Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Listing and Trading of Shares of the First Trust TCW Securitized Plus ETF Under NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E, 16439-16450 [2020-06006]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 56 / Monday, March 23, 2020 / Notices Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549 on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying information from comment submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–NYSE–2020–20 and should be submitted on or before April 13, 2020. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.26 J. Matthew DeLesDernier, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2020–06004 Filed 3–20–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–88404; File No. SR– NYSEArca–2020–20] Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Listing and Trading of Shares of the First Trust TCW Securitized Plus ETF Under NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E March 17, 2020. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3 notice is hereby given that, on March 3, 2020, NYSE Arca, Inc. (‘‘NYSE Arca’’ or the ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by the self-regulatory organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons. I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The Exchange proposes to list and trade shares of the First Trust TCW Securitized Plus ETF under NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E (‘‘Managed Fund Shares’’). The proposed rule change is available 26 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). U.S.C.78s(b)(1). 2 15 U.S.C. 78a. 3 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 1 15 VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:26 Mar 20, 2020 Jkt 250001 on the Exchange’s website at www.nyse.com, at the principal office of the Exchange, and at the Commission’s Public Reference Room. II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change In its filing with the Commission, the self-regulatory organization included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of those statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant parts of such statements. A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and the Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change 1. Purpose The Exchange proposes to list and trade shares (‘‘Shares’’) of the First Trust TCW Securitized Plus ETF (the ‘‘Fund’’) under NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E, which governs the listing and trading of Managed Fund Shares 4 on the Exchange. The Shares are offered by First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII (the ‘‘Trust’’), which is registered with the Commission as an open-end management investment company.5 The Fund is a series of the Trust. First Trust Advisors L.P. is the investment adviser (‘‘First Trust’’ or ‘‘Adviser’’) to the Fund. TCW Investment Management Company LLC 4 A Managed Fund Share is a security that represents an interest in an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a–1) (‘‘1940 Act’’) organized as an open-end investment company or similar entity that invests in a portfolio of securities selected by its investment adviser consistent with its investment objectives and policies. In contrast, an open-end investment company that issues Investment Company Units, listed and traded on the Exchange under NYSE Arca Rule 5.2–E(j)(3), seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of a specific foreign or domestic stock index, fixed income securities index or combination thereof. 5 The Trust is registered under the 1940 Act. On January 21, 2020, the Trust filed with the Commission its registration statement on Form N– 1A under the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77a), and under the 1940 Act relating to the Fund (File Nos. 333–210186 and 811–23147) (‘‘Registration Statement’’). The description of the operation of the Trust and the Fund herein is based, in part, on the Registration Statement. In addition, the Commission has issued an order upon which the Trust may rely, granting certain exemptive relief under the 1940 Act. See Investment Company Act Release No. 30029 (April 10, 2012) (File No. 812– 13795). PO 00000 Frm 00127 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 16439 (‘‘TCW’’ or the ‘‘Sub-Adviser’’), serves as the Fund’s investment sub-adviser. First Trust Portfolios L.P. is the distributor (‘‘Distributor’’) for the Fund’s Shares. The Bank of New York Mellon acts as the administrator, custodian and transfer agent (‘‘Custodian’’ or ‘‘Transfer Agent’’) for the Fund. Commentary .06 to Rule 8.600–E provides that, if the investment adviser to the investment company issuing Managed Fund Shares is affiliated with a broker-dealer, such investment adviser shall erect and maintain a ‘‘fire wall’’ between the investment adviser and the broker-dealer with respect to access to information concerning the composition and/or changes to such investment company portfolio.6 In addition, Commentary .06 further requires that personnel who make decisions on the open-end fund’s portfolio composition must be subject to procedures designed to prevent the use and dissemination of material nonpublic information regarding the open-end fund’s portfolio. The Adviser and Sub-Adviser are not registered as broker-dealers. The Adviser is affiliated with First Trust Portfolios L.P., a broker-dealer, and has implemented and will maintain a fire wall with respect to its broker-dealer affiliate regarding access to information concerning the composition and/or changes to the portfolio. The SubAdviser is affiliated with multiple broker-dealers and has implemented and will maintain a fire wall with respect to its broker-dealer affiliates regarding access to information concerning the composition and/or changes to the portfolio. In the event (a) the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser becomes registered as a broker-dealer or newly 6 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 Sub-Adviser and their related personnel are subject to the provisions of Rule 204A–1 under the Advisers Act relating to codes of ethics. This Rule requires investment advisers to adopt a code of ethics that reflects the fiduciary nature of the relationship to clients as well as compliance with other applicable securities laws. Accordingly, procedures designed to prevent the communication and misuse of non-public information by an investment adviser must be consistent with Rule 204A–1 under the Advisers Act. In addition, Rule 206(4)–7 under the Advisers Act makes it unlawful for an investment adviser to provide investment advice to clients unless such investment adviser has (i) adopted and implemented written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation, by the investment adviser and its supervised persons, of the Advisers Act and the Commission rules adopted thereunder; (ii) implemented, at a minimum, an annual review regarding the adequacy of the policies and procedures established pursuant to subparagraph (i) above and the effectiveness of their implementation; and (iii) designated an individual (who is a supervised person) responsible for administering the policies and procedures adopted under subparagraph (i) above. E:\FR\FM\23MRN1.SGM 23MRN1 16440 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 56 / Monday, March 23, 2020 / Notices 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 relevant personnel and any broker-dealer affiliate regarding access to information concerning the composition and/or changes to the portfolio, and will be subject to procedures designed to prevent the use and dissemination of material nonpublic information regarding such portfolio. First Trust TCW Securitized Plus ETF jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES Principal Investments According to the Registration Statement, the investment objective of the Fund is to seek to maximize longterm total return. Under normal market conditions,7 the Fund intends to invest at least 80% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in a portfolio of ‘‘Fixed Income Securities’’ (described below). In managing the Fund’s portfolio, TCW intends to employ a flexible approach that allocates the Fund’s investments across a range of global investment opportunities and actively manage exposure to interest rates, credit sectors and currencies. TCW seeks to utilize independent, bottom-up research to identify securities that are undervalued and that offer a superior risk/return profile. Pursuant to this investment strategy, the Fund may invest in the following Fixed Income Securities, which may be represented by derivatives relating to such securities, as discussed below: • securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies, instrumentalities or U.S. governmentsponsored entities (‘‘U.S. government securities’’); • Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (‘‘TIPS’’); • the following non-agency, nongovernment-sponsored entity (‘‘GSE’’) 7 The term ‘‘normal market conditions’’ is defined in NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E(c)(5). On a temporary basis, including for defensive purposes, during the initial invest-up period (i.e., the six-week period following the commencement of trading of Shares on the Exchange) and during periods of high cash inflows or outflows (i.e., rolling periods of seven calendar days during which inflows or outflows of cash, in the aggregate, exceed 10% of the Fund’s net assets as of the opening of business on the first day of such periods), the Fund may depart from its principal investment strategies; for example, it may hold a higher than normal proportion of its assets in cash. During such periods, the Fund may not be able to achieve its investment objective. The Fund may adopt a defensive strategy when the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser believes securities in which the Fund normally invests have elevated risks due to market, political or economic factors and in other extraordinary circumstances. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:26 Mar 20, 2020 Jkt 250001 and privately-issued mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities: Residential mortgage-backed securities (‘‘RMBS’’), commercial mortgage-backed securities (‘‘CMBS’’), asset-backed securities (‘‘ABS’’), and collateralized loan obligations (‘‘CLOs’’ and, together with such RMBS, CMBS and ABS, ‘‘Private ABS/MBS’’); 8 • Agency RMBS, agency CMBS, and agency ABS; • domestic corporate bonds; and • Fixed Income Securities issued by non-U.S. corporations and non-U.S. governments. The Fund may invest in agency RMBS and CMBS by investing in to-beannounced transactions (‘‘TBA Transactions’’). The Fund may hold cash and cash equivalents.9 In addition, the Fund may hold the following short-term instruments with maturities of three months or more: Certificates of deposit; bankers’ acceptances; repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements; bank time deposits; and commercial paper. The Fund may enter into short sales of any securities in which the Fund may invest. The Fund may utilize exchange-listed and over-the-counter (‘‘OTC’’) traded derivatives instruments for duration/ yield curve management and/or hedging purposes, for risk management purposes or as part of its investment strategies. The Fund will use derivative instruments primarily to hedge interest rate risk, actively manage interest rate exposure, hedge foreign currency risk and actively manage foreign currency exposure. The Fund may also use derivative instruments to enhance returns, as a substitute for, or to gain exposure to, a position in an underlying asset, to reduce transaction costs, to maintain full market exposure, to manage cash flows or to preserve capital. Derivatives may also be used to hedge risks associated with the Fund’s other portfolio investments. The Fund will not use derivative instruments to gain exposure to Private ABS/MBS, and derivative instruments linked to such securities will be used for hedging purposes only. Derivatives that the Fund may enter into are the following: Futures on interest rates, currencies, Fixed Income Securities and fixed 8 For avoidance of doubt, ‘‘Private ABS/MBS’’ as referenced herein are non-agency, non-GSE and privately-issued mortgage-related and other assetbacked securities as stated in Commentary .01(b)(5) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E. 9 For purposes of this filing, cash equivalents are the short-term instruments with maturities of less than 3 months enumerated in Commentary .01(c) to Rule 8.600–E. PO 00000 Frm 00128 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 income indices; exchange-traded and OTC options on interest rates, currencies, Fixed Income Securities and fixed income indices; swap agreements on interest rates, currencies, Fixed Income Securities and fixed income indices; credit default swaps (‘‘CDX’’); and currency forward contracts. Other Investments While the Fund, under normal market conditions, invests at least 80% of its net assets in the Principal Investments described above, the Fund may invest its remaining assets in the following ‘‘Non-Principal Investments.’’ The Fund may invest in exchangetraded common stock, exchange-traded preferred stock, and exchange-traded real estate investment trusts (‘‘REITs’’). The Fund may invest in the securities of other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act, including money market funds, exchange-traded funds (‘‘ETFs’’), open-end funds (other than money market funds and other ETFs), and U.S. exchange-traded closedend funds.10 The Fund may hold exchange-traded notes (‘‘ETNs’’).11 Investment Restrictions The Fund may not invest more than 2% of its total assets in any one Fixed Income Security (excluding U.S. government securities and TIPS) on a per CUSIP basis. The Fund’s holdings in derivative instruments for hedging purposes would be excluded from the determination of compliance with this 2% limitation. The total gross notional value of the Fund’s holdings in derivative instruments used to gain exposure to a specific asset is limited to 2% of the Fund’s total assets. The Fund may invest up to 50% of its total assets in the aggregate in Private ABS/MBS, provided that the Fund (1) may not invest more than 30% of its total assets in non-agency RMBS; (2) may not invest more than 25% of its total assets in non-agency CMBS and CLOs; and (3) may not invest more than 25% of its total assets in non-agency ABS. 10 For purposes of this filing, the term ‘‘ETFs’’ are Investment Company Units (as described in NYSE Arca Rule 5.2–E(j)(3)); Portfolio Depositary Receipts (as described in NYSE Arca Rule 8.100–E); and Managed Fund Shares (as described in NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E). All ETFs will be listed and traded in the U.S. on a national securities exchange. While the Fund may invest in inverse ETFs, the Fund will not invest in leveraged (e.g., 2X, -2X, 3X or -3X) ETFs. 11 ETNs are Index-Linked Securities (as described in NYSE Arca Rule 5.2–E(j)(6)). While the Fund may invest in inverse ETNs, the Fund will not invest in leveraged or inverse leveraged ETNs (e.g., 2X or -3X). E:\FR\FM\23MRN1.SGM 23MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 56 / Monday, March 23, 2020 / Notices With respect to the Fund’s investments in up to 30% of its total assets in Private ABS/MBS that exceed the 20% of the weight of the Fund’s portfolio 12 that may be invested in Private ABS/MBS under Commentary .01(b)(5) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E,13 the following restrictions will apply: • Non-agency RMBS shall have a weighted average loan age of 84 months or more; • Non-agency CMBS and CLOs shall have a weighted average loan age of 60 months or more; and • Non-agency ABS shall have a weighted average loan age of 12 months or more.14 The Exchange proposes that up to 25% of the Fund’s assets may be invested in OTC derivatives that are used to reduce currency, interest rate or credit risk arising from the Fund’s investments (that is, ‘‘hedge’’). The Fund’s investments in OTC derivatives other than OTC derivatives used to hedge the Fund’s portfolio against currency, interest rate or credit risk will be limited to 20% of the assets in the Fund’s portfolio. For purposes of these percentage limitations on OTC derivatives, the weight of such OTC derivatives will be calculated as the aggregate gross notional value of such OTC derivatives. The Fund will not invest in securities or other financial instruments that have not been described in this proposed rule change. Other Restrictions jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES The Fund’s investments, including derivatives, will be consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and will not be used to enhance leverage (although certain derivatives and other investments may result in leverage). That is, the Fund’s investments will not be used to seek performance that is the multiple or inverse multiple (e.g., 2X or -3X) of the Fund’s primary broad-based 12 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 86017 (June 3, 2019), 84 FR 26711 (June 7, 2019) (SR– NYSEArca–2019–06) (order approving an amendment to Commentary .01(b)(5) to Rule 8.600– E to delete the reference to the ‘‘fixed income portion of the’’ portfolio, such that non-agency, non-GSE, and privately-issued mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities components of a portfolio may not account, in the aggregate, for more than 20% of the weight of the whole portfolio). 13 Commentary .01(b)(5) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E provides that non-agency, non-GSE and privately-issued mortgage-related and other assetbacked securities components of a portfolio shall not account, in the aggregate, for more than 20% of the weight of the portfolio. 14 Information relating to weighted average loan age for non-agency RMBS, non-agency CMBS, CLOs and non-agency ABS is widely available from major market data vendors such as Bloomberg. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:26 Mar 20, 2020 Jkt 250001 securities benchmark index (as defined in Form N–1A).15 Use of Derivatives by the Fund The Fund may invest in the types of derivatives described in the ‘‘Principal Investments’’ section above for the purposes described in that section. Investments in derivative instruments will be made in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies. To limit the potential risk associated with such transactions, the Fund will enter into offsetting transactions or segregate or ‘‘earmark’’ assets determined to be liquid by the Adviser in accordance with procedures established by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the ‘‘Board’’). In addition, the Fund has included appropriate risk disclosure in its offering documents, including leveraging risk. Leveraging risk is the risk that certain transactions of the Fund, including the Fund’s use of derivatives, may give rise to leverage, causing the Fund to be more volatile than if it had not been leveraged. Because the markets for certain assets, or the assets themselves, may be unavailable or cost prohibitive as compared to derivative instruments, suitable derivative transactions may be an efficient alternative for the Fund to obtain the desired asset exposure. Impact on Arbitrage Mechanism The Adviser and the Sub-Adviser believe there will be minimal, if any, impact to the arbitrage mechanism as a result of the Fund’s use of derivatives and Private ABS/MBS. The Adviser and the Sub-Adviser understand that market makers and participants should be able to value derivatives and Private ABS/ MBS as long as the positions are disclosed with relevant information. The Adviser and the Sub-Adviser believe that the price at which Shares of the Fund trade will continue to be disciplined by arbitrage opportunities created by the ability to purchase or redeem Shares of the Fund at their net asset value (‘‘NAV’’), which should ensure that Shares of the Fund will not trade at a material discount or premium in relation to their NAV. The Adviser and Sub-Adviser do not believe there will be any significant impacts to the settlement or operational aspects of the Fund’s arbitrage mechanism due to the use of derivatives and Private ABS/MBS. 15 The Fund’s broad-based securities benchmark index will be identified in a future amendment to the Registration Statement following the Fund’s first full calendar year of performance. PO 00000 Frm 00129 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 16441 Creation and Redemption of Shares The Fund will issue and redeem Shares on a continuous basis at NAV 16 only in large blocks of Shares (‘‘Creation Units’’) in transactions with authorized participants, generally including brokerdealers and large institutional investors (‘‘Authorized Participants’’). Creation Units generally will consist of 50,000 Shares. The size of a Creation Unit is subject to change. As described in the Registration Statement, the Fund will issue and redeem Creation Units in exchange for an in-kind portfolio of instruments and/or cash in lieu of such instruments (the ‘‘Creation Basket’’).17 In addition, if there is a difference between the NAV attributable to a Creation Unit and the market value of the Creation Basket exchanged for the Creation Unit, the party conveying instruments (which may include cashin-lieu amounts) with the lower value will pay to the other an amount in cash equal to the difference (referred to as the ‘‘Cash Component’’). Creations and redemptions must be made by or through an Authorized Participant that has executed an agreement that has been agreed to by the Distributor and the Transfer Agent with respect to creations and redemptions of Creation Units. All standard orders to create Creation Units must be received by the Transfer Agent no later than the closing time of the regular trading session on the NYSE (ordinarily 4:00 p.m., E.T.) (the ‘‘Closing Time’’) in each case on the date such order is placed in order for the creation of Creation Units to be effected based on the NAV of Shares as next determined on such date after receipt of the order in proper form. Shares may be redeemed only in Creation Units at their NAV next determined after receipt not later than the Closing Time of a redemption request in proper form by the Fund through the Transfer Agent and only on a business day. The Custodian, through the National Securities Clearing Corporation (‘‘NSCC’’), will make available on each business day, prior to the opening of business of the Exchange, the list of the names and quantities of the instruments comprising the Creation Basket, as well as the estimated Cash 16 The NAV of the Fund’s Shares generally will be calculated once daily Monday through Friday as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (‘‘NYSE’’), generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time (‘‘E.T.’’). NAV per Share will be calculated by dividing the Fund’s net assets by the number of Fund Shares outstanding. 