those set forth
in Commentary .01(a)(1), Commentary
.01(b)(1), Commentary .01(b)(4) and
Commentary .01(b)(5).16
Specifically, the Fund:
• Will not comply with the
requirement in Commentary .01(b)(1)
that components that in the aggregate
account for at least 75% of the fixed
income weight of the portfolio each
have a minimum original principal
amount outstanding of $100 million or
more. Instead, the Exchange proposes
that components, excluding Private
ABS/MBS and CDOs/CBOs/CLOs that,
in the aggregate, account for at least
50% of the fixed income weight of the
portfolio each shall have a minimum
original principal amount outstanding
of $50 million or more. Private ABS/
MBS and CDOs/CBOs/CLOs would not
be subject to a requirement for a
minimum original principal amount
outstanding.
• will not comply with the
requirement in Commentary .01(b)(5)
that investments in non-agency, nongovernment sponsored entity and
privately issued mortgage-related and
other asset-backed securities (i.e.,
Private ABS/MBS) not account, in the
aggregate, for more than 20% of the
weight of the fixed income portion of
the portfolio. Instead, Private ABS/MBS
will, in the aggregate, not exceed more
than 20% of the total assets of the Fund.
CDOs/CBOs/CLOs will not be subject to
the 20% limit set forth in Commentary
.01(b)(5); however, the Fund’s
investments in CDOs/CBOs/CLOs will
be limited to10% of the Fund’s total
assets.
• will not comply with the
requirement that securities that in
aggregate account for at least 90% of the
fixed income weight of the portfolio
meet one of the criteria in Commentary
.01(b)(4) in respect of its investments in
Private ABS/MBS.17 Instead, the
16 Commentary .01(b)(5) to NYSE Arca Rule
8.600–E provides that non-agency, non-government
sponsored entity and privately issued mortgagerelated and other asset-backed securities
components of a portfolio may not account, in the
aggregate, for more than 20% of the weight of the
fixed income portion of the portfolio.
17 Commentary .01(b)(4) provides that component
securities that in the aggregate account for at least
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Exchange proposes that all Fixed
Income Securities, excluding Private
ABS/MBS, will meet the criteria in
Commentary .01(b)(4). Private ABS/
MBS will be limited to 20% of the
Fund’s total assets and will not be
required to comply with the criteria in
Commentary .01(b)(4)(a) through (e) to
NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E.
• will not comply with the
requirements of Commentary
.01(a)(1)(A) through (E) to NYSE Arca
Rule 8.600–E in connection with the
Fund’s investments in non-exchange
traded investment company securities.
Deviations from the generic
requirements are necessary for the Fund
to achieve its investment objective in a
manner that is cost-effective and that
maximizes investors’ returns. Further,
the proposed alternative requirements
are narrowly tailored to allow the Fund
to achieve its investment objective in
manner that is consistent with the
principles of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act.
As a result, it is in the public interest
to approve listing and trading of Shares
of the Fund on the Exchange pursuant
to the requirements set forth herein.
As noted above, the Fund will not
comply with the requirement in
Commentary .01(b)(1) that components
that in the aggregate account for at least
75% of the fixed income weight of the
portfolio each have a minimum original
principal amount outstanding of $100
million or more. Instead, the Exchange
proposes that components, excluding
Private ABS/MBS and CDOs/CBOs/
CLOs, that in the aggregate account for
at least 50% of the fixed income weight
of the portfolio each shall have a
minimum original principal amount
outstanding of $50 million or more.
Private ABS/MBS and CDOs/CBOs/
CLOs would not be subject to a
requirement for a minimum original
principal amount outstanding. At least
50% of the fixed income weight of the
Fund’s portfolio, excluding Private
ABS/MBS and CDOs/CBOs/CLOs,
would continue to be subject to a
substantial minimum (i.e., $50 million)
original principal amount outstanding.
By excluding Private ABS/MBS and
CDOs/CBOs/CLOs from this
90% of the fixed income weight of the portfolio
must be either: (a) From issuers that are required
to file reports pursuant to Sections 13 and 15(d) of
the Act; (b) from issuers that have a worldwide
market value of its outstanding common equity held
by non-affiliates of $700 million or more; (c) from
issuers that have outstanding securities that are
notes, bonds debentures, or evidence of
indebtedness having a total remaining principal
amount of at least $1 billion; (d) exempted
securities as defined in Section 3(a)(12) of the Act;
or (e) from issuers that are a government of a foreign
country or a political subdivision of a foreign
country.
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
requirement, the Fund will be able to
better diversify its holdings in such
securities, and would be able to invest
in a larger variety of Private ABS/MBS
and CDOs/CBOs/CLOs that have
characteristics consistent with the
Fund’s investment objective to
maximize current income while
maintaining a portfolio consistent with
the preservation of capital and daily
liquidity. These characteristics may
include, for example, Private ABS/MBS
and CDOs/CBOs/CLOs with investment
grade credit rating or liquidity
comparable to fixed income securities
with a much greater amount
outstanding.
As noted above, the Fund will not
comply with the requirement in
Commentary .01(b)(5) that investments
in non-agency, non-government
sponsored entity and privately issued
mortgage-related and other asset-backed
securities (i.e., Private ABS/MBS) not
account, in the aggregate, for more than
20% of the weight of the fixed income
portion of the portfolio. Instead, Private
ABS/MBS will, in the aggregate, not
exceed more than 20% of the total assets
of the Fund.
This alternative requirement is
appropriate because the Fund’s
investment in Private ABS/MBS is
expected to provide the Fund with
benefits associated with increased
diversification, as Private ABS/MBS
investments tend to be less correlated to
interest rates than many other fixed
income securities. The Fund’s
investment in Private ABS/MBS will be
subject to the Fund’s liquidity
procedures as adopted by the Fund’s
Board, and the Adviser does not expect
that investments in Private ABS/MBS of
up to 20% of the total assets of the Fund
will have any material impact on the
liquidity of the Fund’s investments.18
The Exchange notes that the
Commission has previously approved
the listing of actively managed ETFs
that can invest 20% of their total assets
in non-U.S. Government, non-agency,
non-GSE and other privately-issued
ABS and MBS (i.e., Private ABS/
MBS).19 Thus, it is appropriate to
18 Rule 22e–4(b) under the 1940 Act requires,
among other things, that a fund ‘‘adopt and
implement a written liquidity risk management
program that is reasonably designed to assess and
manage its liquidity risk.’’ The rule is ‘‘designed to
promote effective liquidity risk management
throughout the open-end investment company
industry, thereby reducing the risk that funds will
be unable to meet their redemption obligations and
mitigating dilution of the interests of fund
shareholders.’’ See Release Nos. 33–10233; IC–
32315; File No. S7–16–15 (October 13, 2016).
19 See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release Nos.
80946 (June 15, 2017) 82 FR 28126 (June 20, 2017)
(SR–NASDAQ–2017–039) (permitting the
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expand the limit on the Fund’s
investments in Private ABS/MBS set
forth in Commentary .01(b)(5) of the
generic listing standards.
As noted above, the Fund will not
comply with the requirement that
securities that in aggregate account for
at least 90% of the fixed income weight
of the portfolio meet one of the criteria
in Commentary .01(b)(4).20 The
Exchange proposes that the Private
ABS/MBS, will not be required to
comply with the criteria in Commentary
.01(b)(4)(a) through (e) to NYSE Arca
Rule 8.600–E. In this regard, the
Exchange proposes to provide that the
Fund will not invest more than 20% of
the Fund’s total assets in Private ABS/
MBS. CDOs/CBOs/CLOs, however, will
be subject to the criteria in Commentary
.01(b)(4)(a) through (e) 21 and the Fund
will not invest more than 10% of the
Fund’s total assets in CDOs/CBOs/
CLOs.22 The Exchange believes that this
10% limitation will help the Fund
maintain portfolio diversification and
will reduce manipulation risk. In
Guggenheim Limited Duration ETF to invest up to
20% of its total assets in privately-issued, nonagency and non-GSE ABS and MBS); 76412
(November 10, 2015), 80 FR 71880 (November 17,
2015) (SR–NYSEArca–2015–111) (permitting the
RiverFront Strategic Income Fund to invest up to
20% of its assets in privately-issued, non-agency
and non-GSE ABS and MBS); 74814 (April 27,
2015), 80 FR 24986 (May 1, 2015) (SR–NYSEArca–
2014–017) (permitting the Guggenheim Enhanced
Short Duration ETF to invest up to 20% of its assets
in privately-issued, non-agency and non-GSE ABS
and MBS); 74109 (January 21, 2015), 80 FR 4327
(January 27, 2015) (SR–NYSEArca–2014–134)
(permitting the IQ Wilshire Alternative Strategies
ETF to invest up to 20% of its total assets in MSB
and other ABS, without any limit on the type of
such MBS and ABS). See also Securities Exchange
Act Release No. 83319 (May 24, 2018), 83 FR 25097
(May 31, 2018) (SR–NYSEArca–2018–15) (Order
Approving a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by
Amendment No. 1 Thereto, to Continue Listing and
Trading Shares of the PGIM Ultra Short Bond ETF
under NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E).
20 Commentary .01(b)(4) provides that component
securities that in the aggregate account for at least
90% of the fixed income weight of the portfolio
must be either: (a) From issuers that are required
to file reports pursuant to Sections 13 and 15(d) of
the Act; (b) from issuers that have a worldwide
market value of its outstanding common equity held
by non-affiliates of $700 million or more; (c) from
issuers that have outstanding securities that are
notes, bonds debentures, or evidence of
indebtedness having a total remaining principal
amount of at least $1 billion; (d) exempted
securities as defined in Section 3(a)(12) of the Act;
or (e) from issuers that are a government of a foreign
country or a political subdivision of a foreign
country. In the First Prior Order, the Commission
approved an exception from Commentary .01(b)(4)
to provide that fixed income securities that do not
meet any of the criteria in Commentary .01(b)(4)
will not exceed 10% of the total assets of the Fund.
21 As noted above, CDOs/CBOs/CLOs would be
excluded from the 20% limit on Private ABS/MBS.
22 For purposes of this filing, CDOs/CBOs/CLOs
are not deemed to be ABS for purposes of the
restriction on the Fund’s holdings of Private ABS/
MBS. See note 8, supra.
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17:16 Jun 03, 2019
Jkt 247001
addition, the Adviser does not expect
that investments in CDOs/CBOs/CLOs
of up to 10% of the total assets of the
Fund will have any material impact on
the liquidity of the Fund’s
investments.23
The Exchange notes that the
Commission has previously approved
the listing of Managed Fund Shares with
similar investment objectives and
strategies without imposing
requirements that a certain percentage
of such funds’ securities meet one of the
criteria set forth in Commentary
.01(b)(4).24 In addition, the Commission
has approved proposed rule changes
permitting investments by an issue of
Managed Fund Shares to exclude nonU.S. Government, non-agency, non-GSE
and other privately-issued ABS and
MBS (as described in such proposed
rule changes) from the provisions of
rules comparable to Commentary
.01(b)(4).25
In addition, the Fund’s investment in
Private ABS/MBS and CDOs/CBOs/
CLOs will be subject to the Fund’s
liquidity risk management program as
approved by the Fund’s Board.26 The
23 The Exchange notes that the Commission has
approved a proposed rule change permitting an
issue of Managed Fund Shares to hold up to 30%
of the weight of the fixed income securities portion
of the fund’s portfolio to consist of non-agency,
non-GSE and privately-issued mortgage-related and
other asset-backed securities. See Securities
Exchange Act Release No. 84826 (December 14,
2018), 83 FR 65386 (December 20, 2018) (SR–
NYSEArca–2018–25) (Order Approving a Proposed
Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 2,
Regarding the Continued Listing and Trading of
Shares of the Natixis Loomis Sayles Short Duration
Income ETF).
24 See, e.g., Exchange Act Release Nos. 67894
(September 20, 2012), 77 FR 59227 (September 26,
2012) (SR–BATS–2012–033) (order approving the
listing and trading of shares of the iShares Short
Maturity Bond Fund); 70342 (September 6, 2013),
78 FR 56256 (September 12, 2013) (SR–NYSEArca–
2013–71) (order approving the listing and trading of
shares of the SPDR SSgA Ultra Short Term Bond
ETF, SPDR SSgA Conservative Ultra Short Term
Bond ETF and SPDR SSgA Aggressive Ultra Short
Term Bond ETF).
