Self-Regulatory Organizations; Proposed Rule Changes: NYSE Arca, Inc.
Federal Register: November 17, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 220)
Notices
Page 59319-59328
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
DOCID:fr17no09-124
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Release No. 34-60970; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2009-95
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Listing and Trading of Shares of
ETFS Platinum Trust
November 9, 2009.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that, on October 20, 2009, NYSE Arca, Inc. (``NYSE Arca'' or
``Exchange'') filed with the
Page 59320
Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the self-regulatory organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
-
Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
NYSE Arca, through its wholly-owned subsidiary NYSE Arca Equities,
Inc. (``NYSE Arca Equities''), proposes to list and trade shares of the
ETFS Platinum Trust (the ``Trust'') pursuant to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the
Exchange's Web site at http://www.nyse.com, at the Exchange's principal office and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.
-
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.
-
Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change 1. Purpose
The Exchange proposes to list and trade ETFS Platinum Shares
(``Shares'') of the Trust under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201. Under
NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201, the Exchange may propose to list and/or trade pursuant to unlisted trading privileges (``UTP'') ``Commodity-
Based Trust Shares.'' \3\ The Commission has previously approved listing on the Exchange under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201 of other issues of Commodity-Based Trust Shares. The Commission has approved listing on the Exchange of the streetTRACKS Gold Trust and iShares
COMEX Gold Trust.\4\ Prior to their listing on the Exchange, the
Commission approved listing of the streetTRACKS Gold Trust on the New
York Stock Exchange (``NYSE'') and listing of iShares COMEX Gold Trust on the American Stock Exchange LLC (now known as ``NYSE Amex LLC'').\5\
In addition, the Commission has approved trading of the streetTRACKS
Gold Trust and iShares Silver Trust on the Exchange pursuant to UTP.\6\
The Commission also has approved listing of the iShares Silver Trust on the Exchange \7\ and, previously, listing of the iShares Silver Trust on the American Stock Exchange LLC.\8\
\3\ Commodity-Based Trust Shares are securities issued by a trust that represent investors' discrete identifiable and undivided beneficial ownership interest in the commodities deposited into the
Trust.
\4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 56224 (August 8, 2007), 72 FR 45850 (August 15, 2007) (SR-NYSEArca-2007-76)
(approving listing on the Exchange of the streetTRACKS Gold Trust);
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 56041 (July 11, 2007), 72 FR 39114 (July 17, 2007) (SR-NYSEArca-2007-43) (order approving listing on the Exchange of iShares COMEX Gold Trust).
\5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 50603 (October 28, 2004), 69 FR 64614 (November 5, 2004) (SR-NYSE-2004-22) (order approving listing of streetTRACKS Gold Trust on NYSE); Securities
Exchange Act Release No. 51058 (January 19, 2005), 70 FR 3749
(January 26, 2005) (SR-Amex-2004-38) (order approving listing of iShares COMEX Gold Trust on the American Stock Exchange LLC).
\6\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 53520 (March 20, 2006), 71 FR 14977 (March 24, 2006) (SR-PCX-2005-117) (approving trading on the Exchange pursuant to UTP of the iShares Silver
Trust); 51245 (February 23, 2005), 70 FR 10731 (March 4, 2005) (SR-
PCX-2004-117) (approving trading on the Exchange of the streetTRACKS
Gold Trust pursuant to UTP).
\7\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 58956 (November 14, 2008), 73 FR 71074 (November 24, 2008) (SR-NYSEArca-2008-124)
(approving listing on the Exchange of the iShares Silver Trust).
\8\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 53521 (March 20, 2006), 71 FR 14967 (March 24, 2006) (SR-Amex-2005-72) (approving listing on the American Stock Exchange LLC of the iShares Silver
Trust).
The Trust will issue Shares which represent units of fractional undivided beneficial interest in and ownership of the Trust. The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the performance of the price of platinum, less the expenses of the Trust's operations.\9\
\9\ See Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement for the
ETFS Platinum Trust on Form S-1, filed with the Commission on
October 20, 2009 (File No. 333-158381) (``Registration Statement'').
The descriptions of the Trust, the Shares and the platinum market contained herein are based on the Registration Statement.