17 It is expected that the Fund will typically issue and redeem Creation Units on a cash basis; however, at times, the Fund may issue and redeem Creation Units on an in-kind (or partially in-kind) (or partially cash) basis. E:\FR\FM\23MRN1.SGM 23MRN1 16442 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 56 / Monday, March 23, 2020 / Notices Component (if any), for that day. The published Creation Basket will apply until a new Creation Basket is announced on the following business day prior to commencement of trading in the Shares. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES Application of Generic Listing Requirements The Exchange is submitting this proposed rule change because the portfolio for the Fund will not meet all of the ‘‘generic’’ listing requirements of Commentary .01 to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E applicable to the listing of Managed Fund Shares. The Fund’s portfolio will meet all such requirements except for those set forth in Commentary .01(a)(1), (a)(2), (b)(1), (b)(4), (b)(5), and (e), as described below. The Fund will not comply with the requirements set forth in Commentary .01(a)(1) 18 and (a)(2) 19 to NYSE Arca 18 Commentary .01(a)(1) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E provides that the component stocks of the equity portion of a portfolio that are U.S. Component Stocks shall meet the following criteria initially and on a continuing basis: (A) Component stocks (excluding Derivative Securities Products and Index-Linked Securities) that in the aggregate account for at least 90% of the equity weight of the portfolio (excluding such Derivative Securities Products and Index-Linked Securities) each shall have a minimum market value of at least $75 million; (B) Component stocks (excluding Derivative Securities Products and Index-Linked Securities) that in the aggregate account for at least 70% of the equity weight of the portfolio (excluding such Derivative Securities Products and Index-Linked Securities) each shall have a minimum monthly trading volume of 250,000 shares, or minimum notional volume traded per month of $25,000,000, averaged over the last six months; (C) The most heavily weighted component stock (excluding Derivative Securities Products and Index-Linked Securities) shall not exceed 30% of the equity weight of the portfolio, and, to the extent applicable, the five most heavily weighted component stocks (excluding Derivative Securities Products and Index-Linked Securities) shall not exceed 65% of the equity weight of the portfolio; (D) Where the equity portion of the portfolio does not include Non-U.S. Component Stocks, the equity portion of the portfolio shall include a minimum of 13 component stocks; provided, however, that there shall be no minimum number of component stocks if (i) one or more series of Derivative Securities Products or Index-Linked Securities constitute, at least in part, components underlying a series of Managed Fund Shares, or (ii) one or more series of Derivative Securities Products or Index-Linked Securities account for 100% of the equity weight of the portfolio of a series of Managed Fund Shares; (E) Except as provided herein, equity securities in the portfolio shall be U.S. Component Stocks listed on a national securities exchange and shall be NMS Stocks as defined in Rule 600 of Regulation NMS under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and (F) American Depositary Receipts (‘‘ADRs’’) in a portfolio may be exchange-traded or non- exchangetraded. However, no more than 10% of the equity weight of a portfolio shall consist of non-exchangetraded ADRs. 19 Commentary .01(a)(2) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E provides that the component stocks of the equity portion of a portfolio that are Non-U.S. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:26 Mar 20, 2020 Jkt 250001 Rule 8.600–E with respect to the Fund’s investments in equity securities.20 Instead, the Exchange proposes that (i) the Fund’s investments in equity securities will meet the requirements of Commentary .01(a) with the exception of Commentary .01(a)(1)(C) and .01(a)(1)(D) (with respect to U.S. Component Stocks) and Commentary .01(a)(2)(C) and .01(a)(2)(D) (with respect to Non-U.S. Component Stocks). Any Fund investment in exchangetraded common stocks, preferred stocks, REITS, ETFs, ETNs, and U.S. exchangetraded closed-end funds would provide for enhanced diversification of the Fund’s portfolio and, in any case, would be Non-Principal Investments and would not exceed 20% of the Fund’s net assets in the aggregate. The Adviser and Sub-Adviser represent that, under these circumstances, application of the weighting requirements of Commentary .01(a)(1)(C) and Commentary .01(a)(2)(C) and the minimum number of components requirements of Commentary .01(a)(1)(D) and Commentary .01(a)(2)(D) would impose an unnecessary burden on the Fund’s ability to hold such equity securities. The Fund will not comply with the requirement in Commentary .01(b)(1) to Rule 8.600–E that components that in the aggregate account for at least 75% of the fixed income weight of the portfolio each shall have a minimum original principal amount outstanding of $100 million or more. Instead, the Exchange Component Stocks shall meet the following criteria initially and on a continuing basis: (A) Non-U.S. Component Stocks each shall have a minimum market value of at least $100 million; (B) Non-U.S. Component Stocks each shall have a minimum global monthly trading volume of 250,000 shares, or minimum global notional volume traded per month of $25,000,000, averaged over the last six months; (C) The most heavily weighted Non-U.S. Component stock shall not exceed 25% of the equity weight of the portfolio, and, to the extent applicable, the five most heavily weighted Non-U.S. Component Stocks shall not exceed 60% of the equity weight of the portfolio; (D) Where the equity portion of the portfolio includes Non-U.S. Component Stocks, the equity portion of the portfolio shall include a minimum of 20 component stocks; provided, however, that there shall be no minimum number of component stocks if (i) one or more series of Derivative Securities Products or Index-Linked Securities constitute, at least in part, components underlying a series of Managed Fund Shares, or (ii) one or more series of Derivative Securities Products or Index-Linked Securities account for 100% of the equity weight of the portfolio of a series of Managed Fund Shares; and (E) Each Non-U.S. Component Stock shall be listed and traded on an exchange that has last-sale reporting. 20 For purposes of these exceptions, investments in equity securities that are non-exchange-traded securities of other open-end investment companies (e.g., mutual funds) are excluded and are discussed further below. PO 00000 Frm 00130 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 proposes that components that in the aggregate account for at least 50% of the fixed income weight of the portfolio each shall have a minimum original principal amount outstanding of $50 million or more. As noted above, the Fund may not invest more than 2% of its total assets in any one Fixed Income Security (excluding U.S. government securities and TIPS) on a per CUSIP basis. In addition, at least 50% of the weight of the Fund’s portfolio would continue to be subject to a substantial minimum (i.e., $50 million) original principal amount outstanding. The Exchange believes this limitation would provide significant additional diversification to the Fund’s investments in Fixed Income Securities, and reduce concerns that the Fund’s investments in such securities would be readily susceptible to market manipulation.21 The Fund will not comply with the requirements in Commentary .01(b)(4) to Rule 8.600–E that component securities that in the aggregate account for at least 90% of the fixed income weight of the portfolio meet one of the criteria specified in Commentary .01(b)(4), because certain Private ABS/ MBS cannot satisfy the criteria in Commentary .01(b)(4).22 Instead, the Exchange proposes that the Fund’s investments in Fixed Income Securities other than Private ABS/MBS will be required to comply with the requirements of Commentary .01(b)(4). As noted above, the Fund may not invest more than 2% of its total assets in any one Fixed Income Security (excluding U.S. government securities and TIPS) on a per CUSIP basis. The Exchange believes this limitation would provide additional diversification to the 21 The Commission has approved an exception from Commentary .01(b)(1) to Rule 8.600–E substantially identical to that requested for the Fund herein in Securities Exchange Act 87410 (October 28, 2019), 84 FR 58750 (November 1, 2019) (SR–NYSEArca–2019–33) (Notice of Filing of Amendment No. 2 and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 2, Regarding Changes to Investments of the First Trust TCW Unconstrained Plus Bond ETF) (‘‘First Trust TCW Unconstrained Release’’). 22 Commentary .01(b)(4) provides that component securities that in the aggregate account for at least 90% of the fixed income weight of the portfolio must be either: (a) From issuers that are required to file reports pursuant to Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Act; (b) from issuers that have a worldwide market value of its outstanding common equity held by non-affiliates of $700 million or more; (c) from issuers that have outstanding securities that are notes, bonds debentures, or evidence of indebtedness having a total remaining principal amount of at least $1 billion; (d) exempted securities as defined in Section 3(a)(12) of the Act; or (e) from issuers that are a government of a foreign country or a political subdivision of a foreign country. E:\FR\FM\23MRN1.SGM 23MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 56 / Monday, March 23, 2020 / Notices jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES Fund’s investments in Private ABS/ MBS, and reduce concerns that the Fund’s investment in such securities would be readily susceptible to market manipulation. The Exchange notes that the Commission has previously approved the listing of Managed Fund Shares with similar investment objectives and strategies without imposing requirements that a certain percentage of such funds’ securities meet one of the criteria set forth in Commentary .01(b)(4).23 The Fund will not comply with the requirement in Commentary .01(b)(5) to Rule 8.600–E that Private ABS/MBS in the Fund’s portfolio account, in the aggregate, for no more than 20% of the weight of the Fund’s portfolio.24 Instead, the Exchange proposes that, in order to enable the portfolio to be more diversified and provide the Fund with an opportunity to earn higher returns, the Fund may invest up to 50% of its total assets in the aggregate in Private ABS/MBS, provided that the Fund (1) may not invest more than 30% of its total assets in non-agency RMBS; (2) may not invest more than 25% of its total assets in non-agency CMBS and CLOs; and (3) may not invest more than 25% of its total assets in non-agency ABS. With respect to the Fund’s investments in up to 30% of its total assets in Private ABS/MBS that exceed the 20% of the weight of the Fund’s portfolio that may be invested in Private ABS/MBS under Commentary .01(b)(5) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E, the following restrictions will apply: • Non-agency RMBS shall have a weighted average loan age of 84 months or more; • Non-agency CMBS and CLOs shall have a weighted average loan age of 60 months or more; and • Non-agency ABS shall have a weighted average loan age of 12 months or more. In addition, as noted above, the Fund may not invest more than 2% of its total assets in any one Fixed Income Security (excluding U.S. government securities and TIPS) on a per CUSIP basis.25 The 23 See First Trust TCW Unconstrained Release. See also, Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 67894 (September 20, 2012) 77 FR 59227 (September 26, 2012) (SR–BATS–2012–033) (order approving the listing and trading of shares of the iShares Short Maturity Bond Fund); 70342 (September 6, 2013), 78 FR 56256 (September 12, 2013) (SR–NYSEArca–2013–71) (order approving the listing and trading of shares of the SPDR SSgA Ultra Short Term Bond ETF, SPDR SSgA Conservative Ultra Short Term Bond ETF and SPDR SSgA Aggressive Ultra Short Term Bond ETF). 24 See note 13, supra. 25 As noted above, the Fund’s holdings in derivative instruments for hedging purposes would VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:26 Mar 20, 2020 Jkt 250001 Exchange believes these limitations would provide additional diversification to the Fund’s Private ABS/MBS investments and reduce concerns that the Fund’s investment in such securities would be readily susceptible to market manipulation. The Adviser and Sub-Adviser represent that the RMBS sector can be an important component of the Fund’s investment strategy because of the potential for attractive risk-adjusted returns relative to other fixed income sectors and the potential to add significantly to the diversification in the Fund’s portfolio. Similarly, the Private ABS/MBS sectors also have the potential for attractive risk-adjusted returns and added portfolio diversification. The Fund’s portfolio will not comply with the requirements set forth in Commentary .01(e) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E.26 Specifically, the Fund’s investments in OTC derivatives may exceed 20% of Fund assets, calculated as the aggregate gross notional value of such OTC derivatives. The Exchange proposes that up to 25% of the Fund’s assets (calculated as the aggregate gross notional value) may be invested in OTC derivatives that are used to reduce currency, interest rate or credit risk arising from the Fund’s investments (that is, ‘‘hedge’’). The Fund’s investments in OTC derivatives other than OTC derivatives used to hedge the Fund’s portfolio against currency, interest rate or credit risk will be limited to 20% of the assets in the Fund’s portfolio, calculated as the aggregate gross notional value of such OTC derivatives. The Adviser and Sub-Adviser believe that it is important to provide the Fund with additional flexibility to manage risk associated with its investments. Depending on market conditions, it may be critical that the Fund be able to utilize available OTC derivatives for this purpose to attempt to reduce impact of currency, interest rate or credit fluctuations on Fund assets. Therefore, be excluded from the determination of compliance with this 2% limitation. The total gross notional value of the Fund’s holdings in derivative instruments used to gain exposure to a specific asset is limited to 2% of the Fund’s total assets. 26 Commentary .01(e) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600– E provides that the portfolio may hold OTC derivatives, including forwards, options and swaps on commodities, currencies and financial instruments (e.g., stocks, fixed income, interest rates, and volatility) or a basket or index of any of the foregoing; however, on both an initial and continuing basis, no more than 20% of the assets in the portfolio may be invested in OTC derivatives. For purposes of calculating this limitation, a portfolio’s investment in OTC derivatives will be calculated as the aggregate gross notional value of the OTC derivatives. PO 00000 Frm 00131 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 16443 the Exchange believes it is appropriate to apply a limit of up to 25% of the Fund’s assets to the Fund’s investments in OTC derivatives (calculated as the aggregate gross notional value of such OTC derivatives), including forwards, options and swaps, that are used for hedging purposes, as described above.27 As noted above, the Fund may hold equity securities that are non-exchangetraded securities of other open-end investment company securities (e.g., mutual funds). The Exchange believes that it is appropriate and in the public interest to approve listing and trading of Shares of the Fund on the Exchange notwithstanding that the Fund would not meet the requirements of Commentary .01(a)(1)(A) through (E) to Rule 8.600–E with respect to the Fund’s investments in non-exchange-traded securities of open-end investment company securities.28 Investments in non-exchange-traded securities of openend investment company securities will not be principal investments of the Fund.29 Such investments, which may include mutual funds that invest, for example, principally in fixed income securities, would be utilized to help the Fund meet its investment objective and to equitize cash in the short term. Because such securities have a net asset value based on the value of securities and financial assets the investment company holds, the Exchange believes it is both unnecessary and inappropriate to apply to such investment company securities the criteria in Commentary .01(a)(1).30 27 In the First Trust TCW Unconstrained Release, the Commission previously approved an exception from requirements set forth in Commentary .01(e) relating to investments in OTC derivatives similar to those proposed with respect to the Fund. See also, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 80657 (May 11, 2017), 82 FR 22702 (May 17, 2017) (SR– NYSEArca–2017–09) (Notice of Filing of Amendment No. 2 and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 2, Regarding Investments of the Janus Short Duration Income ETF Listed Under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600). 28 Commentary .01 (a) to Rule 8.600–E specifies the equity securities accommodated by the generic criteria in Commentary .01(a), namely, U.S. Component Stocks (as described in Rule 5.2– E(j)(3)); Non-U.S. Component Stocks (as described in Rule 5.2–E(j)(3)); Derivative Securities Products (i.e., Investment Company Units and securities described in Section 2 of Rule 8–E); and IndexLinked Securities that qualify for Exchange listing and trading under Rule 5.2–E(j)(6). 29 For purposes of this section of the filing, nonexchange-traded securities of other registered investment companies do not include money market funds, which are cash equivalents under Commentary .01(c) to Rule 8.600–E and for which there is no limitation in the percentage of the portfolio invested in such securities. 30 The Commission has previously approved proposed rule changes under Section 19(b) of the Act for series of Managed Fund Shares that may E:\FR\FM\23MRN1.SGM Continued 23MRN1 16444 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 56 / Monday, March 23, 2020 / Notices jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES The Exchange notes that Commentary .01(a) through (d) to Rule 8.600–E exclude application of those provisions to certain ‘‘Derivative Securities Products’’ that are exchange-traded investment company securities, including Investment Company Units (as described in NYSE Arca Rule 5.2– E(j)(3)), Portfolio Depositary Receipts (as described in NYSE Arca Rule 8.100–E) and Managed Fund Shares (as described in NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E).31 In its 2008 Approval Order approving amendments to Commentary .01(a) to Rule 5.2(j)(3) that exclude Derivative Securities Products from certain provisions of Commentary .01(a) (which exclusions are similar to those in Commentary .01(a)(1) to Rule 8.600–E), the Commission stated that ‘‘based on the trading characteristics of Derivative Securities Products, it may be difficult for component Derivative Securities Products to satisfy certain quantitative index criteria, such as the minimum market value and trading volume limitations.’’ The Exchange notes that it would be difficult or impossible to apply to non-exchange-traded investment company securities the generic quantitative criteria (e.g., market capitalization, trading volume, or portfolio criteria) in Commentary .01 (a) through (d) applicable to U.S. Component Stocks. For example, the invest in non-exchange traded investment company securities. See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release No. 78414 (July 26, 2016), 81 FR 50576 (August 1, 2016) (SR–NYSEArca–2016–79) (order approving listing and trading of shares of the Virtus Japan Alpha ETF under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600). 31 The Commission initially approved the Exchange’s proposed rule change to exclude ‘‘Derivative Securities Products’’ (i.e., Investment Company Units and securities described in Section 2 of Rule 8) and ‘‘Index-Linked Securities (as described in Rule 5.2–E (j)(6)) from Commentary .01(a)(A) (1) through (4) to Rule 5.2–E(j)(3 in Securities Exchange Act Release No. 57751 (May 1, 2008), 73 FR 25818 (May 7, 2008) (SR–NYSEArca– 2008–29) (Order Granting Approval of a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 1 Thereto, to Amend the Eligibility Criteria for Components of an Index Underlying Investment Company Units) (‘‘2008 Approval Order’’). See also, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 57561 (March 26, 2008), 73 FR 17390 (April 1, 2008) (Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change and Amendment No. 1 Thereto to Amend the Eligibility Criteria for Components of an Index Underlying Investment Company Units). The Commission subsequently approved generic criteria applicable to listing and trading of Managed Fund Shares, including exclusions for Derivative Securities Products and Index-Linked Securities in Commentary .01(a)(1)(A) through (D), in Securities Exchange Act Release No. 78397 (July 22, 2016), 81 FR 49320 (July 27, 2016) (Order Granting Approval of Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 7 Thereto, Amending NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600 To Adopt Generic Listing Standards for Managed Fund Shares). See also, Amendment No. 7 to SR– NYSEArca–2015–110, available at https:// www.sec.gov/comments/sr-nysearca-2015-110/ nysearca2015110-9.pdf. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:26 Mar 20, 2020 Jkt 250001 requirement for U.S. Component Stocks in Commentary .01(a)(1)(B) that there be minimum monthly trading volume of 250,000 shares, or minimum notional volume traded per month of $25,000,000, averaged over the last six months is tailored to exchange-traded securities (e.g., U.S. Component Stocks) and not to mutual fund shares, which do not trade in the secondary market. Moreover, application of such criteria would not serve the purpose served with respect to U.S. Component Stocks, namely, to establish minimum liquidity and diversification criteria for U.S. Component Stocks held by series of Managed Fund Shares. The Exchange notes that the Commission has previously approved listing and trading of an issue of Managed Fund Shares that may invest in equity securities that are nonexchange-traded securities of other open-end investment company securities notwithstanding that the fund would not meet the requirements of Commentary .01(a)(1)(A) through (E) to Rule 8.600–E with respect to such fund’s investments in such securities.32 Thus, the Exchange believes that it is appropriate to permit the Fund to invest in non-exchange-traded open-end management investment company securities, as described above. Deviations from the generic requirements are necessary for the Fund to achieve its investment objective in a manner that is cost-effective and that maximizes investors’ returns. Further, the proposed alternative requirements are narrowly tailored to allow the Fund to achieve its investment objective in manner that is consistent with the principles of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act. As a result, it is in the public interest to approve listing and trading of Shares of the Fund on the Exchange pursuant to the requirements set forth herein. The Exchange notes that, other than Commentary .01(a)(1), (a)(2), (b)(1), (b)(4), (b)(5), and (e) to Rule 8.600–E, as described above, the Fund’s portfolio will meet all other requirements of Rule 8.600–E. Availability of Information The Fund’s website (www.ftportfolios.com) will include the prospectus for the Fund that may be downloaded. The Fund’s website will include additional quantitative 32 See the First Trust TCW Unconstrained Release. See also Securities Exchange Act Release No. 83319 (May 24, 2018) (SR–NYSEArca–2018–15) (Order Approving a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 1 Thereto, to Continue Listing and Trading Shares of the PGIM Ultra Short Bond ETF Under NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E). PO 00000 Frm 00132 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 information updated on a daily basis including, for the Fund, (1) daily trading volume, the prior business day’s reported closing price, NAV and midpoint of the bid/ask spread at the time of calculation of such NAV (the ‘‘Bid/Ask Price’’),33 and a calculation of the premium and discount of the Bid/ Ask Price against the NAV, and (2) data in chart format displaying the frequency distribution of discounts and premiums of the daily Bid/Ask Price against the NAV, within appropriate ranges, for each of the four previous calendar quarters. On each business day, before commencement of trading in Shares in the Core Trading Session on the Exchange, the Fund will disclose on its website the Disclosed Portfolio as defined in NYSE Arca Rule 8.600– E(c)(2) that forms the basis for the Fund’s calculation of NAV at the end of the business day.34 On a daily basis, the Fund will disclose the information required under NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E(c)(2) to the extent applicable. The website information will be publicly available at no charge. In addition, a basket composition file, which includes the security names and share quantities, if applicable, required to be delivered in exchange for the Fund’s Shares, together with estimates and actual cash components, will be publicly disseminated daily prior to the opening of the Exchange via the NSCC. The basket represents one Creation Unit of the Fund. Authorized Participants may refer to the basket composition file for information regarding Fixed Income Securities, and any other instrument that may comprise the Fund’s basket on a given day. Investors can also obtain the Trust’s Statement of Additional Information (‘‘SAI’’), the Fund’s Shareholder Reports, and the Fund’s Forms N–CSR, filed twice a year and Form N–CEN, filed once a year. The Fund’s SAI and Shareholder Reports will be available free upon request from the Trust, and those documents and the Form N–CSR, Form N–PX and Form N–CEN may be viewed on-screen or downloaded from the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. 33 The Bid/Ask Price of the Fund’s Shares will be determined using the mid-point of the highest bid and the lowest offer on the Exchange as of the time of calculation of the Fund’s NAV. The records relating to Bid/Ask Prices will be retained by the Fund and its service providers. 34 Under accounting procedures followed by the Fund, trades made on the prior business day (‘‘T’’) will be booked and reflected in NAV on the current business day (‘‘T+1’’). Accordingly, the Fund will be able to disclose at the beginning of the business day the portfolio that will form the basis for the NAV calculation at the end of the business day. E:\FR\FM\23MRN1.SGM 23MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 56 / Monday, March 23, 2020 / Notices jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES Intra-day and closing price information regarding exchange-traded options will be available from the exchange on which such instruments are traded. Intra-day and closing price information regarding Fixed Income Securities will be available from major market data vendors. Price information relating to OTC options, forwards and swaps will be available from major market data vendors. Intra-day price information for exchange-traded derivative instruments will be available from the applicable exchange and from major market data vendors. Intraday and other price information for the Fixed Income Securities in which the Fund will invest will be available through subscription services, such as Bloomberg, Markit and Thomson Reuters, which can be accessed by Authorized Participants and other market participants. Additionally, the Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (‘‘TRACE’’) of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (‘‘FINRA’’) will be a source of price information for corporate bonds, and Private ABS/MBS, to the extent transactions in such securities are reported to TRACE.35 Non-exchange-traded open-end investment company securities are typically priced once each business day and their prices will be available through the applicable fund’s website or from major market data vendors. Price information regarding U.S. government securities, Private ABS/MBS, cash equivalents and short-term instruments with maturities of three months or more generally may be obtained from brokers and dealers who make markets in such securities or through nationally recognized pricing services through subscription agreements. Information relating to weighted average loan age for Private ABS/MBS is widely available from major market data vendors such as Bloomberg. Information regarding market price and trading volume of the Shares, ETFs, ETNs, common stocks, preferred stocks, REITs and closed-end funds will be continually available on a real-time basis throughout the day on brokers’ computer screens and other electronic services. Information regarding the 35 Broker-dealers that are FINRA member firms have an obligation to report transactions in specified debt securities to TRACE to the extent required under applicable FINRA rules. Generally, such debt securities will have at issuance a maturity that exceeds one calendar year. For Fixed Income Securities that are not reported to TRACE, (i) intraday price quotations will generally be available from broker-dealers and trading platforms (as applicable) and (ii) price information will be available from feeds from market data vendors, published or other public sources, or online information services, as described above. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:26 Mar 20, 2020 Jkt 250001 previous day’s closing price and trading volume information for the Shares will be published daily in the financial section of newspapers. Quotation and last sale information for the Shares, ETFs, ETNs, closed-end funds, REITs, certain common stocks, certain preferred stocks will be available via the Consolidated Tape Association (‘‘CTA’’) high-speed line. Exchangetraded options quotation and last sale information for options cleared via the Options Clearing Corporation (‘‘OCC’’) are available via the Options Price Reporting Authority (‘‘OPRA’’). In addition, the Portfolio Indicative Value (‘‘PIV’’), as defined in NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E(c)(3), will be widely disseminated by one or more major market data vendors at least every 15 seconds during the Core Trading Session. Trading Halts With respect to trading halts, the Exchange may consider all relevant factors in exercising its discretion to halt or suspend trading in the Shares of the Fund.36 Trading in Shares of the Fund will be halted if the circuit breaker parameters in NYSE Arca Rule 7.12–E have been reached. Trading also may be halted because of market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in the Shares inadvisable. Trading in the Fund’s Shares also will be subject to Rule 8.600–E(d)(2)(D) (‘‘Trading Halts’’). Trading Rules The Exchange deems the Shares to be equity securities, thus rendering trading in the Shares subject to the Exchange’s existing rules governing the trading of equity securities. Shares will trade on the NYSE Arca Marketplace from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m., E.T. in accordance with NYSE Arca Rule 7.34–E (Early, Core, and Late Trading Sessions). The Exchange has appropriate rules to facilitate transactions in the Shares during all trading sessions. As provided in NYSE Arca Rule 7.6–E, the minimum price variation (‘‘MPV’’) for quoting and entry of orders in equity securities traded on the NYSE Arca Marketplace is $0.01, with the exception of securities that are priced less than $1.00 for which the MPV for order entry is $0.0001. With the exception of the requirements of Commentary .01(a)(1), (a)(2), (b)(1), (b)(4), (b)(5), and (e) to Rule 8.600–E as described above in ‘‘Application of Generic Listing Requirements,’’ the Shares of the Fund will conform to the initial and continued listing criteria under NYSE 36 See PO 00000 NYSE Arca Rule 7.12–E. Frm 00133 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 16445 Arca Rule 8.600–E. Consistent with NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E(d)(2)(B)(ii), the Adviser and Sub-Adviser will implement and maintain, or be subject to, procedures designed to prevent the use and dissemination of material nonpublic information regarding the actual components of the Fund’s portfolio. The Exchange represents that, for initial and continued listing, the Fund will be in compliance with Rule 10A– 3 37 under the Act, as provided by NYSE Arca Rule 5.3–E. The Exchange will obtain a representation from the issuer of the Shares that the NAV per Share will be calculated daily and that the NAV and the Disclosed Portfolio will be made available to all market participants at the same time. The Fund’s investments will be consistent with its investment goal and will not be used to provide multiple returns of a benchmark or to produce leveraged returns. Surveillance The Exchange represents that trading in the Shares will be subject to the existing trading surveillances, administered by FINRA on behalf of the Exchange, or by regulatory staff of the Exchange, which are designed to detect violations of Exchange rules and applicable federal securities laws. The Exchange represents that these procedures are adequate to properly monitor Exchange trading of the Shares in all trading sessions and to deter and detect violations of Exchange rules and federal securities laws applicable to trading on the Exchange.38 The surveillances referred to above generally focus on detecting securities trading outside their normal patterns, which could be indicative of manipulative or other violative activity. When such situations are detected, surveillance analysis follows and investigations are opened, where appropriate, to review the behavior of all relevant parties for all relevant trading violations. The Exchange or FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, or both, will communicate as needed regarding trading in the Shares, certain exchangetraded options and certain exchangetraded futures, ETFs, ETNs, closed-end funds, certain common stocks, certain preferred stocks, and certain REITs with other markets and other entities that are members of the Intermarket Surveillance Group (‘‘ISG’’), and the 37 17 CFR 240.10A–3. conducts cross-market surveillances on behalf of the Exchange pursuant to a regulatory services agreement. The Exchange is responsible for FINRA’s performance under this regulatory services agreement. 38 FINRA E:\FR\FM\23MRN1.SGM 23MRN1 16446 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 56 / Monday, March 23, 2020 / Notices jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES Exchange or FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, or both, may obtain trading information regarding trading in such securities and financial instruments from such markets and other entities.39 In addition, the Exchange may obtain information regarding trading in such securities and financial instruments from markets and other entities that are members of ISG or with which the Exchange has in place a CSSA. In addition, FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, is able to access, as needed, trade information for certain fixed income securities held by the Fund reported to FINRA’s TRACE. In addition, the Exchange also has a general policy prohibiting the distribution of material, non-public information by its employees. All statements and representations made in this filing regarding (a) the description of the portfolio or reference asset, (b) limitations on portfolio holdings or reference assets, or (c) the applicability of Exchange listing rules specified in this rule filing shall constitute continued listing requirements for listing the Shares of the Fund on the Exchange. The issuer must notify the Exchange of any failure by the Fund to comply with the continued listing requirements, and, pursuant to its obligations under Section 19(g)(1) of the Act, the Exchange will monitor for compliance with the continued listing requirements. If the Fund is not in compliance with the applicable listing requirements, the Exchange will commence delisting procedures under NYSE Arca Rule 5.5– E (m). Information Bulletin The Exchange will inform its Equity Trading Permit Holders in an Information Bulletin (‘‘Bulletin’’) of the special characteristics and risks associated with trading the Shares. Specifically, the Bulletin will discuss the following: (1) The procedures for purchases and redemptions of Shares in Creation Unit aggregations (and that Shares are not individually redeemable); (2) NYSE Arca Rule 9.2–E(a), which imposes a duty of due diligence on its Equity Trading Permit Holders to learn the essential facts relating to every customer prior to trading the Shares; (3) the risks involved in trading the Shares during the Early and Late Trading Sessions when an updated PIV will not be calculated or publicly disseminated; 39 For a list of the current members of ISG, see www.isgportal.org. The Exchange notes that not all components of the Disclosed Portfolio may trade on markets that are members of ISG or with which the Exchange has in place a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement (‘‘CSSA’’). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:26 Mar 20, 2020 Jkt 250001 (4) how information regarding the PIV and the Disclosed Portfolio is disseminated; (5) the requirement that Equity Trading Permit Holders deliver a prospectus to investors purchasing newly issued Shares prior to or concurrently with the confirmation of a transaction; and (6) trading information. In addition, the Bulletin will reference that the Fund is subject to various fees and expenses described in the Registration Statement. The Bulletin will discuss any exemptive, no-action, and interpretive relief granted by the Commission from any rules under the Act. The Bulletin will also disclose that the NAV for the Shares will be calculated after 4:00 p.m., E.T. each trading day. 2. Statutory Basis The basis under the Act for this proposed rule change is the requirement under Section 6(b)(5) 40 that an exchange have rules that are designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments to, and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices in that the Shares are listed and traded on the Exchange pursuant to the initial and continued listing criteria in NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E. The Exchange has in place surveillance procedures that are adequate to properly monitor trading in the Shares in all trading sessions and to deter and detect violations of Exchange rules and applicable federal securities laws. The Exchange or FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, or both, will communicate as needed regarding trading in the Shares, certain exchangetraded options and certain exchangetraded futures, ETFs, ETNs, closed-end funds, certain common stocks, certain preferred stocks, and certain REITs with other markets and other entities that are members of the ISG, and the Exchange or FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, or both, may obtain trading information regarding trading in such securities and financial instruments from such markets and other entities. The Exchange may obtain information regarding trading in such securities and financial instruments from markets and other entities that are members of ISG or with which the Exchange has in place a CSSA. In addition, FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, is able to access, as 40 15 PO 00000 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). Frm 00134 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 needed, trade information for certain fixed income securities held by the Fund reported to TRACE. The Adviser and Sub-Adviser are not registered as broker-dealers. The Adviser is affiliated with First Trust Portfolios L.P., 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 and/or changes to the portfolios. The Sub-Adviser is affiliated with multiple broker-dealers and has implemented and will maintain a fire wall with respect to its broker-dealer affiliates regarding access to information concerning the composition and/or changes to the portfolio. The Exchange notes that, other than Commentary .01(a)(1), (a)(2), (b)(1), (b)(4), (b)(5), and (e) to Rule 8.600–E, as described above, the Fund’s portfolio will meet all other requirements of Rule 8.600–E. The proposed rule change is designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade and to protect investors and the public interest in that the Exchange will obtain a representation from the issuer of the Shares that the NAV per Share will be calculated daily and that the NAV and the Disclosed Portfolio will be made available to all market participants at the same time. In addition, a large amount of information will be publicly available regarding the Fund and the Shares, thereby promoting market transparency. Quotation and last sale information for the Shares, ETFs, ETNs, closed-end funds, certain REITs, certain common stocks, and certain preferred stocks will be available via the CTA high-speed line. Exchange-traded options quotation and last sale information for options cleared via the OCC are available via OPRA. The Exchange will inform its Equity Trading Permit Holders in an Information Bulletin of the special characteristics and risks associated with trading the Shares. Trading in Shares of the Fund will be halted if the circuit breaker parameters in NYSE Arca Rule 7.12–E have been reached or because of market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in the Shares inadvisable. Trading in the Shares will be subject to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E (d)(2)(D), which sets forth circumstances under which Shares of the Fund may be halted. In addition, as noted above, investors will have ready access to information regarding the Fund’s holdings, NAV, the PIV, the Disclosed Portfolio, and quotation and last sale information for the Shares. The proposed rule change is designed to perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and, in general, to protect E:\FR\FM\23MRN1.SGM 23MRN1 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 56 / Monday, March 23, 2020 / Notices investors and the public interest in that it will facilitate the listing and trading of an additional type of activelymanaged exchange-traded product that generally will principally hold fixed income securities and 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 CSSA. In addition, as noted above, investors will have ready access to information regarding the Fund’s holdings, NAV, Disclosed Portfolio, and quotation and last sale information for the Shares. Deviations from the generic requirements, as described above, are necessary for the Fund to achieve its investment objective in a manner that is cost-effective and that maximizes investors’ returns. Further, the proposed alternative requirements are narrowly tailored to allow the Fund to achieve its investment objective in a manner that is consistent with the principles of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act. As a result, it is in the public interest to approve listing and trading of Shares of the Fund on the Exchange pursuant to the requirements set forth herein. As noted above, the Fund will not comply with the requirements set forth in Commentary .01(a)(1) and (a)(2) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E with respect to the Fund’s investments in equity securities. Instead, the Exchange proposes that (i) the Fund’s investments in equity securities will meet the requirements of Commentary .01(a) with the exception of Commentary .01(a)(1)(C) and .01(a)(1)(D) (with respect to U.S. Component Stocks) and Commentary .01(a)(2)(C) and .01(a)(2)(D) (with respect to Non-U.S. Component Stocks).41 The Exchange believes it is appropriate and in the public interest to approve listing and trading of Shares of the Fund notwithstanding that the Fund’s holdings in such equity securities do not comply with the requirements set forth in Commentary .01(a)(1) and (a)(2) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E in that any Fund investment in exchange-traded common stocks, preferred stocks, REITS, ETFs, ETNs and U.S. exchangetraded closed-end funds would provide for enhanced diversification of the Fund’s portfolio. Such securities would be Non-Principal Investments, not 41 See notes 18 and 19, supra. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:26 Mar 20, 2020 Jkt 250001 exceeding 20% of the Fund’s net assets in the aggregate. The Fund will not comply with the requirement in Commentary .01(b)(1) to Rule 8.600–E that components that in the aggregate account for at least 75% of the fixed income weight of the portfolio each shall have a minimum original principal amount outstanding of $100 million or more. Instead, the Exchange proposes that components that in the aggregate account for at least 50% of the fixed income weight of the portfolio each shall have a minimum original principal amount outstanding of $50 million or more. As noted above, the Fund may not invest more than 2% of its total assets in any one Fixed Income Security (excluding U.S. government securities and TIPS) on a per CUSIP basis. In addition, at least 50% of the weight of the Fund’s portfolio would continue to be subject to a substantial minimum (i.e., $50 million) original principal amount outstanding. The Exchange believes this limitation would provide significant additional diversification to the Fund’s investments in Fixed Income Securities, and reduce concerns that the Fund’s investments in such securities would be readily susceptible to market manipulation. The Exchange proposes that Private ABS/MBS will not be required to comply with the requirements of Commentary .01(b)(4) because certain Private ABS/MBS cannot satisfy the criteria in Commentary .01(b)(4). Instead, the Exchange proposes that the Fund’s investments in Fixed Income Securities other than Private ABS/MBS will be required to comply with the requirements of Commentary .01(b)(4). The Exchange believes that this is appropriate because Commentary .01(b)(4) does not appear to be designed for structured finance vehicles such as Private ABS/MBS. As noted above, the Fund may not invest more than 2% of its total assets in any one Fixed Income Security (excluding U.S. government securities and TIPS) on a per CUSIP basis. The Exchange believes this limitation would provide additional diversification to the Fund’s investments in Private ABS/MBS, and reduce concerns that the Fund’s investment in such securities would be readily susceptible to market manipulation. As noted above, the Fund will not comply with the requirement in Commentary .01(b)(5) to Rule 8.600–E that Private ABS/MBS in the Fund’s portfolio account, in the aggregate, for no more than 20% of the weight of the Fund’s portfolio. Instead, the Exchange proposes that, in order to enable the PO 00000 Frm 00135 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 16447 portfolio to be more diversified and provide the Fund with an opportunity to earn higher returns, the Fund may invest up to 50% of its total assets in the aggregate in Private ABS/MBS, provided that the Fund (1) may not invest more than 25% of its total assets in nonagency ABS; (2) may not invest more than 30% of its total assets in nonagency RMBS; and (3) may not invest more than 25% of its total assets in nonagency CMBS and CLOs. With respect to the Fund’s investments in up to 30% of its total assets in Private ABS/MBS that exceed the 20% of the weight of the Fund’s portfolio that may be invested in Private ABS/MBS under Commentary .01(b)(5) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E, the Fund’s holdings in Private ABS/ MBS will be subject to minimum weighted average loan age restrictions described above.42 In addition, as noted above, the Fund may not invest more than 2% of its total assets in any one Fixed Income Security (excluding U.S. government securities and TIPS) on a per CUSIP basis.43 The Exchange believes these limitations would provide additional diversification to the Fund’s Private ABS/MBS investments and reduce concerns that the Fund’s investment in such securities would be readily susceptible to market manipulation. The Exchange believes it is appropriate and in the public interest to approve listing and trading of Shares of the Fund notwithstanding that the Fund’s holdings in such Private ABS/ MBS do not comply with the requirements set forth in Commentary .01(b)(5) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E in that the Fund’s investment in Private ABS/MBS is expected to provide the Fund with benefits associated with increased diversification, as Private ABS/MBS investments tend to be less correlated to interest rates than many other fixed income securities. The Fund’s investment in Private ABS/MBS will be subject to the Fund’s liquidity procedures as adopted by the Board, and the Adviser and Sub-Adviser do not expect that investments in Private ABS/ MBS of up to 50% of the total assets of the Fund will have any material impact on the liquidity of the Fund’s investments. The Adviser and Sub-Adviser represent that the RMBS sector can be an important component of the Fund’s investment strategy because of the potential for attractive risk-adjusted returns relative to other fixed income sectors and the potential to add significantly to the diversification in the 42 See 43 See E:\FR\FM\23MRN1.SGM note 13 and accompanying text, supra. note 25, supra. 23MRN1 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES 16448 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 56 / Monday, March 23, 2020 / Notices Fund’s portfolio. Similarly, the Private ABS/MBS sectors also have the potential for attractive risk-adjusted returns and added portfolio diversification. The Exchange believes the loan age parameters described above are appropriate for the corresponding Private ABS/MBS; the 84, 60 and 12 month time frames take into account that the longer Private ABS/MBS continue to trade, the more price discovery has occurred in the market and the more opportunity there has been for market participants to perform due diligence in understanding and evaluating the underlying loans for such securities. With respect to non-agency RMBS, a weighted average loan age of 84 months accommodates investment in wellseasoned securities that are continuing to trade with resilient pricing notwithstanding events during the market crisis of 2008–2010, during which loan defaults drastically impacted pricing in non-agency RMBS. Pricing in such securities is generally more reliable than RMBS with a lower loan age in that pricing is no longer reliant on market expectations but on actual post-crisis loan performance. With respect to non-agency CMBS, a weighted average loan age of 60 months would include securities for which there is a known track record regarding cash flows and default rates for loans underlying real estate and other assets underlying CMBS. A five year loan age facilitates pricing based on actual loan performance rather than default projections. Similarly, for non-agency CLOs, a weighted average loan age of 60 months provides the opportunity for market participants to evaluate data regarding the bank loans underlying the CLOs and to assess how the loans are actually being used—for example, to implement corporate strategy or for capital usage—rather than relying on pro forma statements regarding the loans. With respect to non-agency ABS, a weighted average loan age of 12 months provides an appropriately limited time frame for market participants to assess the likely trajectory of expected defaults (for example, for sub-prime auto loans). The loans underlying non-agency ABS are typically of much shorter duration than other Private ABS/MBS. Because such loans are more likely to default within a short time after issuance, a oneyear minimum loan age can be expected to provide a sufficient time frame for market participants to assess the reliability of loan pricing for loans underlying non-agency ABS. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:26 Mar 20, 2020 Jkt 250001 As noted above, the Fund’s portfolio will not comply with the requirements set forth in Commentary .01(e) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E. The Exchange proposes that up to 25% of the Fund’s assets (calculated as the aggregate gross notional value) may be invested in OTC derivatives that are used to reduce currency, interest rate or credit risk arising from the Fund’s investments (that is, ‘‘hedge’’), and that the Fund’s investments in OTC derivatives other than OTC derivatives used to hedge the Fund’s portfolio against currency, interest rate or credit risk will be limited to 20% of the assets in the Fund’s portfolio, calculated as the aggregate gross notional value of such OTC derivatives. As noted above, the Fund will not use derivative instruments to gain exposure to Private ABS/MBS, and derivative instruments linked to such securities will be used for hedging purposes only. The Exchange believes it is appropriate and in the public interest to approve listing and trading of Shares of the Fund notwithstanding that the Fund’s holdings in OTC derivatives do not comply with the requirements set forth in Commentary .01(e) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–E in that, depending on market conditions, it may be critical that the Fund be able to utilize available OTC derivatives to attempt to reduce impact of currency, interest rate or credit fluctuations on Fund assets. Therefore, the Exchange believes it is appropriate to apply a limit of up to 25% of the Fund’s assets to the Fund’s investments in OTC derivatives (calculated as the aggregate gross notional value of such OTC derivatives), including forwards, options and swaps, that are used for hedging purposes, as described above. The Adviser and Sub-Adviser represent that OTC derivatives can be tailored to hedge the specific risk arising from the Fund’s investments and frequently may be a more efficient hedging vehicle than listed derivatives. For example, the Fund could obtain an OTC foreign currency derivative in a notional amount that exactly matches the notional amount of the Fund’s investments. If the Fund were limited to investing up to 20% of assets in OTC derivatives, the Fund might have to ‘‘over hedge’’ or ‘‘under hedge’’ if round lot sizes in listed derivatives were not available. In addition, for example, an OTC CDX option can be structured to provide protection tailored to the Fund’s credit exposure and can be a more efficient way to hedge credit risk with respect to specific exposures than listed derivatives. Similarly, OTC interest rate derivatives can be more PO 00000 Frm 00136 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 effective hedges of interest rate exposure because they can be customized to match the basis risk arising from the term of the investments held by the Fund. Because the Fund, in furtherance of its investment objective, may invest a substantial percentage of its investments in foreign currency denominated Fixed Income Securities, the 20% limit in Commentary .01(e) to Rule 8.600–E could result in the Fund being unable to fully pursue its investment objective while attempting to sufficiently mitigate investment risks. The inability of the Fund to adequately hedge its holdings would effectively limit the Fund’s ability to invest in certain instruments, or could expose the Fund to additional investment risk. For example, if the Fund’s assets (on a gross notional value basis) were $100 million and no listed derivative were suitable to hedge the Fund’s risk, under the generic standards the Fund would be limited to holding up to $20 million gross notional value in OTC derivatives ($100 million * 20%). Accordingly, the maximum amount the Fund would be able to invest in foreign currency denominated Fixed Income Securities while remaining adequately hedged would be $20 million. The Fund then would hold $60 million in assets that could not be hedged, other than with listed derivatives, which, as noted above, might not be sufficiently tailored to the specific instruments to be hedged. In addition, by applying the 20% limitation in Commentary .01(e) to Rule 8.600–E, the Fund would be less able to protect its holdings from more than one risk simultaneously. For example, if the Fund’s assets (on a gross notional basis) were $100 million and the Fund held $20 million in foreign currency denominated Fixed Income Instruments with two types of risks (e.g., currency and credit risk) which could not be hedged using listed derivatives, the Fund would be faced with the choice of either holding $20 million aggregate gross notional value in OTC derivatives to mitigate one of the risks while passing the other risk to its shareholders, or, for example, holding $10 million aggregate gross notional value in OTC derivatives on each of the risks while passing the remaining portion of each risk to the Fund’s shareholders. The Adviser and Sub-Adviser believe that it is in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders for the Fund to be allowed to reduce the currency, interest rate or credit risk arising from the Fund’s investments using the most efficient financial instrument. While certain risks can be hedged via listed E:\FR\FM\23MRN1.SGM 23MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 56 / Monday, March 23, 2020 / Notices jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES derivatives, OTC derivatives (such as forwards, options and swaps) can be customized to hedge against precise risks. Accordingly, the Adviser and SubAdviser believe that OTC derivatives may frequently be a more efficient hedging vehicle than listed derivatives. Therefore, the Exchange believes that increasing the percentage limit in Commentary .01(e), as described above, to the Fund’s investments in OTC derivatives, including forwards, options and swaps, that are used specifically for hedging purposes would help protect investors and the public interest. As noted above, the Fund’s portfolio will not meet the requirements of Commentary .01(a)(1)(A) through (E) to Rule 8.600–E with respect to the Fund’s investments in non-exchange-traded securities of open-end investment company securities would not meet the requirements of Commentary .01(a)(1)(A) through (E) and Commentary .01(a)(2) (A) through (E) to Rule 8.600–E. The Exchange believes that it is appropriate and in the public interest to approve listing and trading of Shares of the Fund on the Exchange notwithstanding that the Fund would not meet the requirements of Commentary .01(a)(1)(A) through (E) to Rule 8.600–E with respect to the Fund’s investments in non-exchange-traded securities of open-end investment company securities would not meet the requirements of Commentary .01(a)(1)(A) through (E) to Rule 8.600–E. Investments in non-exchange-traded securities of open-end investment company securities will not be principal investments of the Fund.44 Such investments, which may include mutual funds that invest, for example, principally in fixed income securities, would be utilized to help the Fund meet its investment objective and to equitize cash in the short term. The 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 shares of an additional type of actively-managed exchange-traded product that will enhance competition among market participants, to the benefit of investors and the marketplace. B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Burden on Competition The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purpose of the Act. The Exchange notes that the proposed rule change will 44 See note 29, supra. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:26 Mar 20, 2020 Jkt 250001 facilitate the listing and trading of an additional type of actively-managed exchange-traded product that generally will principally hold fixed income securities and that will enhance competition among market participants, to the benefit of investors and the marketplace. C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the proposed rule change. III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action The Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act 45 and Rule 19b–4(f)(6) thereunder.46 Because the proposed rule change does not: (i) Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative prior to 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b–4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.47 A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b–4(f)(6) 48 does not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the filing. However, pursuant to Rule 19b–4(f)(6)(iii),49 the Commission may designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange requested that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal may become operative immediately upon filing. According to the Exchange, the proposed rule change does not significant affect the protection of investors or the public and does not impose any significant burden on competition. Specifically, the Exchange believes that because the Fixed Income 45 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii). CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). 47 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b– 4(f)(6) requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a brief description and text of the proposed rule change, at least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. The Exchange has satisfied this requirement. 48 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). 49 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6)(iii). 46 17 PO 00000 Frm 00137 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 16449 Securities and derivative instruments to be held by the Fund are substantially the same as the securities and derivative instruments in the previously approved First Trust TCW Unconstrained Release, the proposal does not raise any novel regulatory issues. For these reasons, the Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. Accordingly, the Commission waives the 30-day operative delay and designates the proposed rule change operative upon filing.50 At any time within 60 days of the filing of such proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings under Section 19(b)(2)(B) 51 of the Act to determine whether the proposed rule change should be approved or disapproved. IV. Solicitation of Comments Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: Electronic Comments • Use the Commission’s internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/ rules/sro.shtml); or • Send an email to rule-comments@ sec.gov. Please include File Number SR– NYSEArca–2020–20 on the subject line. Paper Comments • Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549–1090. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–NYSEArca–2020–20. 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 50 For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the Commission has considered the proposed rule’s impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f). 51 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B). E:\FR\FM\23MRN1.SGM 23MRN1 16450 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 56 / Monday, March 23, 2020 / Notices amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for website viewing and printing in the Commission’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549 on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying information from comment submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–NYSEArca–2020–20 and should be submitted on or before April 13, 2020. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.52 J. Matthew DeLesDernier, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2020–06006 Filed 3–20–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Data Collection Available for Public Comments 60-Day notice and request for comments. ACTION: The Small Business Administration (‘‘SBA’’) intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (‘‘OMB’’) for the collection of information described below. The Paperwork Reduction Act (‘‘PRA’’) of 1995, requires federal agencies to publish a notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information before submission to OMB, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice complies with that requirement. DATES: Submit comments on or before May 22, 2020. ADDRESSES: Send all comments to Mary Frias, Loan Specialist, Office of Financial Assistance, Small Business jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: 52 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:26 Mar 20, 2020 Jkt 250001 Administration, 409 3rd Street, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20416. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Frias, Loan Specialist, Office of Financial Assistance, (202) 401–8234, mary.frias@sba.gov, or Curtis B. Rich, Management Analyst, (202) 205–7030, curtis.rich@sba.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 7(a) of the Small Business Act authorizes the Small Business Administration to guaranty loans in each of the 7(a) Programs. The Regulations covering these and other loan programs at 13 CFR 120 require certain information from loan applicants and lenders that is used to determine program eligibility and compliance. Solicitation of Public Comments SBA is requesting comments on (a) whether the collection of information is necessary for the agency to properly perform its functions; (b) whether the burden estimates are accurate; (c) whether there are ways to minimize the burden, including through the use of automated techniques or other forms of information technology; and (d) whether there are ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information. Summary of Proposed Information Collection Title: SBA 7(a) Borrower Information Form, Lender’s Application for Loan Guaranty, Religious Eligibility Worksheet, 7(a) Loan Post Approval Action Checklist, and Community Advantage Addendum. SBA Forms: 1919, 1920, 1971, 2237, 2449. Description of Respondents: 7(a) Program Participants. Total Estimated Annual Reponses: 205,080. Total Estimated Annual Hour Burden: 43,155. date. For further information, please contact Kristen Nunnally at (202) 245– 0312 or Kristen.Nunnally@stb.gov. Authority: 49 U.S.C. 1321, 49 U.S.C. 11101; 49 U.S.C. 11121. Decided: March 17, 2020. By the Board, Allison C. Davis, Director, Office of Proceedings. Kenyatta Clay, Clearance Clerk. [FR Doc. 2020–05973 Filed 3–20–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915–01–P SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD [Docket No. EP 290 (Sub-No. 5) (2020–2)] Quarterly Rail Cost Adjustment Factor Surface Transportation Board. Approval of rail cost adjustment AGENCY: ACTION: factor. The Board has approved the second quarter 2020 Rail Cost Adjustment Factor (RCAF) and cost index filed by the Association of American Railroads. The second quarter 2020 RCAF (Unadjusted) is 1.051. The second quarter 2020 RCAF (Adjusted) is 0.442. The second quarter 2020 RCAF– 5 is 0.417. DATES: Applicability Date: April 1, 2020. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pedro Ramirez, (202) 245–0333. Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877–8339. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Additional information is contained in the Board’s decision, which is available on our website at www.stb.gov. SUMMARY: Decided: March 17, 2020. By the Board, Board Members Begeman, Fuchs, and Oberman. Regena Smith-Bernard, Clearance Clerk. [FR Doc. 2020–06042 Filed 3–20–20; 8:45 am] Curtis Rich, Management Analyst. BILLING CODE 4915–01–P [FR Doc. 2020–05958 Filed 3–20–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8026–03–P OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD [Docket Number USTR–2020–0011] [Docket No. EP 670 (Sub-No. 1)] Request for Comments on Negotiating Objectives for a United StatesRepublic of Kenya Trade Agreement Notice of Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee Meeting On March 11, 2020, the Board provided notice of a meeting of the Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee (RETAC), to be held on April 21, 2020. This meeting will be postponed. Notice of the rescheduled meeting will be announced at a later PO 00000 Frm 00138 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Office of the United States Trade Representative. ACTION: Request for comments and notice of public hearing. AGENCY: On March 17, 2020, the U.S Trade Representative notified Congress of the Administration’s intent to enter SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\23MRN1.SGM 23MRN1