25 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 84047
(September 6, 2018), 83 FR 46200 (September 12,
2018) (SR–NASDAQ–2017–128) (Notice of Filing of
Amendment No. 3 and Order Granting Accelerated
Approval of a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified
by Amendment No. 3, to List and Trade Shares of
the Western Asset Total Return ETF); See also,
Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 84047
(September 6, 2018), 83 FR 46200 (September 12,
2018) (SR–NASDAQ–2017–128) (Notice of Filing of
Amendment No. 3 and Order Granting Accelerated
Approval of a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified
by Amendment No. 3, to List and Trade Shares of
the Western Asset Total Return ETF); 85022
(January 31, 2019), 25 FR 2265 (February 6, 2019)
(SR–NASDAQ–2018–080) (Notice of Filing of
Amendment No. 3 and Order Granting Accelerated
Approval of a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified
by Amendment Nos. 1, 2 and 3, To List and Trade
Shares of the BrandywineGLOBAL-Global Total
Return ETF).
26 Rule 22e–4(b) under the 1940 Act requires,
among other things, that a fund ‘‘adopt and
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25867
liquidity procedures generally include
public disclosure by the Fund of its
liquidity and redemption practices. The
Fund’s holdings in Private ABS/MBS
and CDOs/CBOs/CLOs would be
encompassed within the Fund’s
liquidity risk management program.
The Fund may invest in shares of
investment company securities (other
than ETFs), which are equity securities.
Therefore, to the extent the Fund invests
in shares of other non-exchange-traded
open-end management investment
company securities, the Fund will not
comply with the requirements of
Commentary .01(a)(1)(A) through (E) to
NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E (U.S.
Component Stocks) with respect to its
equity securities holdings.27
implement a written liquidity risk management
program that is reasonably designed to assess and
manage its liquidity risk.’’ The rule is ‘‘designed to
promote effective liquidity risk management
throughout the open-end investment company
industry, thereby reducing the risk that funds will
be unable to meet their redemption obligations and
mitigating dilution of the interests of fund
shareholders.’’ See Release Nos. 33–10233; IC–
32315; File No. S7–16–15 (October 13, 2016).
27 Commentary .01(a) to Rule 8.600–E specifies
the equity securities accommodated by the generic
criteria in Commentary .01(a), namely, U.S.
Component Stocks (as described in Rule 5.2–E(j)(3))
and Non-U.S. Component Stocks (as described in
Rule 5.2–E(j)(3)). Commentary .01(a)(1) to Rule
8.600–E (U.S. Component Stocks) provides that the
component stocks of the equity portion of a
portfolio that are U.S. Component Stocks shall meet
the following criteria initially and on a continuing
basis:
(A) Component stocks (excluding Derivative
Securities Products and Index-Linked Securities)
that in the aggregate account for at least 90% of the
equity weight of the portfolio (excluding such
Derivative Securities Products and Index-Linked
Securities) each shall have a minimum market
value of at least $75 million;
(B) Component stocks (excluding Derivative
Securities Products and Index-Linked Securities)
that in the aggregate account for at least 70% of the
equity weight of the portfolio (excluding such
Derivative Securities Products and Index-Linked
Securities) each shall have a minimum monthly
trading volume of 250,000 shares, or minimum
notional volume traded per month of $25,000,000,
averaged over the last six months;
(C) The most heavily weighted component stock
(excluding Derivative Securities Products and
Index-Linked Securities) shall not exceed 30% of
the equity weight of the portfolio, and, to the extent
applicable, the five most heavily weighted
component stocks (excluding Derivative Securities
Products and Index-Linked Securities) shall not
exceed 65% of the equity weight of the portfolio;
(D) Where the equity portion of the portfolio does
not include Non-U.S. Component Stocks, the equity
portion of the portfolio shall include a minimum of
13 component stocks; provided, however, that there
shall be no minimum number of component stocks
if (i) one or more series of Derivative Securities
Products or Index-Linked Securities constitute, at
least in part, components underlying a series of
Managed Fund Shares, or (ii) one or more series of
Derivative Securities Products or Index-Linked
Securities account for 100% of the equity weight of
the portfolio of a series of Managed Fund Shares;
and
(E) Except as provided herein, equity securities in
the portfolio shall be U.S. Component Stocks listed
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However, it is appropriate and in the
public interest to approve listing and
trading of Shares of the Fund
notwithstanding that the Fund’s
holdings in such securities would not
meet the requirements of Commentary
.01(a)(1)(A) through (E) to Rule 8.600–E.
Investments in other non-exchangetraded open-end management
investment company securities will not
exceed 20% of the total assets of the
Fund. Such investments, which may
include mutual funds that invest, for
example, principally in fixed income
securities, would be utilized to help the
Fund meet its investment objective and
to equitize cash in the short term. The
Fund will invest in such securities only
to the extent that those investments
would be consistent with the
requirements of Section 12(d)(1) of the
1940 Act and the rules thereunder.28
Because such securities must satisfy
applicable 1940 Act diversification
requirements, and have a net asset value
based on the value of securities and
financial assets the investment company
holds, it is both unnecessary and
inappropriate to apply to such
investment company securities the
criteria in Commentary .01(a)(1).
The Exchange notes that Commentary
.01(a)(1)(A) through (D) to Rule 8.600–
E exclude certain ‘‘Derivative Securities
Products’’ that are exchange-traded
investment company securities,
including Investment Company Units
(as described in NYSE Arca Rule 5.2–
E(j)(3)), Portfolio Depositary Receipts (as
described in NYSE Arca Rule 8.100–E))
and Managed Fund Shares (as described
in NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E)).29 In its
on a national securities exchange and shall be NMS
Stocks as defined in Rule 600 of Regulation NMS
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
28 The Commission has previously approved
proposed rule changes under Section 19(b) of the
Act for series of Managed Fund Shares that may
invest in non-exchange traded investment company
securities to the extent permitted by Section
12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder.
See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release No.
78414 (July 26, 2016), 81 FR 50576 (August 1, 2016)
(SR–NYSEArca–2016–79) (order approving listing
and trading of shares of the Virtus Japan Alpha ETF
under NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E).
29 The Commission initially approved the
Exchange’s proposed rule change to exclude
‘‘Derivative Securities Products’’ (i.e., Investment
Company Units and securities described in Section
2 of Rule 8) and ‘‘Index-Linked Securities (as
described in Rule 5.2–E(j)(6)) from Commentary
.01(a)(A) (1) through (4) to Rule 5.2–E(j)(3) in
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 57751 (May 1,
2008), 73 FR 25818 (May 7, 2008) (SR–NYSEArca–
2008–29) (Order Granting Approval of a Proposed
Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 1
Thereto, to Amend the Eligibility Criteria for
Components of an Index Underlying Investment
Company Units)(‘‘2008 Approval Order’’). See also
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 57561 (March
26, 2008), 73 FR 17390 (April 1, 2008) (Notice of
Filing of Proposed Rule Change and Amendment
No. 1 Thereto to Amend the Eligibility Criteria for
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17:16 Jun 03, 2019
Jkt 247001
2008 Approval Order approving
amendments to Commentary .01(a) to
Rule 5.2(j)(3) to exclude Derivative
Securities Products from certain
provisions of Commentary .01(a) (which
exclusions are similar to those in
Commentary .01(a)(1) to Rule 8.600–E),
the Commission stated that ‘‘based on
the trading characteristics of Derivative
Securities Products, it may be difficult
for component Derivative Securities
Products to satisfy certain quantitative
index criteria, such as the minimum
market value and trading volume
limitations.’’ The Exchange notes that it
would be difficult or impossible to
apply to mutual fund shares certain of
the generic quantitative criteria (e.g.,
market capitalization, trading volume,
or portfolio criteria) in Commentary .01
(A) through (D) applicable to U.S.
Component Stocks. For example, the
requirements for U.S. Component
Stocks in Commentary .01(a)(1)(B) that
there be minimum monthly trading
volume of 250,000 shares, or minimum
notional volume traded per month of
$25,000,000, averaged over the last six
months are tailored to exchange-traded
securities (i.e., U.S. Component Stocks)
and not to mutual fund shares, which
do not trade in the secondary market
and for which no such volume
information is reported. In addition,
Commentary .01(a)(1)(A) relating to
minimum market value of portfolio
component stocks, Commentary
.01(a)(1)(C) relating to weighting of
portfolio component stocks, and
Commentary .01(a)(1)(D) relating to
minimum number of portfolio
components are not appropriately
applied to open-end management
investment company securities; openend investment companies hold
multiple individual securities as
disclosed publicly in accordance with
the 1940 Act, and application of
Commentary .01(a)(1)(A) through (D)
would not serve the purposes served
with respect to U.S. Component Stocks,
namely, to establish minimum liquidity
and diversification criteria for U.S.
Components of an Index Underlying Investment
Company Units). The Commission subsequently
approved generic criteria applicable to listing and
trading of Managed Fund Shares, including
exclusions for Derivative Securities Products and
Index-Linked Securities in Commentary .01(a)(1)(A)
through (D), in Securities Exchange Act Release No.
78397 (July 22, 2016), 81 FR 49320 (July 27, 2016)
(Order Granting Approval of Proposed Rule Change,
as Modified by Amendment No. 7 Thereto,
Amending NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E To Adopt
Generic Listing Standards for Managed Fund
Shares). See also Amendment No. 7 to SR–
NYSEArca–2015–110, available at https://
www.sec.gov/comments/sr-nysearca-2015-110/
nysearca2015110-9.pdf.
PO 00000
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Sfmt 4703
Component Stocks held by series of
Managed Fund Shares.
The Exchange notes that the
Commission has previously approved
the listing of Managed Fund Shares with
similar investment objectives and
strategies where such funds were
permitted to invest in the shares of other
registered investment companies that
are not ETFs or money market funds.30
Thus, it is appropriate to permit the
Fund to invest up to 20% of its total
assets in other non-exchange-traded
open-end management investment
company securities.
The Adviser and Subadviser represent
that the proposed exceptions from the
requirements of Commentary .01 to Rule
8.600–E described above are consistent
with the Fund’s investment objective,
and will further assist the Adviser and
Subadviser to achieve such investment
objective. Deviations from the generic
requirements are necessary for the Fund
to achieve its investment objective in a
manner that is cost-effective and that
maximizes investors’ returns. Further,
the proposed alternative requirements
are narrowly tailored to allow the Fund
to achieve its investment objective in
manner that is consistent with the
principles of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act.
As a result, it is in the public interest
to approve listing and trading of Shares
of the Fund on the Exchange pursuant
to the requirements set forth herein.
The Exchange accordingly believes
that it is appropriate and in the public
interest to approve listing and trading of
Shares of the Fund on the Exchange
notwithstanding that the Fund would
not meet the requirements of
Commentary .01(a)(1), (b)(1), (b)(4) and
(b)(5) to Rule 8.600–E. The Exchange
notes that, other than Commentary
.01(a)(1), (b)(1), (b)(4) and (b)(5) to Rule
8.600–E, the Fund’s portfolio will meet
all other requirements of Rule 8.600–E.
Availability of Information
The Fund’s website
(www.awareetf.com) will include the
prospectus for the Fund that may be
30 See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release Nos.
79053 (October 5, 2016), 81 FR 70468 (October 12,
2016) (SR–BatsBZX–2016–35) (permitting the
JPMorgan Global Bond Opportunities ETF to invest
in ‘‘investment company securities that are not
ETFs’’); 74297 (February 18, 2015), 80 FR 9788
(February 24, 2015) (SR–BATS–2014–056)
(permitting the U.S. Fixed Income Balanced Risk
ETF to invest in ‘‘exchange traded and nonexchange traded investment companies (including
investment companies advised by the Adviser or its
affiliates) that invest in such Fixed Income
Securities’’); 83319 (May 24, 2018), 83 FR 25097
(May 31, 2018) (SR–NYSEArca–2018–15), (Order
Approving a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by
Amendment No. 1 Thereto, to Continue Listing and
Trading Shares of the PGIM Ultra Short Bond ETF
under NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E).
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downloaded. The Fund’s website will
include additional quantitative
information updated on a daily basis
including, for the Fund, (1) daily trading
volume, the prior Business Day’s
reported closing price, NAV and
midpoint of the bid/ask spread at the
time of calculation of such NAV (the
‘‘Bid/Ask Price’’),31 and a calculation of
the premium and discount of the Bid/
Ask Price against the NAV, and (2) data
in chart format displaying the frequency
distribution of discounts and premiums
of the daily Bid/Ask Price against the
NAV, within appropriate ranges, for
each of the four previous calendar
quarters. On each Business Day, before
commencement of trading in Shares in
the Core Trading Session on the
Exchange, the Fund discloses on its
website the Disclosed Portfolio as
defined in NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–
E(c)(2) that forms the basis for the
Fund’s calculation of NAV at the end of
the Business Day.32
On a daily basis, the Fund discloses
the information required under NYSE
Arca Rule 8.600–E(c)(2) to the extent
applicable. The website information
will be publicly available at no charge.