ETFS Services USA LLC is the sponsor of the Trust (``Sponsor''),
The Bank of New York Mellon is the trustee of the Trust (``Trustee'')
,\10\ and HSBC Bank USA, N.A. is the custodian of the Trust
(``Custodian'').\11\
\10\ The Trustee is generally responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Trust, including keeping the Trust's operational records. The Trustee's principal responsibilities include (1) transferring the Trust's platinum as needed to pay the
Sponsor's Fee in platinum (platinum transfers are expected to occur approximately monthly in the ordinary course), (2) valuing the
Trust's platinum and calculating the NAV of the Trust and the NAV per Share, (3) receiving and processing orders from Authorized
Participants to create and redeem Baskets and coordinating the processing of such orders with the Custodian and DTC, (4) selling the Trust's platinum as needed to pay any extraordinary Trust expenses that are not assumed by the Sponsor, (5) when appropriate, making distributions of cash or other property to Shareholders, and
(6) receiving and reviewing reports from or on the Custodian's custody of and transactions in the Trust's platinum.
\11\ The Custodian is responsible for safekeeping for the Trust platinum deposited with it by Authorized Participants in connection with the creation of Baskets. The Custodian is also responsible for selecting the Zurich Sub-Custodians and its other direct sub- custodians, if any. The Custodian facilitates the transfer of platinum in and out of the Trust through the unallocated platinum accounts it will maintain for each Authorized Participant and the unallocated and allocated platinum accounts it will maintain for the
Trust. The Custodian is responsible for allocating specific plates or ingots of physical platinum to the Trust's allocated platinum account. The Custodian will provide the Trustee with regular reports detailing the platinum transfers in and out of the Trust's unallocated and allocated platinum accounts and identifying the platinum plates or ingots held in the Trust's allocated platinum account.
The Exchange represents that the Shares satisfy the requirements of
NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201 and thereby qualify for listing on the
Exchange.\12\
\12\ With respect to application of Rule 10A-3 (17 CFR 240.10A- 3) under the Securities Exchange of 1934 (``Act'') (15 U.S.C. 78a), the Trust relies on the exemption contained in Rule 10A-3(c)(7).
Operation of the Platinum Market
According to the Registration Statement, the global trade in platinum consists of Over-the-Counter (OTC) transactions in spot, forwards, and options and other derivatives, together with exchange- traded futures and options. The OTC market trades on a 24-hour per day continuous basis and accounts for most global platinum trading.
Market makers, as well as others in the OTC market, trade with each other and with their clients on a principal-to-principal basis. All risks and issues of credit are between the parties directly involved in the transaction. Market makers include the market-making members of the
LPPM, the trade association that acts as the coordinator for activities conducted on behalf of its members and other participants in the LPPM.
The four market-making members of the LPPM are: J.Aron & Company (a division of Goldman Sachs International), Engelhard Metals Limited,
HSBC Bank USA, N.A. (through its London branch), and Standard Bank. The
OTC market provides a relatively flexible market in terms of quotes, price, size, destinations for delivery and other factors. Bullion dealers customize transactions to meet clients' requirements. The OTC market has no formal structure and no open-outcry meeting place.
Page 59321
According to the Registration Statement, the main centers of the
OTC market are London, New York, Hong Kong and Zurich. Mining companies, manufacturers of jewelry and industrial products, together with investors and speculators, tend to transact their business through one of these market centers. Centers such as Dubai and several cities in the Far East also transact substantial OTC market business, typically involving jewelry and small plates or ingots (1 kilogram or less) and will hedge their exposure by selling into one of these main
OTC centers. Precious metals dealers have offices around the world and most of the world's major bullion dealers are either members or associate members of the London Bullion Market Association and/or the
LPPM. In the OTC market, the standard size of platinum trades between market makers is 1,000 ounces.