Agencies

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 56 (Monday, March 23, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16439-16450]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-06006]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-88404; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2020-20]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing 
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the 
Listing and Trading of Shares of the First Trust TCW Securitized Plus 
ETF Under NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E

March 17, 2020.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 (the ``Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby 
given that, on March 3, 2020, NYSE Arca, Inc. (``NYSE Arca'' or the 
``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the 
``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II 
below, which Items have been prepared by the self-regulatory 
organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit 
comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C.78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
    \3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to list and trade shares of the First Trust 
TCW Securitized Plus ETF under NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E (``Managed Fund 
Shares''). The proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
website at www.nyse.com, at the principal office of the Exchange, and 
at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, the self-regulatory organization 
included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the 
proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the 
proposed rule change. The text of those statements may be examined at 
the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared 
summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most 
significant parts of such statements.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and the 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    The Exchange proposes to list and trade shares (``Shares'') of the 
First Trust TCW Securitized Plus ETF (the ``Fund'') under NYSE Arca 
Rule 8.600-E, which governs the listing and trading of Managed Fund 
Shares \4\ on the Exchange.
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    \4\ A Managed Fund Share is a security that represents an 
interest in an investment company registered under the Investment 
Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-1) (``1940 Act'') organized as an 
open-end investment company or similar entity that invests in a 
portfolio of securities selected by its investment adviser 
consistent with its investment objectives and policies. In contrast, 
an open-end investment company that issues Investment Company Units, 
listed and traded on the Exchange under NYSE Arca Rule 5.2-E(j)(3), 
seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the 
price and yield performance of a specific foreign or domestic stock 
index, fixed income securities index or combination thereof.
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    The Shares are offered by First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII 
(the ``Trust''), which is registered with the Commission as an open-end 
management investment company.\5\ The Fund is a series of the Trust.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ The Trust is registered under the 1940 Act. On January 21, 
2020, the Trust filed with the Commission its registration statement 
on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77a), and 
under the 1940 Act relating to the Fund (File Nos. 333-210186 and 
811-23147) (``Registration Statement''). The description of the 
operation of the Trust and the Fund herein is based, in part, on the 
Registration Statement. In addition, the Commission has issued an 
order upon which the Trust may rely, granting certain exemptive 
relief under the 1940 Act. See Investment Company Act Release No. 
30029 (April 10, 2012) (File No. 812-13795).
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    First Trust Advisors L.P. is the investment adviser (``First 
Trust'' or ``Adviser'') to the Fund. TCW Investment Management Company 
LLC (``TCW'' or the ``Sub-Adviser''), serves as the Fund's investment 
sub-adviser. First Trust Portfolios L.P. is the distributor 
(``Distributor'') for the Fund's Shares. The Bank of New York Mellon 
acts as the administrator, custodian and transfer agent (``Custodian'' 
or ``Transfer Agent'') for the Fund.
    Commentary .06 to Rule 8.600-E provides that, if the investment 
adviser to the investment company issuing Managed Fund Shares is 
affiliated with a broker-dealer, such investment adviser shall erect 
and maintain a ``fire wall'' between the investment adviser and the 
broker-dealer with respect to access to information concerning the 
composition and/or changes to such investment company portfolio.\6\ In 
addition, Commentary .06 further requires that personnel who make 
decisions on the open-end fund's portfolio composition must be subject 
to procedures designed to prevent the use and dissemination of material 
nonpublic information regarding the open-end fund's portfolio. The 
Adviser and Sub-Adviser are not registered as broker-dealers. The 
Adviser is affiliated with First Trust Portfolios L.P., a broker-
dealer, and has implemented and will maintain a fire wall with respect 
to its broker-dealer affiliate regarding access to information 
concerning the composition and/or changes to the portfolio. The Sub-
Adviser is affiliated with multiple broker-dealers and has implemented 
and will maintain a fire wall with respect to its broker-dealer 
affiliates regarding access to information concerning the composition 
and/or changes to the portfolio. In the event (a) the Adviser or the 
Sub-Adviser becomes registered as a broker-dealer or newly

[[Page 16440]]

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 
relevant personnel and any broker-dealer affiliate regarding access to 
information concerning the composition and/or changes to the portfolio, 
and will be subject to procedures designed to prevent the use and 
dissemination of material non-public information regarding such 
portfolio.
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    \6\ 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 Sub-Adviser and their related 
personnel are subject to the provisions of Rule 204A-1 under the 
Advisers Act relating to codes of ethics. This Rule requires 
investment advisers to adopt a code of ethics that reflects the 
fiduciary nature of the relationship to clients as well as 
compliance with other applicable securities laws. Accordingly, 
procedures designed to prevent the communication and misuse of non-
public information by an investment adviser must be consistent with 
Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act. In addition, Rule 206(4)-7 under 
the Advisers Act makes it unlawful for an investment adviser to 
provide investment advice to clients unless such investment adviser 
has (i) adopted and implemented written policies and procedures 
reasonably designed to prevent violation, by the investment adviser 
and its supervised persons, of the Advisers Act and the Commission 
rules adopted thereunder; (ii) implemented, at a minimum, an annual 
review regarding the adequacy of the policies and procedures 
established pursuant to subparagraph (i) above and the effectiveness 
of their implementation; and (iii) designated an individual (who is 
a supervised person) responsible for administering the policies and 
procedures adopted under subparagraph (i) above.
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First Trust TCW Securitized Plus ETF
Principal Investments
    According to the Registration Statement, the investment objective 
of the Fund is to seek to maximize long-term total return. Under normal 
market conditions,\7\ the Fund intends to invest at least 80% of its 
net assets (including investment borrowings) in a portfolio of ``Fixed 
Income Securities'' (described below).
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    \7\ The term ``normal market conditions'' is defined in NYSE 
Arca Rule 8.600-E(c)(5). On a temporary basis, including for 
defensive purposes, during the initial invest-up period (i.e., the 
six-week period following the commencement of trading of Shares on 
the Exchange) and during periods of high cash inflows or outflows 
(i.e., rolling periods of seven calendar days during which inflows 
or outflows of cash, in the aggregate, exceed 10% of the Fund's net 
assets as of the opening of business on the first day of such 
periods), the Fund may depart from its principal investment 
strategies; for example, it may hold a higher than normal proportion 
of its assets in cash. During such periods, the Fund may not be able 
to achieve its investment objective. The Fund may adopt a defensive 
strategy when the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser believes securities 
in which the Fund normally invests have elevated risks due to 
market, political or economic factors and in other extraordinary 
circumstances.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In managing the Fund's portfolio, TCW intends to employ a flexible 
approach that allocates the Fund's investments across a range of global 
investment opportunities and actively manage exposure to interest 
rates, credit sectors and currencies. TCW seeks to utilize independent, 
bottom-up research to identify securities that are undervalued and that 
offer a superior risk/return profile. Pursuant to this investment 
strategy, the Fund may invest in the following Fixed Income Securities, 
which may be represented by derivatives relating to such securities, as 
discussed below:
     securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or 
its agencies, instrumentalities or U.S. government-sponsored entities 
(``U.S. government securities'');
     Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (``TIPS'');
     the following non-agency, non-government-sponsored entity 
(``GSE'') and privately-issued mortgage-related and other asset-backed 
securities: Residential mortgage-backed securities (``RMBS''), 
commercial mortgage-backed securities (``CMBS''), asset-backed 
securities (``ABS''), and collateralized loan obligations (``CLOs'' 
and, together with such RMBS, CMBS and ABS, ``Private ABS/MBS''); \8\
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    \8\ For avoidance of doubt, ``Private ABS/MBS'' as referenced 
herein are non-agency, non-GSE and privately-issued mortgage-related 
and other asset-backed securities as stated in Commentary .01(b)(5) 
to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Agency RMBS, agency CMBS, and agency ABS;
     domestic corporate bonds; and
     Fixed Income Securities issued by non-U.S. corporations 
and non-U.S. governments.
    The Fund may invest in agency RMBS and CMBS by investing in to-be-
announced transactions (``TBA Transactions'').
    The Fund may hold cash and cash equivalents.\9\ In addition, the 
Fund may hold the following short-term instruments with maturities of 
three months or more: Certificates of deposit; bankers' acceptances; 
repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements; bank time 
deposits; and commercial paper.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ For purposes of this filing, cash equivalents are the short-
term instruments with maturities of less than 3 months enumerated in 
Commentary .01(c) to Rule 8.600-E.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Fund may enter into short sales of any securities in which the 
Fund may invest.
    The Fund may utilize exchange-listed and over-the-counter (``OTC'') 
traded derivatives instruments for duration/yield curve management and/
or hedging purposes, for risk management purposes or as part of its 
investment strategies. The Fund will use derivative instruments 
primarily to hedge interest rate risk, actively manage interest rate 
exposure, hedge foreign currency risk and actively manage foreign 
currency exposure. The Fund may also use derivative instruments to 
enhance returns, as a substitute for, or to gain exposure to, a 
position in an underlying asset, to reduce transaction costs, to 
maintain full market exposure, to manage cash flows or to preserve 
capital. Derivatives may also be used to hedge risks associated with 
the Fund's other portfolio investments. The Fund will not use 
derivative instruments to gain exposure to Private ABS/MBS, and 
derivative instruments linked to such securities will be used for 
hedging purposes only. Derivatives that the Fund may enter into are the 
following: Futures on interest rates, currencies, Fixed Income 
Securities and fixed income indices; exchange-traded and OTC options on 
interest rates, currencies, Fixed Income Securities and fixed income 
indices; swap agreements on interest rates, currencies, Fixed Income 
Securities and fixed income indices; credit default swaps (``CDX''); 
and currency forward contracts.
Other Investments
    While the Fund, under normal market conditions, invests at least 
80% of its net assets in the Principal Investments described above, the 
Fund may invest its remaining assets in the following ``Non-Principal 
Investments.''
    The Fund may invest in exchange-traded common stock, exchange-
traded preferred stock, and exchange-traded real estate investment 
trusts (``REITs'').
    The Fund may invest in the securities of other investment companies 
registered under the 1940 Act, including money market funds, exchange-
traded funds (``ETFs''), open-end funds (other than money market funds 
and other ETFs), and U.S. exchange-traded closed-end funds.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ For purposes of this filing, the term ``ETFs'' are 
Investment Company Units (as described in NYSE Arca Rule 5.2-
E(j)(3)); Portfolio Depositary Receipts (as described in NYSE Arca 
Rule 8.100-E); and Managed Fund Shares (as described in NYSE Arca 
Rule 8.600-E). All ETFs will be listed and traded in the U.S. on a 
national securities exchange. While the Fund may invest in inverse 
ETFs, the Fund will not invest in leveraged (e.g., 2X, -2X, 3X or -
3X) ETFs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Fund may hold exchange-traded notes (``ETNs'').\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ ETNs are Index-Linked Securities (as described in NYSE Arca 
Rule 5.2-E(j)(6)). While the Fund may invest in inverse ETNs, the 
Fund will not invest in leveraged or inverse leveraged ETNs (e.g., 
2X or -3X).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Investment Restrictions
    The Fund may not invest more than 2% of its total assets in any one 
Fixed Income Security (excluding U.S. government securities and TIPS) 
on a per CUSIP basis. The Fund's holdings in derivative instruments for 
hedging purposes would be excluded from the determination of compliance 
with this 2% limitation. The total gross notional value of the Fund's 
holdings in derivative instruments used to gain exposure to a specific 
asset is limited to 2% of the Fund's total assets.
    The Fund may invest up to 50% of its total assets in the aggregate 
in Private ABS/MBS, provided that the Fund (1) may not invest more than 
30% of its total assets in non-agency RMBS; (2) may not invest more 
than 25% of its total assets in non-agency CMBS and CLOs; and (3) may 
not invest more than 25% of its total assets in non-agency ABS.

[[Page 16441]]

    With respect to the Fund's investments in up to 30% of its total 
assets in Private ABS/MBS that exceed the 20% of the weight of the 
Fund's portfolio \12\ that may be invested in Private ABS/MBS under 
Commentary .01(b)(5) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E,\13\ the following 
restrictions will apply:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 86017 (June 3, 
2019), 84 FR 26711 (June 7, 2019) (SR-NYSEArca-2019-06) (order 
approving an amendment to Commentary .01(b)(5) to Rule 8.600-E to 
delete the reference to the ``fixed income portion of the'' 
portfolio, such that non-agency, non-GSE, and privately-issued 
mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities components of a 
portfolio may not account, in the aggregate, for more than 20% of 
the weight of the whole portfolio).
    \13\ Commentary .01(b)(5) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E provides 
that non-agency, non-GSE and privately-issued mortgage-related and 
other asset-backed securities components of a portfolio shall not 
account, in the aggregate, for more than 20% of the weight of the 
portfolio.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Non-agency RMBS shall have a weighted average loan age of 
84 months or more;
     Non-agency CMBS and CLOs shall have a weighted average 
loan age of 60 months or more; and
     Non-agency ABS shall have a weighted average loan age of 
12 months or more.\14\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ Information relating to weighted average loan age for non-
agency RMBS, non-agency CMBS, CLOs and non-agency ABS is widely 
available from major market data vendors such as Bloomberg.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange proposes that up to 25% of the Fund's assets may be 
invested in OTC derivatives that are used to reduce currency, interest 
rate or credit risk arising from the Fund's investments (that is, 
``hedge''). The Fund's investments in OTC derivatives other than OTC 
derivatives used to hedge the Fund's portfolio against currency, 
interest rate or credit risk will be limited to 20% of the assets in 
the Fund's portfolio. For purposes of these percentage limitations on 
OTC derivatives, the weight of such OTC derivatives will be calculated 
as the aggregate gross notional value of such OTC derivatives.
    The Fund will not invest in securities or other financial 
instruments that have not been described in this proposed rule change.
Other Restrictions
    The Fund's investments, including derivatives, will be consistent 
with the Fund's investment objective and will not be used to enhance 
leverage (although certain derivatives and other investments may result 
in leverage). That is, the Fund's investments will not be used to seek 
performance that is the multiple or inverse multiple (e.g., 2X or -3X) 
of the Fund's primary broad-based securities benchmark index (as 
defined in Form N-1A).\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ The Fund's broad-based securities benchmark index will be 
identified in a future amendment to the Registration Statement 
following the Fund's first full calendar year of performance.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Use of Derivatives by the Fund
    The Fund may invest in the types of derivatives described in the 
``Principal Investments'' section above for the purposes described in 
that section. Investments in derivative instruments will be made in 
accordance with the Fund's investment objective and policies.
    To limit the potential risk associated with such transactions, the 
Fund will enter into offsetting transactions or segregate or 
``earmark'' assets determined to be liquid by the Adviser in accordance 
with procedures established by the Trust's Board of Trustees (the 
``Board''). In addition, the Fund has included appropriate risk 
disclosure in its offering documents, including leveraging risk. 
Leveraging risk is the risk that certain transactions of the Fund, 
including the Fund's use of derivatives, may give rise to leverage, 
causing the Fund to be more volatile than if it had not been leveraged. 
Because the markets for certain assets, or the assets themselves, may 
be unavailable or cost prohibitive as compared to derivative 
instruments, suitable derivative transactions may be an efficient 
alternative for the Fund to obtain the desired asset exposure.
Impact on Arbitrage Mechanism
    The Adviser and the Sub-Adviser believe there will be minimal, if 
any, impact to the arbitrage mechanism as a result of the Fund's use of 
derivatives and Private ABS/MBS. The Adviser and the Sub-Adviser 
understand that market makers and participants should be able to value 
derivatives and Private ABS/MBS as long as the positions are disclosed 
with relevant information. The Adviser and the Sub-Adviser believe that 
the price at which Shares of the Fund trade will continue to be 
disciplined by arbitrage opportunities created by the ability to 
purchase or redeem Shares of the Fund at their net asset value 
(``NAV''), which should ensure that Shares of the Fund will not trade 
at a material discount or premium in relation to their NAV.
    The Adviser and Sub-Adviser do not believe there will be any 
significant impacts to the settlement or operational aspects of the 
Fund's arbitrage mechanism due to the use of derivatives and Private 
ABS/MBS.
Creation and Redemption of Shares
    The Fund will issue and redeem Shares on a continuous basis at NAV 
\16\ only in large blocks of Shares (``Creation Units'') in 
transactions with authorized participants, generally including broker-
dealers and large institutional investors (``Authorized 
Participants''). Creation Units generally will consist of 50,000 
Shares. The size of a Creation Unit is subject to change. As described 
in the Registration Statement, the Fund will issue and redeem Creation 
Units in exchange for an in-kind portfolio of instruments and/or cash 
in lieu of such instruments (the ``Creation Basket'').\17\ In addition, 
if there is a difference between the NAV attributable to a Creation 
Unit and the market value of the Creation Basket exchanged for the 
Creation Unit, the party conveying instruments (which may include cash-
in-lieu amounts) with the lower value will pay to the other an amount 
in cash equal to the difference (referred to as the ``Cash 
Component'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ The NAV of the Fund's Shares generally will be calculated 
once daily Monday through Friday as of the close of regular trading 
on the New York Stock Exchange (``NYSE''), generally 4:00 p.m., 
Eastern Time (``E.T.''). NAV per Share will be calculated by 
dividing the Fund's net assets by the number of Fund Shares 
outstanding.
    \17\ It is expected that the Fund will typically issue and 
redeem Creation Units on a cash basis; however, at times, the Fund 
may issue and redeem Creation Units on an in-kind (or partially in-
kind) (or partially cash) basis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Creations and redemptions must be made by or through an Authorized 
Participant that has executed an agreement that has been agreed to by 
the Distributor and the Transfer Agent with respect to creations and 
redemptions of Creation Units. All standard orders to create Creation 
Units must be received by the Transfer Agent no later than the closing 
time of the regular trading session on the NYSE (ordinarily 4:00 p.m., 
E.T.) (the ``Closing Time'') in each case on the date such order is 
placed in order for the creation of Creation Units to be effected based 
on the NAV of Shares as next determined on such date after receipt of 
the order in proper form. Shares may be redeemed only in Creation Units 
at their NAV next determined after receipt not later than the Closing 
Time of a redemption request in proper form by the Fund through the 
Transfer Agent and only on a business day. The Custodian, through the 
National Securities Clearing Corporation (``NSCC''), will make 
available on each business day, prior to the opening of business of the 
Exchange, the list of the names and quantities of the instruments 
comprising the Creation Basket, as well as the estimated Cash

