Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Amendment No. 2 and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 2 thereto, To List and Trade Shares of the American Century Focused Dynamic Growth ETF and American Century Focused Large Cap Value ETF Under BZX Rule 14.11(k), 9494-9503 [2020-03176]
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9494
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 33 / Wednesday, February 19, 2020 / Notices
change. The Commission may extend
the period for issuing an order
approving or disapproving the proposed
rule change, however, by not more than
60 days if the Commission determines
that a longer period is appropriate and
publishes the reasons for such
determination. The proposed rule
change was published for notice and
comment in the Federal Register on
August 20, 2019. The 180th day after
publication of the Notice is February 16,
2020, and April 16, 2020 is an
additional 60 days from that date.
The Commission finds it appropriate
to designate a longer period within
which to issue an order approving or
disapproving the proposed rule change
so that it has sufficient time to consider
the proposed rule change. Accordingly,
the Commission, pursuant to Section
19(b)(2) of the Act,8 designates April 16,
2020 as the date by which the
Commission shall either approve or
disapprove the proposed rule change
(File No. SR–CboeEDGA–2019–013).
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.9
J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020–03179 Filed 2–18–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–88175; File No. SR–
CboeBZX–2019–057]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe
BZX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing of
Amendment No. 2 and Order Granting
Accelerated Approval of a Proposed
Rule Change, as Modified by
Amendment No. 2 thereto, To List and
Trade Shares of the American Century
Focused Dynamic Growth ETF and
American Century Focused Large Cap
Value ETF Under BZX Rule 14.11(k)
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
February 12, 2020.
I. Introduction
On June 6, 2019, Cboe BZX Exchange,
Inc. (‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘BZX’’) filed with
the Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant
to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’ or
‘‘Exchange Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4
thereunder,2 a proposed rule change to
list and trade shares (‘‘Shares’’) of the
American Century Focused Dynamic
8 Id.
9 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(57).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
1 15
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Growth ETF and American Century
Focused Large Cap Value ETF (each a
‘‘Fund’’ and, collectively, the ‘‘Funds’’)
under BZX Rule 14.11(k) (Managed
Portfolio Shares).3 The proposed rule
change was published for comment in
the Federal Register on June 25, 2019.4
On August 2, 2019, pursuant to Section
19(b)(2) of the Act,5 the Commission
designated a longer period within which
to approve the proposed rule change,
disapprove the proposed rule change, or
institute proceedings to determine
whether to disapprove the proposed
rule change.6 On September 23, 2019,
the Commission instituted proceedings
under Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the Act 7 to
determine whether to approve or
disapprove the proposed rule change.8
On December 17, 2019, the Exchange
filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposed
rule change, which replaced and
superseded the proposed rule change as
originally filed.9 On December 17, 2019,
the Commission designated a longer
period for action on the proposed rule
change.10 On February 11, 2020, the
Exchange filed Amendment No. 2 to the
proposed rule change, which replaced
and superseded the proposed rule
change as modified by Amendment No.
1.11 The Commission has received no
comments on the proposed rule change.
The Commission is publishing this
notice to solicit comments on
Amendment No. 2 from interested
persons, and is approving the proposed
rule change, as modified by Amendment
No. 2, on an accelerated basis.
3 The Commission recently approved the
Exchange’s proposed rule change to adopt BZX
Rule 14.11(k) to permit the listing and trading of
Managed Portfolio Shares. See Securities Exchange
Act Release No. 87759 (December 16, 2019), 84 FR
70223 (December 20, 2019) (SR–CboeBZX–2019–
047) (‘‘Managed Portfolio Shares Order’’).
4 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 86155
(June 19, 2019), 84 FR 29912 (‘‘Notice’’).
5 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
6 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 86557,
84 FR 39024 (August 8, 2019). The Commission
designated September 23, 2019, as the date by
which the Commission shall approve or disapprove,
or institute proceedings to determine whether to
disapprove, the proposed rule change.
7 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
8 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 87059,
84 FR 51215 (September 27, 2019).
9 Amendment No. 1 is available on the
Commission’s website at https://www.sec.gov/
comments/sr-cboebzx-2019-057/srcboebzx20190576555831-200931.pdf.
10 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 87769,
84 FR 70589 (December 23, 2019). The Commission
designated February 20, 2020, as the date by which
the Commission must either approve or disapprove
the proposed rule change.
11 Amendment No. 2 is available on the
Commission’s website at https://www.sec.gov/
comments/sr-cboebzx-2019-057/srcboebzx
2019057.htm.
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II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change, as Modified by Amendment
No. 2
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
This Amendment No. 2 to SRCboeBZX–2019–057 amends and
replaces in its entirety Amendment No.
1 to the proposal, originally submitted
on December 17, 2019, which amended
and replaced in its entirety the proposal
as originally submitted on June 5, 2019.
The Exchange submits this Amendment
No. 2 in order to clarify certain points
and add additional details to the
proposal.
The Exchange received approval to
add new Rule 14.11(k) for the purpose
of permitting the listing and trading of
Managed Portfolio Shares, which are
securities issued by an actively managed
open-end management investment
company,12 on December 16, 2019.13
Rule 14.11(k)(2)(A) requires the
Exchange to file separate proposals
12 As defined in Rule 14.11(k)(3)(A), the term
‘‘Managed Portfolio Share’’ means a security that (a)
represents an interest in an investment company
registered under the Investment Company Act of
1940 (‘‘Investment Company’’) organized as an
open-end management investment company, that
invests in a portfolio of securities selected by the
Investment Company’s investment adviser
consistent with the Investment Company’s
investment objectives and policies; (b) is issued in
a Creation Unit (as defined below), or multiples
thereof, in return for a designated portfolio of
instruments (and/or an amount of cash) with a
value equal to the next determined net asset value
and delivered to the Authorized Participant (as
defined in the Investment Company’s Form N–1A
filed with the Commission) through a Confidential
Account; (c) when aggregated into a Redemption
Unit (as defined below), or multiples thereof, may
be redeemed for a designated portfolio of
instruments (and/or an amount of cash) with a
value equal to the next determined net asset value
delivered to the Confidential Account (as defined
below) for the benefit of the Authorized Participant;
and (d) the portfolio holdings for which are
disclosed within at least 60 days following the end
of every fiscal quarter.
13 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 87759
(December 16, 2019), 84 FR 70223 (December 20,
2019) (SR–CboeBZX–2019–047).
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 33 / Wednesday, February 19, 2020 / Notices
under Section 19(b) of the Act before
listing and trading any series of
Managed Portfolio Shares on the
Exchange. As such, the Exchange is
submitting this proposal in order to list
and trade shares of the American
Century Focused Dynamic Growth ETF
and the American Century Focused
Large Cap Value ETF under Rule
14.11(k).
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Description of the Funds and the Trust
The shares of each Fund (the
‘‘Shares’’) will be issued by American
Century ETF Trust (the ‘‘Trust’’), a
statutory trust organized under the laws
of the State of Delaware and registered
with the Commission as an open-end
management investment company.14
The investment adviser to each Fund
will be American Century Investment
Management, Inc. (the ‘‘Adviser’’).
Foreside Fund Services, LLC (the
‘‘Distributor’’) will serve as the
distributor of each of the Fund’s Shares.
All statements and representations
made in this filing regarding the
description of the portfolio or reference
assets, limitations on portfolio holdings
or reference assets, dissemination and
availability of the Verified Intraday
Indicative Value (‘‘VIIV’’),15 reference
14 The Trust is registered under the 1940 Act. On
June 18, 2018, the Trust filed a registration
statement on Form N–1A relating to the Funds (File
No. 811–23305) (the ‘‘Registration Statement’’). The
Exchange notes that the names of the Funds have
been changed since the Registration Statement was
filed and that such names will be updated in a
subsequent filing. The Commission issued an order
granting exemptive relief to the Trust (‘‘Exemptive
Order’’) under the 1940 Act on September 10, 2019
(Investment Company Act Release No. 33620). The
Exemptive Order was granted with respect to the
Trust’s application for exemptive relief (the
‘‘Exemptive Application’’) (File No. 812–15035).
Investments made by the Funds will comply with
the conditions set forth in the Exemptive Order.
The description of the operation of the Trust and
the Funds herein is based, in part, on the
Registration Statement. The Exemptive Order
specifically notes that ‘‘granting the requested
exemptions is appropriate in and consistent with
the public interest and consistent with the
protection of investors and the purposes fairly
intended by the policy and provisions of the Act.
It is further found that the terms of the proposed
transactions, including the consideration to be paid
or received, are reasonable and fair and do not
involve overreaching on the part of any person
concerned, and that the proposed transactions are
consistent with the policy of each registered
investment company concerned and with the
general purposes of the Act.’’ The Exchange notes
that the Exemptive Application incorporates by
reference the terms and conditions of the exemptive
order granted to Precidian ETFs Trust, et al. See
Investment Company Act Release Nos. 33440, April
8, 2019 (notice) and 33477, May 20, 2019 (order).
15 Rule 14.11(k)(3)(B) defines the term VIIV as the
indicative value of a Managed Portfolio Share based
on all of the holdings of a series of Managed
Portfolio Shares as of the close of business on the
prior business day and, for corporate actions, based
on the applicable holdings as of the opening of
business on the current business day, priced and
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assets, and intraday indicative values,
and the applicability of Exchange rules
shall constitute continued listing
requirements for listing the Shares on
the Exchange, as provided under Rule
14.11(a).
Rule 14.11(k)(2)(D) provides that if
the investment adviser to the
Investment Company issuing Managed
Portfolio Shares is registered as a
broker-dealer or is affiliated with a
broker-dealer, such investment adviser
will erect and maintain a ‘‘fire wall’’
between the investment adviser and
personnel of the broker-dealer or brokerdealer affiliate, as applicable, with
respect to access to information
concerning the composition of and/or
changes to such Investment Company
portfolio and/or the Creation Basket.16
Any person related to the investment
adviser or Investment Company who
makes decisions pertaining to the
Investment Company’s portfolio
composition or has access to
information regarding the Investment
Company’s portfolio composition or
changes thereto or the Creation Basket
must be subject to procedures designed
to prevent the use and dissemination of
material nonpublic information
regarding the applicable Investment
Company portfolio or changes thereto or
the Creation Basket.17 Rule
disseminated in one second intervals during
Regular Trading Hours (as defined in Rule 1.5(w))
by the Reporting Authority, as defined below.
16 Rule 14.11(k)(3)(E) defines the term ‘‘Creation
Basket’’ as on any given business day the names
and quantities of the specified instruments (and/or
an amount of cash) that are required for an AP
Representative (as defined below) to deposit in-kind
on behalf of an Authorized Participant in exchange
for a Creation Unit and the names and quantities
of the specified instruments (and/or an amount of
cash) that will be transferred in-kind to an AP
Representative on behalf of an Authorized
Participant in exchange for a Redemption Unit,
which will be identical and will be transmitted to
each AP Representative before the commencement
of trading.
17 An investment adviser to an open-end fund is
required to be registered under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940 (the ‘‘Advisers Act’’). As a
result, the Adviser and its related personnel will be
subject to the provisions of Rule 204A–1 under the
Advisers Act relating to codes of ethics. This Rule
requires investment advisers to adopt a code of
ethics that reflects its fiduciary obligations as well
as compliance with other applicable securities laws.
Accordingly, procedures designed to prevent the
communication and misuse of non-public
information by an investment adviser must be
consistent with Rule 204A–1 under the Advisers
Act. In addition, Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers
Act makes it unlawful for an investment adviser to
provide investment advice to clients unless such
investment adviser (i) adopts and implements
written policies and procedures reasonably
designed to prevent violations, by the investment
adviser and its supervised persons, of the Advisers
Act and the Commission rules adopted thereunder;
(ii) reviews, at least annually, the adequacy of the
policies and procedures established pursuant to
subparagraph (i) above and the effectiveness of their
implementation; and (iii) designates an individual
PO 00000
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9495
14.11(k)(2)(D) is similar to Rule
14.11(c)(5)(A)(i), related to Index Fund
Shares, except that Rule 14.11(k)(2)(D)
relates to the establishment of a ‘‘fire
wall’’ between the investment adviser
and the broker-dealer as applicable to an
Investment Company’s portfolio and/or
Creation Basket, not an underlying
benchmark index, as is the case with
index-based funds. Rule 14.11(k)(2)(D)
is also similar to Rule 14.11(i)(7), related
to Managed Fund Shares, except that
Rule 14.11(k)(2)(D) relates to the
establishment of a ‘‘fire wall’’ between
the investment adviser and the brokerdealer as applicable to an Investment
Company’s portfolio and Creation
Basket, and not just the underlying
portfolio, as is the case with Managed
Fund Shares. The Adviser is not
registered as a broker-dealer, but is
affiliated with a broker-dealer and has
implemented and will maintain a ‘‘fire
wall’’ with respect to such broker-dealer
regarding access to information
concerning the composition of and
changes to a Fund’s portfolio and/or
Creation Basket.
In the event (a) the Adviser becomes
registered as a broker-dealer or becomes
newly affiliated with a broker-dealer, or
(b) any new adviser or sub-adviser is a
registered broker-dealer or becomes
affiliated with 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/or Creation Basket. Any
person related to the Adviser or the
Trust who makes decisions pertaining to
a Fund’s portfolio composition or that
has access to information regarding a
Fund’s portfolio or changes thereto or
the Creation Basket will be subject to
procedures designed to prevent the use
and dissemination of material nonpublic information regarding such
portfolio or changes thereto and the
Creation Basket.
Further, Rule 14.11(k)(2)(E) requires
that any person or entity, including an
AP Representative, custodian, Reporting
Authority, distributor, or administrator,
who has access to information regarding
the Investment Company’s portfolio
composition or changes thereto or the
Creation Basket, must be subject to
procedures designed to prevent the use
and dissemination of material
nonpublic information regarding the
applicable Investment Company
(who is a supervised person) responsible for
administering the policies and procedures adopted
under subparagraph (i) above. The Funds will also
comply with the requirements of Regulation Fair
Disclosure, as provided in the Exemptive
Application.
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 33 / Wednesday, February 19, 2020 / Notices
portfolio or changes thereto or the
Creation Basket. Moreover, if any such
person or entity is registered as a brokerdealer or affiliated with a broker-dealer,
such person or entity will erect and
maintain a ‘‘fire wall’’ between the
person or entity and the broker-dealer
with respect to access to information
concerning the composition and/or
changes to such Investment Company
portfolio or Creation Basket. Any person
or entity who has access to information
regarding a Fund’s portfolio
composition or changes thereto or the
Creation Basket will be subject to
procedures designed to prevent the use
and dissemination of material
nonpublic information regarding the
portfolio composition or changes thereto
or the Creation Basket.