Liquidity in the OTC market can vary from time to time during the course of the 24-hour trading day. Fluctuations in liquidity are reflected in adjustments to dealing spreads--the differential between a dealer's ``buy'' and ``sell'' prices. The period of greatest liquidity in the platinum market generally occurs at the time of day when trading in the European time zones overlaps with trading in the United States, which is when OTC market trading in London, New York and other centers coincides with futures and options trading on the COMEX. This period lasts for approximately four hours each New York business day morning.\13\
\13\ The Registration Statement includes a table with data regarding World Platinum Supply and demand 1998-2008. According to the Registration Statement, the table illustrates that the platinum supply over the past ten years has averaged 6.8 million ounces with the majority of production from South Africa. Production from South
Africa, on average, accounts for approximately 68% of total production. There is a 20% increase in platinum supply when comparing the average five-year periods ended 2003 and 2008, at 6.2 million ounces and 7.4 million ounces, respectively. The biggest source of demand for platinum output from 1998-2008 has come from the autocatalyst sector, which has accounted for an approximate average of 44% of all demand. Conversely, the jewelry sector has seen a continuous decline in demand continually 2002 to 2008. From 2002 levels, 2008 jewelry demand has decreased by 60%. The annual demand for platinum over the past 10 years has averaged approximately 7.0 million ounces.
The London Platinum Market
According to the Registration Statement, although the market for physical platinum is distributed globally, most OTC market trades are cleared through London. In addition to coordinating market activities, the London Platinum Palladium Market (``LPPM'') acts as the principal point of contact between the market and its regulators. A primary function of the LPPM is its involvement in the promotion of refining standards by maintenance of the ``London/Zurich Good Delivery Lists,'' which are the lists of LPPM accredited melters and assayers of platinum. The LPPM also coordinates market clearing and vaulting, promotes good trading practices and develops standard documentation.
Platinum is traded generally on a loco Zurich basis, meaning the precious metal is physically held in vaults in Zurich or is transferred into accounts established in Zurich. The basis for settlement and delivery of a loco Zurich spot trade is payment (generally in U.S. dollars) two business days after the trade date against delivery.
Delivery of the platinum can either be by physical delivery or through the clearing systems to an unallocated account.
The unit of trade in London is the troy ounce, whose conversion between grams is: 1,000 grams is equivalent to 32.1507465 troy ounces, and one troy ounce is equivalent to 31.1034768 grams. A London/Zurich good delivery plate or ingot is acceptable for delivery in settlement of a transaction on the OTC market. Typically referred to as Good
Delivery, a plate or ingot must contain between 32 and 192 troy ounces of platinum with a minimum fineness (or purity) of 999.5 parts per 1,000 (99.95%), be of good appearance, and be easy to handle and stack.
The platinum content of a platinum plate or ingot is calculated by multiplying the gross weight (expressed in units of 0.025 troy ounces) by the fineness of the plate or ingot. A Good Delivery plate or ingot must also bear the stamp of one of the melters and assayers who are on the LPPM approved list. Unless otherwise specified, the platinum spot price always refers to that of Good Delivery Standards. Business is generally conducted over the phone and through electronic dealing systems.\14\
\14\ Terms relating to the Trust and the Shares referred to, but not defined, herein are defined in the Registration Statement.
Twice daily during London trading hours there is a fix which provides reference platinum prices for that day's trading. Many long- term contracts will be priced on the basis of either the morning (AM) or afternoon (PM) London fix, and market participants will usually refer to one or the other of these prices when looking for a basis for valuations. The London fix is the most widely used benchmark for daily platinum prices and is quoted by various financial information sources.
Formal participation in the London fix is traditionally limited to four members, each of which is a bullion dealer and a member of the
LPPM. The chairmanship now rotates annually among the four member firms. The morning session of the fix starts at 9:45 a.m. London time and the afternoon session starts at 2 p.m. London time. The members of the LPPM fixing are currently: J.Aron & Company (a division of Goldman
Sachs International), Engelhard Metals Limited, HSBC Bank USA N.A.
(London branch), and Standard Bank London Limited. Any other market participant wishing to participate in the trading on the fix is required to do so through one of the four platinum fixing members.
Orders are placed either with one of the four fixing members or with another precious metals dealer who will then be in contact with a fixing member during the fixing. The fixing members net-off all orders when communicating their net interest at the fixing. The fix begins with the fixing chairman suggesting a ``trying price,'' reflecting the market price prevailing at the opening of the fix. This is relayed by the fixing members to their dealing rooms which have direct communication with all interested parties. Any market participant may enter the fixing process at any time, or adjust or withdraw his order.