[[Page 16442]]

Component (if any), for that day. The published Creation Basket will 
apply until a new Creation Basket is announced on the following 
business day prior to commencement of trading in the Shares.
Application of Generic Listing Requirements
    The Exchange is submitting this proposed rule change because the 
portfolio for the Fund will not meet all of the ``generic'' listing 
requirements of Commentary .01 to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E applicable to 
the listing of Managed Fund Shares. The Fund's portfolio will meet all 
such requirements except for those set forth in Commentary .01(a)(1), 
(a)(2), (b)(1), (b)(4), (b)(5), and (e), as described below.
    The Fund will not comply with the requirements set forth in 
Commentary .01(a)(1) \18\ and (a)(2) \19\ to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E 
with respect to the Fund's investments in equity securities.\20\ 
Instead, the Exchange proposes that (i) the Fund's investments in 
equity securities will meet the requirements of Commentary .01(a) with 
the exception of Commentary .01(a)(1)(C) and .01(a)(1)(D) (with respect 
to U.S. Component Stocks) and Commentary .01(a)(2)(C) and .01(a)(2)(D) 
(with respect to Non-U.S. Component Stocks). Any Fund investment in 
exchange-traded common stocks, preferred stocks, REITS, ETFs, ETNs, and 
U.S. exchange-traded closed-end funds would provide for enhanced 
diversification of the Fund's portfolio and, in any case, would be Non-
Principal Investments and would not exceed 20% of the Fund's net assets 
in the aggregate. The Adviser and Sub-Adviser represent that, under 
these circumstances, application of the weighting requirements of 
Commentary .01(a)(1)(C) and Commentary .01(a)(2)(C) and the minimum 
number of components requirements of Commentary .01(a)(1)(D) and 
Commentary .01(a)(2)(D) would impose an unnecessary burden on the 
Fund's ability to hold such equity securities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ Commentary .01(a)(1) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E provides 
that the component stocks of the equity portion of a portfolio that 
are U.S. Component Stocks shall meet the following criteria 
initially and on a continuing basis:
    (A) Component stocks (excluding Derivative Securities Products 
and Index-Linked Securities) that in the aggregate account for at 
least 90% of the equity weight of the portfolio (excluding such 
Derivative Securities Products and Index-Linked Securities) each 
shall have a minimum market value of at least $75 million;
    (B) Component stocks (excluding Derivative Securities Products 
and Index-Linked Securities) that in the aggregate account for at 
least 70% of the equity weight of the portfolio (excluding such 
Derivative Securities Products and Index-Linked Securities) each 
shall have a minimum monthly trading volume of 250,000 shares, or 
minimum notional volume traded per month of $25,000,000, averaged 
over the last six months;
    (C) The most heavily weighted component stock (excluding 
Derivative Securities Products and Index-Linked Securities) shall 
not exceed 30% of the equity weight of the portfolio, and, to the 
extent applicable, the five most heavily weighted component stocks 
(excluding Derivative Securities Products and Index-Linked 
Securities) shall not exceed 65% of the equity weight of the 
portfolio;
    (D) Where the equity portion of the portfolio does not include 
Non-U.S. Component Stocks, the equity portion of the portfolio shall 
include a minimum of 13 component stocks; provided, however, that 
there shall be no minimum number of component stocks if (i) one or 
more series of Derivative Securities Products or Index-Linked 
Securities constitute, at least in part, components underlying a 
series of Managed Fund Shares, or (ii) one or more series of 
Derivative Securities Products or Index-Linked Securities account 
for 100% of the equity weight of the portfolio of a series of 
Managed Fund Shares;
    (E) Except as provided herein, equity securities in the 
portfolio shall be U.S. Component Stocks listed on a national 
securities exchange and shall be NMS Stocks as defined in Rule 600 
of Regulation NMS under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
    (F) American Depositary Receipts (``ADRs'') in a portfolio may 
be exchange-traded or non- exchange-traded. However, no more than 
10% of the equity weight of a portfolio shall consist of non-
exchange-traded ADRs.
    \19\ Commentary .01(a)(2) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E provides 
that the component stocks of the equity portion of a portfolio that 
are Non-U.S. Component Stocks shall meet the following criteria 
initially and on a continuing basis:
    (A) Non-U.S. Component Stocks each shall have a minimum market 
value of at least $100 million;
    (B) Non-U.S. Component Stocks each shall have a minimum global 
monthly trading volume of 250,000 shares, or minimum global notional 
volume traded per month of $25,000,000, averaged over the last six 
months;
    (C) The most heavily weighted Non-U.S. Component stock shall not 
exceed 25% of the equity weight of the portfolio, and, to the extent 
applicable, the five most heavily weighted Non-U.S. Component Stocks 
shall not exceed 60% of the equity weight of the portfolio;
    (D) Where the equity portion of the portfolio includes Non-U.S. 
Component Stocks, the equity portion of the portfolio shall include 
a minimum of 20 component stocks; provided, however, that there 
shall be no minimum number of component stocks if (i) one or more 
series of Derivative Securities Products or Index-Linked Securities 
constitute, at least in part, components underlying a series of 
Managed Fund Shares, or (ii) one or more series of Derivative 
Securities Products or Index-Linked Securities account for 100% of 
the equity weight of the portfolio of a series of Managed Fund 
Shares; and
    (E) Each Non-U.S. Component Stock shall be listed and traded on 
an exchange that has last-sale reporting.
    \20\ For purposes of these exceptions, investments in equity 
securities that are non-exchange-traded securities of other open-end 
investment companies (e.g., mutual funds) are excluded and are 
discussed further below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Fund will not comply with the requirement in Commentary 
.01(b)(1) to Rule 8.600-E that components that in the aggregate account 
for at least 75% of the fixed income weight of the portfolio each shall 
have a minimum original principal amount outstanding of $100 million or 
more. Instead, the Exchange proposes that components that in the 
aggregate account for at least 50% of the fixed income weight of the 
portfolio each shall have a minimum original principal amount 
outstanding of $50 million or more. As noted above, the Fund may not 
invest more than 2% of its total assets in any one Fixed Income 
Security (excluding U.S. government securities and TIPS) on a per CUSIP 
basis. In addition, at least 50% of the weight of the Fund's portfolio 
would continue to be subject to a substantial minimum (i.e., $50 
million) original principal amount outstanding. The Exchange believes 
this limitation would provide significant additional diversification to 
the Fund's investments in Fixed Income Securities, and reduce concerns 
that the Fund's investments in such securities would be readily 
susceptible to market manipulation.\21\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ The Commission has approved an exception from Commentary 
.01(b)(1) to Rule 8.600-E substantially identical to that requested 
for the Fund herein in Securities Exchange Act 87410 (October 28, 
2019), 84 FR 58750 (November 1, 2019) (SR-NYSEArca-2019-33) (Notice 
of Filing of Amendment No. 2 and Order Granting Accelerated Approval 
of a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 2, Regarding 
Changes to Investments of the First Trust TCW Unconstrained Plus 
Bond ETF) (``First Trust TCW Unconstrained Release'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Fund will not comply with the requirements in Commentary 
.01(b)(4) to Rule 8.600-E that component securities that in the 
aggregate account for at least 90% of the fixed income weight of the 
portfolio meet one of the criteria specified in Commentary .01(b)(4), 
because certain Private ABS/MBS cannot satisfy the criteria in 
Commentary .01(b)(4).\22\ Instead, the Exchange proposes that the 
Fund's investments in Fixed Income Securities other than Private ABS/
MBS will be required to comply with the requirements of Commentary 
.01(b)(4). As noted above, the Fund may not invest more than 2% of its 
total assets in any one Fixed Income Security (excluding U.S. 
government securities and TIPS) on a per CUSIP basis. The Exchange 
believes this limitation would provide additional diversification to 
the

[[Page 16443]]

Fund's investments in Private ABS/MBS, and reduce concerns that the 
Fund's investment in such securities would be readily susceptible to 
market manipulation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \22\ Commentary .01(b)(4) provides that component securities 
that in the aggregate account for at least 90% of the fixed income 
weight of the portfolio must be either: (a) From issuers that are 
required to file reports pursuant to Sections 13 and 15(d) of the 
Act; (b) from issuers that have a worldwide market value of its 
outstanding common equity held by non-affiliates of $700 million or 
more; (c) from issuers that have outstanding securities that are 
notes, bonds debentures, or evidence of indebtedness having a total 
remaining principal amount of at least $1 billion; (d) exempted 
securities as defined in Section 3(a)(12) of the Act; or (e) from 
issuers that are a government of a foreign country or a political 
subdivision of a foreign country.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange notes that the Commission has previously approved the 
listing of Managed Fund Shares with similar investment objectives and 
strategies without imposing requirements that a certain percentage of 
such funds' securities meet one of the criteria set forth in Commentary 
.01(b)(4).\23\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ See First Trust TCW Unconstrained Release. See also, 
Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 67894 (September 20, 2012) 77 
FR 59227 (September 26, 2012) (SR-BATS-2012-033) (order approving 
the listing and trading of shares of the iShares Short Maturity Bond 
Fund); 70342 (September 6, 2013), 78 FR 56256 (September 12, 2013) 
(SR-NYSEArca-2013-71) (order approving the listing and trading of 
shares of the SPDR SSgA Ultra Short Term Bond ETF, SPDR SSgA 
Conservative Ultra Short Term Bond ETF and SPDR SSgA Aggressive 
Ultra Short Term Bond ETF).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Fund will not comply with the requirement in Commentary 
.01(b)(5) to Rule 8.600-E that Private ABS/MBS in the Fund's portfolio 
account, in the aggregate, for no more than 20% of the weight of the 
Fund's portfolio.\24\ Instead, the Exchange proposes that, in order to 
enable the portfolio to be more diversified and provide the Fund with 
an opportunity to earn higher returns, the Fund may invest up to 50% of 
its total assets in the aggregate in Private ABS/MBS, provided that the 
Fund (1) may not invest more than 30% of its total assets in non-agency 
RMBS; (2) may not invest more than 25% of its total assets in non-
agency CMBS and CLOs; and (3) may not invest more than 25% of its total 
assets in non-agency ABS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \24\ See note 13, supra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    With respect to the Fund's investments in up to 30% of its total 
assets in Private ABS/MBS that exceed the 20% of the weight of the 
Fund's portfolio that may be invested in Private ABS/MBS under 
Commentary .01(b)(5) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E, the following 
restrictions will apply:
     Non-agency RMBS shall have a weighted average loan age of 
84 months or more;
     Non-agency CMBS and CLOs shall have a weighted average 
loan age of 60 months or more; and
     Non-agency ABS shall have a weighted average loan age of 
12 months or more.
    In addition, as noted above, the Fund may not invest more than 2% 
of its total assets in any one Fixed Income Security (excluding U.S. 
government securities and TIPS) on a per CUSIP basis.\25\ The Exchange 
believes these limitations would provide additional diversification to 
the Fund's Private ABS/MBS investments and reduce concerns that the 
Fund's investment in such securities would be readily susceptible to 
market manipulation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \25\ As noted above, the Fund's holdings in derivative 
instruments for hedging purposes would be excluded from the 
determination of compliance with this 2% limitation. The total gross 
notional value of the Fund's holdings in derivative instruments used 
to gain exposure to a specific asset is limited to 2% of the Fund's 
total assets.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Adviser and Sub-Adviser represent that the RMBS sector can be 
an important component of the Fund's investment strategy because of the 
potential for attractive risk-adjusted returns relative to other fixed 
income sectors and the potential to add significantly to the 
diversification in the Fund's portfolio. Similarly, the Private ABS/MBS 
sectors also have the potential for attractive risk-adjusted returns 
and added portfolio diversification.
    The Fund's portfolio will not comply with the requirements set 
forth in Commentary .01(e) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E.\26\ Specifically, 
the Fund's investments in OTC derivatives may exceed 20% of Fund 
assets, calculated as the aggregate gross notional value of such OTC 
derivatives. The Exchange proposes that up to 25% of the Fund's assets 
(calculated as the aggregate gross notional value) may be invested in 
OTC derivatives that are used to reduce currency, interest rate or 
credit risk arising from the Fund's investments (that is, ``hedge''). 
The Fund's investments in OTC derivatives other than OTC derivatives 
used to hedge the Fund's portfolio against currency, interest rate or 
credit risk will be limited to 20% of the assets in the Fund's 
portfolio, calculated as the aggregate gross notional value of such OTC 
derivatives.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ Commentary .01(e) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E provides that 
the portfolio may hold OTC derivatives, including forwards, options 
and swaps on commodities, currencies and financial instruments 
(e.g., stocks, fixed income, interest rates, and volatility) or a 
basket or index of any of the foregoing; however, on both an initial 
and continuing basis, no more than 20% of the assets in the 
portfolio may be invested in OTC derivatives. For purposes of 
calculating this limitation, a portfolio's investment in OTC 
derivatives will be calculated as the aggregate gross notional value 
of the OTC derivatives.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Adviser and Sub-Adviser believe that it is important to provide 
the Fund with additional flexibility to manage risk associated with its 
investments. Depending on market conditions, it may be critical that 
the Fund be able to utilize available OTC derivatives for this purpose 
to attempt to reduce impact of currency, interest rate or credit 
fluctuations on Fund assets. Therefore, the Exchange believes it is 
appropriate to apply a limit of up to 25% of the Fund's assets to the 
Fund's investments in OTC derivatives (calculated as the aggregate 
gross notional value of such OTC derivatives), including forwards, 
options and swaps, that are used for hedging purposes, as described 
above.\27\
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    \27\ In the First Trust TCW Unconstrained Release, the 
Commission previously approved an exception from requirements set 
forth in Commentary .01(e) relating to investments in OTC 
derivatives similar to those proposed with respect to the Fund. See 
also, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 80657 (May 11, 2017), 82 
FR 22702 (May 17, 2017) (SR-NYSEArca-2017-09) (Notice of Filing of 
Amendment No. 2 and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of a 
Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 2, Regarding 
Investments of the Janus Short Duration Income ETF Listed Under NYSE 
Arca Equities Rule 8.600).
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    As noted above, the Fund may hold equity securities that are non-
exchange-traded securities of other open-end investment company 
securities (e.g., mutual funds). The Exchange believes that it is 
appropriate and in the public interest to approve listing and trading 
of Shares of the Fund on the Exchange notwithstanding that the Fund 
would not meet the requirements of Commentary .01(a)(1)(A) through (E) 
to Rule 8.600-E with respect to the Fund's investments in non-exchange-
traded securities of open-end investment company securities.\28\ 
Investments in non-exchange-traded securities of open-end investment 
company securities will not be principal investments of the Fund.\29\ 
Such investments, which may include mutual funds that invest, for 
example, principally in fixed income securities, would be utilized to 
help the Fund meet its investment objective and to equitize cash in the 
short term.
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    \28\ Commentary .01 (a) to Rule 8.600-E specifies the equity 
securities accommodated by the generic criteria in Commentary 
.01(a), namely, U.S. Component Stocks (as described in Rule 5.2-
E(j)(3)); Non-U.S. Component Stocks (as described in Rule 5.2-
E(j)(3)); Derivative Securities Products (i.e., Investment Company 
Units and securities described in Section 2 of Rule 8-E); and Index-
Linked Securities that qualify for Exchange listing and trading 
under Rule 5.2-E(j)(6).
    \29\ For purposes of this section of the filing, non-exchange-
traded securities of other registered investment companies do not 
include money market funds, which are cash equivalents under 
Commentary .01(c) to Rule 8.600-E and for which there is no 
limitation in the percentage of the portfolio invested in such 
securities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Because such securities have a net asset value based on the value 
of securities and financial assets the investment company holds, the 
Exchange believes it is both unnecessary and inappropriate to apply to 
such investment company securities the criteria in Commentary 
.01(a)(1).\30\
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    \30\ The Commission has previously approved proposed rule 
changes under Section 19(b) of the Act for series of Managed Fund 
Shares that may invest in non-exchange traded investment company 
securities. See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release No. 78414 
(July 26, 2016), 81 FR 50576 (August 1, 2016) (SR-NYSEArca-2016-79) 
(order approving listing and trading of shares of the Virtus Japan 
Alpha ETF under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600).