In addition, a basket composition file,
which includes the security names and
share quantities, if applicable, required
to be delivered in exchange for the
Fund’s Shares, together with estimates
and actual cash components, will be
publicly disseminated daily prior to the
opening of the Exchange via the NSCC.
The basket represents one Creation Unit
of the Fund. Authorized Participants
may refer to the basket composition file
for information regarding securities and
other instrument that may comprise the
Fund’s basket on a given day.
Investors can also obtain the Trust’s
Statement of Additional Information
(‘‘SAI’’), the Fund’s Shareholder
Reports, and the Fund’s Forms N–CSR
and Forms N–SAR, filed twice a year.
The Fund’s SAI and Shareholder
Reports will be available free upon
request from the Trust, and those
documents and the Form N–CSR, Form
N–PX and Form N–SAR may be viewed
on-screen or downloaded from the
Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.
Intra-day and closing price
information regarding exchange-traded
options will be available from the
exchange on which such instruments
are traded. Price information relating to
OTC options and swaps will be
available from major market data
vendors. Intra-day price information for
exchange-traded derivative instruments
will be available from the applicable
exchange and from major market data
vendors. For exchange-traded common
stocks, preferred stocks, rights,
warrants, ETNs and ETFs, intraday price
quotations will generally be available
from broker-dealers and trading
platforms (as applicable). Intraday and
other price information for the fixed
income securities in which the Fund
invests will be available through
subscription services, such as
Bloomberg, Markit and Thomson
Reuters, which can be accessed by
Authorized Participants and other
market participants. Additionally, the
Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine
(‘‘TRACE’’) of the Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority (‘‘FINRA’’) will be
a source of price information for
corporate bonds, privately-issued
securities, MBS and ABS, to the extent
transactions in such securities are
reported to TRACE.33 Money market
funds are typically priced once each
Business Day and their prices will be
available through the applicable fund’s
website or from major market data
vendors. Price information regarding
U.S. government securities, repurchase
agreements, reverse repurchase
agreements and cash equivalents
generally may be obtained from brokers
and dealers who make markets in such
securities or through nationally
recognized pricing services through
subscription agreements.
Information regarding market price
and trading volume of the Shares will be
continually available on a real-time
basis throughout the day on brokers’
computer screens and other electronic
services. Information regarding the
previous day’s closing price and trading
volume information for the Shares will
be published daily in the financial
section of newspapers.
31 The Bid/Ask Price of the Fund’s Shares will be
determined using the mid-point of the highest bid
and the lowest offer on the Exchange as of the time
of calculation of the Fund’s NAV. The records
relating to Bid/Ask Prices will be retained by the
Fund and its service providers.
32 Under accounting procedures followed by the
Fund, trades made on the prior Business Day (‘‘T’’)
will be booked and reflected in NAV on the current
Business Day (‘‘T+1’’). Accordingly, the Fund will
be able to disclose at the beginning of the Business
Day the portfolio that will form the basis for the
NAV calculation at the end of the Business Day.
33 Broker-dealers that are FINRA member firms
have an obligation to report transactions in
specified debt securities to TRACE to the extent
required under applicable FINRA rules. Generally,
such debt securities will have at issuance a maturity
that exceeds one calendar year. For fixed income
securities that are not reported to TRACE, (i)
intraday price quotations will generally be available
from broker-dealers and trading platforms (as
applicable) and (ii) price information will be
available from feeds from market data vendors,
published or other public sources, or online
information services, as described above.
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25869
Quotation and last sale information
for the Shares will be available via the
Consolidated Tape Association (‘‘CTA’’)
high-speed line. Exchange-traded
options quotation and last sale
information for options cleared via the
Options Clearing Corporation are
available via the Options Price
Reporting Authority. In addition, the
Portfolio Indicative Value (‘‘PIV’’), as
defined in NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–
E(c)(3), will be widely disseminated by
one or more major market data vendors
at least every 15 seconds during the
Core Trading Session.
Trading Halts
With respect to trading halts, the
Exchange may consider all relevant
factors in exercising its discretion to
halt or suspend trading in the Shares of
the Fund. Trading in Shares of the Fund
will be halted if the circuit breaker
parameters in NYSE Arca Rule 7.12–E
have been reached. Trading also may be
halted because of market conditions or
for reasons that, in the view of the
Exchange, make trading in the Shares
inadvisable. These may include: (1) The
extent to which trading is not occurring
in the securities and/or the financial
instruments comprising the Disclosed
Portfolio of the Fund; or (2) whether
other unusual conditions or
circumstances detrimental to the
maintenance of a fair and orderly
market are present. Trading in the
Shares will be subject to NYSE Arca
Rule 8.600–E(d)(2)(D), which sets forth
circumstances under which Shares of
the Fund may be halted.
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 4:00
a.m. to 8:00 p.m. E.T. in accordance
with NYSE Arca Rule 7.34–E (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.
With the exception of the
requirements of Commentary .01(a)(1),
Commentary .01(b)(4) and Commentary
.01(b)(5) as described above under
‘‘Application of Generic Listing
Requirements,’’ the Shares of the Fund
will conform to the initial and
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continued listing criteria under NYSE
Arca Rule 8.600–E. The Exchange
represents that for initial and/or
continued listing, the Fund will be in
compliance with Rule 10A–3 under the
Act, as provided by NYSE Arca Rule
5.3–E. A minimum of 100,000 Shares
will be outstanding at the
commencement of trading on the
Exchange. The Exchange has obtained a
representation from the issuer of the
Shares that the NAV per Share will be
calculated daily and that the NAV and
the Disclosed Portfolio will be made
available to all market participants at
the same time.
Surveillance
The Exchange represents that trading
in the Shares will be subject to the
existing trading surveillances
administered by the Exchange, as well
as cross-market surveillances
administered by FINRA on behalf of the
Exchange, which are designed to detect
violations of Exchange rules and
applicable federal securities laws. 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, ETFs, certain
exchange-traded options and certain
futures with other markets and other
entities that are members of the
Intermarket Surveillance Group (‘‘ISG’’),
and the Exchange or FINRA, on behalf
of the Exchange, or both, may obtain
trading information regarding trading in
the Shares, ETFs, certain exchangetraded options and certain futures from
such markets and other entities. In
addition, the Exchange may obtain
information regarding trading in the
Shares, ETFs, certain exchange-traded
options and certain futures from
markets and other entities that are
members of ISG or with which the
Exchange has in place a comprehensive
surveillance sharing agreement
(‘‘CSSA’’). The Exchange is able to
access from FINRA, as needed, trade
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information for certain Fixed Income
Securities held by the Fund reported to
TRACE.
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 portfolio, (b)
limitations on portfolio holdings or
reference assets, 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 Fund to
comply with the continued listing
requirements, and, pursuant to its
obligations under Section 19(g)(1) of the
Act, the Exchange will monitor for
compliance with the continued listing
requirements. If the Fund is not in
compliance with the applicable listing
requirements, the Exchange will
commence delisting procedures under
NYSE Arca Rule 5.5(m)–E.
2. Statutory Basis
The basis under the Act for this
proposed rule change is the requirement
under Section 6(b)(5) of the Act 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 in that the Shares will
be listed and traded on the Exchange
pursuant to the initial and continued
listing criteria in NYSE Arca Rule
8.600–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 federal securities laws
applicable to trading on the Exchange.
The Adviser and Subadviser are not
registered as broker-dealers or affiliated
with a broker-dealer. The Exchange or
FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, or
both, will communicate as needed
regarding trading in the Shares, certain
exchange-traded options and certain
futures 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, certain exchange-traded options
PO 00000
Frm 00141
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
and certain futures from such markets
and other entities. In addition, the
Exchange may obtain information
regarding trading in the Shares, certain
exchange-traded options and certain
futures with other markets and other
entities that are members of the ISG, or
with which the Exchange has in place
a comprehensive surveillance sharing
agreement. The Exchange is able to
access from FINRA, as needed, trade
information for certain fixed income
securities held by the Fund reported to
FINRA’s TRACE. FINRA also can access
data obtained from the MSRB relating to
certain municipal bond trading activity
for surveillance purposes in connection
with trading in the Shares.
The proposed rule change is designed
to promote just and equitable principles
of trade and to protect investors and the
public interest in that the Exchange will
obtain a representation from the issuer
of the Shares that the NAV per Share
will be calculated daily and that the
NAV and the Disclosed Portfolio will be
made available to all market
participants at the same time. In
addition, a large amount of information
is publicly available regarding the Fund
and the Shares, thereby promoting
market transparency. The website for
the Fund includes a form of the
prospectus for the Fund and additional
data relating to NAV and other
applicable quantitative information.
Trading in Shares of the Fund will be
halted if the circuit breaker parameters
in NYSE Arca Rule 7.12–E have been
reached or because of market conditions
or for reasons that, in the view of the
Exchange, make trading in the Shares
inadvisable, and trading in the Shares
will be subject to NYSE Arca Rule
8.600–E(d)(2)(D), which sets forth
circumstances under which trading in
the Shares of the Fund may be halted.
In addition, as noted above, investors
have ready access to information
regarding the Fund’s holdings, the PIV,
the Disclosed Portfolio, and quotation
and last sale information for the Shares.
In the aggregate, at least 90% of the
weight of the Fund’s holdings invested
in futures, exchange-traded options, and
listed swaps shall, on both an initial and
continuing basis, consist of futures,
options, and swaps for which the
Exchange may obtain information from
other members or affiliates of the ISG or
for which the principal market is a
market with which the Exchange has a
CSSA. For purposes of calculating this
limitation, a portfolio’s investment in
listed derivatives will be calculated as
the aggregate gross notional value of the
listed derivatives.
As discussed above, the Fund will not
comply with the requirement in
E:\FR\FM\04JNN1.SGM
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Commentary .01(b)(1) that components
that in the aggregate account for at least
75% of the fixed income weight of the
portfolio each have a minimum original
principal amount outstanding of $100
million or more. Instead, the Exchange
proposes that components, excluding
Private ABS/MBS and CDOs/CBOs/
CLOs, that in the aggregate account for
at least 50% of the fixed income weight
of the portfolio each shall have a
minimum original principal amount
outstanding of $50 million or more.
Private ABS/MBS and CDOs/CBOs/
CLOs would not be subject to a
requirement for a minimum original
principal amount outstanding. The
Exchange believes this alternative is
appropriate because at least 50% of the
fixed income weight of the Fund’s
portfolio, excluding Private ABS/MBS
and CDOs/CBOs/CLOs, would continue
to be subject to a substantial minimum
(i.e., $50 million) original principal
amount outstanding. In addition, by
excluding Private ABS/MBS and CDOs/
CBOs/CLOs from this requirement, the
Fund will be able to better diversify its
holdings in such securities, and would
be able to invest in a larger variety of
Private ABS/MBS and CDOs/CBOs/
CLOs that have characteristics
consistent with the Fund’s investment
objective to maximize current income
while maintaining a portfolio consistent
with the preservation of capital and
daily liquidity. These characteristics
may include, for example, Private ABS/
MBS and CDOs/CBOs/CLOs with
investment grade credit rating or
liquidity comparable to fixed income
securities with a much greater amount
outstanding.
As noted above, the Fund may invest
in shares of non-exchange-traded
investment company securities, which
are equity securities. Therefore, to the
extent the Fund invests in shares of
non-exchange-traded open-end
management investment company
securities, the Fund will not comply
with the requirements of Commentary
.01(a)(1)(A) through (E) to NYSE Arca
Rule 8.600–E (U.S. Component Stocks)
with respect to its equity securities
holdings.34 The Exchange believes it is
appropriate and in the public interest to
approve listing and trading of Shares of
the Fund notwithstanding that the
Fund’s holdings in such securities
would not meet the requirements of
Commentary .01(a)(1)(A) through (E) to
Rule 8.600–E. Investments in nonexchange-traded open-end management
investment company securities will not
exceed 20% of the total assets of the
Fund. Such investments, which may
include mutual funds that invest, for
example, principally in fixed income
securities, would be utilized to help the
Fund meet its investment objective and
to equitize cash in the short term. The
Fund will invest in such securities only
to the extent that those investments
would be consistent with the
requirements of Section 12(d)(1) of the
1940 Act and the rules thereunder.
Because such securities must satisfy
applicable 1940 Act diversification
requirements, and have a net asset value
based on the value of securities and
financial assets the investment company
holds, it is both unnecessary and
inappropriate to apply to such
investment company securities the
criteria in Commentary .01(a)(1).