Description of the Funds
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
American Century Focused Dynamic
Growth ETF
The Fund’s holdings will conform to
the permissible investments as set forth
in the Exemptive Application and
Exemptive Order and the holdings will
be consistent with all requirements in
the Exemptive Application and
Exemptive Order.18
The Fund seeks long-term capital
growth. The portfolio managers look for
stocks of companies they believe will
increase in value over time.
The Fund seeks long-term capital
growth. In selecting stocks for the Fund,
the portfolio managers look for
companies whose stock price may not
reflect the company’s value, by looking
for companies that are temporarily out
of favor in, or whose value is not yet
recognized by, the market.
Investment Restrictions
The Funds will not purchase any
securities that are illiquid investments
at the time of purchase and each Fund’s
holdings will be consistent with all
requirements described in the
Exemptive Application and Exemptive
Order.
The Shares of each Fund will conform
to the initial and continued listing
criteria under Rule 14.11(k). The Funds’
holdings will be limited to and
consistent with what is permissible
under the Exemptive Order and
described herein.
Each Fund’s investments will be
consistent with its investment objective
and will not be used to enhance
leverage.
American Century Focused Large Cap
Value ETF
The Fund’s holdings will conform to
the permissible investments as set forth
in the Exemptive Application and
Exemptive Order and the holdings will
be consistent with all requirements in
the Exemptive Application and
Exemptive Order.19
Creations and Redemptions of Shares
Creations and redemptions of the
Shares will occur as described in Rule
14.11(k). More specifically, in
connection with the creation and
redemption of Creation Units 20 and
Redemption Units,21 the delivery or
receipt of any portfolio securities inkind will be required to be effected
through a separate confidential
brokerage account (a ‘‘Confidential
Account’’).22 Authorized Participants
(as defined in the applicable Form N–
1A filed with the Commission, ‘‘AP’’)
will sign an agreement with an AP
Representative 23 establishing the
18 Pursuant to the Exemptive Order, the
permissible investments include only the following
instruments that trade on a U.S. exchange
contemporaneously with the Shares: ETFs and
exchange-traded notes, common stocks, preferred
stocks, American depositary receipts, real estate
investment trusts, commodity pools, metals trusts,
currency trusts, and futures for which the reference
asset the Fund may invest in directly or, in the case
of an index future, based on an index of a type of
asset that the Fund could invest in directly; as well
as cash and cash equivalents (short-term U.S.
Treasury securities, government money market
funds and repurchase agreements).
19 Pursuant to the Exemptive Order, the
permissible investments include only the following
instruments that trade on a U.S. exchange
contemporaneously with the Shares: ETFs and
exchange-traded notes, common stocks, preferred
stocks, American depositary receipts, real estate
investment trusts, commodity pools, metals trusts,
currency trusts, and futures for which the reference
asset the Fund may invest in directly or, in the case
of an index future, based on an index of a type of
asset that the Fund could invest in directly; as well
as cash and cash equivalents (short-term U.S.
Treasury securities, government money market
funds and repurchase agreements).
20 Rule 14.11(k)(3)(F) defines the term ‘‘Creation
Unit’’ as a specified minimum number of Managed
Portfolio Shares issued by an Investment Company
at the request of an Authorized Participant in return
for a designated portfolio of instruments and/or
cash.
21 Rule 14.11(k)(3)(G) defines the term
‘‘Redemption Unit’’ as a specified minimum
number of Managed Portfolio Shares that may be
redeemed to an Investment Company at the request
of an Authorized Participant in return for a
portfolio of instruments and/or cash.
22 Rule 14.11(k)(3)(D) defines the term
‘‘Confidential Account’’ as an account owned by an
Authorized Participant and held with an AP
Representative on behalf of the Authorized
Participant. The account will be established and
governed by contractual agreement between the AP
Representative and the Authorized Participant
solely for the purposes of creation and redemption,
while keeping confidential the Creation Basket
constituents of each series of Managed Portfolio
Shares, including from the Authorized Participant.
The books and records of the Confidential Account
will be maintained by the AP Representative on
behalf of the Authorized Participant.
23 Rule 14.11(k)(3)(C) defines the term ‘‘AP
Representative’’ as an unaffiliated broker-dealer,
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17:51 Feb 18, 2020
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Confidential Account for the benefit of
the AP. AP Representatives will be
broker-dealers. An AP must be a
Depository Trust Company (‘‘DTC’’)
Participant that has executed a
‘‘Participant Agreement’’ with the
Distributor with respect to the creation
and redemption of Creation Units and
Redemption Units and formed a
Confidential Account for its benefit in
accordance with the terms of the
Participant Agreement. For purposes of
creations or redemptions, all
transactions will be effected through the
respective AP’s Confidential Account,
for the benefit of the AP, without
disclosing the identity of such securities
to the AP.
Each AP Representative will be given,
before the commencement of trading
each Business Day (defined below), the
Creation Basket (as described below) for
that day. This information will permit
an AP that has established a
Confidential Account with an AP
Representative, to instruct the AP
Representative to buy and sell positions
in the portfolio securities to permit
creation and redemption of Creation
Units and Redemption Units. Shares of
each Fund will be issued and redeemed
in Creation Units and Redemption Units
of 5,000 or more Shares. The Funds will
offer and redeem Creation Units and
Redemption Units on a continuous basis
at the net asset value (‘‘NAV’’) per share
next determined after receipt of an order
in proper form. The NAV per share of
each Fund will be determined as of the
close of regular trading on the Exchange
on each day that the Exchange is open
(a ‘‘Business Day’’). The Funds will sell
and redeem Creation Units and
Redemption Units only on Business
Days.
To keep costs low and permit each
Fund to be as fully invested as possible,
Shares will be purchased and redeemed
in Creation Units and Redemption Units
and generally on an in-kind basis.
Accordingly, except where the purchase
or redemption will include cash under
the circumstances described in the
Exemptive Application, APs will be
required to purchase Creation Units by
making an in-kind deposit of specified
instruments (‘‘Deposit Instruments’’),
and APs redeeming their Shares will
receive an in-kind transfer of specified
instruments (‘‘Redemption
with which an Authorized Participant has signed an
agreement to establish a Confidential Account for
the benefit of such Authorized Participant, that will
deliver or receive, on behalf of the Authorized
Participant, all consideration to or from the
Investment Company in a creation or redemption.
An AP Representative will not be permitted to
disclose the Creation Basket to any person,
including the Authorized Participants.
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 33 / Wednesday, February 19, 2020 / Notices
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Instruments’’) through the AP
Representative in their Confidential
Account.24 On any given Business Day,
the names and quantities of the
instruments that constitute the Deposit
Instruments and the names and
quantities of the instruments that
constitute the Redemption Instruments
will be identical, and these instruments
may be referred to, in the case of either
a purchase or a redemption, as the
‘‘Creation Basket.’’
Placement of Purchase Orders
Each Fund will issue Shares through
the Distributor on a continuous basis at
NAV. The Exchange represents that the
issuance of Shares will operate in a
manner similar to that of other ETFs.
Each Fund will issue Shares only at the
NAV per share next determined after an
order in proper form is received.
In the case of a creation, the AP
would enter an irrevocable creation
order with the applicable Fund and
direct the AP Representative to
purchase the Deposit Instruments. The
AP Representative would then purchase
the necessary securities in the
Confidential Account. In purchasing the
necessary securities, the AP
Representative will use methods, such
as breaking the transaction into multiple
transactions and transacting in multiple
marketplaces, to avoid revealing the
composition of the Creation Basket.
Once the Deposit Instruments have been
acquired in the Confidential Account,
the AP Representative would contribute
the Deposit Instruments in-kind to the
Fund.
The Distributor will furnish
acknowledgements to those placing
such orders that the orders have been
accepted, but the Distributor may reject
any order which is not submitted in
proper form, as described in a Fund’s
prospectus or Statement of Additional
Information (‘‘SAI’’). The NAV of each
Fund is expected to be determined once
each Business Day at a time determined
by the Trust’s Board of Trustees
(‘‘Board’’), currently anticipated to be as
of the close of the regular trading
session on the Exchange (ordinarily 4:00
p.m. E.T.) (the ‘‘Valuation Time’’). Each
Fund will establish a cut-off time
(‘‘Order Cut-Off Time’’) for purchase
orders in proper form. Such Order CutOff Time will be provided in the
Registration Statement. To initiate a
purchase of Shares, an AP must submit
24 The Funds must comply with the federal
securities laws in accepting Deposit Instruments
and satisfying redemptions with Redemption
Instruments, including that the Deposit Instruments
and Redemption Instruments are sold in
transactions that would be exempt from registration
under the 1933 Act.
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17:51 Feb 18, 2020
Jkt 250001
to the Distributor an irrevocable order to
purchase such Shares after the most
recent prior Valuation Time. All orders
to purchase Creation Units must be
received by the Distributor no later than
the Order Cut-Off Time in each case on
the date such order is placed
(‘‘Transmittal Date’’) for the AP to
receive the NAV per share determined
on the Transmittal Date. As with all
existing ETFs, if there is a difference
between the NAV attributable to a
Creation Unit and the aggregate market
value of the Creation Basket exchanged
for the Creation Unit, the party
conveying instruments with the lower
value will also pay to the other an
amount in cash equal to that difference
(the ‘‘Balancing Amount’’).
Purchases of Shares will be settled inkind and/or cash for an amount equal to
the applicable NAV per share purchased
plus applicable transaction fees.25 Other
than the Balancing Amount, a Fund will
substitute cash only under exceptional
circumstances and as set forth under
that Fund’s policies and procedures
governing the composition of Creation
Baskets.
Authorized Participant Redemption
The Shares may be redeemed to a
Fund in Redemption Unit size or
multiples thereof as described below.
Redemption orders of Redemption Units
must be placed by an AP (‘‘AP
Redemption Order’’). Each Fund will
establish in its Registration Statement
an Order Cut-Off Time for redemption
orders of Redemption Units in proper
form. Redemption Units of the
applicable Fund will be redeemable at
their NAV per share next determined
after receipt of a request for redemption
by the Trust in the manner specified
below before the Order Cut-Off Time. A
transaction fee may also be imposed on
redemption orders. To initiate an AP
Redemption Order, an AP must submit
to the Distributor an irrevocable order to
redeem such Redemption Unit after the
most recent prior Valuation Time, but
not later than the Order Cut-Off Time.
In the case of a redemption, the AP
would enter into an irrevocable
redemption order, and then the
applicable Fund would instruct its
custodian to deliver the Redemption
Instruments to the appropriate
Confidential Account. The Authorized
Participant would direct the AP
Representative on when that day to
liquidate those securities. As with the
purchase of securities, the AP
25 To the extent that a Fund allows creations or
redemptions to be conducted in cash, such
transactions will be effected in the same manner for
all APs transacting in cash.
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9497
Representative will use methods, such
as breaking the transaction into multiple
transactions and transacting in multiple
marketplaces, to avoid revealing the
composition of the Creation Basket.
Consistent with the provisions of
Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act and Rule
22e–2 thereunder, the right to redeem
will not be suspended, nor payment
upon redemption delayed, except for:
(1) Any period during which the
Exchange is closed other than
customary weekend and holiday
closings, (2) any period during which
trading on the Exchange is restricted, (3)
any period during which an emergency
exists as a result of which disposal by
a Fund of securities owned by it is not
reasonably practicable or it is not
reasonably practicable for a Fund to
determine its NAV, and (4) for such
other periods as the Commission may by
order permit for the protection of
shareholders.
Redemptions will occur primarily inkind, although redemption payments
may also be made partly or wholly in
cash.26 The Participant Agreement
signed by each AP will require
establishment of a Confidential Account
to receive distributions of securities inkind upon redemption. Each AP will be
required to open a Confidential Account
with an AP Representative in order to
facilitate orderly processing of
redemptions. Other than the Balancing
Amount, a Fund will substitute cash
only under exceptional circumstances
and as set forth under that Fund’s
policies and procedures governing the
composition of Creation Baskets.27
Net Asset Value
The NAV per share of a Fund will be
computed by dividing the value of the
net assets of a Fund (i.e., the value of
its total assets less total liabilities) by
the total number of Shares of a Fund
outstanding, rounded to the nearest
cent. Expenses and fees, including,
without limitation, the management,
administration and distribution fees,
will be accrued daily and taken into
account for purposes of determining
NAV. Interest and investment income
on a Fund’s assets accrue daily and will
be included in the Fund’s total assets.
The NAV per share for a Fund will be
calculated by a Fund’s administrator
and determined as of the close of the
regular trading session on the Exchange
(ordinarily 4 p.m., E.T.) on each day that
the Exchange is open.
26 The value of any positions not susceptible to
in-kind settlement may be paid in cash.
27 To the extent that a Fund allows creations or
redemptions to be conducted in cash, such
transactions will be effected in the same manner for
all APs transacting in cash.
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19FEN1
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Exchange-traded instruments will be
valued at market value, which will
generally be determined using the last
reported official closing or last trading
price on the exchange or market on
which the securities are primarily
traded at the time of valuation. Other
holdings of the Funds will generally be
valued on the basis of independent
pricing services, quotes obtained from
brokers and dealers or price quotations
or other equivalent indications of value
provided by a third-party pricing
service, reported net asset value, or at
cost.
Availability of Information
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
The Funds’ website
(www.americancenturyetfs.com), which
will be publicly available prior to the
listing and trading of Shares, will
include a form of the prospectus for
each Fund that may be downloaded.
The Funds’ website will include
additional quantitative information
updated on a daily basis, including, for
each Fund, the prior Business Day’s
NAV, market closing price or mid-point
of the bid/ask spread at the time of
calculation of such NAV (the ‘‘Bid/Ask
Price’’),28 and a calculation of the
premium and discount of the market
closing price or Bid/Ask Price against
the NAV. In addition, the Funds will
provide any other information on their
website regarding premiums/discounts
that ETFs registered under the 1940 Act
are required to provide or that are
otherwise required under the Exemptive
Order. The website and information will
be publicly available at no charge.
Each Fund’s SAI and shareholder
reports will be available free upon
request from the Trust. These
documents and forms may be viewed
on-screen or downloaded from the
Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.
Information regarding market price
and trading volume of the Shares will be
continually available on a real-time
basis throughout the day on brokers’
computer screens and other electronic
services. Quotation and last sale
information for the Shares will be
available via the Consolidated Tape
Association (‘‘CTA’’) high-speed line. In
addition, the VIIV, as defined in Rule
14.11(k)(3)(B) and as described further
below, will be widely disseminated by
the Reporting Authority 29 and/or one or
28 The Bid/Ask Price of a Fund will be
determined using the mid-point between the
current NBB and NBO as of the time of calculation
of a Fund’s NAV. The records relating to Bid/Ask
Prices will be retained by each Fund and/or its
service providers.