The platinum price is adjusted up or down until all the buy and sell orders are matched, at which time the price is declared fixed. All fixing orders are transacted on the basis of this fixed price, which is instantly relayed to the market through various media. The London fix is widely viewed as a full and fair representation of all market interest at the time of the fix.
Futures Exchanges
The most significant platinum futures exchanges are the NYMEX and the Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM). The NYMEX is the largest exchange in the world for trading precious metals futures and options and has been trading platinum since 1974. The TOCOM has been trading platinum since 1982. Trading on these exchanges is based on fixed delivery dates and transaction sizes for the futures and options contracts traded. The
NYMEX operates through a central clearance system. On June 6, 2003,
TOCOM adopted a similar clearance system. In each case, the exchange acts as a counterparty for each member for clearing purposes.
Market Regulation
The global platinum markets are overseen and regulated by both governmental and self-regulatory organizations. In addition, certain trade associations have established rules and protocols for market practices and
Page 59322
participants. In the United Kingdom, responsibility for the regulation of the financial market participants, including the major participating members of the LPPM, falls under the authority of the Financial
Services Authority (``FSA'') as provided by the Financial Services and
Markets Act 2000 (``FSM Act''). Under this act, all UK-based banks, together with other investment firms, are subject to a range of requirements, including fitness and properness, capital adequacy, liquidity, and systems and controls.
The FSA is responsible for regulating investment products, including derivatives, and those who deal in investment products.
Regulation of spot, commercial forwards, and deposits of platinum not covered by the FSM Act is provided for by The London Code of Conduct for Non-Investment Products, which was established by market participants in conjunction with the Bank of England.
The TOCOM has authority to perform financial and operational surveillance on its members' trading activities, scrutinize positions held by members and large-scale customers, and monitor the price movements of futures markets by comparing them with cash and other derivative markets' prices. To act as a Futures Commission Merchant
Broker, a broker must obtain a license from Japan's Ministry of
Economy, Trade and Industry (``METI''), the regulatory authority that oversees the operations of the TOCOM.
The Trust will not trade in platinum futures contracts on the NYMEX or on any other futures exchange. The Trust will only take delivery of physical platinum that complies with the NYMEX platinum delivery rules or the LPPM platinum delivery rules. Because the Trust will not trade in platinum futures contracts on any futures exchange, the Trust will not be regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``CFTC'') under the Commodity Exchange Act \15\ (``CEA'') as a ``commodity pool,'' and will not be operated by a CFTC-regulated commodity pool operator. Investors in the Trust will not receive the regulatory protections afforded to investors in regulated commodity pools, nor may the NYMEX or any futures exchange enforce its rules with respect to the
Trust's activities. In addition, investors in the Trust will not benefit from the protections afforded to investors in platinum futures contracts on regulated futures exchanges.
\15\ 7 U.S.C. 1 et seq.
Custody of the Trust's Platinum
Custody of the physical platinum deposited with and held by the
Trust will be provided by the Custodian at its London, England vaults, by Zurich Sub-Custodians selected by the Custodian in their Zurich vaults and by other sub-custodians on a temporary basis only. The
Custodian is a market maker, clearer and approved weigher under the rules of the LPPM.
The Custodian is the custodian of the physical platinum credited to the Trust Allocated Account in accordance with the Custody Agreements.
The Custodian will segregate the physical platinum credited to the
Trust Allocated Account from any other precious metal it holds or holds for others by entering appropriate entries in its books and records, and will require any Zurich Sub-Custodian it appoints to also segregate the physical platinum from the other platinum held by them for other customers of the Custodian and the Zurich Sub-Custodian's other customers. The Custodian will require any Zurich Sub-Custodian it appoints to identify in such Zurich Sub-Custodian's books and records the Trust as having the rights to the physical platinum credited to its
Trust Allocated Account.
The Custodian, as instructed by the Trustee, is authorized to accept, on behalf of the Trust, deposits of platinum in unallocated form. Acting on standing instructions specified in the Custody
Agreements, the Custodian will or will require a Zurich Sub-Custodian to allocate platinum deposited in unallocated form with the Trust by selecting plates or ingots of physical platinum for deposit to the
Trust Allocated Account. All physical platinum allocated to the Trust must conform to the rules, regulations, practices and customs of the
LPPM.