As noted above, the Fund will not
comply with the requirement in
Commentary .01(b)(5) that investments
in non-agency, non-government
sponsored entity and privately issued
mortgage-related and other asset-backed
not account, in the aggregate, for more
than 20% of the weight of the fixed
income portion of the portfolio. Instead,
Private ABS/MBS will, in the aggregate,
not exceed more than 20% of the total
assets of the Fund.
This alternative requirement is
appropriate because the Fund’s
investment in Private ABS/MBS is
expected to provide the Fund with
benefits associated with increased
diversification, as Private ABS/MBS
investments tend to be less correlated to
interest rates than many other fixed
income securities. The Fund’s
investment in Private ABS/MBS will be
subject to the Fund’s liquidity
procedures as adopted by the Fund’s
Board, and the Adviser does not expect
that investments in Private ABS/MBS of
up to 20% of the total assets of the Fund
will have any material impact on the
liquidity of the Fund’s investments.35
The Exchange notes that the
Commission has previously approved
the listing of actively managed ETFs
that can invest 20% of their total assets
in non-U.S. Government, non-agency,
non-GSE and other privately-issued
ABS and MBS (i.e., Private ABS/
MBS).36 Thus, it is appropriate to
expand the limit on the Fund’s
investments in Private ABS/MBS set
forth in Commentary .01(b)(5) of the
generic listing standards.
As noted above, the Fund will not
comply with the requirement that
securities that in aggregate account for
at least 90% of the fixed income weight
of the portfolio meet one of the criteria
35 See
34 See
note 27, supra.
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36 See
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note 18, supra.
note 19, supra.
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25871
in Commentary .01(b)(4).37 The
Exchange proposes that the Private
ABS/MBS, will not be required to
comply with the criteria in Commentary
.01(b)(4)(a) through (e) to NYSE Arca
Rule 8.600–E. In this regard, the
Exchange proposes to provide that the
Fund will not invest more than 20% of
the Fund’s total assets in Private ABS/
MBS. CDOs/CBOs/CLOs, however, will
be subject to the criteria in Commentary
.01(b)(4)(a) through (e) 38 and the Fund
will not invest more than 10% of the
Fund’s total assets in CDOs/CBOs/
CLOs.39 The Exchange believes that this
10% limitation will help the Fund
maintain portfolio diversification and
will reduce manipulation risk. In
addition, the Adviser does not expect
that investments in CDOs/CBOs/CLOs
of up to 10% of the total assets of the
Fund will have any material impact on
the liquidity of the Fund’s investments.
In addition, the Fund’s investment in
Private ABS/MBS and CDOs/CBOs/
CLOs will be subject to the Fund’s
liquidity risk management program as
approved by the Fund’s Board.40 The
liquidity procedures generally include
public disclosure by the Fund of its
liquidity and redemption practices. The
Fund’s holdings in Private ABS/MBS
and CDOs/CBOs/CLOs would be
encompassed within the Fund’s
liquidity risk management program.
The Adviser and Subadviser represent
that the proposed exceptions from the
requirements of Commentary .01 to Rule
8.600–E described above are consistent
with the Fund’s investment objective,
and will further assist the Adviser and
Subadviser to achieve such investment
objective. Deviations from the generic
requirements are necessary for the Fund
to achieve its investment objective in a
manner that is cost-effective and that
maximizes investors’ returns. Further,
the proposed alternative requirements
are narrowly tailored to allow the Fund
to achieve its investment objective in
manner that is consistent with the
principles of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act.
As a result, it is in the public interest
to approve listing and trading of Shares
of the Fund on the Exchange pursuant
to the requirements set forth herein.
The Exchange accordingly believes
that it is appropriate and in the public
interest to approve listing and trading of
Shares of the Fund on the Exchange
notwithstanding that the Fund would
37 See
note 17, supra.
noted above, CDOs/CBOs/CLOs would be
excluded from the 20% limit on Private ABS/MBS.
39 For purposes of this filing, CDOs/CBOs/CLOs
are not deemed to be ABS for purposes of the
restriction on the Fund’s holdings of Private ABS/
MBS. See note 8, supra.
40 See note 18, supra.
38 As
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not meet the requirements of
Commentary .01(a)(1), (b)(1), (b)(4) and
(b)(5) to Rule 8.600–E. The Exchange
notes that, other than Commentary
.01(a)(1), (b)(1), (b)(4) and (b)(5) to Rule
8.600–E, the Fund’s portfolio will meet
all other requirements of Rule 8.600–E.
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 continued listing and
trading Shares of the Fund, 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.
khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to
submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing,
including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act.
Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
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–2019–38 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.
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17:16 Jun 03, 2019
Jkt 247001
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–NYSEArca–2019–38. 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–2019–38 and
should be submitted on or before June
25, 2019.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.41
Vanessa A. Countryman,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019–11556 Filed 6–3–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–85953; File No. SR–Phlx–
2019–22]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq
PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed
Rule Change To Allow $1 or Greater
Strike Price Intervals for Options on
QQQ and IWM
May 29, 2019.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
41 17
PO 00000
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
Frm 00143
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
(‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
notice is hereby given that on May 17,
2019, Nasdaq PHLX LLC (‘‘Exchange’’)
filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘Commission’’) the
proposed rule change as described in
Items I and II below, which Items have
been prepared by the Exchange. The
Exchange filed the proposal as a ‘‘noncontroversial’’ proposed rule change
pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of
the Act 3 and Rule 19b–4(f)(6)
thereunder.4 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 allow $1 or
greater strike price intervals for options
on certain Exchange-Traded Fund
(‘‘ETF’’) Shares, as described below.
The text of the proposed rule change
is available on the Exchange’s website at
https://nasdaqphlx.cchwallstreet.com/,
at the principal office of the Exchange,
and at the Commission’s Public
Reference Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
In its filing with the Commission, the
Exchange included statements
concerning the purpose of and basis for
the proposed rule change and discussed
any comments it received on the
proposed rule change. The text of these
statements may be examined at the
places specified in Item IV below. The
Exchange has prepared summaries, set
forth in sections A, B, and C below, of
the most significant aspects of such
statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
The purpose of the proposed rule
change is to amend the Exchange’s rules
to allow $1 or greater strike price
intervals for options listed on the
PowerShares QQQ Trust (‘‘QQQ’’) and
the iShares Russell 2000 Index Fund
(‘‘IWM’’), consistent with recent
changes proposed by Cboe Exchange,
1 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
CFR 240.19b–4.
3 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
4 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).
2 17
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 4, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25863-25872]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-11556]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-85955; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2019-38]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing
of Proposed Rule Change Regarding Investments of Aware Ultra-Short
Duration Enhanced Income ETF, a Series of Tidal ETF Trust
May 29, 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 May 15, 2019, NYSE Arca, Inc. (``NYSE Arca'' or the
``Exchange'') 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 certain changes regarding investments of
Aware Ultra-Short Duration Enhanced Income ETF (the ``Fund''), a series
of Tidal ETF Trust (the ``Trust''). Shares of the Fund currently are
listed and traded on the Exchange under NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E
(``Managed Fund Shares'').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 certain changes, described below under
``Application of Generic Listing Requirements,'' regarding investments
of the Fund. The shares (``Shares'') of the Fund commenced trading on
the Exchange on January 29, 2019 pursuant to the generic listing
standards under Commentary .01 to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E \4\ (``Managed
Fund Shares'').\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ The Fund's investments currently comply with the generic
requirements set forth in Commentary .01 to Rule 8.600-E.
\5\ A Managed Fund Share is a security that represents an
interest in an investment company registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-1) (``1940 Act'') organized as an
open-end investment company or similar entity that invests in a
portfolio of securities selected by its investment adviser
consistent with its investment objectives and policies. In contrast,
an open-end investment company that issues Investment Company Units,
listed and traded on the Exchange under NYSE Arca Rule 5.2-E(j)(3),
seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the
price and yield performance of a specific foreign or domestic stock
index, fixed income securities index or combination thereof.
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[[Page 25864]]
Toroso Investments, LLC (the ``Adviser'') is the investment adviser
for the Fund. Aware Asset Management, Inc. (the ``Subadviser'') is the
subadviser to the Fund. U.S. Bank National Association serves as the
custodian (``Custodian'') for the Fund. Tidal ETF Services LLC serves
as administrator for the Fund. U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC serves
as sub-administrator, fund accountant and transfer agent (``Transfer
Agent'') for the Fund.\6\ Foreside Fund Services, LLC serves as the
distributor (the ``Distributor'') for the Fund's Shares.
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\6\ The Trust is registered under the 1940 Act. On December 21,
2018, the Trust filed with the Commission an amendment to its
registration statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933
(15 U.S.C. 77a) (``Securities Act''), and under the 1940 Act
relating to the Fund (File Nos. 333-227298 and 811-23377)
(``Registration Statement''). The Trust will file an amendment to
the Registration Statement as necessary to conform to the
representations in this filing. The description of the operation of
the Trust and the Fund herein is based, in part, on the Registration
Statement. In addition, the Commission has issued an order granting
certain exemptive relief to the Trust under the 1940 Act. See
Investment Company Act Release No. 33433 (March 29, 2019) (File No.
812-14939).
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Commentary .06 to Rule 8.600-E provides that, if the investment
adviser to the investment company issuing Managed Fund Shares is
affiliated with a broker-dealer, such investment adviser shall erect
and maintain a ``fire wall'' between the investment adviser and the
broker-dealer with respect to access to information concerning the
composition and/or changes to such investment company portfolio. In
addition, Commentary .06 further requires that personnel who make
decisions on the open-end fund's portfolio composition must be subject
to procedures designed to prevent the use and dissemination of material
nonpublic information regarding the open-end fund's portfolio.
Commentary .06 to Rule 8.600-E is similar to Commentary .03(a)(i) and
(iii) to NYSE Arca Rule 5.2-E(j)(3); however, Commentary .06 in
connection with the establishment and maintenance of a ``fire wall''
between the investment adviser and the broker-dealer reflects the
applicable open-end fund's portfolio, not an underlying benchmark
index, as is the case with index-based funds. The Adviser and the
Subadviser are not registered as broker-dealers and are not affiliated
with a broker-dealer. In the event (a) the Adviser or Subadviser
becomes registered as a broker-dealer or affiliated with one or more
broker-dealers, or (b) any new adviser or sub-adviser is a registered
broker-dealer or is affiliated with a broker-dealer, it will implement
and maintain a fire wall with respect to its relevant personnel or its
broker-dealer affiliate regarding access to information concerning the
composition and/or changes to the portfolio, and will be subject to
procedures designed to prevent the use and dissemination of material
non-public information regarding such portfolio.
Aware Ultra-Short Duration Enhanced Income ETF
According to the Registration Statement, the investment objective
of the Fund is to seek to maximize current income while maintaining a
portfolio consistent with the preservation of capital and daily
liquidity.
The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective primarily by
investing in ``Fixed Income Securities'' (as described below).
The Fund's may invest in the following fixed income instruments
(``Fixed Income Securities'') issued by both U.S. and non-U.S.
government and private sector issuers:
U.S. government securities;
Agency and non-agency asset-backed securities (``ABS'')
and mortgage-backed securities (``MBS'') and collateralized mortgage
obligations (``CMOs''); \7\
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\7\ For purposes of this filing, non-agency ABS, non-agency MBS,
and non-agency CMOs are referred to collectively herein as ``Private
ABS/MBS.''
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floating or variable rate securities;
collateralized bond obligations (``CBOs''), collateralized
loan obligations (``CLOs'') and other collateralized debt obligations
(``CDOs'' and, together with CBOs and CLOs, ``CDOs/CBOs/CLOs''); \8\
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\8\ For purposes of this filing, CDOs, CBOs and CLOs are
excluded from the term Private ABS/MBS. CLOs are securities issued
by a trust or other special purpose entity that are collateralized
by a pool of loans by U.S. banks and participations in loans by U.S.
banks that are unsecured or secured by collateral other than real
estate. CBOs are securities issued by a trust or other special
purpose entity that are backed by a diversified pool of fixed income
securities issued by U.S. or foreign governmental entities or fixed
income securities issued by U.S. or corporate issuers. CDOs/CBOs/
CLOs are distinguishable from ABS because they are collateralized by
bank loans or by corporate or government fixed income securities and
not by consumer and other loans made by non-bank lenders, including
student loans. As discussed below, for purposes of this proposed
rule change, CDOs/CBOs/CLOs will not be subject to the 20% limit set
forth in Commentary .01(b)(5) to Rule 8.600-E.