29 Rule 14.11(k)(3)(H) defines the term ‘‘Reporting
Authority’’ in respect of a particular series of
Managed Portfolio Shares as the Exchange, the
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17:51 Feb 18, 2020
Jkt 250001
more major market data vendors in onesecond intervals during Regular Trading
Hours.
Dissemination of the VIIV
With respect to trading of the Shares,
the ability of market participants to buy
and sell Shares at prices near the VIIV
is dependent upon their assessment that
the VIIV is a reliable, indicative realtime value for a Fund’s underlying
holdings. Market participants are
expected to accept the VIIV as a reliable,
indicative real-time value because (1)
the VIIV will be calculated and
disseminated based on a Fund’s actual
portfolio holdings, (2) the securities in
which a Fund plans to invest are
generally highly liquid and actively
traded and trade at the same time as the
Funds and therefore generally have
accurate real time pricing available, and
(3) market participants will have a daily
opportunity to evaluate whether the
VIIV at or near the close of trading is
indeed predictive of the actual NAV.
The VIIV for each Fund will be
disseminated by the Reporting
Authority and/or one or more major
market data vendors in one-second
intervals during Regular Trading Hours.
For purposes of the VIIV, securities held
by a Fund will be valued throughout the
day based on the mid-point between the
disseminated current NBB and NBO. If
the Adviser determines that a portfolio
security does not have a readily
available market quotation, that fact
along with the identity and weighting of
that security in a Fund’s VIIV
calculation will be publicly disclosed
on the Fund’s website.
Trading Halts
With respect to trading halts, the
Exchange may consider all relevant
factors in exercising its discretion to
halt or suspend trading in the Shares of
a Fund. The Exchange will halt trading
in the Shares under the conditions
specified in BZX Rule 11.18. Trading
may be halted because of market
conditions or for reasons that, in the
view of the Exchange, make trading in
the Shares inadvisable, including
whether unusual conditions or
circumstances detrimental to the
exchange that lists a particular series of Managed
Portfolio Shares (if the Exchange is trading such
series pursuant to unlisted trading privileges), an
institution, or a reporting service designated by the
Investment Company as the official source for
calculating and reporting information relating to
such series, including, the net asset value, the
Verified Intraday Indicative Value, or other
information relating to the issuance, redemption or
trading of Managed Portfolio Shares. A series of
Managed Portfolio Shares may have more than one
Reporting Authority, each having different
functions.
PO 00000
Frm 00048
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
maintenance of a fair and orderly
market are present. Trading in the
Shares also will be subject to Rule
14.11(k)(4)(B)(iii)(a) and (b), which set
forth circumstances under which
trading in the Shares of the Funds will
be halted.
Specifically, Rule 14.11(k)(4)(B)(iii)(a)
provides that the Exchange may
consider all relevant factors in
exercising its discretion to halt trading
in a series of Managed Portfolio Shares.
Trading may be halted because of
market conditions or for reasons that, in
the view of the Exchange, make trading
in the series of Managed Portfolio
Shares inadvisable. These may include:
(i) The extent to which trading is not
occurring in the securities and/or the
financial instruments composing the
portfolio; or (ii) whether other unusual
conditions or circumstances detrimental
to the maintenance of a fair and orderly
market are present.30 The Adviser has
represented to the Exchange that it will
provide the Exchange with prompt
notification upon the existence of any
such condition or set of conditions.
Rule 14.11(k)(4)(B)(iii)(b) provides
that, if the Exchange becomes aware
that: (i) The Verified Intraday Indicative
Value of a series of Managed Portfolio
Shares is not being calculated or
disseminated in one second intervals, as
required; (ii) the net asset value with
respect to a series of Managed Portfolio
Shares is not disseminated to all market
participants at the same time; (iii) the
holdings of a series of Managed
Portfolio Shares are not made available
on at least a quarterly basis as required
under the 1940 Act; or (iv) such
holdings are not made available to all
market participants at the same time,
(except as otherwise permitted under
the currently applicable exemptive
order or no-action relief granted by the
Commission or Commission staff to the
Investment Company with respect to the
30 The Exemptive Application provides that the
Investment Company or their agent will request that
the Exchange halt trading in the applicable series
of Managed Portfolio Shares where: (i) The intraday
indicative values calculated by the calculation
engines differ by more than 25 basis points for 60
seconds in connection with pricing of the Verified
Intraday Indicative Value; or (ii) holdings
representing 10% or more of a series of Managed
Portfolio Shares’ portfolio have become subject to
a trading halt or otherwise do not have readily
available market quotations. Any such requests will
be one of many factors considered in order to
determine whether to halt trading in a series of
Managed Portfolio Shares and the Exchange retains
sole discretion in determining whether trading
should be halted. As provided in the Exemptive
Application, each series of Managed Portfolio
Shares would employ a pricing verification agent to
continuously compare two intraday indicative
values during Regular Trading Hours in order to
ensure the accuracy of the Verified Intraday
Indicative Value.
E:\FR\FM\19FEN1.SGM
19FEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 33 / Wednesday, February 19, 2020 / Notices
series of Managed Portfolio Shares), it
will halt trading in such series until
such time as the Verified Intraday
Indicative Value, the net asset value, or
the holdings are available, as required.
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
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 Exchange only during Regular
Trading Hours as provided in Rule
14.11(k)(2)(B). The Exchange has
appropriate rules in place to facilitate
trading during all trading sessions in
which the Shares will trade. As
provided in BZX Rule 11.11(a), the
minimum price variation for quoting
and entry of orders in securities traded
on the Exchange is $0.01, with the
exception of securities that are priced
less than $1.00, for which the minimum
price variation for order entry is
$0.0001.
The Shares will conform to the initial
and continued listing criteria under
Rule 14.11(k) as well as all terms in the
Exemptive Order. The Exchange
represents that, for initial and/or
continued listing, each Fund will be in
compliance with Rule 10A–3 under the
Act.31 A minimum of 100,000 Shares of
each Fund will be outstanding at the
commencement of trading on the
Exchange. The Exchange has obtained a
representation from the issuer of the
Shares of each Fund that the NAV per
share of each Fund will be calculated
daily and will be made available to all
market participants at the same time.
Surveillance
The Exchange believes that its
surveillance procedures are adequate to
properly monitor the trading of the
Shares on the Exchange during all
trading sessions and to deter and detect
violations of Exchange rules and the
applicable federal securities laws.
Trading of the Shares through the
Exchange will be subject to the
Exchange’s surveillance procedures for
derivative products, including Managed
Portfolio Shares. As part of these
surveillance procedures and consistent
with Rule 14.11(k)(2)(C), the Adviser
will upon request make available to the
Exchange and/or FINRA, on behalf of
the Exchange, the daily portfolio
holdings of a Fund. The issuer has
represented to the Exchange that it will
advise the Exchange of any failure by a
Fund to comply with the continued
listing requirements, and, pursuant to
its obligations under Section 19(g)(1) of
31 See
17:51 Feb 18, 2020
Information Circular
Prior to the commencement of
trading, the Exchange will inform its
members in an Information Circular
(‘‘Circular’’) of the special
characteristics and risks associated with
trading the Shares. Specifically, the
Circular will discuss the following: (1)
The procedures for purchases and
redemptions of Shares; (2) BZX Rule
3.7, which imposes suitability
obligations on Exchange members with
respect to recommending transactions in
the Shares to customers; (3) how
information regarding the VIIV is
disseminated; (4) the requirement that
members deliver a prospectus to
investors purchasing newly issued
Shares prior to or concurrently with the
confirmation of a transaction; (5) trading
information; and (6) that the portfolio
holdings will be disclosed within at
least 60 days following the end of every
fiscal quarter.
In addition, the Circular will
reference that the Funds are subject to
various fees and expenses described in
the Registration Statement. The Circular
will discuss any exemptive, no-action,
and interpretive relief granted by the
Commission from any rules under the
Act. The Circular will also disclose that
the NAV for the Shares will be
32 For a list of the current members of ISG, see
www.isgportal.org.
17 CFR 240.10A–3.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
the Exchange Act, the Exchange will
surveil for compliance with the
continued listing requirements. If a
Fund is not in compliance with the
applicable listing requirements, the
Exchange will commence delisting
procedures under Exchange Rule 14.12.
The Exchange or FINRA, on behalf of
the Exchange, or both, will
communicate as needed regarding
trading in the Shares and the underlying
exchange-traded instruments 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 such
securities from such markets and other
entities. In addition, the Exchange may
obtain information regarding trading in
the Shares and the underlying
exchange-traded instruments from
markets and other entities that are
members of ISG or with which the
Exchange has in place a comprehensive
surveillance sharing agreement.32
In addition, the Exchange also has a
general policy prohibiting the
distribution of material, non-public
information by its employees.
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9499
calculated after 4 p.m., E.T. each trading
day.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that this
proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)
of the Act 33 in general and Section
6(b)(5) of the Act 34 in particular in that
it is designed to prevent fraudulent and
manipulative acts and practices, to
promote just and equitable principles of
trade, to remove impediments to and
perfect the mechanism of a free and
open market and a national market
system, and, in general, to protect
investors and the public interest.
The Exchange believes that this
proposed rule change is designed to
prevent fraudulent and manipulative
acts and practices in that the Funds
would meet each of the rules relating to
listing and trading of Managed Portfolio
Shares and, to the extent that a Fund is
not in compliance with such rules, the
Exchange would either prevent that
Fund from listing and trading if it
hadn’t started trading on the Exchange
or would commence delisting
procedures under Exchange Rule 14.12.
More specifically, the Exchange will
consider the suspension of trading in,
and will commence delisting
proceedings under Rule 14.12 for, a
Fund under any of the following
circumstances: (a) If, following the
initial twelve-month period after
commencement of trading on the
Exchange, there are fewer than 50
beneficial holders of the Fund for 30 or
more consecutive trading days; (b) if the
Exchange has halted trading in a Fund
because the VIIV is interrupted pursuant
to Rule 14.11(k)(4)(B)(iii)(b) and such
interruption persists past the trading
day in which it occurred or is no longer
available; (c) if the Exchange has halted
trading in a Fund because the net asset
value with respect to such Fund is not
disseminated to all market participants
at the same time, the holdings of such
Fund are not made available on at least
a quarterly basis as required under the
1940 Act, or such holdings are not made
available to all market participants at
the same time pursuant to Rule
14.11(k)(4)(B)(iii)(b) and such issue
persists past the trading day in which it
occurred; (d) if the Exchange has halted
trading in the Fund pursuant to Rule
14.11(k)(4)(B)(iii)(a) and such issue
persists past the trading day in which it
occurred; (e) if the Fund has failed to
file any filings required by the
Commission or if the Exchange is aware
that the Fund is not in compliance with
the conditions of any currently
33 15
34 15
E:\FR\FM\19FEN1.SGM
U.S.C. 78f.
U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
19FEN1
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applicable exemptive order or no-action
relief granted by the Commission or
Commission staff with respect to the
Fund; (f) if any of the continued listing
requirements set forth in Rule 14.11(k)
are not continuously maintained; (g) if
any of the applicable Continued Listing
Representations, as defined in Rule
14.11(a), for the Fund are not
continuously met; or (h) if such other
event shall occur or condition exists
which, in the opinion of the Exchange,
makes further dealings on the Exchange
inadvisable.
The Adviser is not registered as a
broker-dealer, but is affiliated with a
broker-dealer and has implemented and
will maintain a ‘‘fire wall’’ with respect
to such affiliate broker-dealer regarding
access to information concerning the
composition and/or changes to a Fund’s
portfolio and Creation Basket.
In the event (a) the Adviser becomes
registered as a broker-dealer or becomes
newly affiliated with a broker-dealer, or
(b) any new adviser or sub-adviser is a
registered broker-dealer or becomes
affiliated with 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/or Creation Basket. Any
person related to the Adviser or the
Trust who makes decisions pertaining to
a Fund’s portfolio composition or that
has access to information regarding a
Fund’s portfolio or changes thereto or
the Creation Basket will be subject to
procedures designed to prevent the use
and dissemination of material nonpublic information regarding such
portfolio or changes thereto and the
Creation Basket.
Further, Rule 14.11(k)(2)(E) requires
that any person or entity, including an
AP Representative, custodian, Reporting
Authority, distributor, or administrator,
who has access to information regarding
the Investment Company’s portfolio
composition or changes thereto or the
Creation Basket, must be subject to
procedures designed to prevent the use
and dissemination of material
nonpublic information regarding the
applicable Investment Company
portfolio or changes thereto or the
Creation Basket. Moreover, if any such
person or entity is registered as a brokerdealer or affiliated with a broker-dealer,
such person or entity will erect and
maintain a ‘‘fire wall’’ between the
person or entity and the broker-dealer
with respect to access to information
concerning the composition and/or
changes to such Investment Company
portfolio or Creation Basket. Any person
or entity who has access to information
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17:51 Feb 18, 2020
Jkt 250001
regarding a Fund’s portfolio
composition or changes thereto or the
Creation Basket will be subject to
procedures designed to prevent the use
and dissemination of material
nonpublic information regarding the
portfolio or changes thereto or the
Creation Basket.
The Exchange further believes that
Rule 14.11(k) is designed to prevent
fraudulent and manipulative acts and
practices related to the listing and
trading of Managed Portfolio Shares
because it provides meaningful
requirements about both the data that
will be made publicly available about
the Shares as well as the information
that will only be available to certain
parties and the controls on such
information. Specifically, the Exchange
believes that the requirements related to
information protection enumerated
under Rule 14.11(k)(2)(E) will act as a
strong safeguard against misuse and
improper dissemination of information
related to a Fund’s portfolio
composition or changes thereto or the
Creation Basket. The requirement that
any person or entity implement
procedures to prevent the use and
dissemination of material nonpublic
information regarding the portfolio or
Creation Basket will act to prevent any
individual or entity from sharing such
information externally and the internal
‘‘fire wall’’ requirements applicable
where an entity is a registered brokerdealer or affiliated with a broker-dealer
will act to make sure that no entity will
be able to misuse the data for their own
purposes. As such, the Exchange
believes that this proposal is designed to
prevent fraudulent and manipulative
acts and practices.
The Exchange further believes that the
proposal is designed to prevent
fraudulent and manipulative acts and
practices related to the listing and
trading of Managed Portfolio Shares and
to promote just and equitable principles
of trade and to protect investors and the
public interest in that the Exchange
would halt trading under certain
circumstances under which trading in
the Shares of a Fund may be
inadvisable. Specifically, trading in the
Shares will be subject to Rule
14.11(k)(4)(B)(iii)(a), which provides
that the Exchange may consider all
relevant factors in exercising its
discretion to halt trading in a series of
Managed Portfolio Shares. Trading may
be halted because of market conditions
or for reasons that, in the view of the
Exchange, make trading in the series of
Managed Portfolio Shares inadvisable.