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[[Page 16444]]

    The Exchange notes that Commentary .01(a) through (d) to Rule 
8.600-E exclude application of those provisions to certain ``Derivative 
Securities Products'' that are exchange-traded investment company 
securities, including Investment Company Units (as described in NYSE 
Arca Rule 5.2-E(j)(3)), Portfolio Depositary Receipts (as described in 
NYSE Arca Rule 8.100-E) and Managed Fund Shares (as described in NYSE 
Arca Rule 8.600-E).\31\ In its 2008 Approval Order approving amendments 
to Commentary .01(a) to Rule 5.2(j)(3) that exclude Derivative 
Securities Products from certain provisions of Commentary .01(a) (which 
exclusions are similar to those in Commentary .01(a)(1) to Rule 8.600-
E), the Commission stated that ``based on the trading characteristics 
of Derivative Securities Products, it may be difficult for component 
Derivative Securities Products to satisfy certain quantitative index 
criteria, such as the minimum market value and trading volume 
limitations.'' The Exchange notes that it would be difficult or 
impossible to apply to non-exchange-traded investment company 
securities the generic quantitative criteria (e.g., market 
capitalization, trading volume, or portfolio criteria) in Commentary 
.01 (a) through (d) applicable to U.S. Component Stocks. For example, 
the requirement for U.S. Component Stocks in Commentary .01(a)(1)(B) 
that there be minimum monthly trading volume of 250,000 shares, or 
minimum notional volume traded per month of $25,000,000, averaged over 
the last six months is tailored to exchange-traded securities (e.g., 
U.S. Component Stocks) and not to mutual fund shares, which do not 
trade in the secondary market. Moreover, application of such criteria 
would not serve the purpose served with respect to U.S. Component 
Stocks, namely, to establish minimum liquidity and diversification 
criteria for U.S. Component Stocks held by series of Managed Fund 
Shares.
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    \31\ The Commission initially approved the Exchange's proposed 
rule change to exclude ``Derivative Securities Products'' (i.e., 
Investment Company Units and securities described in Section 2 of 
Rule 8) and ``Index-Linked Securities (as described in Rule 5.2-E 
(j)(6)) from Commentary .01(a)(A) (1) through (4) to Rule 5.2-E(j)(3 
in Securities Exchange Act Release No. 57751 (May 1, 2008), 73 FR 
25818 (May 7, 2008) (SR-NYSEArca-2008-29) (Order Granting Approval 
of a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 1 Thereto, 
to Amend the Eligibility Criteria for Components of an Index 
Underlying Investment Company Units) (``2008 Approval Order''). See 
also, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 57561 (March 26, 2008), 73 
FR 17390 (April 1, 2008) (Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change 
and Amendment No. 1 Thereto to Amend the Eligibility Criteria for 
Components of an Index Underlying Investment Company Units). The 
Commission subsequently approved generic criteria applicable to 
listing and trading of Managed Fund Shares, including exclusions for 
Derivative Securities Products and Index-Linked Securities in 
Commentary .01(a)(1)(A) through (D), in Securities Exchange Act 
Release No. 78397 (July 22, 2016), 81 FR 49320 (July 27, 2016) 
(Order Granting Approval of Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by 
Amendment No. 7 Thereto, Amending NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600 To 
Adopt Generic Listing Standards for Managed Fund Shares). See also, 
Amendment No. 7 to SR-NYSEArca-2015-110, available at https://www.sec.gov/comments/sr-nysearca-2015-110/nysearca2015110-9.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange notes that the Commission has previously approved 
listing and trading of an issue of Managed Fund Shares that may invest 
in equity securities that are non-exchange-traded securities of other 
open-end investment company securities notwithstanding that the fund 
would not meet the requirements of Commentary .01(a)(1)(A) through (E) 
to Rule 8.600-E with respect to such fund's investments in such 
securities.\32\ Thus, the Exchange believes that it is appropriate to 
permit the Fund to invest in non-exchange-traded open-end management 
investment company securities, as described above.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \32\ See the First Trust TCW Unconstrained Release. See also 
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 83319 (May 24, 2018) (SR-
NYSEArca-2018-15) (Order Approving a Proposed Rule Change, as 
Modified by Amendment No. 1 Thereto, to Continue Listing and Trading 
Shares of the PGIM Ultra Short Bond ETF Under NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-
E).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Deviations from the generic requirements are necessary for the Fund 
to achieve its investment objective in a manner that is cost-effective 
and that maximizes investors' returns. Further, the proposed 
alternative requirements are narrowly tailored to allow the Fund to 
achieve its investment objective in manner that is consistent with the 
principles of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act. As a result, it is in the 
public interest to approve listing and trading of Shares of the Fund on 
the Exchange pursuant to the requirements set forth herein.
    The Exchange notes that, other than Commentary .01(a)(1), (a)(2), 
(b)(1), (b)(4), (b)(5), and (e) to Rule 8.600-E, as described above, 
the Fund's portfolio will meet all other requirements of Rule 8.600-E.
Availability of Information
    The Fund's website (www.ftportfolios.com) will include the 
prospectus for the Fund that may be downloaded. The Fund's website will 
include additional quantitative information updated on a daily basis 
including, for the Fund, (1) daily trading volume, the prior business 
day's reported closing price, NAV and midpoint of the bid/ask spread at 
the time of calculation of such NAV (the ``Bid/Ask Price''),\33\ and a 
calculation of the premium and discount of the Bid/Ask Price against 
the NAV, and (2) data in chart format displaying the frequency 
distribution of discounts and premiums of the daily Bid/Ask Price 
against the NAV, within appropriate ranges, for each of the four 
previous calendar quarters. On each business day, before commencement 
of trading in Shares in the Core Trading Session on the Exchange, the 
Fund will disclose on its website the Disclosed Portfolio as defined in 
NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E(c)(2) that forms the basis for the Fund's 
calculation of NAV at the end of the business day.\34\
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    \33\ The Bid/Ask Price of the Fund's Shares will be determined 
using the mid-point of the highest bid and the lowest offer on the 
Exchange as of the time of calculation of the Fund's NAV. The 
records relating to Bid/Ask Prices will be retained by the Fund and 
its service providers.
    \34\ Under accounting procedures followed by the Fund, trades 
made on the prior business day (``T'') will be booked and reflected 
in NAV on the current business day (``T+1''). Accordingly, the Fund 
will be able to disclose at the beginning of the business day the 
portfolio that will form the basis for the NAV calculation at the 
end of the business day.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On a daily basis, the Fund will disclose the information required 
under NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E(c)(2) to the extent applicable. The 
website information will be publicly available at no charge.
    In addition, a basket composition file, which includes the security 
names and share quantities, if applicable, required to be delivered in 
exchange for the Fund's Shares, together with estimates and actual cash 
components, will be publicly disseminated daily prior to the opening of 
the Exchange via the NSCC. The basket represents one Creation Unit of 
the Fund. Authorized Participants may refer to the basket composition 
file for information regarding Fixed Income Securities, and any other 
instrument that may comprise the Fund's basket on a given day.
    Investors can also obtain the Trust's Statement of Additional 
Information (``SAI''), the Fund's Shareholder Reports, and the Fund's 
Forms N-CSR, filed twice a year and Form N-CEN, filed once a year. The 
Fund's SAI and Shareholder Reports will be available free upon request 
from the Trust, and those documents and the Form N-CSR, Form N-PX and 
Form N-CEN may be viewed on-screen or downloaded from the Commission's 
website at www.sec.gov.

[[Page 16445]]

    Intra-day and closing price information regarding exchange-traded 
options will be available from the exchange on which such instruments 
are traded. Intra-day and closing price information regarding Fixed 
Income Securities will be available from major market data vendors. 
Price information relating to OTC options, forwards and swaps will be 
available from major market data vendors. Intra-day price information 
for exchange-traded derivative instruments will be available from the 
applicable exchange and from major market data vendors. Intraday and 
other price information for the Fixed Income Securities in which the 
Fund will invest will be available through subscription services, such 
as Bloomberg, Markit and Thomson Reuters, which can be accessed by 
Authorized Participants and other market participants. Additionally, 
the Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (``TRACE'') of the Financial 
Industry Regulatory Authority (``FINRA'') will be a source of price 
information for corporate bonds, and Private ABS/MBS, to the extent 
transactions in such securities are reported to TRACE.\35\ Non-
exchange-traded open-end investment company securities are typically 
priced once each business day and their prices will be available 
through the applicable fund's website or from major market data 
vendors. Price information regarding U.S. government securities, 
Private ABS/MBS, cash equivalents and short-term instruments with 
maturities of three months or more generally may be obtained from 
brokers and dealers who make markets in such securities or through 
nationally recognized pricing services through subscription agreements. 
Information relating to weighted average loan age for Private ABS/MBS 
is widely available from major market data vendors such as Bloomberg.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \35\ Broker-dealers that are FINRA member firms have an 
obligation to report transactions in specified debt securities to 
TRACE to the extent required under applicable FINRA rules. 
Generally, such debt securities will have at issuance a maturity 
that exceeds one calendar year. For Fixed Income Securities that are 
not reported to TRACE, (i) intraday price quotations will generally 
be available from broker-dealers and trading platforms (as 
applicable) and (ii) price information will be available from feeds 
from market data vendors, published or other public sources, or 
online information services, as described above.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Information regarding market price and trading volume of the 
Shares, ETFs, ETNs, common stocks, preferred stocks, REITs and closed-
end funds will be continually available on a real-time basis throughout 
the day on brokers' computer screens and other electronic services. 
Information regarding the previous day's closing price and trading 
volume information for the Shares will be published daily in the 
financial section of newspapers.
    Quotation and last sale information for the Shares, ETFs, ETNs, 
closed-end funds, REITs, certain common stocks, certain preferred 
stocks will be available via the Consolidated Tape Association 
(``CTA'') high-speed line. Exchange-traded options quotation and last 
sale information for options cleared via the Options Clearing 
Corporation (``OCC'') are available via the Options Price Reporting 
Authority (``OPRA''). In addition, the Portfolio Indicative Value 
(``PIV''), as defined in NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E(c)(3), will be widely 
disseminated by one or more major market data vendors at least every 15 
seconds during the Core Trading Session.
Trading Halts
    With respect to trading halts, the Exchange may consider all 
relevant factors in exercising its discretion to halt or suspend 
trading in the Shares of the Fund.\36\ Trading in Shares of the Fund 
will be halted if the circuit breaker parameters in NYSE Arca Rule 
7.12-E have been reached. Trading also may be halted because of market 
conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make 
trading in the Shares inadvisable. Trading in the Fund's Shares also 
will be subject to Rule 8.600-E(d)(2)(D) (``Trading Halts'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \36\ See NYSE Arca Rule 7.12-E.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Trading Rules
    The Exchange deems the Shares to be equity securities, thus 
rendering trading in the Shares subject to the Exchange's existing 
rules governing the trading of equity securities. Shares will trade on 
the NYSE Arca Marketplace from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m., E.T. in accordance 
with NYSE Arca Rule 7.34-E (Early, Core, and Late Trading Sessions). 
The Exchange has appropriate rules to facilitate transactions in the 
Shares during all trading sessions. As provided in NYSE Arca Rule 7.6-
E, the minimum price variation (``MPV'') for quoting and entry of 
orders in equity securities traded on the NYSE Arca Marketplace is 
$0.01, with the exception of securities that are priced less than $1.00 
for which the MPV for order entry is $0.0001.
    With the exception of the requirements of Commentary .01(a)(1), 
(a)(2), (b)(1), (b)(4), (b)(5), and (e) to Rule 8.600-E as described 
above in ``Application of Generic Listing Requirements,'' the Shares of 
the Fund will conform to the initial and continued listing criteria 
under NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E. Consistent with NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-
E(d)(2)(B)(ii), the Adviser and Sub-Adviser will implement and 
maintain, or be subject to, procedures designed to prevent the use and 
dissemination of material non-public information regarding the actual 
components of the Fund's portfolio.
    The Exchange represents that, for initial and continued listing, 
the Fund will be in compliance with Rule 10A-3 \37\ under the Act, as 
provided by NYSE Arca Rule 5.3-E. The Exchange will obtain a 
representation from the issuer of the Shares that the NAV per Share 
will be calculated daily and that the NAV and the Disclosed Portfolio 
will be made available to all market participants at the same time. The 
Fund's investments will be consistent with its investment goal and will 
not be used to provide multiple returns of a benchmark or to produce 
leveraged returns.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \37\ 17 CFR 240.10A-3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Surveillance
    The Exchange represents that trading in the Shares will be subject 
to the existing trading surveillances, administered by FINRA on behalf 
of the Exchange, or by regulatory staff of the Exchange, which are 
designed to detect violations of Exchange rules and applicable federal 
securities laws. The Exchange represents that these procedures are 
adequate to properly monitor Exchange trading of the Shares in all 
trading sessions and to deter and detect violations of Exchange rules 
and federal securities laws applicable to trading on the Exchange.\38\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \38\ FINRA conducts cross-market surveillances on behalf of the 
Exchange pursuant to a regulatory services agreement. The Exchange 
is responsible for FINRA's performance under this regulatory 
services agreement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The surveillances referred to above generally focus on detecting 
securities trading outside their normal patterns, which could be 
indicative of manipulative or other violative activity. When such 
situations are detected, surveillance analysis follows and 
investigations are opened, where appropriate, to review the behavior of 
all relevant parties for all relevant trading violations.
    The Exchange or FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, or both, will 
communicate as needed regarding trading in the Shares, certain 
exchange-traded options and certain exchange-traded futures, ETFs, 
ETNs, closed-end funds, certain common stocks, certain preferred 
stocks, and certain REITs with other markets and other entities that 
are members of the Intermarket Surveillance Group (``ISG''), and the

[[Page 16446]]

Exchange or FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, or both, may obtain 
trading information regarding trading in such securities and financial 
instruments from such markets and other entities.\39\ In addition, the 
Exchange may obtain information regarding trading in such securities 
and financial instruments from markets and other entities that are 
members of ISG or with which the Exchange has in place a CSSA. In 
addition, FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, is able to access, as 
needed, trade information for certain fixed income securities held by 
the Fund reported to FINRA's TRACE.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \39\ For a list of the current members of ISG, see 
www.isgportal.org. The Exchange notes that not all components of the 
Disclosed Portfolio may trade on markets that are members of ISG or 
with which the Exchange has in place a comprehensive surveillance 
sharing agreement (``CSSA'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, the Exchange also has a general policy prohibiting the 
distribution of material, non-public information by its employees.
    All statements and representations made in this filing regarding 
(a) the description of the portfolio or reference asset, (b) 
limitations on portfolio holdings or reference assets, or (c) the 
applicability of Exchange listing rules specified in this rule filing 
shall constitute continued listing requirements for listing the Shares 
of the Fund on the Exchange.
    The issuer must notify the Exchange of any failure by the Fund to 
comply with the continued listing requirements, and, pursuant to its 
obligations under Section 19(g)(1) of the Act, the Exchange will 
monitor for compliance with the continued listing requirements. If the 
Fund is not in compliance with the applicable listing requirements, the 
Exchange will commence delisting procedures under NYSE Arca Rule 5.5-E 
(m).
Information Bulletin
    The Exchange will inform its Equity Trading Permit Holders in an 
Information Bulletin (``Bulletin'') of the special characteristics and 
risks associated with trading the Shares. Specifically, the Bulletin 
will discuss the following: (1) The procedures for purchases and 
redemptions of Shares in Creation Unit aggregations (and that Shares 
are not individually redeemable); (2) NYSE Arca Rule 9.2-E(a), which 
imposes a duty of due diligence on its Equity Trading Permit Holders to 
learn the essential facts relating to every customer prior to trading 
the Shares; (3) the risks involved in trading the Shares during the 
Early and Late Trading Sessions when an updated PIV will not be 
calculated or publicly disseminated; (4) how information regarding the 
PIV and the Disclosed Portfolio is disseminated; (5) the requirement 
that Equity Trading Permit Holders deliver a prospectus to investors 
purchasing newly issued Shares prior to or concurrently with the 
confirmation of a transaction; and (6) trading information.
    In addition, the Bulletin will reference that the Fund is subject 
to various fees and expenses described in the Registration Statement. 
The Bulletin will discuss any exemptive, no-action, and interpretive 
relief granted by the Commission from any rules under the Act. The 
Bulletin will also disclose that the NAV for the Shares will be 
calculated after 4:00 p.m., E.T. each trading day.
2. Statutory Basis
    The basis under the Act for this proposed rule change is the 
requirement under Section 6(b)(5) \40\ that an exchange have rules that 
are designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, 
to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove 
impediments to, and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market 
and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \40\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is designed to 
prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices in that the 
Shares are listed and traded on the Exchange pursuant to the initial 
and continued listing criteria in NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E. The Exchange 
has in place surveillance procedures that are adequate to properly 
monitor trading in the Shares in all trading sessions and to deter and 
detect violations of Exchange rules and applicable federal securities 
laws. The Exchange or FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, or both, will 
communicate as needed regarding trading in the Shares, certain 
exchange-traded options and certain exchange-traded futures, ETFs, 
ETNs, closed-end funds, certain common stocks, certain preferred 
stocks, and certain REITs with other markets and other entities that 
are members of the ISG, and the Exchange or FINRA, on behalf of the 
Exchange, or both, may obtain trading information regarding trading in 
such securities and financial instruments from such markets and other 
entities. The Exchange may obtain information regarding trading in such 
securities and financial instruments from markets and other entities 
that are members of ISG or with which the Exchange has in place a CSSA. 
In addition, FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, is able to access, as 
needed, trade information for certain fixed income securities held by 
the Fund reported to TRACE. The Adviser and Sub-Adviser are not 
registered as broker-dealers. The Adviser is affiliated with First 
Trust Portfolios L.P., a broker-dealer and has implemented and will 
maintain a fire wall with respect to its broker-dealer affiliate 
regarding access to information concerning the composition and/or 
changes to the portfolios. The Sub-Adviser is affiliated with multiple 
broker-dealers and has implemented and will maintain a fire wall with 
respect to its broker-dealer affiliates regarding access to information 
concerning the composition and/or changes to the portfolio.
    The Exchange notes that, other than Commentary .01(a)(1), (a)(2), 
(b)(1), (b)(4), (b)(5), and (e) to Rule 8.600-E, as described above, 
the Fund's portfolio will meet all other requirements of Rule 8.600-E.
    The proposed rule change is designed to promote just and equitable 
principles of trade and to protect investors and the public interest in 
that the Exchange will obtain a representation from the issuer of the 
Shares that the NAV per Share will be calculated daily and that the NAV 
and the Disclosed Portfolio will be made available to all market 
participants at the same time. In addition, a large amount of 
information will be publicly available regarding the Fund and the 
Shares, thereby promoting market transparency. Quotation and last sale 
information for the Shares, ETFs, ETNs, closed-end funds, certain 
REITs, certain common stocks, and certain preferred stocks will be 
available via the CTA high-speed line. Exchange-traded options 
quotation and last sale information for options cleared via the OCC are 
available via OPRA. The Exchange will inform its Equity Trading Permit 
Holders in an Information Bulletin of the special characteristics and 
risks associated with trading the Shares. Trading in Shares of the Fund 
will be halted if the circuit breaker parameters in NYSE Arca Rule 
7.12-E have been reached or because of market conditions or for reasons 
that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in the Shares 
inadvisable. Trading in the Shares will be subject to NYSE Arca Rule 
8.600-E (d)(2)(D), which sets forth circumstances under which Shares of 
the Fund may be halted. In addition, as noted above, investors will 
have ready access to information regarding the Fund's holdings, NAV, 
the PIV, the Disclosed Portfolio, and quotation and last sale 
information for the Shares.
    The proposed rule change is designed to perfect the mechanism of a 
free and open market and, in general, to protect