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corporate debt securities;
municipal securities;
floating or variable rate securities;
inflation-indexed bonds;
inflation-indexed securities issued by the U.S. Treasury,
commonly known as ``TIPS'';
commercial paper (in addition to commercial paper that are
cash equivalents); \9\
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\9\ See note 10, infra.
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convertible securities; and
structured notes.
The Fund may hold cash and cash equivalents.\10\
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\10\ For purposes of this filing, cash equivalents are the
short-term instruments enumerated in Commentary .01(c) to Rule
8.600-E.
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The Fund may enter into dollar rolls and short sales of Fixed
Income Securities. The Fund may also purchase securities and other
instruments under when-issued, delayed delivery, to be announced or
forward commitment transactions.
The Fund may invest in private placements and Rule 144A securities.
The Fund may hold the following U.S. and non-U.S. equity
securities: Common stocks, preferred stocks, rights, warrants,
exchange-traded notes (``ETNs''),\11\ exchange-traded funds
(``ETFs''),\12\ and securities of other investment companies, subject
to applicable limitations under Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act.
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\11\ ETNs are securities as described in NYSE Arca Rule 5.2-
E(j)(6) (Equity Index-Linked Securities, Commodity-Linked
Securities, Currency-Linked Securities, Fixed Income Index-Linked
Securities, Futures-Linked Securities and Multifactor Index-Linked
Securities).
\12\ For purposes of this filing, the term ``ETFs'' are
Investment Company Units (as described in NYSE Arca Rule 5.2-
E(j)(3)); Portfolio Depositary Receipts (as described in NYSE Arca
Rule 8.100-E); and Managed Fund Shares (as described in NYSE Arca
Rule 8.600-E). All ETFs will be listed and traded in the U.S. on a
national securities exchange. While the Fund may invest in inverse
ETFs, the Fund will not invest in leveraged (e.g., 2X, -2X, 3X or -
3X) ETFs.
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The Fund may hold the following U.S. and non-U.S. exchange-listed
and over-the-counter (``OTC'') derivative instruments: OTC foreign
currency forwards; U.S. and non-U.S. exchange-listed futures and
options on stocks, Fixed Income Securities, interest rates, credit,
currencies, commodities or related indices; and OTC options on stocks,
Fixed Income Securities, interest rates, credit, currencies,
commodities or related indices.\13\
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\13\ Derivative instruments may be used for ``hedging,'' which
means that they may be used when the Sub-Adviser seeks to protect
the Fund's investments from a decline in value resulting from
changes to interest rates, market prices, currency fluctuations, or
other market factors. Derivative instruments may also be used for
other purposes, including to seek to increase liquidity, provide
efficient portfolio management, broaden investment opportunities
(including taking short or negative positions), implement a tax or
cash management strategy, gain exposure to a particular security or
segment of the market, modify the effective duration of the Fund's
portfolio investments and/or enhance total return.
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[[Page 25865]]
The Fund will not invest in securities or other financial
instruments that have not been described in this proposed rule change.
Investment Restrictions
Private ABS/MBS will, in the aggregate, not exceed more than 20% of
the total assets of the Fund.
The Fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in CDOs/CBOs/
CLOs.\14\
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\14\ As noted above, CDOs/CBOs/CLOs would be excluded from the
20% limit on Private ABS/MBS.
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Investments in non-exchange-traded open-end management investment
company securities will not exceed 20% of the total assets of the Fund.
Creation and Redemption of Shares
According to the Registration Statement, the Trust issues and
redeems Shares only in Creation Units of 25,000 Shares on a continuous
basis at their NAV per Share next determined after receipt of an order,
on any ``Business Day'', in proper form pursuant to the terms of the
Authorized Participant Agreement (``Participant Agreement''). The NAV
of Shares is calculated each Business Day as of the scheduled close of
regular trading on the NYSE, generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time. A
``Business Day'' is any day on which the NYSE is open for business. The
size of a Creation Unit is subject to change.
The consideration for purchase of a Creation Unit of the Fund
generally consists of the in-kind deposit of a designated portfolio of
securities (the ``Deposit Securities'') per each Creation Unit,
constituting a substantial replication of the securities included in
the Fund's portfolio and the Cash Component (defined below), computed
as described below. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust reserves
the right to permit or require the substitution of a ``cash in lieu''
amount (``Deposit Cash'') to be added to the Cash Component to replace
any Deposit Security.
Together, the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable,
and the Cash Component constitute the ``Fund Deposit,'' which
represents the minimum initial and subsequent investment amount for a
Creation Unit of the Fund. The ``Cash Component'' is an amount equal to
the difference between the NAV of Shares (per Creation Unit) and the
value of the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable.
The Fund, through the National Securities Clearing Corporation
(``NSCC''), makes available on each Business Day, prior to the opening
of business on the Exchange (currently 9:30 a.m., Eastern Time), the
list of the names and the required number of shares of each Deposit
Security or the required amount of Deposit Cash, as applicable, to be
included in the current Fund Deposit (based on information at the end
of the previous Business Day) for the Fund.
The Trust reserves the right to permit or require the substitution
of Deposit Cash to replace any Deposit Security, which shall be added
to the Cash Component.
To be eligible to place orders with the Transfer Agent to purchase
a Creation Unit of the Fund, an entity must be (i) a ``Participating
Party'', i.e., a broker-dealer or other participant in the clearing
process through the Continuous Net Settlement System of the NSCC (the
``Clearing Process''), a clearing agency that is registered with the
Commission; or (ii) a Depository Trust Company (``DTC'') Participant.
In addition, each Participating Party or DTC Participant (each, an
``Authorized Participant'') must execute a Participant Agreement.
The order cut-off time for the Fund for orders to purchase Creation
Units is expected to be 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, which time may be
modified by the Fund from time-to-time by amendment to the Participant
Agreement and/or applicable order form.
Shares may be redeemed only in Creation Units at their NAV next
determined after receipt of a redemption request in proper form by the
Fund through the Transfer Agent and only on a Business Day.
With respect to the Fund, the Custodian, through the NSCC, makes
available prior to the opening of business on the Exchange (currently
9:30 a.m., Eastern Time) on each Business Day, the list of the names
and share quantities of the Fund's portfolio securities that will be
applicable (subject to possible amendment or correction) to redemption
requests received in proper form on that day (``Fund Securities'').
Fund Securities received on redemption may not be identical to Deposit
Securities.
Redemption proceeds for a Creation Unit are paid either in-kind or
in cash, or combination thereof, as determined by the Trust. With
respect to in-kind redemptions of the Fund, redemption proceeds for a
Creation Unit will consist of Fund Securities--as announced by the
Custodian on the Business Day of the request for redemption received in
proper form plus cash in an amount equal to the difference between the
NAV of Shares being redeemed, as next determined after a receipt of a
request in proper form, and the value of the Fund Securities (the
``Cash Redemption Amount''), less a fixed redemption transaction fee,
as applicable. In the event that the Fund Securities have a value
greater than the NAV of Shares, a compensating cash payment equal to
the differential is required to be made by or through an Authorized
Participant by the redeeming shareholder. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, at the Trust's discretion, an Authorized Participant may
receive the corresponding cash value of the securities in lieu of the
in-kind securities value representing one or more Fund Securities.\15\
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\15\ The Adviser represents that, to the extent the Trust
effects the creation or redemption of Shares wholly or partially in
cash, such transactions will be effected in the same manner for all
Authorized Participants.
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Orders to redeem Creation Units must be submitted in proper form to
the Transfer Agent prior to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Use of Derivatives by the Fund
Investments in derivative instruments will be made in accordance
with the Fund's investment objectives and policies.
To limit the potential risk associated with such transactions, the
Fund may enter into offsetting transactions or segregate or ``earmark''
assets determined to be liquid by the Adviser in accordance with
procedures established by the Fund's Board of Trustees (the ``Board'').
In addition, the Fund has included appropriate risk disclosure in its
offering documents, including leveraging risk. Leveraging risk is the
risk that certain transactions of the Fund, including the Fund's use of
derivatives, may give rise to leverage, causing the Fund to be more
volatile than if it had not been leveraged.
Impact on Arbitrage Mechanism
The Adviser and the Subadviser believe there will be minimal, if
any, impact to the arbitrage mechanism as a result of the Fund's use of
derivatives. The Adviser and the Subadviser understand that market
makers and participants should be able to value derivatives as long as
the positions are disclosed with relevant information. The Adviser and
the Subadviser believe that the price at which Shares of the Fund trade
will continue to be disciplined by arbitrage opportunities created by
the ability to purchase or redeem Shares of the Fund at their NAV,
which should ensure that Shares of the Fund will not trade at a
material discount or premium in relation to their NAV.
[[Page 25866]]
Application of Generic Listing Requirements
The Exchange is submitting this proposed rule change because the
changes described below would result in the portfolio for the Fund not
meeting all of the ``generic'' listing requirements of Commentary .01
to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E applicable to the listing of Managed Fund
Shares. The Fund's portfolio would meet all such requirements except
for those set forth in Commentary .01(a)(1), Commentary .01(b)(1),
Commentary .01(b)(4) and Commentary .01(b)(5).\16\
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\16\ Commentary .01(b)(5) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E provides
that non-agency, non-government sponsored entity and privately
issued mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities components
of a portfolio may not account, in the aggregate, for more than 20%
of the weight of the fixed income portion of the portfolio.
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Specifically, the Fund:
Will not comply with the requirement in Commentary
.01(b)(1) that components that in the aggregate account for at least
75% of the fixed income weight of the portfolio each have a minimum
original principal amount outstanding of $100 million or more. Instead,
the Exchange proposes that components, excluding Private ABS/MBS and
CDOs/CBOs/CLOs that, in the aggregate, account for at least 50% of the
fixed income weight of the portfolio each shall have a minimum original
principal amount outstanding of $50 million or more. Private ABS/MBS
and CDOs/CBOs/CLOs would not be subject to a requirement for a minimum
original principal amount outstanding.
will not comply with the requirement in Commentary
.01(b)(5) that investments in non-agency, non-government sponsored
entity and privately issued mortgage-related and other asset-backed
securities (i.e., Private ABS/MBS) not account, in the aggregate, for
more than 20% of the weight of the fixed income portion of the
portfolio. Instead, Private ABS/MBS will, in the aggregate, not exceed
more than 20% of the total assets of the Fund. CDOs/CBOs/CLOs will not
be subject to the 20% limit set forth in Commentary .01(b)(5); however,
the Fund's investments in CDOs/CBOs/CLOs will be limited to10% of the
Fund's total assets.
will not comply with the requirement that securities that
in aggregate account for at least 90% of the fixed income weight of the
portfolio meet one of the criteria in Commentary .01(b)(4) in respect
of its investments in Private ABS/MBS.\17\ Instead, the Exchange
proposes that all Fixed Income Securities, excluding Private ABS/MBS,
will meet the criteria in Commentary .01(b)(4). Private ABS/MBS will be
limited to 20% of the Fund's total assets and will not be required to
comply with the criteria in Commentary .01(b)(4)(a) through (e) to NYSE
Arca Rule 8.600-E.
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\17\ Commentary .01(b)(4) provides that component securities
that in the aggregate account for at least 90% of the fixed income
weight of the portfolio must be either: (a) From issuers that are
required to file reports pursuant to Sections 13 and 15(d) of the
Act; (b) from issuers that have a worldwide market value of its
outstanding common equity held by non-affiliates of $700 million or
more; (c) from issuers that have outstanding securities that are
notes, bonds debentures, or evidence of indebtedness having a total
remaining principal amount of at least $1 billion; (d) exempted
securities as defined in Section 3(a)(12) of the Act; or (e) from
issuers that are a government of a foreign country or a political
subdivision of a foreign country.
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will not comply with the requirements of Commentary
.01(a)(1)(A) through (E) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E in connection with
the Fund's investments in non-exchange traded investment company
securities.