These may include: (i) the extent to
which trading is not occurring in the
securities and/or the financial
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
instruments composing the portfolio; or
(ii) whether other unusual conditions or
circumstances detrimental to the
maintenance of a fair and orderly
market are present.35 The Adviser has
represented to the Exchange that it will
provide the Exchange with prompt
notification upon the existence of any
such condition or set of conditions.
Trading in the Shares will also be
subject to Rule 14.11(k)(4)(B)(iii)(b),
which provides that if the Exchange
becomes aware that: (i) The Verified
Intraday Indicative Value of a series of
Managed Portfolio Shares is not being
calculated or disseminated in one
second intervals, as required; (ii) the net
asset value with respect to a series of
Managed Portfolio Shares is not
disseminated to all market participants
at the same time; (iii) the holdings of a
series of Managed Portfolio Shares are
not made available on at least a
quarterly basis as required under the
1940 Act; or (iv) such holdings are not
made available to all market
participants at the same time, (except as
otherwise permitted under the currently
applicable exemptive order or no-action
relief granted by the Commission or
Commission staff to the Investment
Company with respect to the series of
Managed Portfolio Shares), it will halt
trading in such series until such time as
the Verified Intraday Indicative Value,
the net asset value, or the holdings are
available, as required.
With respect to the proposed listing
and trading of Shares of the Funds, 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 Rule 14.11(k). Each
Fund’s holdings will conform to the
permissible investments as set forth in
the Exemptive Application and
Exemptive Order. The Exchange or
FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, or
both, will communicate as needed
regarding trading in the Shares and the
underlying exchange-traded instruments
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 such
instruments from such markets and
other entities. In addition, the Exchange
may obtain information regarding
trading in the Shares and the underlying
exchange-traded instruments from
markets and other entities that are
members of ISG or with which the
35 See
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supra note 30.
19FEN1
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 33 / Wednesday, February 19, 2020 / Notices
Exchange has in place a comprehensive
surveillance sharing agreement.
With respect to trading of Shares of
the Funds, the ability of market
participants to buy and sell Shares at
prices near the VIIV is dependent upon
their assessment that the VIIV is a
reliable, indicative real-time value for a
Fund’s underlying holdings. Market
participants are expected to accept the
VIIV as a reliable, indicative real-time
value because (1) the VIIV will be
calculated and disseminated based on a
Fund’s actual portfolio holdings, (2) the
securities in which the Funds plan to
invest are generally highly liquid and
actively traded and trade at the same
time as the Funds and therefore
generally have accurate real time pricing
available, and (3) market participants
will have a daily opportunity to
evaluate whether the VIIV at or near the
close of trading is indeed predictive of
the actual NAV.
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 that the NAV per
share of the Funds will be calculated
daily and that the NAV will be made
available to all market participants at
the same time. Investors can also obtain
a Fund’s SAI, shareholder reports, Form
N–CSR, and Form N–PORT. A Fund’s
SAI and shareholder reports will be
available free upon request from the
applicable fund, and those documents
and the Form N–CSR and Form N–
PORT may be viewed on-screen or
downloaded from the Commission’s
website. In addition, with respect to the
Funds, a large amount of information
will be publicly available regarding the
Funds and the Shares, thereby
promoting market transparency.
Quotation and last sale information for
the Shares will be available via the CTA
high-speed line. Information regarding
the VIIV will be widely disseminated
every second throughout Regular
Trading Hours by the Reporting
Authority and/or one or more major
market data vendors. The website for
the Funds will include a prospectus for
the Funds that may be downloaded, and
additional data relating to NAV and
other applicable quantitative
information, updated on a daily basis.
Moreover, prior to the commencement
of trading, the Exchange will inform its
members in a Circular of the special
characteristics and risks associated with
trading the Shares. The Exchange will
halt trading in the Shares under the
conditions specified in BZX Rule 11.18
or for reasons that, in the view of the
Exchange, make trading in the Shares
inadvisable. Trading in the Shares will
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17:51 Feb 18, 2020
Jkt 250001
be subject to Rule 14.11(k)(4)(B)(iii)(a)
and (b), which set forth circumstances
under which Shares of a Fund will be
halted.
In addition, as noted above, investors
will have ready access to the VIIV, and
quotation and last sale information for
the Shares. The Shares will conform to
the initial and continued listing criteria
under Rule 14.11(k). Each Fund’s
holdings will be limited to and
consistent with what is permissible
under the Exemptive Order. Each
Fund’s investments will be consistent
with its investment objective and will
not be used to enhance leverage.
The proposed rule change is designed
to perfect the mechanism of a free and
open market and, in general, to protect
investors and the public interest in that
it will facilitate the listing and trading
of actively-managed exchange-traded
products that will enhance competition
among market participants, to the
benefit of investors and the marketplace.
As noted above, the Exchange has in
place surveillance procedures relating to
trading in the Shares and may obtain
information via ISG from other
exchanges that are members of ISG or
with which the Exchange has entered
into a comprehensive surveillance
sharing agreement. In addition, as noted
above, investors will have ready access
to information regarding the VIIV and
quotation and last sale information for
the Shares.
For the above reasons, the Exchange
believes that the proposed rule change
is consistent with the requirements of
Section 6(b)(5) of the Act.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that
the proposed rule change will impose
any burden on competition that is not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance
of the purpose of the Act. The Exchange
notes that the proposed rule change,
rather will facilitate the listing and
trading of actively-managed exchangetraded products that will enhance
competition among both market
participants and listing venues, 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
The Exchange has neither solicited
nor received written comments on the
proposed rule change.
III. Discussion and Commission
Findings
After careful review, the Commission
finds that the proposed rule change, as
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9501
modified by Amendment No. 2, is
consistent with the Act and rules and
regulations thereunder applicable to a
national securities exchange.36 In
particular, the Commission finds that
the proposed rule change, as modified
by Amendment No. 2, is consistent with
Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,37 which
requires, among other things, that the
Exchange’s rules be designed to prevent
fraudulent and manipulative acts and
practices, to promote just and equitable
principles of trade, to remove
impediments to and perfect the
mechanism of a free and open market
and a national market system, and, in
general, to protect investors and the
public interest.
The Commission believes that the
proposal is reasonably designed to
promote fair disclosure of information
that may be necessary to price the
Shares appropriately and to prevent
trading in the Shares when a reasonable
degree of certain pricing transparency
cannot be assured. As such, the
Commission believes the proposal is
reasonably designed to maintain a fair
and orderly market for trading the
Shares. The Commission also finds that
the proposal is consistent with Section
11A(a)(1)(C)(iii) of the Act, which sets
forth Congress’s finding that it is in the
public interest and appropriate for the
protection of investors and the
maintenance of fair and orderly markets
to assure the availability to brokers,
dealers, and investors of information
with respect to quotations for, and
transactions in, securities.
Specifically, the Commission notes
that the Exchange has obtained a
representation from the issuer that the
NAV per Share of each Fund will be
calculated daily and will be made
available to all market participants at
the same time.38 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. Quotation and last
sale information for the Shares will be
available via the Consolidated Tape
Association high-speed line. In
addition, the VIIV will be widely
disseminated by the Reporting
Authority and/or one or more major
market data vendors in one-second
intervals during Regular Trading Hours,
and must be disseminated to all market
36 In approving this proposed rule change, the
Commission notes that it has considered the
proposed rule’s impact on efficiency, competition,
and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
37 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
38 See BZX Rule 14.11(k)(4)(A)(ii).
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participants at the same time.39
Moreover, the Funds’ website will
include a form of the prospectus and
additional data relating to NAV and
other applicable quantitative
information for each Fund, including
any information regarding premiums/
discounts that ETFs registered under the
1940 Act are required to provide or that
are otherwise required under the
Exemptive Order. Such website and
information will be publicly available at
no charge.
The Commission also notes that the
Exchange’s rules regarding trading halts
help to ensure the maintenance of fair
and orderly markets for the Shares.
Specifically, pursuant to its rules, the
Exchange may consider all relevant
factors in exercising its discretion to
halt trading in the Shares and will halt
trading in the Shares under the
conditions specified in BZX Rule 11.18.
Trading may be halted because of
market conditions or for reasons that, in
the view of the Exchange, make trading
in the Shares inadvisable, including (1)
the extent to which trading is not
occurring in the securities and/or the
financial instruments composing the
portfolio; or (2) whether other unusual
conditions or circumstances detrimental
to the maintenance of a fair and orderly
market are present.40 Trading in the
Shares also will be subject to BZX Rule
14.11(k)(4)(B)(iii)(b), which sets forth
additional circumstances under which
trading in the Shares will be halted.
The Commission also believes that the
proposal is reasonably designed to help
prevent fraudulent and manipulative
acts and practices. The Exchange
represents that it has a general policy
prohibiting the distribution of material,
non-public information by its
employees. The Exchange states that the
Adviser is not registered as a brokerdealer, but is affiliated with a brokerdealer and has implemented and will
maintain a ‘‘fire wall’’ with respect to its
broker-dealer affiliate regarding access
to information concerning the
composition of and/or changes to the
Funds’ portfolios and Creation Baskets.
Further, the Commission notes that any
person related to the Funds’ investment
adviser or to the Trust who makes
decisions pertaining to a Fund’s
portfolio composition or has access to
information regarding the Fund’s
portfolio composition or changes thereto
or the Creation Basket must be subject
to procedures designed to prevent the
use and dissemination of material
nonpublic information regarding the
applicable Fund portfolio or changes
39 See
40 See
BZX Rule 14.11(k)(4)(B)(i).
BZX Rule 14.11(k)(4)(B)(iii)(a).
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17:51 Feb 18, 2020
Jkt 250001
thereto or the Creation Basket.41 In
addition, any person or entity, including
an AP Representative, custodian,
Reporting Authority, distributor, or
administrator, who has access to
information regarding a Fund’s portfolio
composition or changes thereto or its
Creation Basket, must be subject to
procedures designed to prevent the use
and dissemination of material
nonpublic information regarding the
applicable Fund portfolio or changes
thereto or the Creation Basket.42
Moreover, if any such person or entity
is registered as a broker-dealer or
affiliated with a broker-dealer, such
person or entity must erect and
maintain a ‘‘fire wall’’ between the
person or entity and the broker-dealer
with respect to access to information
concerning the composition of and/or
changes to such Fund’s portfolio and/or
Creation Basket.43 Finally, the Exchange
represents that trading of the Shares
through the Exchange will be subject to
the Exchange’s surveillance procedures
for derivative products, including
Managed Portfolio Shares,44 and that its
surveillance procedures are adequate to
properly monitor the trading of the
Shares on the Exchange during all
trading sessions and to deter and detect
violations of Exchange rules and the
applicable federal securities laws.
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. Moreover, prior to the
commencement of trading, the Exchange
will inform its members in a Circular of
the special characteristics and risks
associated with trading the Shares.45
41 See BZX Rule 14.11(k)(2)(D). The Exchange
represents that any person related to the Adviser or
the Trust who makes decisions pertaining to a
Fund’s portfolio composition or that has access to
information regarding a Fund’s portfolio or changes
thereto or the Creation Basket will be subject to
procedures designed to prevent the use and
dissemination of material non-public information
regarding such portfolio or changes thereto and the
Creation Basket.
42 See BZX Rule 14.11(k)(2)(E).
43 See id. The Exchange represents that any
person or entity who has access to information
regarding a Fund’s portfolio composition or changes
thereto or the Creation Basket will be subject to
procedures designed to prevent the use and
dissemination of material nonpublic information
regarding the portfolio composition or changes
thereto or the Creation Basket.
44 See BZX Rule 14.11(k)(2)(C), which requires, as
part of the surveillance procedures for Managed
Portfolio Shares, the Funds’ investment adviser to,
upon request by the Exchange or the Financial
Industry Regulatory Authority (‘‘FINRA’’), on behalf
of the Exchange, make available to the Exchange or
FINRA the daily portfolio holdings of each series
of Managed Portfolio Shares.
45 The Exchange represents that the Circular will
discuss the following: (1) Procedures for purchases
and redemptions of Shares; (2) BZX Rule 3.7, which
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In support of this proposal, the
Exchange represents that:
(1) The Shares will conform to the
initial and continued listing criteria
under BZX Rule 14.11(k).
(2) A minimum of 100,000 Shares of
each Fund will be outstanding at the
commencement of trading on the
Exchange.
(3) The Exchange or FINRA, on behalf
of the Exchange, or both, will
communicate as needed, and may
obtain trading information, regarding
trading in the Shares and the underlying
exchange-traded instruments with other
markets and other entities that are
members of the ISG. In addition, the
Exchange may obtain information
regarding trading in the Shares and the
underlying exchange-traded instruments
from markets and other entities with
which the Exchange has in place a
comprehensive surveillance sharing
agreement.
(4) The Exchange has appropriate
rules to facilitate transactions in the
Shares during all trading sessions in
which the Shares trade.
(5) For initial and continued listing,
each Fund will be in compliance with
Rule 10A–3 under the Act.46
(6) Each Fund’s holdings will conform
to the permissible investments as set
forth in the Exemptive Application and
Exemptive Order, and investments
made by the Funds will be consistent
with all requirements set forth in the
Exemptive Application and Exemptive
Order. Each Fund’s investments will be
consistent with its investment objective
and will not be used to enhance
leverage.
The Exchange represents that all
statements and representations made in
the filing regarding: (1) The description
of the portfolio or reference assets; (2)
limitations on portfolio holdings or
reference assets; (3) dissemination and
availability of the VIIV, reference assets,
and intraday indicative values; and (4)
the applicability of Exchange rules
constitute continued listing
requirements for listing the Shares on
the Exchange. In addition, the Exchange
represents that the issuer will advise the
Exchange of any failure by a Fund to
comply with the continued listing
requirements and, pursuant to its
obligations under Section 19(g)(1) of the
imposes suitability obligations on Exchange
members with respect to recommending
transactions in the Shares to customers; (3) how
information regarding the VIIV is disseminated; (4)
the requirement that members deliver a prospectus
to investors purchasing newly issued shares prior
to or concurrently with the confirmation of a
transaction; (5) trading information; and (6) that the
portfolio holdings will be disclosed within at least
60 days following the end of every fiscal quarter.
46 See 17 CFR 240.10A–3.
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 33 / Wednesday, February 19, 2020 / Notices
Act, the Exchange will surveil for
compliance with the continued listing
requirements. If a Fund is not in
compliance with the applicable listing
requirements, the Exchange will
commence delisting procedures under
BZX Rule 14.12.
should refer to File Number SR–
CboeBZX–2019–057, and should be
submitted on or before March 11, 2020.