[[Page 16447]]

investors and the public interest in that it will facilitate the 
listing and trading of an additional type of actively-managed exchange-
traded product that generally will principally hold fixed income 
securities and 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 CSSA. 
In addition, as noted above, investors will have ready access to 
information regarding the Fund's holdings, NAV, Disclosed Portfolio, 
and quotation and last sale information for the Shares.
    Deviations from the generic requirements, as described above, are 
necessary for the Fund to achieve its investment objective in a manner 
that is cost-effective and that maximizes investors' returns. Further, 
the proposed alternative requirements are narrowly tailored to allow 
the Fund to achieve its investment objective in a manner that is 
consistent with the principles of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act. As a 
result, it is in the public interest to approve listing and trading of 
Shares of the Fund on the Exchange pursuant to the requirements set 
forth herein.
    As noted above, the Fund will not comply with the requirements set 
forth in Commentary .01(a)(1) and (a)(2) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E with 
respect to the Fund's investments in equity securities. Instead, the 
Exchange proposes that (i) the Fund's investments in equity securities 
will meet the requirements of Commentary .01(a) with the exception of 
Commentary .01(a)(1)(C) and .01(a)(1)(D) (with respect to U.S. 
Component Stocks) and Commentary .01(a)(2)(C) and .01(a)(2)(D) (with 
respect to Non-U.S. Component Stocks).\41\ The Exchange believes it is 
appropriate and in the public interest to approve listing and trading 
of Shares of the Fund notwithstanding that the Fund's holdings in such 
equity securities do not comply with the requirements set forth in 
Commentary .01(a)(1) and (a)(2) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E in that any 
Fund investment in exchange-traded common stocks, preferred stocks, 
REITS, ETFs, ETNs and U.S. exchange-traded closed-end funds would 
provide for enhanced diversification of the Fund's portfolio. Such 
securities would be Non-Principal Investments, not exceeding 20% of the 
Fund's net assets in the aggregate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \41\ See notes 18 and 19, supra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Fund will not comply with the requirement in Commentary 
.01(b)(1) to Rule 8.600-E that components that in the aggregate account 
for at least 75% of the fixed income weight of the portfolio each shall 
have a minimum original principal amount outstanding of $100 million or 
more. Instead, the Exchange proposes that components that in the 
aggregate account for at least 50% of the fixed income weight of the 
portfolio each shall have a minimum original principal amount 
outstanding of $50 million or more. As noted above, the Fund may not 
invest more than 2% of its total assets in any one Fixed Income 
Security (excluding U.S. government securities and TIPS) on a per CUSIP 
basis. In addition, at least 50% of the weight of the Fund's portfolio 
would continue to be subject to a substantial minimum (i.e., $50 
million) original principal amount outstanding. The Exchange believes 
this limitation would provide significant additional diversification to 
the Fund's investments in Fixed Income Securities, and reduce concerns 
that the Fund's investments in such securities would be readily 
susceptible to market manipulation.
    The Exchange proposes that Private ABS/MBS will not be required to 
comply with the requirements of Commentary .01(b)(4) because certain 
Private ABS/MBS cannot satisfy the criteria in Commentary .01(b)(4). 
Instead, the Exchange proposes that the Fund's investments in Fixed 
Income Securities other than Private ABS/MBS will be required to comply 
with the requirements of Commentary .01(b)(4). The Exchange believes 
that this is appropriate because Commentary .01(b)(4) does not appear 
to be designed for structured finance vehicles such as Private ABS/MBS. 
As noted above, the Fund may not invest more than 2% of its total 
assets in any one Fixed Income Security (excluding U.S. government 
securities and TIPS) on a per CUSIP basis. The Exchange believes this 
limitation would provide additional diversification to the Fund's 
investments in Private ABS/MBS, and reduce concerns that the Fund's 
investment in such securities would be readily susceptible to market 
manipulation.
    As noted above, the Fund will not comply with the requirement in 
Commentary .01(b)(5) to Rule 8.600-E that Private ABS/MBS in the Fund's 
portfolio account, in the aggregate, for no more than 20% of the weight 
of the Fund's portfolio. Instead, the Exchange proposes that, in order 
to enable the portfolio to be more diversified and provide the Fund 
with an opportunity to earn higher returns, the Fund may invest up to 
50% of its total assets in the aggregate in Private ABS/MBS, provided 
that the Fund (1) may not invest more than 25% of its total assets in 
non-agency ABS; (2) may not invest more than 30% of its total assets in 
non-agency RMBS; and (3) may not invest more than 25% of its total 
assets in non-agency CMBS and CLOs. With respect to the Fund's 
investments in up to 30% of its total assets in Private ABS/MBS that 
exceed the 20% of the weight of the Fund's portfolio that may be 
invested in Private ABS/MBS under Commentary .01(b)(5) to NYSE Arca 
Rule 8.600-E, the Fund's holdings in Private ABS/MBS will be subject to 
minimum weighted average loan age restrictions described above.\42\ In 
addition, as noted above, the Fund may not invest more than 2% of its 
total assets in any one Fixed Income Security (excluding U.S. 
government securities and TIPS) on a per CUSIP basis.\43\ The Exchange 
believes these limitations would provide additional diversification to 
the Fund's Private ABS/MBS investments and reduce concerns that the 
Fund's investment in such securities would be readily susceptible to 
market manipulation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \42\ See note 13 and accompanying text, supra.
    \43\ See note 25, supra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange believes it is appropriate and in the public interest 
to approve listing and trading of Shares of the Fund notwithstanding 
that the Fund's holdings in such Private ABS/MBS do not comply with the 
requirements set forth in Commentary .01(b)(5) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-
E in that the Fund's investment in Private ABS/MBS is expected to 
provide the Fund with benefits associated with increased 
diversification, as Private ABS/MBS investments tend to be less 
correlated to interest rates than many other fixed income securities. 
The Fund's investment in Private ABS/MBS will be subject to the Fund's 
liquidity procedures as adopted by the Board, and the Adviser and Sub-
Adviser do not expect that investments in Private ABS/MBS of up to 50% 
of the total assets of the Fund will have any material impact on the 
liquidity of the Fund's investments.
    The Adviser and Sub-Adviser represent that the RMBS sector can be 
an important component of the Fund's investment strategy because of the 
potential for attractive risk-adjusted returns relative to other fixed 
income sectors and the potential to add significantly to the 
diversification in the

[[Page 16448]]

Fund's portfolio. Similarly, the Private ABS/MBS sectors also have the 
potential for attractive risk-adjusted returns and added portfolio 
diversification.
    The Exchange believes the loan age parameters described above are 
appropriate for the corresponding Private ABS/MBS; the 84, 60 and 12 
month time frames take into account that the longer Private ABS/MBS 
continue to trade, the more price discovery has occurred in the market 
and the more opportunity there has been for market participants to 
perform due diligence in understanding and evaluating the underlying 
loans for such securities.
    With respect to non-agency RMBS, a weighted average loan age of 84 
months accommodates investment in well-seasoned securities that are 
continuing to trade with resilient pricing notwithstanding events 
during the market crisis of 2008-2010, during which loan defaults 
drastically impacted pricing in non-agency RMBS. Pricing in such 
securities is generally more reliable than RMBS with a lower loan age 
in that pricing is no longer reliant on market expectations but on 
actual post-crisis loan performance.
    With respect to non-agency CMBS, a weighted average loan age of 60 
months would include securities for which there is a known track record 
regarding cash flows and default rates for loans underlying real estate 
and other assets underlying CMBS. A five year loan age facilitates 
pricing based on actual loan performance rather than default 
projections. Similarly, for non-agency CLOs, a weighted average loan 
age of 60 months provides the opportunity for market participants to 
evaluate data regarding the bank loans underlying the CLOs and to 
assess how the loans are actually being used--for example, to implement 
corporate strategy or for capital usage--rather than relying on pro 
forma statements regarding the loans.
    With respect to non-agency ABS, a weighted average loan age of 12 
months provides an appropriately limited time frame for market 
participants to assess the likely trajectory of expected defaults (for 
example, for sub-prime auto loans). The loans underlying non-agency ABS 
are typically of much shorter duration than other Private ABS/MBS. 
Because such loans are more likely to default within a short time after 
issuance, a one-year minimum loan age can be expected to provide a 
sufficient time frame for market participants to assess the reliability 
of loan pricing for loans underlying non-agency ABS.
    As noted above, the Fund's portfolio will not comply with the 
requirements set forth in Commentary .01(e) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E. 
The Exchange proposes that up to 25% of the Fund's assets (calculated 
as the aggregate gross notional value) may be invested in OTC 
derivatives that are used to reduce currency, interest rate or credit 
risk arising from the Fund's investments (that is, ``hedge''), and that 
the Fund's investments in OTC derivatives other than OTC derivatives 
used to hedge the Fund's portfolio against currency, interest rate or 
credit risk will be limited to 20% of the assets in the Fund's 
portfolio, calculated as the aggregate gross notional value of such OTC 
derivatives. As noted above, the Fund will not use derivative 
instruments to gain exposure to Private ABS/MBS, and derivative 
instruments linked to such securities will be used for hedging purposes 
only.
    The Exchange believes it is appropriate and in the public interest 
to approve listing and trading of Shares of the Fund notwithstanding 
that the Fund's holdings in OTC derivatives do not comply with the 
requirements set forth in Commentary .01(e) to NYSE Arca Rule 8.600-E 
in that, depending on market conditions, it may be critical that the 
Fund be able to utilize available OTC derivatives to attempt to reduce 
impact of currency, interest rate or credit fluctuations on Fund 
assets. Therefore, the Exchange believes it is appropriate to apply a 
limit of up to 25% of the Fund's assets to the Fund's investments in 
OTC derivatives (calculated as the aggregate gross notional value of 
such OTC derivatives), including forwards, options and swaps, that are 
used for hedging purposes, as described above.
    The Adviser and Sub-Adviser represent that OTC derivatives can be 
tailored to hedge the specific risk arising from the Fund's investments 
and frequently may be a more efficient hedging vehicle than listed 
derivatives. For example, the Fund could obtain an OTC foreign currency 
derivative in a notional amount that exactly matches the notional 
amount of the Fund's investments. If the Fund were limited to investing 
up to 20% of assets in OTC derivatives, the Fund might have to ``over 
hedge'' or ``under hedge'' if round lot sizes in listed derivatives 
were not available. In addition, for example, an OTC CDX option can be 
structured to provide protection tailored to the Fund's credit exposure 
and can be a more efficient way to hedge credit risk with respect to 
specific exposures than listed derivatives. Similarly, OTC interest 
rate derivatives can be more effective hedges of interest rate exposure 
because they can be customized to match the basis risk arising from the 
term of the investments held by the Fund.
    Because the Fund, in furtherance of its investment objective, may 
invest a substantial percentage of its investments in foreign currency 
denominated Fixed Income Securities, the 20% limit in Commentary .01(e) 
to Rule 8.600-E could result in the Fund being unable to fully pursue 
its investment objective while attempting to sufficiently mitigate 
investment risks. The inability of the Fund to adequately hedge its 
holdings would effectively limit the Fund's ability to invest in 
certain instruments, or could expose the Fund to additional investment 
risk. For example, if the Fund's assets (on a gross notional value 
basis) were $100 million and no listed derivative were suitable to 
hedge the Fund's risk, under the generic standards the Fund would be 
limited to holding up to $20 million gross notional value in OTC 
derivatives ($100 million * 20%). Accordingly, the maximum amount the 
Fund would be able to invest in foreign currency denominated Fixed 
Income Securities while remaining adequately hedged would be $20 
million. The Fund then would hold $60 million in assets that could not 
be hedged, other than with listed derivatives, which, as noted above, 
might not be sufficiently tailored to the specific instruments to be 
hedged.
    In addition, by applying the 20% limitation in Commentary .01(e) to 
Rule 8.600-E, the Fund would be less able to protect its holdings from 
more than one risk simultaneously. For example, if the Fund's assets 
(on a gross notional basis) were $100 million and the Fund held $20 
million in foreign currency denominated Fixed Income Instruments with 
two types of risks (e.g., currency and credit risk) which could not be 
hedged using listed derivatives, the Fund would be faced with the 
choice of either holding $20 million aggregate gross notional value in 
OTC derivatives to mitigate one of the risks while passing the other 
risk to its shareholders, or, for example, holding $10 million 
aggregate gross notional value in OTC derivatives on each of the risks 
while passing the remaining portion of each risk to the Fund's 
shareholders.
    The Adviser and Sub-Adviser believe that it is in the best 
interests of the Fund's shareholders for the Fund to be allowed to 
reduce the currency, interest rate or credit risk arising from the 
Fund's investments using the most efficient financial instrument. While 
certain risks can be hedged via listed

[[Page 16449]]

derivatives, OTC derivatives (such as forwards, options and swaps) can 
be customized to hedge against precise risks. Accordingly, the Adviser 
and Sub-Adviser believe that OTC derivatives may frequently be a more 
efficient hedging vehicle than listed derivatives. Therefore, the 
Exchange believes that increasing the percentage limit in Commentary 
.01(e), as described above, to the Fund's investments in OTC 
derivatives, including forwards, options and swaps, that are used 
specifically for hedging purposes would help protect investors and the 
public interest.
    As noted above, the Fund's portfolio will not meet the requirements 
of Commentary .01(a)(1)(A) through (E) to Rule 8.600-E with respect to 
the Fund's investments in non-exchange-traded securities of open-end 
investment company securities would not meet the requirements of 
Commentary .01(a)(1)(A) through (E) and Commentary .01(a)(2) (A) 
through (E) to Rule 8.600-E. The Exchange believes that it is 
appropriate and in the public interest to approve listing and trading 
of Shares of the Fund on the Exchange notwithstanding that the Fund 
would not meet the requirements of Commentary .01(a)(1)(A) through (E) 
to Rule 8.600-E with respect to the Fund's investments in non-exchange-
traded securities of open-end investment company securities would not 
meet the requirements of Commentary .01(a)(1)(A) through (E) to Rule 
8.600-E. Investments in non-exchange-traded securities of open-end 
investment company securities will not be principal investments of the 
Fund.\44\ Such investments, which may include mutual funds that invest, 
for example, principally in fixed income securities, would be utilized 
to help the Fund meet its investment objective and to equitize cash in 
the short term.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \44\ See note 29, supra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 
shares of an additional type of actively-managed exchange-traded 
product that will enhance competition among market participants, to the 
benefit of investors and the marketplace.

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will 
impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate 
in furtherance of the purpose of the Act. The Exchange notes that the 
proposed rule change will facilitate the listing and trading of an 
additional type of actively-managed exchange-traded product that 
generally will principally hold fixed income securities and that will 
enhance competition among market participants, to the benefit of 
investors and the marketplace.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed 
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the 
proposed rule change.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for 
Commission Action

    The Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \45\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\46\ 
Because the proposed rule change does not: (i) Significantly affect the 
protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any 
significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative prior to 
30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as 
the Commission may designate, if consistent with the protection of 
investors and the public interest, the proposed rule change has become 
effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.\47\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \45\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
    \46\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \47\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6) 
requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission 
written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along 
with a brief description and text of the proposed rule change, at 
least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed 
rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. 
The Exchange has satisfied this requirement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) \48\ does not 
become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the filing. 
However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii),\49\ the Commission may 
designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the 
protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange requested 
that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay so that the 
proposal may become operative immediately upon filing. According to the 
Exchange, the proposed rule change does not significant affect the 
protection of investors or the public and does not impose any 
significant burden on competition. Specifically, the Exchange believes 
that because the Fixed Income Securities and derivative instruments to 
be held by the Fund are substantially the same as the securities and 
derivative instruments in the previously approved First Trust TCW 
Unconstrained Release, the proposal does not raise any novel regulatory 
issues. For these reasons, the Commission believes that waiving the 30-
day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and 
the public interest. Accordingly, the Commission waives the 30-day 
operative delay and designates the proposed rule change operative upon 
filing.\50\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \48\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \49\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
    \50\ For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, 
the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on 
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 
78c(f).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    At any time within 60 days of the filing of such proposed rule 
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule 
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or 
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission 
takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings under 
Section 19(b)(2)(B) \51\ of the Act to determine whether the proposed 
rule change should be approved or disapproved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \51\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule 
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of 
the following methods:

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-NYSEArca-2020-20 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities 
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEArca-2020-20. 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

[[Page 16450]]

amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule 
change that are filed with the Commission, and all written 
communications relating to the proposed rule change between the 
Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from 
the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be 
available for website viewing and printing in the Commission's Public 
Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549 on official 
business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of 
the filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the 
principal office of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted 
without change. Persons submitting comments are cautioned that we do 
not redact or edit personal identifying information from comment 
submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make 
available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-
NYSEArca-2020-20 and should be submitted on or before April 13, 2020.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\52\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \52\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-06006 Filed 3-20-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P

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