The process of withdrawing platinum from the Trust for a redemption of a Basket will follow the same general procedure as for depositing platinum with the Trust for a creation of a Basket, only in reverse.
Each transfer of platinum between the Trust Allocated Account and the
Trust Unallocated Account connected with a creation or redemption of a
Basket may result in a small amount of platinum being held in the Trust
Unallocated Account after the completion of the transfer. In making deposits and withdrawals between the Trust Allocated Account and the
Trust Unallocated Account, the Custodian will use commercially reasonable efforts to minimize the amount of platinum held in the Trust
Unallocated Account as of the close of each business day and in any case not to exceed 192 troy ounces of platinum.
According to the Registration Statement, the Trust is not registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 \16\ and is not required to register under such act. The Trust will not hold or trade in commodity futures contracts regulated by the
CEA, as administered by the CFTC. The Trust is not a commodity pool for purposes of the CEA, and neither the Sponsor nor the Trustee is subject to regulation by the CFTC as a commodity pool operator or a commodity trading advisor in connection with the Shares.
\16\ 15 U.S.C. 80a.
Sponsor's Estimate of Expected Size of the Trust
The Sponsor has made representations to the Commission regarding the expected size of the Trust and the expected impact of the offering of the Shares on the global platinum market.\17\ In the May 15, 2009
Letter, the Sponsor has stated its expectation that the Trust's assets under management (``AUM'') would be between $240 million and $480 million after three years of the Trust's operation, and using the platinum spot market price of $1149.00 per ounce as of May 8, 2009, the
Trust would be expected to be acquiring between approximately 70,000 to 140,000 ounces of platinum on an annual basis.\18\ The Sponsor has represented that it does not believe that the currently expected size of the Trust will have a meaningful effect on the global supply or demand for platinum, and that the Trust's highest forecast platinum acquisitions would represent 2.1% and 2.0%, respectively, of the 10- year average annual supply and demand for platinum through the end of 2008.\19\ The Sponsor, therefore, has stated its belief that, in view of the amount of Shares sought to be registered, the Trust believes there will be a market neutral impact given that the Shares can be a current source of supply at then current prices through redemptions.\20\
\17\ See Supplemental Comment Response regarding the Trust, dated May 15, 2009, from Peter J. Shea, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, to the Commission (submitted via EDGAR) (``May 15, 2009 Letter'').
\18\ The Exchange notes that ETF Securities Ltd., the Sponsor's parent entity, has sponsored ETFS Platinum ETP, traded on the London
Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: PHPT), which had AUM of approximately
$347.8 million as of May 8, 2009.
\19\ See note 13, supra.
\20\ The Sponsor states that it intends to recast its analysis each time it seeks to register additional Shares of the Trust in the future to ensure that additional Trust offerings will not be disruptive to platinum supply and demand. May 15, 2009 Letter at p. 4. As stated in the May 15, 2009 Letter, the Registration Statement seeks to register 4,780,000 Shares, and that, at an estimated platinum acquisition rate of 140,000 ounces per year, the Trust would complete its Share offering in approximately 3.4 years.
Page 59323
In the May 15, 2009 Letter, the Sponsor also states that it expects that the offering of the Shares will not have a meaningful impact on the global platinum market, founded on the Sponsor's belief that the present Share offering is limited to an appropriate size and that arbitrage opportunities between platinum market prices and the Trust's net asset value together with the low cost creation and redemption process utilizing physical metal will neutralize any impact of the
Trust on the broader platinum market.\21\
\21\ May 15, 2009 Letter at p. 5.
According to the Registration Statement, since there is no limit on the amount of platinum that the Trust may acquire, the Trust, as it grows, may have an impact on the supply and demand of platinum that ultimately may affect the price of the Shares in a manner unrelated to other factors affecting the global market for platinum.
Secondary Market Trading
While the Trust's investment objective is for the Shares to reflect the performance of platinum, less the expenses of the Trust, the Shares may trade in the secondary market on the NYSE Arca at prices that are lower or higher relative to their net asset value (``NAV'') per Share.