IV. Solicitation of Comments on
Amendment No. 2 to the Proposed Rule
Change
Interested persons are invited to
submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning whether
Amendment No. 2 is consistent with the
Exchange Act. Comments may be
submitted by any of the following
methods:
The Commission finds good cause to
approve the proposed rule change, as
modified by Amendment No. 2, prior to
the thirtieth day after the date of
publication of notice of the filing of
Amendment No. 2 in the Federal
Register. In Amendment No. 2, the
Exchange modified the description of
each Fund’s investments and conformed
the description of BZX Rule 14.11(k) to
the final rule approved in the Managed
Portfolio Shares Order. Amendment No.
2 also provides other clarifications and
additional information to the proposed
rule change.47 The changes and
additional information in Amendment
No. 2 assist the Commission in finding
that the proposal is consistent with the
Exchange Act. Accordingly, the
Commission finds good cause, pursuant
to Section 19(b)(2) of the Exchange
Act,48 to approve the proposed rule
change, as modified by Amendment No.
2, on an accelerated basis.
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission’s internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an email to rule-comments@
sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
CboeBZX–2019–057 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–CboeBZX–2019–057. 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
a.m. and 3 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
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18:58 Feb 18, 2020
Jkt 250001
V. Accelerated Approval of Proposed
Rule Change, as Modified by
Amendment No. 2
VI. Conclusion
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to
Section 19(b)(2) of the Act 49 that the
proposed rule change (SR–CboeBZX–
2019–057), as modified by Amendment
No. 2, be, and hereby is, approved on an
accelerated basis.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.50
J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020–03176 Filed 2–18–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–88178; File No. SR–
CboeEDGX–2019–048]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe
EDGX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of
Designation of a Longer Period for
Commission Action on Proceedings To
Determine Whether To Approve or
Disapprove a Proposed Rule Change
To Introduce the Small Retail Broker
Distribution Program
February 12, 2020.
On August 1, 2019, Cboe EDGX
Exchange, Inc. (the ‘‘Exchange’’ or
‘‘EDGX’’) filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’),
pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2 a
proposed rule change to amend the
EDGX fee schedule to introduce a Small
Retail Broker Distribution Program (the
‘‘Program’’). The proposed rule change
was immediately effective upon filing
with the Commission pursuant to
Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act.3 The
proposed rule change was published for
comment in the Federal Register on
August 20, 2019.4 The Commission
received no comment letters regarding
the proposed rule change. On
September 30, 2019, under Sections
19(b)(2) and (b)(3)(C) of the Act,5 the
Commission temporarily suspended the
proposed rule change and instituted
proceedings to determine whether to
approve or disapprove the proposed
rule change (‘‘OIP’’).6 The Commission
has received no comment letters in
response to the OIP.
Section 19(b)(2) of the Act 7 provides
that, after initiating disapproval
proceedings, the Commission shall issue
an order approving or disapproving the
proposed rule change not later than 180
days after the date of publication of
notice of filing of the proposed rule
change. The Commission may extend
the period for issuing an order
approving or disapproving the proposed
rule change, however, by not more than
60 days if the Commission determines
that a longer period is appropriate and
publishes the reasons for such
determination. The proposed rule
change was published for notice and
1 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
CFR 240.19b–4.
3 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2) and (b)(3)(A).
4 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 86678
(August 14, 2019), 84 FR 43246 (‘‘Notice’’).
5 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(C).
6 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 87163
(September 30, 2019), 84 FR 53203 (October 4,
2019).
7 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
2 17
47 See
Amendment No. 2, supra note 11.
U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
49 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
50 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
48 15
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E:\FR\FM\19FEN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 33 (Wednesday, February 19, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9494-9503]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-03176]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-88175; File No. SR-CboeBZX-2019-057]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of
Filing of Amendment No. 2 and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of a
Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 2 thereto, To List
and Trade Shares of the American Century Focused Dynamic Growth ETF and
American Century Focused Large Cap Value ETF Under BZX Rule 14.11(k)
February 12, 2020.
I. Introduction
On June 6, 2019, Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (``Exchange'' or ``BZX'')
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission''),
pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(``Act'' or ``Exchange Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ a
proposed rule change to list and trade shares (``Shares'') of the
American Century Focused Dynamic Growth ETF and American Century
Focused Large Cap Value ETF (each a ``Fund'' and, collectively, the
``Funds'') under BZX Rule 14.11(k) (Managed Portfolio Shares).\3\ The
proposed rule change was published for comment in the Federal Register
on June 25, 2019.\4\ On August 2, 2019, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of
the Act,\5\ the Commission designated a longer period within which to
approve the proposed rule change, disapprove the proposed rule change,
or institute proceedings to determine whether to disapprove the
proposed rule change.\6\ On September 23, 2019, the Commission
instituted proceedings under Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the Act \7\ to
determine whether to approve or disapprove the proposed rule change.\8\
On December 17, 2019, the Exchange filed Amendment No. 1 to the
proposed rule change, which replaced and superseded the proposed rule
change as originally filed.\9\ On December 17, 2019, the Commission
designated a longer period for action on the proposed rule change.\10\
On February 11, 2020, the Exchange filed Amendment No. 2 to the
proposed rule change, which replaced and superseded the proposed rule
change as modified by Amendment No. 1.\11\ The Commission has received
no comments on the proposed rule change. The Commission is publishing
this notice to solicit comments on Amendment No. 2 from interested
persons, and is approving the proposed rule change, as modified by
Amendment No. 2, on an accelerated basis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
\3\ The Commission recently approved the Exchange's proposed
rule change to adopt BZX Rule 14.11(k) to permit the listing and
trading of Managed Portfolio Shares. See Securities Exchange Act
Release No. 87759 (December 16, 2019), 84 FR 70223 (December 20,
2019) (SR-CboeBZX-2019-047) (``Managed Portfolio Shares Order'').
\4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 86155 (June 19,
2019), 84 FR 29912 (``Notice'').
\5\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
\6\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 86557, 84 FR 39024
(August 8, 2019). The Commission designated September 23, 2019, as
the date by which the Commission shall approve or disapprove, or
institute proceedings to determine whether to disapprove, the
proposed rule change.
\7\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
\8\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 87059, 84 FR 51215
(September 27, 2019).
\9\ Amendment No. 1 is available on the Commission's website at
https://www.sec.gov/comments/sr-cboebzx-2019-057/srcboebzx2019057-6555831-200931.pdf.
\10\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 87769, 84 FR 70589
(December 23, 2019). The Commission designated February 20, 2020, as
the date by which the Commission must either approve or disapprove
the proposed rule change.
\11\ Amendment No. 2 is available on the Commission's website at
https://www.sec.gov/comments/sr-cboebzx-2019-057/srcboebzx2019057.htm.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment
No. 2
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
This Amendment No. 2 to SR-CboeBZX-2019-057 amends and replaces in
its entirety Amendment No. 1 to the proposal, originally submitted on
December 17, 2019, which amended and replaced in its entirety the
proposal as originally submitted on June 5, 2019. The Exchange submits
this Amendment No. 2 in order to clarify certain points and add
additional details to the proposal.
The Exchange received approval to add new Rule 14.11(k) for the
purpose of permitting the listing and trading of Managed Portfolio
Shares, which are securities issued by an actively managed open-end
management investment company,\12\ on December 16, 2019.\13\ Rule
14.11(k)(2)(A) requires the Exchange to file separate proposals
[[Page 9495]]
under Section 19(b) of the Act before listing and trading any series of
Managed Portfolio Shares on the Exchange. As such, the Exchange is
submitting this proposal in order to list and trade shares of the
American Century Focused Dynamic Growth ETF and the American Century
Focused Large Cap Value ETF under Rule 14.11(k).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\12\ As defined in Rule 14.11(k)(3)(A), the term ``Managed
Portfolio Share'' means a security that (a) represents an interest
in an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act
of 1940 (``Investment Company'') organized as an open-end management
investment company, that invests in a portfolio of securities
selected by the Investment Company's investment adviser consistent
with the Investment Company's investment objectives and policies;
(b) is issued in a Creation Unit (as defined below), or multiples
thereof, in return for a designated portfolio of instruments (and/or
an amount of cash) with a value equal to the next determined net
asset value and delivered to the Authorized Participant (as defined
in the Investment Company's Form N-1A filed with the Commission)
through a Confidential Account; (c) when aggregated into a
Redemption Unit (as defined below), or multiples thereof, may be
redeemed for a designated portfolio of instruments (and/or an amount
of cash) with a value equal to the next determined net asset value
delivered to the Confidential Account (as defined below) for the
benefit of the Authorized Participant; and (d) the portfolio
holdings for which are disclosed within at least 60 days following
the end of every fiscal quarter.
\13\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 87759 (December 16,
2019), 84 FR 70223 (December 20, 2019) (SR-CboeBZX-2019-047).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Description of the Funds and the Trust
The shares of each Fund (the ``Shares'') will be issued by American
Century ETF Trust (the ``Trust''), a statutory trust organized under
the laws of the State of Delaware and registered with the Commission as
an open-end management investment company.\14\ The investment adviser
to each Fund will be American Century Investment Management, Inc. (the
``Adviser''). Foreside Fund Services, LLC (the ``Distributor'') will
serve as the distributor of each of the Fund's Shares. All statements
and representations made in this filing regarding the description of
the portfolio or reference assets, limitations on portfolio holdings or
reference assets, dissemination and availability of the Verified
Intraday Indicative Value (``VIIV''),\15\ reference assets, and
intraday indicative values, and the applicability of Exchange rules
shall constitute continued listing requirements for listing the Shares
on the Exchange, as provided under Rule 14.11(a).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\14\ The Trust is registered under the 1940 Act. On June 18,
2018, the Trust filed a registration statement on Form N-1A relating
to the Funds (File No. 811-23305) (the ``Registration Statement'').
The Exchange notes that the names of the Funds have been changed
since the Registration Statement was filed and that such names will
be updated in a subsequent filing. The Commission issued an order
granting exemptive relief to the Trust (``Exemptive Order'') under
the 1940 Act on September 10, 2019 (Investment Company Act Release
No. 33620). The Exemptive Order was granted with respect to the
Trust's application for exemptive relief (the ``Exemptive
Application'') (File No. 812-15035). Investments made by the Funds
will comply with the conditions set forth in the Exemptive Order.
The description of the operation of the Trust and the Funds herein
is based, in part, on the Registration Statement. The Exemptive
Order specifically notes that ``granting the requested exemptions is
appropriate in and consistent with the public interest and
consistent with the protection of investors and the purposes fairly
intended by the policy and provisions of the Act. It is further
found that the terms of the proposed transactions, including the
consideration to be paid or received, are reasonable and fair and do
not involve overreaching on the part of any person concerned, and
that the proposed transactions are consistent with the policy of
each registered investment company concerned and with the general
purposes of the Act.'' The Exchange notes that the Exemptive
Application incorporates by reference the terms and conditions of
the exemptive order granted to Precidian ETFs Trust, et al. See
Investment Company Act Release Nos. 33440, April 8, 2019 (notice)
and 33477, May 20, 2019 (order).
\15\ Rule 14.11(k)(3)(B) defines the term VIIV as the indicative
value of a Managed Portfolio Share based on all of the holdings of a
series of Managed Portfolio Shares as of the close of business on
the prior business day and, for corporate actions, based on the
applicable holdings as of the opening of business on the current
business day, priced and disseminated in one second intervals during
Regular Trading Hours (as defined in Rule 1.5(w)) by the Reporting
Authority, as defined below.
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Rule 14.11(k)(2)(D) provides that if the investment adviser to the
Investment Company issuing Managed Portfolio Shares is registered as a
broker-dealer or is affiliated with a broker-dealer, such investment
adviser will erect and maintain a ``fire wall'' between the investment
adviser and personnel of the broker-dealer or broker-dealer affiliate,
as applicable, with respect to access to information concerning the
composition of and/or changes to such Investment Company portfolio and/
or the Creation Basket.\16\ Any person related to the investment
adviser or Investment Company who makes decisions pertaining to the
Investment Company's portfolio composition or has access to information
regarding the Investment Company's portfolio composition or changes
thereto or the Creation Basket must be subject to procedures designed
to prevent the use and dissemination of material nonpublic information
regarding the applicable Investment Company portfolio or changes
thereto or the Creation Basket.\17\ Rule 14.11(k)(2)(D) is similar to
Rule 14.11(c)(5)(A)(i), related to Index Fund Shares, except that Rule
14.11(k)(2)(D) relates to the establishment of a ``fire wall'' between
the investment adviser and the broker-dealer as applicable to an
Investment Company's portfolio and/or Creation Basket, not an
underlying benchmark index, as is the case with index-based funds. Rule
14.11(k)(2)(D) is also similar to Rule 14.11(i)(7), related to Managed
Fund Shares, except that Rule 14.11(k)(2)(D) relates to the
establishment of a ``fire wall'' between the investment adviser and the
broker-dealer as applicable to an Investment Company's portfolio and
Creation Basket, and not just the underlying portfolio, as is the case
with Managed Fund Shares. The Adviser is not registered as a broker-
dealer, but is affiliated with a broker-dealer and has implemented and
will maintain a ``fire wall'' with respect to such broker-dealer
regarding access to information concerning the composition of and
changes to a Fund's portfolio and/or Creation Basket.
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\16\ Rule 14.11(k)(3)(E) defines the term ``Creation Basket'' as
on any given business day the names and quantities of the specified
instruments (and/or an amount of cash) that are required for an AP
Representative (as defined below) to deposit in-kind on behalf of an
Authorized Participant in exchange for a Creation Unit and the names
and quantities of the specified instruments (and/or an amount of
cash) that will be transferred in-kind to an AP Representative on
behalf of an Authorized Participant in exchange for a Redemption
Unit, which will be identical and will be transmitted to each AP
Representative before the commencement of trading.
\17\ An investment adviser to an open-end fund is required to be
registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the ``Advisers
Act''). As a result, the Adviser and its related personnel will be
subject to the provisions of Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act
relating to codes of ethics. This Rule requires investment advisers
to adopt a code of ethics that reflects its fiduciary obligations as
well as compliance with other applicable securities laws.
Accordingly, procedures designed to prevent the communication and
misuse of non-public information by an investment adviser must be
consistent with Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act. In addition,
Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act makes it unlawful for an
investment adviser to provide investment advice to clients unless
such investment adviser (i) adopts and implements written policies
and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violations, by the
investment adviser and its supervised persons, of the Advisers Act
and the Commission rules adopted thereunder; (ii) reviews, at least
annually, the adequacy of the policies and procedures established
pursuant to subparagraph (i) above and the effectiveness of their
implementation; and (iii) designates an individual (who is a
supervised person) responsible for administering the policies and
procedures adopted under subparagraph (i) above. The Funds will also
comply with the requirements of Regulation Fair Disclosure, as
provided in the Exemptive Application.