Deviations from the generic requirements are necessary for the Fund
to achieve its investment objective in a manner that is cost-effective
and that maximizes investors' returns. Further, the proposed
alternative requirements are narrowly tailored to allow the Fund to
achieve its investment objective in manner that is consistent with the
principles of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act. As a result, it is in the
public interest to approve listing and trading of Shares of the Fund on
the Exchange pursuant to the requirements set forth herein.
As noted above, the Fund will not comply with the requirement in
Commentary .01(b)(1) that components that in the aggregate account for
at least 75% of the fixed income weight of the portfolio each have a
minimum original principal amount outstanding of $100 million or more.
Instead, the Exchange proposes that components, excluding Private ABS/
MBS and CDOs/CBOs/CLOs, that in the aggregate account for at least 50%
of the fixed income weight of the portfolio each shall have a minimum
original principal amount outstanding of $50 million or more. Private
ABS/MBS and CDOs/CBOs/CLOs would not be subject to a requirement for a
minimum original principal amount outstanding. At least 50% of the
fixed income weight of the Fund's portfolio, excluding Private ABS/MBS
and CDOs/CBOs/CLOs, would continue to be subject to a substantial
minimum (i.e., $50 million) original principal amount outstanding. By
excluding Private ABS/MBS and CDOs/CBOs/CLOs from this requirement, the
Fund will be able to better diversify its holdings in such securities,
and would be able to invest in a larger variety of Private ABS/MBS and
CDOs/CBOs/CLOs that have characteristics consistent with the Fund's
investment objective to maximize current income while maintaining a
portfolio consistent with the preservation of capital and daily
liquidity. These characteristics may include, for example, Private ABS/
MBS and CDOs/CBOs/CLOs with investment grade credit rating or liquidity
comparable to fixed income securities with a much greater amount
outstanding.
As noted above, the Fund will not comply with the requirement in
Commentary .01(b)(5) that investments in non-agency, non-government
sponsored entity and privately issued mortgage-related and other asset-
backed securities (i.e., Private ABS/MBS) not account, in the
aggregate, for more than 20% of the weight of the fixed income portion
of the portfolio. Instead, Private ABS/MBS will, in the aggregate, not
exceed more than 20% of the total assets of the Fund.
This alternative requirement is appropriate because the Fund's
investment in Private ABS/MBS is expected to provide the Fund with
benefits associated with increased diversification, as Private ABS/MBS
investments tend to be less correlated to interest rates than many
other fixed income securities. The Fund's investment in Private ABS/MBS
will be subject to the Fund's liquidity procedures as adopted by the
Fund's Board, and the Adviser does not expect that investments in
Private ABS/MBS of up to 20% of the total assets of the Fund will have
any material impact on the liquidity of the Fund's investments.\18\ The
Exchange notes that the Commission has previously approved the listing
of actively managed ETFs that can invest 20% of their total assets in
non-U.S. Government, non-agency, non-GSE and other privately-issued ABS
and MBS (i.e., Private ABS/MBS).\19\ Thus, it is appropriate to
[[Page 25867]]
expand the limit on the Fund's investments in Private ABS/MBS set forth
in Commentary .01(b)(5) of the generic listing standards.
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\18\ Rule 22e-4(b) under the 1940 Act requires, among other
things, that a fund ``adopt and implement a written liquidity risk
management program that is reasonably designed to assess and manage
its liquidity risk.'' The rule is ``designed to promote effective
liquidity risk management throughout the open-end investment company
industry, thereby reducing the risk that funds will be unable to
meet their redemption obligations and mitigating dilution of the
interests of fund shareholders.'' See Release Nos. 33-10233; IC-
32315; File No. S7-16-15 (October 13, 2016).
\19\ See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 80946 (June
15, 2017) 82 FR 28126 (June 20, 2017) (SR-NASDAQ-2017-039)
(permitting the Guggenheim Limited Duration ETF to invest up to 20%
of its total assets in privately-issued, non-agency and non-GSE ABS
and MBS); 76412 (November 10, 2015), 80 FR 71880 (November 17, 2015)
(SR-NYSEArca-2015-111) (permitting the RiverFront Strategic Income
Fund to invest up to 20% of its assets in privately-issued, non-
agency and non-GSE ABS and MBS); 74814 (April 27, 2015), 80 FR 24986
(May 1, 2015) (SR-NYSEArca-2014-017) (permitting the Guggenheim
Enhanced Short Duration ETF to invest up to 20% of its assets in
privately-issued, non-agency and non-GSE ABS and MBS); 74109
(January 21, 2015), 80 FR 4327 (January 27, 2015) (SR-NYSEArca-2014-
134) (permitting the IQ Wilshire Alternative Strategies ETF to
invest up to 20% of its total assets in MSB and other ABS, without
any limit on the type of such MBS and ABS). See also Securities
Exchange Act Release No. 83319 (May 24, 2018), 83 FR 25097 (May 31,
2018) (SR-NYSEArca-2018-15) (Order Approving a Proposed Rule Change,
as Modified by Amendment No. 1 Thereto, to Continue Listing and
Trading Shares of the PGIM Ultra Short Bond ETF under NYSE Arca Rule
8.600-E).
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As noted above, the Fund will not comply with the requirement that
securities that in aggregate account for at least 90% of the fixed
income weight of the portfolio meet one of the criteria in Commentary
.01(b)(4).\20\ The Exchange proposes that the Private ABS/MBS, will not
be required to comply with the criteria in Commentary .01(b)(4)(a)
through (e) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E. In this regard, the Exchange
proposes to provide that the Fund will not invest more than 20% of the
Fund's total assets in Private ABS/MBS. CDOs/CBOs/CLOs, however, will
be subject to the criteria in Commentary .01(b)(4)(a) through (e) \21\
and the Fund will not invest more than 10% of the Fund's total assets
in CDOs/CBOs/CLOs.\22\ The Exchange believes that this 10% limitation
will help the Fund maintain portfolio diversification and will reduce
manipulation risk. In addition, the Adviser does not expect that
investments in CDOs/CBOs/CLOs of up to 10% of the total assets of the
Fund will have any material impact on the liquidity of the Fund's
investments.\23\
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\20\ Commentary .01(b)(4) provides that component securities
that in the aggregate account for at least 90% of the fixed income
weight of the portfolio must be either: (a) From issuers that are
required to file reports pursuant to Sections 13 and 15(d) of the
Act; (b) from issuers that have a worldwide market value of its
outstanding common equity held by non-affiliates of $700 million or
more; (c) from issuers that have outstanding securities that are
notes, bonds debentures, or evidence of indebtedness having a total
remaining principal amount of at least $1 billion; (d) exempted
securities as defined in Section 3(a)(12) of the Act; or (e) from
issuers that are a government of a foreign country or a political
subdivision of a foreign country. In the First Prior Order, the
Commission approved an exception from Commentary .01(b)(4) to
provide that fixed income securities that do not meet any of the
criteria in Commentary .01(b)(4) will not exceed 10% of the total
assets of the Fund.
\21\ As noted above, CDOs/CBOs/CLOs would be excluded from the
20% limit on Private ABS/MBS.
\22\ For purposes of this filing, CDOs/CBOs/CLOs are not deemed
to be ABS for purposes of the restriction on the Fund's holdings of
Private ABS/MBS. See note 8, supra.
\23\ The Exchange notes that the Commission has approved a
proposed rule change permitting an issue of Managed Fund Shares to
hold up to 30% of the weight of the fixed income securities portion
of the fund's portfolio to consist of non-agency, non-GSE and
privately-issued mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities.
See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 84826 (December 14, 2018),
83 FR 65386 (December 20, 2018) (SR-NYSEArca-2018-25) (Order
Approving a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 2,
Regarding the Continued Listing and Trading of Shares of the Natixis
Loomis Sayles Short Duration Income ETF).
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The Exchange notes that the Commission has previously approved the
listing of Managed Fund Shares with similar investment objectives and
strategies without imposing requirements that a certain percentage of
such funds' securities meet one of the criteria set forth in Commentary
.01(b)(4).\24\ In addition, the Commission has approved proposed rule
changes permitting investments by an issue of Managed Fund Shares to
exclude non-U.S. Government, non-agency, non-GSE and other privately-
issued ABS and MBS (as described in such proposed rule changes) from
the provisions of rules comparable to Commentary .01(b)(4).\25\
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\24\ See, e.g., Exchange Act Release Nos. 67894 (September 20,
2012), 77 FR 59227 (September 26, 2012) (SR-BATS-2012-033) (order
approving the listing and trading of shares of the iShares Short
Maturity Bond Fund); 70342 (September 6, 2013), 78 FR 56256
(September 12, 2013) (SR-NYSEArca-2013-71) (order approving the
listing and trading of shares of the SPDR SSgA Ultra Short Term Bond
ETF, SPDR SSgA Conservative Ultra Short Term Bond ETF and SPDR SSgA
Aggressive Ultra Short Term Bond ETF).
\25\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 84047 (September 6,
2018), 83 FR 46200 (September 12, 2018) (SR-NASDAQ-2017-128) (Notice
of Filing of Amendment No. 3 and Order Granting Accelerated Approval
of a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 3, to List
and Trade Shares of the Western Asset Total Return ETF); See also,
Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 84047 (September 6, 2018), 83
FR 46200 (September 12, 2018) (SR-NASDAQ-2017-128) (Notice of Filing
of Amendment No. 3 and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of a
Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 3, to List and
Trade Shares of the Western Asset Total Return ETF); 85022 (January
31, 2019), 25 FR 2265 (February 6, 2019) (SR-NASDAQ-2018-080)
(Notice of Filing of Amendment No. 3 and Order Granting Accelerated
Approval of a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment Nos. 1,
2 and 3, To List and Trade Shares of the BrandywineGLOBAL-Global
Total Return ETF).
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In addition, the Fund's investment in Private ABS/MBS and CDOs/
CBOs/CLOs will be subject to the Fund's liquidity risk management
program as approved by the Fund's Board.\26\ The liquidity procedures
generally include public disclosure by the Fund of its liquidity and
redemption practices. The Fund's holdings in Private ABS/MBS and CDOs/
CBOs/CLOs would be encompassed within the Fund's liquidity risk
management program.
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\26\ Rule 22e-4(b) under the 1940 Act requires, among other
things, that a fund ``adopt and implement a written liquidity risk
management program that is reasonably designed to assess and manage
its liquidity risk.'' The rule is ``designed to promote effective
liquidity risk management throughout the open-end investment company
industry, thereby reducing the risk that funds will be unable to
meet their redemption obligations and mitigating dilution of the
interests of fund shareholders.'' See Release Nos. 33-10233; IC-
32315; File No. S7-16-15 (October 13, 2016).
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The Fund may invest in shares of investment company securities
(other than ETFs), which are equity securities. Therefore, to the
extent the Fund invests in shares of other non-exchange-traded open-end
management investment company securities, the Fund will not comply with
the requirements of Commentary .01(a)(1)(A) through (E) to NYSE Arca
Rule 8.600-E (U.S. Component Stocks) with respect to its equity
securities holdings.\27\
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\27\ Commentary .01(a) to Rule 8.600-E specifies the equity
securities accommodated by the generic criteria in Commentary
.01(a), namely, U.S. Component Stocks (as described in Rule 5.2-
E(j)(3)) and Non-U.S. Component Stocks (as described in Rule 5.2-
E(j)(3)). Commentary .01(a)(1) to Rule 8.600-E (U.S. Component
Stocks) provides that the component stocks of the equity portion of
a portfolio that are U.S. Component Stocks shall meet the following
criteria initially and on a continuing basis:
(A) Component stocks (excluding Derivative Securities Products
and Index-Linked Securities) that in the aggregate account for at
least 90% of the equity weight of the portfolio (excluding such
Derivative Securities Products and Index-Linked Securities) each
shall have a minimum market value of at least $75 million;
(B) Component stocks (excluding Derivative Securities Products
and Index-Linked Securities) that in the aggregate account for at
least 70% of the equity weight of the portfolio (excluding such
Derivative Securities Products and Index-Linked Securities) each
shall have a minimum monthly trading volume of 250,000 shares, or
minimum notional volume traded per month of $25,000,000, averaged
over the last six months;
(C) The most heavily weighted component stock (excluding
Derivative Securities Products and Index-Linked Securities) shall
not exceed 30% of the equity weight of the portfolio, and, to the
extent applicable, the five most heavily weighted component stocks
(excluding Derivative Securities Products and Index-Linked
Securities) shall not exceed 65% of the equity weight of the
portfolio;
(D) Where the equity portion of the portfolio does not include
Non-U.S. Component Stocks, the equity portion of the portfolio shall
include a minimum of 13 component stocks; provided, however, that
there shall be no minimum number of component stocks if (i) one or
more series of Derivative Securities Products or Index-Linked
Securities constitute, at least in part, components underlying a
series of Managed Fund Shares, or (ii) one or more series of
Derivative Securities Products or Index-Linked Securities account
for 100% of the equity weight of the portfolio of a series of
Managed Fund Shares; and
(E) Except as provided herein, equity securities in the
portfolio shall be U.S. Component Stocks listed on a national
securities exchange and shall be NMS Stocks as defined in Rule 600
of Regulation NMS under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
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[[Page 25868]]
However, it is appropriate and in the public interest to approve
listing and trading of Shares of the Fund notwithstanding that the
Fund's holdings in such securities would not meet the requirements of
Commentary .01(a)(1)(A) through (E) to Rule 8.600-E. Investments in
other non-exchange-traded open-end management investment company
securities will not exceed 20% of the total assets of the Fund. Such
investments, which may include mutual funds that invest, for example,
principally in fixed income securities, would be utilized to help the
Fund meet its investment objective and to equitize cash in the short
term. The Fund will invest in such securities only to the extent that
those investments would be consistent with the requirements of Section
12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder.\28\ Because such
securities must satisfy applicable 1940 Act diversification
requirements, and have a net asset value based on the value of
securities and financial assets the investment company holds, it is
both unnecessary and inappropriate to apply to such investment company
securities the criteria in Commentary .01(a)(1).