The amount of the discount or premium in the trading price relative to the NAV per Share may be influenced by non-concurrent trading hours between the NYSE Arca and the NYMEX and London. While the Shares will trade on the NYSE Arca until 8 PM New York time, liquidity in the global platinum market will be reduced after the close of the NYMEX at 1:05 PM New York time. As a result, during this time, trading spreads, and the resulting premium or discount, on the Shares may widen.
Trust Expenses
The Trust's only ordinary recurring expense is expected to be equal to the Sponsor's Fee. In exchange for the Sponsor's Fee, the Sponsor has agreed to assume the following administrative and marketing expenses incurred by the Trust: the Trustee's monthly fee and out-of- pocket expenses, the Custodian's fee, Exchange listing fees, SEC registration fees, printing and mailing costs, audit fees and up to
$100,000 per annum in legal expenses. The Sponsor will also pay the costs of the Trust's organization and the initial sale of the Shares, including the applicable SEC registration fees.
The Sponsor's Fee will accrue daily at an annualized rate equal to a specified percentage of the adjusted net asset value of the Trust and will be payable monthly in arrears. The Sponsor, from time to time, may temporarily waive all or a portion of the Sponsor's Fee at its discretion for a stated period of time.
The Trust will deliver platinum to the Sponsor to pay the Sponsor's
Fee and sell platinum to raise the funds needed for the payment of all
Trust expenses not assumed by the Sponsor. The purchase price received as consideration for such sales will be the Trust's sole source of funds to cover its liabilities. The Trust will not engage in any activity designed to derive a profit from changes in the price of platinum. Platinum not needed to redeem Baskets, or to cover the
Sponsor's Fee and Trust expenses not assumed by the Trustee, will be held in physical form by the Custodian (except for residual amounts not exceeding 192 ounces of platinum, the maximum weight to make one Good
Delivery plate or ingot, which will be held in unallocated form by the
Custodian on behalf of the Trust). As a result of the recurring deliveries of platinum necessary to pay the Sponsor's Fee in-kind and potential sales of platinum to pay in cash the Trust expenses not assumed by the Sponsor, the net asset value of the Trust and, correspondingly, the fractional amount of physical platinum represented by each Share will decrease over the life of the Trust.\22\
\22\ See e-mail from Michael Cavalier, Chief Counsel, NYSE
Euronext, to David Liu, Assistant Director, Christopher W. Chow,
Special Counsel, and Andrew Madar, Special Counsel, Commission, dated November 9, 2009.
Creation and Redemption of Shares
The Trust will create and redeem Shares in one or more Baskets (a
Basket equals a block of 50,000 Shares). The creation and redemption of
Baskets will only be made ``in-kind'' in exchange for the delivery to the Trust or the distribution by the Trust of the amount of platinum and any cash represented by the Baskets being created or redeemed, the amount of which will be based on the combined NAV of the number of
Shares included in the Baskets being created or redeemed determined on the day the order to create or redeem Baskets is properly received. The creation and redemption of Baskets may occur daily.
Authorized Participants are the only persons that may place orders to create and redeem Baskets.\23\ Authorized Participants will pay a transaction fee of $500 to the Trustee for each order they place to create or redeem one or more Baskets. Authorized Participants who make deposits with the Trust in exchange for Baskets will receive no fees, commissions or other form of compensation or inducement of any kind from either the Sponsor or the Trust, and no such person has any obligation or responsibility to the Sponsor or the Trust to effect any sale or resale of Shares.
\23\ Authorized Participants must be (1) registered broker- dealers or other securities market participants, such as banks and other financial institutions that are exempt from registration as broker-dealers to engage in securities transactions, and (2) participants in DTC. To become an Authorized Participant, a person must enter into an Authorized Participant Agreement with the Sponsor and the Trustee. The Authorized Participant Agreement provides the procedures for the creation and redemption of Baskets and for the delivery of the platinum and any cash required for such creations and redemptions.
According to the Registration Statement, certain Authorized
Participants are expected to have the facility to participate directly in the physical platinum market and the platinum futures market. In some cases, an Authorized Participant may from time to time acquire platinum from or sell platinum to its affiliated platinum trading desk, which may profit in these instances. Each Authorized Participant will have its own set of rules and procedures, internal controls and information barriers as it determines is appropriate in light of its own regulatory regime.