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In the event (a) the Adviser becomes registered as a broker-dealer
or becomes newly affiliated with a broker-dealer, or (b) any new
adviser or sub-adviser is a registered broker-dealer or becomes
affiliated with 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/or Creation Basket. Any person
related to the Adviser or the Trust who makes decisions pertaining to a
Fund's portfolio composition or that has access to information
regarding a Fund's portfolio or changes thereto or the Creation Basket
will be subject to procedures designed to prevent the use and
dissemination of material non-public information regarding such
portfolio or changes thereto and the Creation Basket.
Further, Rule 14.11(k)(2)(E) requires that any person or entity,
including an AP Representative, custodian, Reporting Authority,
distributor, or administrator, who has access to information regarding
the Investment Company's portfolio composition or changes thereto or
the Creation Basket, must be subject to procedures designed to prevent
the use and dissemination of material nonpublic information regarding
the applicable Investment Company
[[Page 9496]]
portfolio or changes thereto or the Creation Basket. Moreover, if any
such person or entity is registered as a broker-dealer or affiliated
with a broker-dealer, such person or entity will erect and maintain a
``fire wall'' between the person or entity and the broker-dealer with
respect to access to information concerning the composition and/or
changes to such Investment Company portfolio or Creation Basket. Any
person or entity who has access to information regarding a Fund's
portfolio composition or changes thereto or the Creation Basket will be
subject to procedures designed to prevent the use and dissemination of
material nonpublic information regarding the portfolio composition or
changes thereto or the Creation Basket.
Description of the Funds
American Century Focused Dynamic Growth ETF
The Fund's holdings will conform to the permissible investments as
set forth in the Exemptive Application and Exemptive Order and the
holdings will be consistent with all requirements in the Exemptive
Application and Exemptive Order.\18\
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\18\ Pursuant to the Exemptive Order, the permissible
investments include only the following instruments that trade on a
U.S. exchange contemporaneously with the Shares: ETFs and exchange-
traded notes, common stocks, preferred stocks, American depositary
receipts, real estate investment trusts, commodity pools, metals
trusts, currency trusts, and futures for which the reference asset
the Fund may invest in directly or, in the case of an index future,
based on an index of a type of asset that the Fund could invest in
directly; as well as cash and cash equivalents (short-term U.S.
Treasury securities, government money market funds and repurchase
agreements).
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The Fund seeks long-term capital growth. The portfolio managers
look for stocks of companies they believe will increase in value over
time.
American Century Focused Large Cap Value ETF
The Fund's holdings will conform to the permissible investments as
set forth in the Exemptive Application and Exemptive Order and the
holdings will be consistent with all requirements in the Exemptive
Application and Exemptive Order.\19\
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\19\ Pursuant to the Exemptive Order, the permissible
investments include only the following instruments that trade on a
U.S. exchange contemporaneously with the Shares: ETFs and exchange-
traded notes, common stocks, preferred stocks, American depositary
receipts, real estate investment trusts, commodity pools, metals
trusts, currency trusts, and futures for which the reference asset
the Fund may invest in directly or, in the case of an index future,
based on an index of a type of asset that the Fund could invest in
directly; as well as cash and cash equivalents (short-term U.S.
Treasury securities, government money market funds and repurchase
agreements).
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The Fund seeks long-term capital growth. In selecting stocks for
the Fund, the portfolio managers look for companies whose stock price
may not reflect the company's value, by looking for companies that are
temporarily out of favor in, or whose value is not yet recognized by,
the market.
Investment Restrictions
The Funds will not purchase any securities that are illiquid
investments at the time of purchase and each Fund's holdings will be
consistent with all requirements described in the Exemptive Application
and Exemptive Order.
The Shares of each Fund will conform to the initial and continued
listing criteria under Rule 14.11(k). The Funds' holdings will be
limited to and consistent with what is permissible under the Exemptive
Order and described herein.
Each Fund's investments will be consistent with its investment
objective and will not be used to enhance leverage.
Creations and Redemptions of Shares
Creations and redemptions of the Shares will occur as described in
Rule 14.11(k). More specifically, in connection with the creation and
redemption of Creation Units \20\ and Redemption Units,\21\ the
delivery or receipt of any portfolio securities in-kind will be
required to be effected through a separate confidential brokerage
account (a ``Confidential Account'').\22\ Authorized Participants (as
defined in the applicable Form N-1A filed with the Commission, ``AP'')
will sign an agreement with an AP Representative \23\ establishing the
Confidential Account for the benefit of the AP. AP Representatives will
be broker-dealers. An AP must be a Depository Trust Company (``DTC'')
Participant that has executed a ``Participant Agreement'' with the
Distributor with respect to the creation and redemption of Creation
Units and Redemption Units and formed a Confidential Account for its
benefit in accordance with the terms of the Participant Agreement. For
purposes of creations or redemptions, all transactions will be effected
through the respective AP's Confidential Account, for the benefit of
the AP, without disclosing the identity of such securities to the AP.
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\20\ Rule 14.11(k)(3)(F) defines the term ``Creation Unit'' as a
specified minimum number of Managed Portfolio Shares issued by an
Investment Company at the request of an Authorized Participant in
return for a designated portfolio of instruments and/or cash.
\21\ Rule 14.11(k)(3)(G) defines the term ``Redemption Unit'' as
a specified minimum number of Managed Portfolio Shares that may be
redeemed to an Investment Company at the request of an Authorized
Participant in return for a portfolio of instruments and/or cash.
\22\ Rule 14.11(k)(3)(D) defines the term ``Confidential
Account'' as an account owned by an Authorized Participant and held
with an AP Representative on behalf of the Authorized Participant.
The account will be established and governed by contractual
agreement between the AP Representative and the Authorized
Participant solely for the purposes of creation and redemption,
while keeping confidential the Creation Basket constituents of each
series of Managed Portfolio Shares, including from the Authorized
Participant. The books and records of the Confidential Account will
be maintained by the AP Representative on behalf of the Authorized
Participant.
\23\ Rule 14.11(k)(3)(C) defines the term ``AP Representative''
as an unaffiliated broker-dealer, with which an Authorized
Participant has signed an agreement to establish a Confidential
Account for the benefit of such Authorized Participant, that will
deliver or receive, on behalf of the Authorized Participant, all
consideration to or from the Investment Company in a creation or
redemption. An AP Representative will not be permitted to disclose
the Creation Basket to any person, including the Authorized
Participants.
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Each AP Representative will be given, before the commencement of
trading each Business Day (defined below), the Creation Basket (as
described below) for that day. This information will permit an AP that
has established a Confidential Account with an AP Representative, to
instruct the AP Representative to buy and sell positions in the
portfolio securities to permit creation and redemption of Creation
Units and Redemption Units. Shares of each Fund will be issued and
redeemed in Creation Units and Redemption Units of 5,000 or more
Shares. The Funds will offer and redeem Creation Units and Redemption
Units on a continuous basis at the net asset value (``NAV'') per share
next determined after receipt of an order in proper form. The NAV per
share of each Fund will be determined as of the close of regular
trading on the Exchange on each day that the Exchange is open (a
``Business Day''). The Funds will sell and redeem Creation Units and
Redemption Units only on Business Days.
To keep costs low and permit each Fund to be as fully invested as
possible, Shares will be purchased and redeemed in Creation Units and
Redemption Units and generally on an in-kind basis. Accordingly, except
where the purchase or redemption will include cash under the
circumstances described in the Exemptive Application, APs will be
required to purchase Creation Units by making an in-kind deposit of
specified instruments (``Deposit Instruments''), and APs redeeming
their Shares will receive an in-kind transfer of specified instruments
(``Redemption
[[Page 9497]]
Instruments'') through the AP Representative in their Confidential
Account.\24\ On any given Business Day, the names and quantities of the
instruments that constitute the Deposit Instruments and the names and
quantities of the instruments that constitute the Redemption
Instruments will be identical, and these instruments may be referred
to, in the case of either a purchase or a redemption, as the ``Creation
Basket.''
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\24\ The Funds must comply with the federal securities laws in
accepting Deposit Instruments and satisfying redemptions with
Redemption Instruments, including that the Deposit Instruments and
Redemption Instruments are sold in transactions that would be exempt
from registration under the 1933 Act.
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Placement of Purchase Orders
Each Fund will issue Shares through the Distributor on a continuous
basis at NAV. The Exchange represents that the issuance of Shares will
operate in a manner similar to that of other ETFs. Each Fund will issue
Shares only at the NAV per share next determined after an order in
proper form is received.
In the case of a creation, the AP would enter an irrevocable
creation order with the applicable Fund and direct the AP
Representative to purchase the Deposit Instruments. The AP
Representative would then purchase the necessary securities in the
Confidential Account. In purchasing the necessary securities, the AP
Representative will use methods, such as breaking the transaction into
multiple transactions and transacting in multiple marketplaces, to
avoid revealing the composition of the Creation Basket. Once the
Deposit Instruments have been acquired in the Confidential Account, the
AP Representative would contribute the Deposit Instruments in-kind to
the Fund.
The Distributor will furnish acknowledgements to those placing such
orders that the orders have been accepted, but the Distributor may
reject any order which is not submitted in proper form, as described in
a Fund's prospectus or Statement of Additional Information (``SAI'').
The NAV of each Fund is expected to be determined once each Business
Day at a time determined by the Trust's Board of Trustees (``Board''),
currently anticipated to be as of the close of the regular trading
session on the Exchange (ordinarily 4:00 p.m. E.T.) (the ``Valuation
Time''). Each Fund will establish a cut-off time (``Order Cut-Off
Time'') for purchase orders in proper form. Such Order Cut-Off Time
will be provided in the Registration Statement. To initiate a purchase
of Shares, an AP must submit to the Distributor an irrevocable order to
purchase such Shares after the most recent prior Valuation Time. All
orders to purchase Creation Units must be received by the Distributor
no later than the Order Cut-Off Time in each case on the date such
order is placed (``Transmittal Date'') for the AP to receive the NAV
per share determined on the Transmittal Date. As with all existing
ETFs, if there is a difference between the NAV attributable to a
Creation Unit and the aggregate market value of the Creation Basket
exchanged for the Creation Unit, the party conveying instruments with
the lower value will also pay to the other an amount in cash equal to
that difference (the ``Balancing Amount'').
Purchases of Shares will be settled in-kind and/or cash for an
amount equal to the applicable NAV per share purchased plus applicable
transaction fees.\25\ Other than the Balancing Amount, a Fund will
substitute cash only under exceptional circumstances and as set forth
under that Fund's policies and procedures governing the composition of
Creation Baskets.
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\25\ To the extent that a Fund allows creations or redemptions
to be conducted in cash, such transactions will be effected in the
same manner for all APs transacting in cash.
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Authorized Participant Redemption
The Shares may be redeemed to a Fund in Redemption Unit size or
multiples thereof as described below. Redemption orders of Redemption
Units must be placed by an AP (``AP Redemption Order''). Each Fund will
establish in its Registration Statement an Order Cut-Off Time for
redemption orders of Redemption Units in proper form. Redemption Units
of the applicable Fund will be redeemable at their NAV per share next
determined after receipt of a request for redemption by the Trust in
the manner specified below before the Order Cut-Off Time. A transaction
fee may also be imposed on redemption orders. To initiate an AP
Redemption Order, an AP must submit to the Distributor an irrevocable
order to redeem such Redemption Unit after the most recent prior
Valuation Time, but not later than the Order Cut-Off Time.
In the case of a redemption, the AP would enter into an irrevocable
redemption order, and then the applicable Fund would instruct its
custodian to deliver the Redemption Instruments to the appropriate
Confidential Account. The Authorized Participant would direct the AP
Representative on when that day to liquidate those securities. As with
the purchase of securities, the AP Representative will use methods,
such as breaking the transaction into multiple transactions and
transacting in multiple marketplaces, to avoid revealing the
composition of the Creation Basket.
Consistent with the provisions of Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act and
Rule 22e-2 thereunder, the right to redeem will not be suspended, nor
payment upon redemption delayed, except for: (1) Any period during
which the Exchange is closed other than customary weekend and holiday
closings, (2) any period during which trading on the Exchange is
restricted, (3) any period during which an emergency exists as a result
of which disposal by a Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably
practicable or it is not reasonably practicable for a Fund to determine
its NAV, and (4) for such other periods as the Commission may by order
permit for the protection of shareholders.
Redemptions will occur primarily in-kind, although redemption
payments may also be made partly or wholly in cash.\26\ The Participant
Agreement signed by each AP will require establishment of a
Confidential Account to receive distributions of securities in-kind
upon redemption. Each AP will be required to open a Confidential
Account with an AP Representative in order to facilitate orderly
processing of redemptions. Other than the Balancing Amount, a Fund will
substitute cash only under exceptional circumstances and as set forth
under that Fund's policies and procedures governing the composition of
Creation Baskets.\27\
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\26\ The value of any positions not susceptible to in-kind
settlement may be paid in cash.
\27\ To the extent that a Fund allows creations or redemptions
to be conducted in cash, such transactions will be effected in the
same manner for all APs transacting in cash.
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Net Asset Value
The NAV per share of a Fund will be computed by dividing the value
of the net assets of a Fund (i.e., the value of its total assets less
total liabilities) by the total number of Shares of a Fund outstanding,
rounded to the nearest cent. Expenses and fees, including, without
limitation, the management, administration and distribution fees, will
be accrued daily and taken into account for purposes of determining
NAV. Interest and investment income on a Fund's assets accrue daily and
will be included in the Fund's total assets. The NAV per share for a
Fund will be calculated by a Fund's administrator and determined as of
the close of the regular trading session on the Exchange (ordinarily 4
p.m., E.T.) on each day that the Exchange is open.
[[Page 9498]]
Exchange-traded instruments will be valued at market value, which
will generally be determined using the last reported official closing
or last trading price on the exchange or market on which the securities
are primarily traded at the time of valuation. Other holdings of the
Funds will generally be valued on the basis of independent pricing
services, quotes obtained from brokers and dealers or price quotations
or other equivalent indications of value provided by a third-party
pricing service, reported net asset value, or at cost.
Availability of Information
The Funds' website (www.americancenturyetfs.com), which will be
publicly available prior to the listing and trading of Shares, will
include a form of the prospectus for each Fund that may be downloaded.
The Funds' website will include additional quantitative information
updated on a daily basis, including, for each Fund, the prior Business
Day's NAV, market closing price or mid-point of the bid/ask spread at
the time of calculation of such NAV (the ``Bid/Ask Price''),\28\ and a
calculation of the premium and discount of the market closing price or
Bid/Ask Price against the NAV. In addition, the Funds will provide any
other information on their website regarding premiums/discounts that
ETFs registered under the 1940 Act are required to provide or that are
otherwise required under the Exemptive Order. The website and
information will be publicly available at no charge.