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\28\ The Commission has previously approved proposed rule
changes under Section 19(b) of the Act for series of Managed Fund
Shares that may invest in non-exchange traded investment company
securities to the extent permitted by Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940
Act and the rules thereunder. See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act
Release No. 78414 (July 26, 2016), 81 FR 50576 (August 1, 2016) (SR-
NYSEArca-2016-79) (order approving listing and trading of shares of
the Virtus Japan Alpha ETF under NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange notes that Commentary .01(a)(1)(A) through (D) to Rule
8.600-E exclude certain ``Derivative Securities Products'' that are
exchange-traded investment company securities, including Investment
Company Units (as described in NYSE Arca Rule 5.2-E(j)(3)), Portfolio
Depositary Receipts (as described in NYSE Arca Rule 8.100-E)) and
Managed Fund Shares (as described in NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E)).\29\ In
its 2008 Approval Order approving amendments to Commentary .01(a) to
Rule 5.2(j)(3) to exclude Derivative Securities Products from certain
provisions of Commentary .01(a) (which exclusions are similar to those
in Commentary .01(a)(1) to Rule 8.600-E), the Commission stated that
``based on the trading characteristics of Derivative Securities
Products, it may be difficult for component Derivative Securities
Products to satisfy certain quantitative index criteria, such as the
minimum market value and trading volume limitations.'' The Exchange
notes that it would be difficult or impossible to apply to mutual fund
shares certain of the generic quantitative criteria (e.g., market
capitalization, trading volume, or portfolio criteria) in Commentary
.01 (A) through (D) applicable to U.S. Component Stocks. For example,
the requirements for U.S. Component Stocks in Commentary .01(a)(1)(B)
that there be minimum monthly trading volume of 250,000 shares, or
minimum notional volume traded per month of $25,000,000, averaged over
the last six months are tailored to exchange-traded securities (i.e.,
U.S. Component Stocks) and not to mutual fund shares, which do not
trade in the secondary market and for which no such volume information
is reported. In addition, Commentary .01(a)(1)(A) relating to minimum
market value of portfolio component stocks, Commentary .01(a)(1)(C)
relating to weighting of portfolio component stocks, and Commentary
.01(a)(1)(D) relating to minimum number of portfolio components are not
appropriately applied to open-end management investment company
securities; open-end investment companies hold multiple individual
securities as disclosed publicly in accordance with the 1940 Act, and
application of Commentary .01(a)(1)(A) through (D) would not serve the
purposes served with respect to U.S. Component Stocks, namely, to
establish minimum liquidity and diversification criteria for U.S.
Component Stocks held by series of Managed Fund Shares.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\29\ The Commission initially approved the Exchange's proposed
rule change to exclude ``Derivative Securities Products'' (i.e.,
Investment Company Units and securities described in Section 2 of
Rule 8) and ``Index-Linked Securities (as described in Rule 5.2-
E(j)(6)) from Commentary .01(a)(A) (1) through (4) to Rule 5.2-
E(j)(3) in Securities Exchange Act Release No. 57751 (May 1, 2008),
73 FR 25818 (May 7, 2008) (SR-NYSEArca-2008-29) (Order Granting
Approval of a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 1
Thereto, to Amend the Eligibility Criteria for Components of an
Index Underlying Investment Company Units)(``2008 Approval Order'').
See also Securities Exchange Act Release No. 57561 (March 26, 2008),
73 FR 17390 (April 1, 2008) (Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule
Change and Amendment No. 1 Thereto to Amend the Eligibility Criteria
for Components of an Index Underlying Investment Company Units). The
Commission subsequently approved generic criteria applicable to
listing and trading of Managed Fund Shares, including exclusions for
Derivative Securities Products and Index-Linked Securities in
Commentary .01(a)(1)(A) through (D), in Securities Exchange Act
Release No. 78397 (July 22, 2016), 81 FR 49320 (July 27, 2016)
(Order Granting Approval of Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by
Amendment No. 7 Thereto, Amending NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E To Adopt
Generic Listing Standards for Managed Fund Shares). See also
Amendment No. 7 to SR-NYSEArca-2015-110, available at https://www.sec.gov/comments/sr-nysearca-2015-110/nysearca2015110-9.pdf.
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The Exchange notes that the Commission has previously approved the
listing of Managed Fund Shares with similar investment objectives and
strategies where such funds were permitted to invest in the shares of
other registered investment companies that are not ETFs or money market
funds.\30\ Thus, it is appropriate to permit the Fund to invest up to
20% of its total assets in other non-exchange-traded open-end
management investment company securities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\30\ See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 79053
(October 5, 2016), 81 FR 70468 (October 12, 2016) (SR-BatsBZX-2016-
35) (permitting the JPMorgan Global Bond Opportunities ETF to invest
in ``investment company securities that are not ETFs''); 74297
(February 18, 2015), 80 FR 9788 (February 24, 2015) (SR-BATS-2014-
056) (permitting the U.S. Fixed Income Balanced Risk ETF to invest
in ``exchange traded and non-exchange traded investment companies
(including investment companies advised by the Adviser or its
affiliates) that invest in such Fixed Income Securities''); 83319
(May 24, 2018), 83 FR 25097 (May 31, 2018) (SR-NYSEArca-2018-15),
(Order Approving a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment
No. 1 Thereto, to Continue Listing and Trading Shares of the PGIM
Ultra Short Bond ETF under NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Adviser and Subadviser represent that the proposed exceptions
from the requirements of Commentary .01 to Rule 8.600-E described above
are consistent with the Fund's investment objective, and will further
assist the Adviser and Subadviser to achieve such investment objective.
Deviations from the generic requirements are necessary for the Fund to
achieve its investment objective in a manner that is cost-effective and
that maximizes investors' returns. Further, the proposed alternative
requirements are narrowly tailored to allow the Fund to achieve its
investment objective in manner that is consistent with the principles
of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act. As a result, it is in the public
interest to approve listing and trading of Shares of the Fund on the
Exchange pursuant to the requirements set forth herein.
The Exchange accordingly believes that it is appropriate and in the
public interest to approve listing and trading of Shares of the Fund on
the Exchange notwithstanding that the Fund would not meet the
requirements of Commentary .01(a)(1), (b)(1), (b)(4) and (b)(5) to Rule
8.600-E. The Exchange notes that, other than Commentary .01(a)(1),
(b)(1), (b)(4) and (b)(5) to Rule 8.600-E, the Fund's portfolio will
meet all other requirements of Rule 8.600-E.
Availability of Information
The Fund's website (www.awareetf.com) will include the prospectus
for the Fund that may be
[[Page 25869]]
downloaded. The Fund's website will include additional quantitative
information updated on a daily basis including, for the Fund, (1) daily
trading volume, the prior Business Day's reported closing price, NAV
and midpoint of the bid/ask spread at the time of calculation of such
NAV (the ``Bid/Ask Price''),\31\ and a calculation of the premium and
discount of the Bid/Ask Price against the NAV, and (2) data in chart
format displaying the frequency distribution of discounts and premiums
of the daily Bid/Ask Price against the NAV, within appropriate ranges,
for each of the four previous calendar quarters. On each Business Day,
before commencement of trading in Shares in the Core Trading Session on
the Exchange, the Fund discloses on its website the Disclosed Portfolio
as defined in NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E(c)(2) that forms the basis for the
Fund's calculation of NAV at the end of the Business Day.\32\
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\31\ The Bid/Ask Price of the Fund's Shares will be determined
using the mid-point of the highest bid and the lowest offer on the
Exchange as of the time of calculation of the Fund's NAV. The
records relating to Bid/Ask Prices will be retained by the Fund and
its service providers.
\32\ Under accounting procedures followed by the Fund, trades
made on the prior Business Day (``T'') will be booked and reflected
in NAV on the current Business Day (``T+1''). Accordingly, the Fund
will be able to disclose at the beginning of the Business Day the
portfolio that will form the basis for the NAV calculation at the
end of the Business Day.
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On a daily basis, the Fund discloses the information required under
NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E(c)(2) to the extent applicable. The website
information will be publicly available at no charge.
In addition, a basket composition file, which includes the security
names and share quantities, if applicable, required to be delivered in
exchange for the Fund's Shares, together with estimates and actual cash
components, will be publicly disseminated daily prior to the opening of
the Exchange via the NSCC. The basket represents one Creation Unit of
the Fund. Authorized Participants may refer to the basket composition
file for information regarding securities and other instrument that may
comprise the Fund's basket on a given day.
Investors can also obtain the Trust's Statement of Additional
Information (``SAI''), the Fund's Shareholder Reports, and the Fund's
Forms N-CSR and Forms N-SAR, filed twice a year. The Fund's SAI and
Shareholder Reports will be available free upon request from the Trust,
and those documents and the Form N-CSR, Form N-PX and Form N-SAR may be
viewed on-screen or downloaded from the Commission's website at
www.sec.gov.
Intra-day and closing price information regarding exchange-traded
options will be available from the exchange on which such instruments
are traded. Price information relating to OTC options and swaps will be
available from major market data vendors. Intra-day price information
for exchange-traded derivative instruments will be available from the
applicable exchange and from major market data vendors. For exchange-
traded common stocks, preferred stocks, rights, warrants, ETNs and
ETFs, intraday price quotations will generally be available from
broker-dealers and trading platforms (as applicable). Intraday and
other price information for the fixed income securities in which the
Fund invests will be available through subscription services, such as
Bloomberg, Markit and Thomson Reuters, which can be accessed by
Authorized Participants and other market participants. Additionally,
the Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (``TRACE'') of the Financial
Industry Regulatory Authority (``FINRA'') will be a source of price
information for corporate bonds, privately-issued securities, MBS and
ABS, to the extent transactions in such securities are reported to
TRACE.\33\ Money market funds are typically priced once each Business
Day and their prices will be available through the applicable fund's
website or from major market data vendors. Price information regarding
U.S. government securities, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase
agreements and cash equivalents generally may be obtained from brokers
and dealers who make markets in such securities or through nationally
recognized pricing services through subscription agreements.
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\33\ Broker-dealers that are FINRA member firms have an
obligation to report transactions in specified debt securities to
TRACE to the extent required under applicable FINRA rules.
Generally, such debt securities will have at issuance a maturity
that exceeds one calendar year. For fixed income securities that are
not reported to TRACE, (i) intraday price quotations will generally
be available from broker-dealers and trading platforms (as
applicable) and (ii) price information will be available from feeds
from market data vendors, published or other public sources, or
online information services, as described above.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Information regarding market price and trading volume of the Shares
will be continually available on a real-time basis throughout the day
on brokers' computer screens and other electronic services. Information
regarding the previous day's closing price and trading volume
information for the Shares will be published daily in the financial
section of newspapers.
Quotation and last sale information for the Shares will be
available via the Consolidated Tape Association (``CTA'') high-speed
line. Exchange-traded options quotation and last sale information for
options cleared via the Options Clearing Corporation are available via
the Options Price Reporting Authority. In addition, the Portfolio
Indicative Value (``PIV''), as defined in NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E(c)(3),
will be widely disseminated by one or more major market data vendors at
least every 15 seconds during the Core Trading Session.