Shareholders who are not Authorized Participants will only be able to redeem their Shares through an Authorized Participant.
All platinum will be delivered to the Trust and distributed by the
Trust in unallocated form through credits and debits between Authorized
Participant Unallocated Accounts and the Trust Unallocated Account.
Platinum transferred from an Authorized Participant Unallocated Account to the Trust in unallocated form will first be credited to the Trust
Unallocated Account. Thereafter, the Custodian will allocate specific plates or ingots of platinum representing the amount of platinum credited to the Trust Unallocated Account (to the extent such amount is representable by whole platinum plates or ingots) to the Trust
Allocated Account. The movement of platinum is reversed for the distribution of platinum to an Authorized Participant in connection with the redemption of Baskets.
All physical platinum represented by a credit to any Authorized
Participant Unallocated Account and to the Trust Unallocated Account and all physical platinum held in the Trust Allocated Account with the
Custodian must be of at least a minimum fineness (or purity) of 999.5 parts per 1,000 (99.95%) and otherwise conform to the rules,
Page 59324
regulations practices and customs of the LPPM, including the specifications for a Good Delivery plate or ingot.
Creation Procedures
On any business day, an Authorized Participant may place an order with the Trustee to create one or more Baskets. Creation and redemption orders will be accepted on ``business days'' when the NYSE Arca is open for regular trading. Settlements of such orders requiring receipt or delivery, or confirmation of receipt or delivery, of platinum in the
United Kingdom, Zurich or another jurisdiction will occur on ``business days'' when (1) banks in the United Kingdom, Zurich or such other jurisdiction and (2) the London/Zurich or such other platinum markets are regularly open for business. If such banks or the London/Zurich platinum markets are not open for regular business for a full day, such a day will only be a ``business day'' for settlement purposes if the settlement procedures can be completed by the end of such day.
Settlement of platinum deliveries, which occur loco Zurich, may be delayed for longer than three business days. Settlement of orders requiring receipt or delivery, or confirmation of receipt or delivery, of Shares will occur, after confirmation of the applicable platinum delivery, on ``business days'' when the NYSE Arca is open for regular trading. Purchase orders must be placed by 4 p.m. New York time or the close of regular trading on the NYSE Arca, whichever is earlier. The day on which the Trustee receives a valid purchase order is the purchase order date.
By placing a purchase order, an Authorized Participant agrees to deposit platinum with the Trust, or a combination of platinum and cash, as described below. Prior to the delivery of Baskets for a purchase order, the Authorized Participant must also have wired to the Trustee the non-refundable transaction fee due for the purchase order.
Determination of Required Deposits
The total deposit required to create each Basket (``Creation Basket
Deposit'') will be an amount of platinum and cash, if any, that is in the same proportion to the total assets of the Trust (net of estimated accrued but unpaid fees, expenses and other liabilities) on the date the order to purchase is properly received as the number of Shares to be created under the purchase order is in proportion to the total number of Shares outstanding on the date the order is received. The
Sponsor anticipates that in the ordinary course of the Trust's operations a cash deposit will not be required for the creation of
Baskets.
The amount of the required platinum deposit is determined by dividing the number of ounces of platinum held by the Trust by the number of Baskets outstanding, as adjusted for estimated accrued but unpaid fees and expenses as described in the next paragraph.
The amount of any required cash deposit is determined as follows.
The estimated unpaid fees, expenses and liabilities of the Trust accrued through the purchase order date are subtracted from any cash held or receivable by the Trust as of the purchase order date. The remaining amount is divided by the number of Shares outstanding immediately before the purchase order date and then multiplied by the number of Shares being created pursuant to the purchase order. If the resulting amount is positive, this amount is the required cash deposit.
If the resulting amount is negative, the amount of the required platinum deposit will be reduced by the number of fine ounces of platinum equal in value to that resulting amount, determined at the price of platinum used in calculating the NAV of the Trust on the purchase order date. Fractions of a fine ounce of platinum smaller than 0.001 of a fine ounce which are included in the platinum deposit amount are disregarded. All questions as to the composition of a Creation
Basket Deposit will be finally determined by the Trustee. The Trustee's determination of the Creation Basket Deposit shall be final and binding on all persons interested in the Trust.