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\28\ The Bid/Ask Price of a Fund will be determined using the
mid-point between the current NBB and NBO as of the time of
calculation of a Fund's NAV. The records relating to Bid/Ask Prices
will be retained by each Fund and/or its service providers.
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Each Fund's SAI and shareholder reports will be available free upon
request from the Trust. These documents and forms may be viewed on-
screen or downloaded from the Commission's website at www.sec.gov.
Information regarding market price and trading volume of the Shares
will be continually available on a real-time basis throughout the day
on brokers' computer screens and other electronic services. Quotation
and last sale information for the Shares will be available via the
Consolidated Tape Association (``CTA'') high-speed line. In addition,
the VIIV, as defined in Rule 14.11(k)(3)(B) and as described further
below, will be widely disseminated by the Reporting Authority \29\ and/
or one or more major market data vendors in one-second intervals during
Regular Trading Hours.
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\29\ Rule 14.11(k)(3)(H) defines the term ``Reporting
Authority'' in respect of a particular series of Managed Portfolio
Shares as the Exchange, the exchange that lists a particular series
of Managed Portfolio Shares (if the Exchange is trading such series
pursuant to unlisted trading privileges), an institution, or a
reporting service designated by the Investment Company as the
official source for calculating and reporting information relating
to such series, including, the net asset value, the Verified
Intraday Indicative Value, or other information relating to the
issuance, redemption or trading of Managed Portfolio Shares. A
series of Managed Portfolio Shares may have more than one Reporting
Authority, each having different functions.
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Dissemination of the VIIV
With respect to trading of the Shares, the ability of market
participants to buy and sell Shares at prices near the VIIV is
dependent upon their assessment that the VIIV is a reliable, indicative
real-time value for a Fund's underlying holdings. Market participants
are expected to accept the VIIV as a reliable, indicative real-time
value because (1) the VIIV will be calculated and disseminated based on
a Fund's actual portfolio holdings, (2) the securities in which a Fund
plans to invest are generally highly liquid and actively traded and
trade at the same time as the Funds and therefore generally have
accurate real time pricing available, and (3) market participants will
have a daily opportunity to evaluate whether the VIIV at or near the
close of trading is indeed predictive of the actual NAV. The VIIV for
each Fund will be disseminated by the Reporting Authority and/or one or
more major market data vendors in one-second intervals during Regular
Trading Hours. For purposes of the VIIV, securities held by a Fund will
be valued throughout the day based on the mid-point between the
disseminated current NBB and NBO. If the Adviser determines that a
portfolio security does not have a readily available market quotation,
that fact along with the identity and weighting of that security in a
Fund's VIIV calculation will be publicly disclosed on the Fund's
website.
Trading Halts
With respect to trading halts, the Exchange may consider all
relevant factors in exercising its discretion to halt or suspend
trading in the Shares of a Fund. The Exchange will halt trading in the
Shares under the conditions specified in BZX Rule 11.18. Trading may be
halted because of market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of
the Exchange, make trading in the Shares inadvisable, including whether
unusual conditions or circumstances detrimental to the maintenance of a
fair and orderly market are present. Trading in the Shares also will be
subject to Rule 14.11(k)(4)(B)(iii)(a) and (b), which set forth
circumstances under which trading in the Shares of the Funds will be
halted.
Specifically, Rule 14.11(k)(4)(B)(iii)(a) provides that the
Exchange may consider all relevant factors in exercising its discretion
to halt trading in a series of Managed Portfolio Shares. Trading may be
halted because of market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of
the Exchange, make trading in the series of Managed Portfolio Shares
inadvisable. These may include: (i) The extent to which trading is not
occurring in the securities and/or the financial instruments composing
the portfolio; or (ii) whether other unusual conditions or
circumstances detrimental to the maintenance of a fair and orderly
market are present.\30\ The Adviser has represented to the Exchange
that it will provide the Exchange with prompt notification upon the
existence of any such condition or set of conditions.
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\30\ The Exemptive Application provides that the Investment
Company or their agent will request that the Exchange halt trading
in the applicable series of Managed Portfolio Shares where: (i) The
intraday indicative values calculated by the calculation engines
differ by more than 25 basis points for 60 seconds in connection
with pricing of the Verified Intraday Indicative Value; or (ii)
holdings representing 10% or more of a series of Managed Portfolio
Shares' portfolio have become subject to a trading halt or otherwise
do not have readily available market quotations. Any such requests
will be one of many factors considered in order to determine whether
to halt trading in a series of Managed Portfolio Shares and the
Exchange retains sole discretion in determining whether trading
should be halted. As provided in the Exemptive Application, each
series of Managed Portfolio Shares would employ a pricing
verification agent to continuously compare two intraday indicative
values during Regular Trading Hours in order to ensure the accuracy
of the Verified Intraday Indicative Value.
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Rule 14.11(k)(4)(B)(iii)(b) provides that, if the Exchange becomes
aware that: (i) The Verified Intraday Indicative Value of a series of
Managed Portfolio Shares is not being calculated or disseminated in one
second intervals, as required; (ii) the net asset value with respect to
a series of Managed Portfolio Shares is not disseminated to all market
participants at the same time; (iii) the holdings of a series of
Managed Portfolio Shares are not made available on at least a quarterly
basis as required under the 1940 Act; or (iv) such holdings are not
made available to all market participants at the same time, (except as
otherwise permitted under the currently applicable exemptive order or
no-action relief granted by the Commission or Commission staff to the
Investment Company with respect to the
[[Page 9499]]
series of Managed Portfolio Shares), it will halt trading in such
series until such time as the Verified Intraday Indicative Value, the
net asset value, or the holdings are available, as required.
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 Exchange only during Regular Trading Hours as provided in Rule
14.11(k)(2)(B). The Exchange has appropriate rules in place to
facilitate trading during all trading sessions in which the Shares will
trade. As provided in BZX Rule 11.11(a), the minimum price variation
for quoting and entry of orders in securities traded on the Exchange is
$0.01, with the exception of securities that are priced less than
$1.00, for which the minimum price variation for order entry is
$0.0001.
The Shares will conform to the initial and continued listing
criteria under Rule 14.11(k) as well as all terms in the Exemptive
Order. The Exchange represents that, for initial and/or continued
listing, each Fund will be in compliance with Rule 10A-3 under the
Act.\31\ A minimum of 100,000 Shares of each Fund will be outstanding
at the commencement of trading on the Exchange. The Exchange has
obtained a representation from the issuer of the Shares of each Fund
that the NAV per share of each Fund will be calculated daily and will
be made available to all market participants at the same time.
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\31\ See 17 CFR 240.10A-3.
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Surveillance
The Exchange believes that its surveillance procedures are adequate
to properly monitor the trading of the Shares on the Exchange during
all trading sessions and to deter and detect violations of Exchange
rules and the applicable federal securities laws. Trading of the Shares
through the Exchange will be subject to the Exchange's surveillance
procedures for derivative products, including Managed Portfolio Shares.
As part of these surveillance procedures and consistent with Rule
14.11(k)(2)(C), the Adviser will upon request make available to the
Exchange and/or FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, the daily portfolio
holdings of a Fund. The issuer has represented to the Exchange that it
will advise the Exchange of any failure by a Fund to comply with the
continued listing requirements, and, pursuant to its obligations under
Section 19(g)(1) of the Exchange Act, the Exchange will surveil for
compliance with the continued listing requirements. If a Fund is not in
compliance with the applicable listing requirements, the Exchange will
commence delisting procedures under Exchange Rule 14.12.
The Exchange or FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, or both, will
communicate as needed regarding trading in the Shares and the
underlying exchange-traded instruments 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 such securities
from such markets and other entities. In addition, the Exchange may
obtain information regarding trading in the Shares and the underlying
exchange-traded instruments from markets and other entities that are
members of ISG or with which the Exchange has in place a comprehensive
surveillance sharing agreement.\32\
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\32\ For a list of the current members of ISG, see
www.isgportal.org.
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In addition, the Exchange also has a general policy prohibiting the
distribution of material, non-public information by its employees.
Information Circular
Prior to the commencement of trading, the Exchange will inform its
members in an Information Circular (``Circular'') of the special
characteristics and risks associated with trading the Shares.
Specifically, the Circular will discuss the following: (1) The
procedures for purchases and redemptions of Shares; (2) BZX Rule 3.7,
which imposes suitability obligations on Exchange members with respect
to recommending transactions in the Shares to customers; (3) how
information regarding the VIIV is disseminated; (4) the requirement
that members deliver a prospectus to investors purchasing newly issued
Shares prior to or concurrently with the confirmation of a transaction;
(5) trading information; and (6) that the portfolio holdings will be
disclosed within at least 60 days following the end of every fiscal
quarter.
In addition, the Circular will reference that the Funds are subject
to various fees and expenses described in the Registration Statement.
The Circular will discuss any exemptive, no-action, and interpretive
relief granted by the Commission from any rules under the Act. The
Circular will also disclose that the NAV for the Shares will be
calculated after 4 p.m., E.T. each trading day.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that this proposal is consistent with Section
6(b) of the Act \33\ in general and Section 6(b)(5) of the Act \34\ in
particular in that it is designed to prevent fraudulent and
manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable
principles of trade, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism
of a free and open market and a national market system, and, in
general, to protect investors and the public interest.
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\33\ 15 U.S.C. 78f.
\34\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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The Exchange believes that this proposed rule change is designed to
prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices in that the
Funds would meet each of the rules relating to listing and trading of
Managed Portfolio Shares and, to the extent that a Fund is not in
compliance with such rules, the Exchange would either prevent that Fund
from listing and trading if it hadn't started trading on the Exchange
or would commence delisting procedures under Exchange Rule 14.12. More
specifically, the Exchange will consider the suspension of trading in,
and will commence delisting proceedings under Rule 14.12 for, a Fund
under any of the following circumstances: (a) If, following the initial
twelve-month period after commencement of trading on the Exchange,
there are fewer than 50 beneficial holders of the Fund for 30 or more
consecutive trading days; (b) if the Exchange has halted trading in a
Fund because the VIIV is interrupted pursuant to Rule
14.11(k)(4)(B)(iii)(b) and such interruption persists past the trading
day in which it occurred or is no longer available; (c) if the Exchange
has halted trading in a Fund because the net asset value with respect
to such Fund is not disseminated to all market participants at the same
time, the holdings of such Fund are not made available on at least a
quarterly basis as required under the 1940 Act, or such holdings are
not made available to all market participants at the same time pursuant
to Rule 14.11(k)(4)(B)(iii)(b) and such issue persists past the trading
day in which it occurred; (d) if the Exchange has halted trading in the
Fund pursuant to Rule 14.11(k)(4)(B)(iii)(a) and such issue persists
past the trading day in which it occurred; (e) if the Fund has failed
to file any filings required by the Commission or if the Exchange is
aware that the Fund is not in compliance with the conditions of any
currently
[[Page 9500]]
applicable exemptive order or no-action relief granted by the
Commission or Commission staff with respect to the Fund; (f) if any of
the continued listing requirements set forth in Rule 14.11(k) are not
continuously maintained; (g) if any of the applicable Continued Listing
Representations, as defined in Rule 14.11(a), for the Fund are not
continuously met; or (h) if such other event shall occur or condition
exists which, in the opinion of the Exchange, makes further dealings on
the Exchange inadvisable.
The Adviser is not registered as a broker-dealer, but is affiliated
with a broker-dealer and has implemented and will maintain a ``fire
wall'' with respect to such affiliate broker-dealer regarding access to
information concerning the composition and/or changes to a Fund's
portfolio and Creation Basket.
In the event (a) the Adviser becomes registered as a broker-dealer
or becomes newly affiliated with a broker-dealer, or (b) any new
adviser or sub-adviser is a registered broker-dealer or becomes
affiliated with 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/or Creation Basket. Any person
related to the Adviser or the Trust who makes decisions pertaining to a
Fund's portfolio composition or that has access to information
regarding a Fund's portfolio or changes thereto or the Creation Basket
will be subject to procedures designed to prevent the use and
dissemination of material non-public information regarding such
portfolio or changes thereto and the Creation Basket.
Further, Rule 14.11(k)(2)(E) requires that any person or entity,
including an AP Representative, custodian, Reporting Authority,
distributor, or administrator, who has access to information regarding
the Investment Company's portfolio composition or changes thereto or
the Creation Basket, must be subject to procedures designed to prevent
the use and dissemination of material nonpublic information regarding
the applicable Investment Company portfolio or changes thereto or the
Creation Basket. Moreover, if any such person or entity is registered
as a broker-dealer or affiliated with a broker-dealer, such person or
entity will erect and maintain a ``fire wall'' between the person or
entity and the broker-dealer with respect to access to information
concerning the composition and/or changes to such Investment Company
portfolio or Creation Basket. Any person or entity who has access to
information regarding a Fund's portfolio composition or changes thereto
or the Creation Basket will be subject to procedures designed to
prevent the use and dissemination of material nonpublic information
regarding the portfolio or changes thereto or the Creation Basket.
The Exchange further believes that Rule 14.11(k) is designed to
prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices related to the
listing and trading of Managed Portfolio Shares because it provides
meaningful requirements about both the data that will be made publicly
available about the Shares as well as the information that will only be
available to certain parties and the controls on such information.
Specifically, the Exchange believes that the requirements related to
information protection enumerated under Rule 14.11(k)(2)(E) will act as
a strong safeguard against misuse and improper dissemination of
information related to a Fund's portfolio composition or changes
thereto or the Creation Basket. The requirement that any person or
entity implement procedures to prevent the use and dissemination of
material nonpublic information regarding the portfolio or Creation
Basket will act to prevent any individual or entity from sharing such
information externally and the internal ``fire wall'' requirements
applicable where an entity is a registered broker-dealer or affiliated
with a broker-dealer will act to make sure that no entity will be able
to misuse the data for their own purposes. As such, the Exchange
believes that this proposal is designed to prevent fraudulent and
manipulative acts and practices.