Trading Halts
With respect to trading halts, the Exchange may consider all
relevant factors in exercising its discretion to halt or suspend
trading in the Shares of the Fund. Trading in Shares of the Fund will
be halted if the circuit breaker parameters in NYSE Arca Rule 7.12-E
have been reached. Trading also may be halted because of market
conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make
trading in the Shares inadvisable. These may include: (1) The extent to
which trading is not occurring in the securities and/or the financial
instruments comprising the Disclosed Portfolio of the Fund; or (2)
whether other unusual conditions or circumstances detrimental to the
maintenance of a fair and orderly market are present. Trading in the
Shares will be subject to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E(d)(2)(D), which sets
forth circumstances under which Shares of the Fund may be halted.
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 4:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. E.T. in
accordance with NYSE Arca Rule 7.34-E (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.
With the exception of the requirements of Commentary .01(a)(1),
Commentary .01(b)(4) and Commentary .01(b)(5) as described above under
``Application of Generic Listing Requirements,'' the Shares of the Fund
will conform to the initial and
[[Page 25870]]
continued listing criteria under NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E. The Exchange
represents that for initial and/or continued listing, the Fund will be
in compliance with Rule 10A-3 under the Act, as provided by NYSE Arca
Rule 5.3-E. A minimum of 100,000 Shares will be outstanding at the
commencement of trading on the Exchange. The Exchange has obtained a
representation from the issuer of the Shares that the NAV per Share
will be calculated daily and that the NAV and the Disclosed Portfolio
will be made available to all market participants at the same time.
Surveillance
The Exchange represents that trading in the Shares will be subject
to the existing trading surveillances administered by the Exchange, as
well as cross-market surveillances administered by FINRA on behalf of
the Exchange, which are designed to detect violations of Exchange rules
and applicable federal securities laws. 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, ETFs, certain
exchange-traded options and certain futures with other markets and
other entities that are members of the Intermarket Surveillance Group
(``ISG''), and the Exchange or FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, or
both, may obtain trading information regarding trading in the Shares,
ETFs, certain exchange-traded options and certain futures from such
markets and other entities. In addition, the Exchange may obtain
information regarding trading in the Shares, ETFs, certain exchange-
traded options and certain futures from markets and other entities that
are members of ISG or with which the Exchange has in place a
comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement (``CSSA''). The Exchange
is able to access from FINRA, as needed, trade information for certain
Fixed Income Securities held by the Fund reported to TRACE.
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 portfolio, (b) limitations on portfolio
holdings or reference assets, 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 Fund to comply with the continued
listing requirements, and, pursuant to its obligations under Section
19(g)(1) of the Act, the Exchange will monitor for compliance with the
continued listing requirements. If the Fund is not in compliance with
the applicable listing requirements, the Exchange will commence
delisting procedures under NYSE Arca Rule 5.5(m)-E.
2. Statutory Basis
The basis under the Act for this proposed rule change is the
requirement under Section 6(b)(5) of the Act 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 in that the
Shares will be listed and traded on the Exchange pursuant to the
initial and continued listing criteria in NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-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 federal securities
laws applicable to trading on the Exchange. The Adviser and Subadviser
are not registered as broker-dealers or affiliated with a broker-
dealer. The Exchange or FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, or both, will
communicate as needed regarding trading in the Shares, certain
exchange-traded options and certain futures 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, certain exchange-traded options and
certain futures from such markets and other entities. In addition, the
Exchange may obtain information regarding trading in the Shares,
certain exchange-traded options and certain futures with other markets
and other entities that are members of the ISG, or with which the
Exchange has in place a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement.
The Exchange is able to access from FINRA, as needed, trade information
for certain fixed income securities held by the Fund reported to
FINRA's TRACE. FINRA also can access data obtained from the MSRB
relating to certain municipal bond trading activity for surveillance
purposes in connection with trading in the Shares.
The proposed rule change is designed to promote just and equitable
principles of trade and to protect investors and the public interest in
that the Exchange will obtain a representation from the issuer of the
Shares that the NAV per Share will be calculated daily and that the NAV
and the Disclosed Portfolio will be made available to all market
participants at the same time. In addition, a large amount of
information is publicly available regarding the Fund and the Shares,
thereby promoting market transparency. The website for the Fund
includes a form of the prospectus for the Fund and additional data
relating to NAV and other applicable quantitative information. Trading
in Shares of the Fund will be halted if the circuit breaker parameters
in NYSE Arca Rule 7.12-E have been reached or because of market
conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make
trading in the Shares inadvisable, and trading in the Shares will be
subject to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E(d)(2)(D), which sets forth
circumstances under which trading in the Shares of the Fund may be
halted. In addition, as noted above, investors have ready access to
information regarding the Fund's holdings, the PIV, the Disclosed
Portfolio, and quotation and last sale information for the Shares. In
the aggregate, at least 90% of the weight of the Fund's holdings
invested in futures, exchange-traded options, and listed swaps shall,
on both an initial and continuing basis, consist of futures, options,
and swaps for which the Exchange may obtain information from other
members or affiliates of the ISG or for which the principal market is a
market with which the Exchange has a CSSA. For purposes of calculating
this limitation, a portfolio's investment in listed derivatives will be
calculated as the aggregate gross notional value of the listed
derivatives.
As discussed above, the Fund will not comply with the requirement
in
[[Page 25871]]
Commentary .01(b)(1) that components that in the aggregate account for
at least 75% of the fixed income weight of the portfolio each have a
minimum original principal amount outstanding of $100 million or more.
Instead, the Exchange proposes that components, excluding Private ABS/
MBS and CDOs/CBOs/CLOs, that in the aggregate account for at least 50%
of the fixed income weight of the portfolio each shall have a minimum
original principal amount outstanding of $50 million or more. Private
ABS/MBS and CDOs/CBOs/CLOs would not be subject to a requirement for a
minimum original principal amount outstanding. The Exchange believes
this alternative is appropriate because at least 50% of the fixed
income weight of the Fund's portfolio, excluding Private ABS/MBS and
CDOs/CBOs/CLOs, would continue to be subject to a substantial minimum
(i.e., $50 million) original principal amount outstanding. In addition,
by excluding Private ABS/MBS and CDOs/CBOs/CLOs from this requirement,
the Fund will be able to better diversify its holdings in such
securities, and would be able to invest in a larger variety of Private
ABS/MBS and CDOs/CBOs/CLOs that have characteristics consistent with
the Fund's investment objective to maximize current income while
maintaining a portfolio consistent with the preservation of capital and
daily liquidity. These characteristics may include, for example,
Private ABS/MBS and CDOs/CBOs/CLOs with investment grade credit rating
or liquidity comparable to fixed income securities with a much greater
amount outstanding.
As noted above, the Fund may invest in shares of non-exchange-
traded investment company securities, which are equity securities.
Therefore, to the extent the Fund invests in shares of non-exchange-
traded open-end management investment company securities, the Fund will
not comply with the requirements of Commentary .01(a)(1)(A) through (E)
to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E (U.S. Component Stocks) with respect to its
equity securities holdings.\34\ The Exchange believes it is appropriate
and in the public interest to approve listing and trading of Shares of
the Fund notwithstanding that the Fund's holdings in such securities
would not meet the requirements of Commentary .01(a)(1)(A) through (E)
to Rule 8.600-E. Investments in non-exchange-traded open-end management
investment company securities will not exceed 20% of the total assets
of the Fund. Such investments, which may include mutual funds that
invest, for example, principally in fixed income securities, would be
utilized to help the Fund meet its investment objective and to equitize
cash in the short term. The Fund will invest in such securities only to
the extent that those investments would be consistent with the
requirements of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act and the rules
thereunder. Because such securities must satisfy applicable 1940 Act
diversification requirements, and have a net asset value based on the
value of securities and financial assets the investment company holds,
it is both unnecessary and inappropriate to apply to such investment
company securities the criteria in Commentary .01(a)(1).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\34\ See note 27, supra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As noted above, the Fund will not comply with the requirement in
Commentary .01(b)(5) that investments in non-agency, non-government
sponsored entity and privately issued mortgage-related and other asset-
backed not account, in the aggregate, for more than 20% of the weight
of the fixed income portion of the portfolio. Instead, Private ABS/MBS
will, in the aggregate, not exceed more than 20% of the total assets of
the Fund.
This alternative requirement is appropriate because the Fund's
investment in Private ABS/MBS is expected to provide the Fund with
benefits associated with increased diversification, as Private ABS/MBS
investments tend to be less correlated to interest rates than many
other fixed income securities. The Fund's investment in Private ABS/MBS
will be subject to the Fund's liquidity procedures as adopted by the
Fund's Board, and the Adviser does not expect that investments in
Private ABS/MBS of up to 20% of the total assets of the Fund will have
any material impact on the liquidity of the Fund's investments.\35\ The
Exchange notes that the Commission has previously approved the listing
of actively managed ETFs that can invest 20% of their total assets in
non-U.S. Government, non-agency, non-GSE and other privately-issued ABS
and MBS (i.e., Private ABS/MBS).\36\ Thus, it is appropriate to expand
the limit on the Fund's investments in Private ABS/MBS set forth in
Commentary .01(b)(5) of the generic listing standards.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\35\ See note 18, supra.
\36\ See note 19, supra.
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As noted above, the Fund will not comply with the requirement that
securities that in aggregate account for at least 90% of the fixed
income weight of the portfolio meet one of the criteria in Commentary
.01(b)(4).\37\ The Exchange proposes that the Private ABS/MBS, will not
be required to comply with the criteria in Commentary .01(b)(4)(a)
through (e) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E. In this regard, the Exchange
proposes to provide that the Fund will not invest more than 20% of the
Fund's total assets in Private ABS/MBS. CDOs/CBOs/CLOs, however, will
be subject to the criteria in Commentary .01(b)(4)(a) through (e) \38\
and the Fund will not invest more than 10% of the Fund's total assets
in CDOs/CBOs/CLOs.\39\ The Exchange believes that this 10% limitation
will help the Fund maintain portfolio diversification and will reduce
manipulation risk. In addition, the Adviser does not expect that
investments in CDOs/CBOs/CLOs of up to 10% of the total assets of the
Fund will have any material impact on the liquidity of the Fund's
investments.
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\37\ See note 17, supra.
\38\ As noted above, CDOs/CBOs/CLOs would be excluded from the
20% limit on Private ABS/MBS.
\39\ For purposes of this filing, CDOs/CBOs/CLOs are not deemed
to be ABS for purposes of the restriction on the Fund's holdings of
Private ABS/MBS. See note 8, supra.
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In addition, the Fund's investment in Private ABS/MBS and CDOs/
CBOs/CLOs will be subject to the Fund's liquidity risk management
program as approved by the Fund's Board.\40\ The liquidity procedures
generally include public disclosure by the Fund of its liquidity and
redemption practices. The Fund's holdings in Private ABS/MBS and CDOs/
CBOs/CLOs would be encompassed within the Fund's liquidity risk
management program.
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\40\ See note 18, supra.
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The Adviser and Subadviser represent that the proposed exceptions
from the requirements of Commentary .01 to Rule 8.600-E described above
are consistent with the Fund's investment objective, and will further
assist the Adviser and Subadviser to achieve such investment objective.
Deviations from the generic requirements are necessary for the Fund to
achieve its investment objective in a manner that is cost-effective and
that maximizes investors' returns. Further, the proposed alternative
requirements are narrowly tailored to allow the Fund to achieve its
investment objective in manner that is consistent with the principles
of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act. As a result, it is in the public
interest to approve listing and trading of Shares of the Fund on the
Exchange pursuant to the requirements set forth herein.
The Exchange accordingly believes that it is appropriate and in the
public interest to approve listing and trading of Shares of the Fund on
the Exchange notwithstanding that the Fund would
[[Page 25872]]
not meet the requirements of Commentary .01(a)(1), (b)(1), (b)(4) and
(b)(5) to Rule 8.600-E. The Exchange notes that, other than Commentary
.01(a)(1), (b)(1), (b)(4) and (b)(5) to Rule 8.600-E, the Fund's
portfolio will meet all other requirements of Rule 8.600-E.
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 continued listing and trading
Shares of the Fund, 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 [email protected]. Please include
File Number SR-NYSEArca-2019-38 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-2019-38. 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-2019-38 and should be submitted
on or before June 25, 2019.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\41\
Vanessa A. Countryman,
Acting Secretary.
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\41\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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[FR Doc. 2019-11556 Filed 6-3-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P