The Exchange further believes that the proposal is designed to
prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices related to the
listing and trading of Managed Portfolio Shares and to promote just and
equitable principles of trade and to protect investors and the public
interest in that the Exchange would halt trading under certain
circumstances under which trading in the Shares of a Fund may be
inadvisable. Specifically, trading in the Shares will be subject to
Rule 14.11(k)(4)(B)(iii)(a), which provides that the Exchange may
consider all relevant factors in exercising its discretion to halt
trading in a series of Managed Portfolio Shares. Trading may be halted
because of market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the
Exchange, make trading in the series of Managed Portfolio Shares
inadvisable. These may include: (i) the extent to which trading is not
occurring in the securities and/or the financial instruments composing
the portfolio; or (ii) whether other unusual conditions or
circumstances detrimental to the maintenance of a fair and orderly
market are present.\35\ The Adviser has represented to the Exchange
that it will provide the Exchange with prompt notification upon the
existence of any such condition or set of conditions. Trading in the
Shares will also be subject to Rule 14.11(k)(4)(B)(iii)(b), which
provides that if the Exchange becomes aware that: (i) The Verified
Intraday Indicative Value of a series of Managed Portfolio Shares is
not being calculated or disseminated in one second intervals, as
required; (ii) the net asset value with respect to a series of Managed
Portfolio Shares is not disseminated to all market participants at the
same time; (iii) the holdings of a series of Managed Portfolio Shares
are not made available on at least a quarterly basis as required under
the 1940 Act; or (iv) such holdings are not made available to all
market participants at the same time, (except as otherwise permitted
under the currently applicable exemptive order or no-action relief
granted by the Commission or Commission staff to the Investment Company
with respect to the series of Managed Portfolio Shares), it will halt
trading in such series until such time as the Verified Intraday
Indicative Value, the net asset value, or the holdings are available,
as required.
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\35\ See supra note 30.
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With respect to the proposed listing and trading of Shares of the
Funds, 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 Rule 14.11(k). Each Fund's
holdings will conform to the permissible investments as set forth in
the Exemptive Application and Exemptive Order. The Exchange or FINRA,
on behalf of the Exchange, or both, will communicate as needed
regarding trading in the Shares and the underlying exchange-traded
instruments 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 such instruments from
such markets and other entities. In addition, the Exchange may obtain
information regarding trading in the Shares and the underlying
exchange-traded instruments from markets and other entities that are
members of ISG or with which the
[[Page 9501]]
Exchange has in place a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement.
With respect to trading of Shares of the Funds, the ability of
market participants to buy and sell Shares at prices near the VIIV is
dependent upon their assessment that the VIIV is a reliable, indicative
real-time value for a Fund's underlying holdings. Market participants
are expected to accept the VIIV as a reliable, indicative real-time
value because (1) the VIIV will be calculated and disseminated based on
a Fund's actual portfolio holdings, (2) the securities in which the
Funds plan to invest are generally highly liquid and actively traded
and trade at the same time as the Funds and therefore generally have
accurate real time pricing available, and (3) market participants will
have a daily opportunity to evaluate whether the VIIV at or near the
close of trading is indeed predictive of the actual NAV.
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 that the NAV per share
of the Funds will be calculated daily and that the NAV will be made
available to all market participants at the same time. Investors can
also obtain a Fund's SAI, shareholder reports, Form N-CSR, and Form N-
PORT. A Fund's SAI and shareholder reports will be available free upon
request from the applicable fund, and those documents and the Form N-
CSR and Form N-PORT may be viewed on-screen or downloaded from the
Commission's website. In addition, with respect to the Funds, a large
amount of information will be publicly available regarding the Funds
and the Shares, thereby promoting market transparency. Quotation and
last sale information for the Shares will be available via the CTA
high-speed line. Information regarding the VIIV will be widely
disseminated every second throughout Regular Trading Hours by the
Reporting Authority and/or one or more major market data vendors. The
website for the Funds will include a prospectus for the Funds that may
be downloaded, and additional data relating to NAV and other applicable
quantitative information, updated on a daily basis.
Moreover, prior to the commencement of trading, the Exchange will
inform its members in a Circular of the special characteristics and
risks associated with trading the Shares. The Exchange will halt
trading in the Shares under the conditions specified in BZX Rule 11.18
or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in the
Shares inadvisable. Trading in the Shares will be subject to Rule
14.11(k)(4)(B)(iii)(a) and (b), which set forth circumstances under
which Shares of a Fund will be halted.
In addition, as noted above, investors will have ready access to
the VIIV, and quotation and last sale information for the Shares. The
Shares will conform to the initial and continued listing criteria under
Rule 14.11(k). Each Fund's holdings will be limited to and consistent
with what is permissible under the Exemptive Order. Each Fund's
investments will be consistent with its investment objective and will
not be used to enhance leverage.
The proposed rule change is designed to perfect the mechanism of a
free and open market and, in general, to protect investors and the
public interest in that it will facilitate the listing and trading of
actively-managed exchange-traded products that will enhance competition
among market participants, to the benefit of investors and the
marketplace. As noted above, the Exchange has in place surveillance
procedures relating to trading in the Shares and may obtain information
via ISG from other exchanges that are members of ISG or with which the
Exchange has entered into a comprehensive surveillance sharing
agreement. In addition, as noted above, investors will have ready
access to information regarding the VIIV and quotation and last sale
information for the Shares.
For the above reasons, the Exchange believes that the proposed rule
change is consistent with the requirements of Section 6(b)(5) of the
Act.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will
impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate
in furtherance of the purpose of the Act. The Exchange notes that the
proposed rule change, rather will facilitate the listing and trading of
actively-managed exchange-traded products that will enhance competition
among both market participants and listing venues, 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
The Exchange has neither solicited nor received written comments on
the proposed rule change.
III. Discussion and Commission Findings
After careful review, the Commission finds that the proposed rule
change, as modified by Amendment No. 2, is consistent with the Act and
rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a national securities
exchange.\36\ In particular, the Commission finds that the proposed
rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 2, is consistent with Section
6(b)(5) of the Act,\37\ which requires, among other things, that the
Exchange's rules be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative
acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade,
to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open
market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect
investors and the public interest.
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\36\ In approving this proposed rule change, the Commission
notes that it has considered the proposed rule's impact on
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C.
78c(f).
\37\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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The Commission believes that the proposal is reasonably designed to
promote fair disclosure of information that may be necessary to price
the Shares appropriately and to prevent trading in the Shares when a
reasonable degree of certain pricing transparency cannot be assured. As
such, the Commission believes the proposal is reasonably designed to
maintain a fair and orderly market for trading the Shares. The
Commission also finds that the proposal is consistent with Section
11A(a)(1)(C)(iii) of the Act, which sets forth Congress's finding that
it is in the public interest and appropriate for the protection of
investors and the maintenance of fair and orderly markets to assure the
availability to brokers, dealers, and investors of information with
respect to quotations for, and transactions in, securities.
Specifically, the Commission notes that the Exchange has obtained a
representation from the issuer that the NAV per Share of each Fund will
be calculated daily and will be made available to all market
participants at the same time.\38\ 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. Quotation and last sale information for the
Shares will be available via the Consolidated Tape Association high-
speed line. In addition, the VIIV will be widely disseminated by the
Reporting Authority and/or one or more major market data vendors in
one-second intervals during Regular Trading Hours, and must be
disseminated to all market
[[Page 9502]]
participants at the same time.\39\ Moreover, the Funds' website will
include a form of the prospectus and additional data relating to NAV
and other applicable quantitative information for each Fund, including
any information regarding premiums/discounts that ETFs registered under
the 1940 Act are required to provide or that are otherwise required
under the Exemptive Order. Such website and information will be
publicly available at no charge.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\38\ See BZX Rule 14.11(k)(4)(A)(ii).
\39\ See BZX Rule 14.11(k)(4)(B)(i).
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The Commission also notes that the Exchange's rules regarding
trading halts help to ensure the maintenance of fair and orderly
markets for the Shares. Specifically, pursuant to its rules, the
Exchange may consider all relevant factors in exercising its discretion
to halt trading in the Shares and will halt trading in the Shares under
the conditions specified in BZX Rule 11.18. Trading may be halted
because of market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the
Exchange, make trading in the Shares inadvisable, including (1) the
extent to which trading is not occurring in the securities and/or the
financial instruments composing the portfolio; or (2) whether other
unusual conditions or circumstances detrimental to the maintenance of a
fair and orderly market are present.\40\ Trading in the Shares also
will be subject to BZX Rule 14.11(k)(4)(B)(iii)(b), which sets forth
additional circumstances under which trading in the Shares will be
halted.
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\40\ See BZX Rule 14.11(k)(4)(B)(iii)(a).
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The Commission also believes that the proposal is reasonably
designed to help prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and
practices. The Exchange represents that it has a general policy
prohibiting the distribution of material, non-public information by its
employees. The Exchange states that the Adviser is not registered as a
broker-dealer, but is affiliated with a broker-dealer and has
implemented and will maintain a ``fire wall'' with respect to its
broker-dealer affiliate regarding access to information concerning the
composition of and/or changes to the Funds' portfolios and Creation
Baskets. Further, the Commission notes that any person related to the
Funds' investment adviser or to the Trust who makes decisions
pertaining to a Fund's portfolio composition or has access to
information regarding the Fund's portfolio composition or changes
thereto or the Creation Basket must be subject to procedures designed
to prevent the use and dissemination of material nonpublic information
regarding the applicable Fund portfolio or changes thereto or the
Creation Basket.\41\ In addition, any person or entity, including an AP
Representative, custodian, Reporting Authority, distributor, or
administrator, who has access to information regarding a Fund's
portfolio composition or changes thereto or its Creation Basket, must
be subject to procedures designed to prevent the use and dissemination
of material nonpublic information regarding the applicable Fund
portfolio or changes thereto or the Creation Basket.\42\ Moreover, if
any such person or entity is registered as a broker-dealer or
affiliated with a broker-dealer, such person or entity must erect and
maintain a ``fire wall'' between the person or entity and the broker-
dealer with respect to access to information concerning the composition
of and/or changes to such Fund's portfolio and/or Creation Basket.\43\
Finally, the Exchange represents that trading of the Shares through the
Exchange will be subject to the Exchange's surveillance procedures for
derivative products, including Managed Portfolio Shares,\44\ and that
its surveillance procedures are adequate to properly monitor the
trading of the Shares on the Exchange during all trading sessions and
to deter and detect violations of Exchange rules and the applicable
federal securities laws.
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\41\ See BZX Rule 14.11(k)(2)(D). The Exchange represents that
any person related to the Adviser or the Trust who makes decisions
pertaining to a Fund's portfolio composition or that has access to
information regarding a Fund's portfolio or changes thereto or the
Creation Basket will be subject to procedures designed to prevent
the use and dissemination of material non-public information
regarding such portfolio or changes thereto and the Creation Basket.
\42\ See BZX Rule 14.11(k)(2)(E).
\43\ See id. The Exchange represents that any person or entity
who has access to information regarding a Fund's portfolio
composition or changes thereto or the Creation Basket will be
subject to procedures designed to prevent the use and dissemination
of material nonpublic information regarding the portfolio
composition or changes thereto or the Creation Basket.
\44\ See BZX Rule 14.11(k)(2)(C), which requires, as part of the
surveillance procedures for Managed Portfolio Shares, the Funds'
investment adviser to, upon request by the Exchange or the Financial
Industry Regulatory Authority (``FINRA''), on behalf of the
Exchange, make available to the Exchange or FINRA the daily
portfolio holdings of each series of Managed Portfolio Shares.
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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. Moreover, prior to
the commencement of trading, the Exchange will inform its members in a
Circular of the special characteristics and risks associated with
trading the Shares.\45\
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\45\ The Exchange represents that the Circular will discuss the
following: (1) Procedures for purchases and redemptions of Shares;
(2) BZX Rule 3.7, which imposes suitability obligations on Exchange
members with respect to recommending transactions in the Shares to
customers; (3) how information regarding the VIIV is disseminated;
(4) the requirement that members deliver a prospectus to investors
purchasing newly issued shares prior to or concurrently with the
confirmation of a transaction; (5) trading information; and (6) that
the portfolio holdings will be disclosed within at least 60 days
following the end of every fiscal quarter.
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In support of this proposal, the Exchange represents that:
(1) The Shares will conform to the initial and continued listing
criteria under BZX Rule 14.11(k).
(2) A minimum of 100,000 Shares of each Fund will be outstanding at
the commencement of trading on the Exchange.
(3) The Exchange or FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, or both, will
communicate as needed, and may obtain trading information, regarding
trading in the Shares and the underlying exchange-traded instruments
with other markets and other entities that are members of the ISG. In
addition, the Exchange may obtain information regarding trading in the
Shares and the underlying exchange-traded instruments from markets and
other entities with which the Exchange has in place a comprehensive
surveillance sharing agreement.
(4) The Exchange has appropriate rules to facilitate transactions
in the Shares during all trading sessions in which the Shares trade.
(5) For initial and continued listing, each Fund will be in
compliance with Rule 10A-3 under the Act.\46\
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\46\ See 17 CFR 240.10A-3.
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(6) Each Fund's holdings will conform to the permissible
investments as set forth in the Exemptive Application and Exemptive
Order, and investments made by the Funds will be consistent with all
requirements set forth in the Exemptive Application and Exemptive
Order. Each Fund's investments will be consistent with its investment
objective and will not be used to enhance leverage.
The Exchange represents that all statements and representations
made in the filing regarding: (1) The description of the portfolio or
reference assets; (2) limitations on portfolio holdings or reference
assets; (3) dissemination and availability of the VIIV, reference
assets, and intraday indicative values; and (4) the applicability of
Exchange rules constitute continued listing requirements for listing
the Shares on the Exchange. In addition, the Exchange represents that
the issuer will advise the Exchange of any failure by a Fund to comply
with the continued listing requirements and, pursuant to its
obligations under Section 19(g)(1) of the
[[Page 9503]]
Act, the Exchange will surveil for compliance with the continued
listing requirements. If a Fund is not in compliance with the
applicable listing requirements, the Exchange will commence delisting
procedures under BZX Rule 14.12.
IV. Solicitation of Comments on Amendment No. 2 to the Proposed Rule
Change
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning whether Amendment No. 2 is consistent with the
Exchange 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-CboeBZX-2019-057 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-CboeBZX-2019-057. 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 a.m. and 3
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-CboeBZX-2019-057, and should be
submitted on or before March 11, 2020.
V. Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by
Amendment No. 2
The Commission finds good cause to approve the proposed rule
change, as modified by Amendment No. 2, prior to the thirtieth day
after the date of publication of notice of the filing of Amendment No.
2 in the Federal Register. In Amendment No. 2, the Exchange modified
the description of each Fund's investments and conformed the
description of BZX Rule 14.11(k) to the final rule approved in the
Managed Portfolio Shares Order. Amendment No. 2 also provides other
clarifications and additional information to the proposed rule
change.\47\ The changes and additional information in Amendment No. 2
assist the Commission in finding that the proposal is consistent with
the Exchange Act. Accordingly, the Commission finds good cause,
pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Exchange Act,\48\ to approve the
proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 2, on an accelerated
basis.
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\47\ See Amendment No. 2, supra note 11.
\48\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
\49\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
\50\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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VI. Conclusion
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act
\49\ that the proposed rule change (SR-CboeBZX-2019-057), as modified
by Amendment No. 2, be, and hereby is, approved on an accelerated
basis.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\50\
J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-03176 Filed 2-18-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P