Delivery of Required Deposits
An Authorized Participant who places a purchase order is responsible for crediting its Authorized Participant Unallocated
Account with the required platinum deposit amount by the third business day in Zurich following the purchase order date. Upon receipt of the platinum deposit amount, the Custodian, after receiving appropriate instructions from the Authorized Participant and the Trustee, will transfer on the third business day following the purchase order date the platinum deposit amount from the Authorized Participant Unallocated
Account to the Trust Unallocated Account and the Trustee will direct
DTC to credit the number of Baskets ordered to the Authorized
Participant's DTC account. The expense and risk of delivery, ownership and safekeeping of platinum until such platinum has been received by the Trust shall be borne solely by the Authorized Participant. The
Trustee may accept delivery of platinum by such other means as the
Sponsor, from time to time, may determine to be acceptable for the
Trust, provided that the same is disclosed in a Trust prospectus. If platinum is to be delivered other than as described above, the Sponsor is authorized to establish such procedures and to appoint such custodians and establish such custody accounts in addition to those described in this prospectus, as the Sponsor determines to be desirable.
Acting on standing instructions given by the Trustee, the Custodian will transfer the platinum deposit amount from the Trust Unallocated
Account to the Trust Allocated Account by transferring platinum plates and ingots from its inventory to the Trust Allocated Account. The
Custodian will use commercially reasonable efforts to complete the transfer of platinum to the Trust Allocated Account prior to the time by which the Trustee is to credit the Basket to the Authorized
Participant's DTC account; if, however, such transfers have not been completed by such time, the number of Baskets ordered will be delivered against receipt of the platinum deposit amount in the Trust Unallocated
Account, and all Shareholders will be exposed to the risks of unallocated platinum to the extent of that platinum deposit amount until the Custodian completes the allocation process.
The Trustee may reject a purchase order or a Creation Basket
Deposit if such order or Creation Basket Deposit if [sic] not presented in proper form as described in the Authorized Participant Agreement or if the fulfillment of the order, in the opinion of counsel, might be unlawful.
Redemption Procedures
According to the Registration Statement, the procedures by which an
Authorized Participant can redeem one or more Baskets will mirror the procedures for the creation of Baskets. On any business day, an
Authorized Participant may place an order with the Trustee to redeem one or more Baskets. Redemption orders must be placed by 4 PM New York time or the close of regular trading on the NYSE Arca, whichever is earlier. A redemption order so received is effective on the date it is received in satisfactory form by the Trustee. The redemption procedures allow Authorized Participants to redeem Baskets and do not entitle an individual Shareholder to redeem any Shares in an amount less than a
Basket, or to redeem Baskets other than through an Authorized
Participant.
By placing a redemption order, an Authorized Participant agrees to deliver the Baskets to be redeemed through DTC's book-entry system to the Trust not later than the third business day following the effective date of the
Page 59325
redemption order. Prior to the delivery of the redemption distribution for a redemption order, the Authorized Participant must also have wired to the Trustee the non-refundable transaction fee due for the redemption order.
Determination of Redemption Distribution
The redemption distribution from the Trust will consist of (1) a credit to the redeeming Authorized Participant's Authorized Participant
Unallocated Account representing the amount of the platinum held by the
Trust evidenced by the Shares being redeemed plus or minus (2) the cash redemption amount. The cash redemption amount is equal to the value of all assets of the Trust other than platinum less all estimated accrued but unpaid expenses and other liabilities, divided by the number of
Baskets outstanding and multiplied by the number of Baskets included in the Authorized Participant's redemption order. The Trustee will distribute any positive cash redemption amount through DTC to the account of the Authorized Participant as recorded on DTC's book entry system. If the cash redemption amount is negative, the credit to the
Authorized Participant Unallocated Account will be reduced by the number of ounces of platinum equal in value to the negative cash redemption amount, determined at the price of platinum used in calculating the NAV of the Trust on the redemption order date. The
Sponsor anticipates that in the ordinary course of the Trust's operations there will be no cash distributions made to Authorized
Participants upon redemptions. Fractions of a fine ounce of platinum included in the redemption distribution smaller than 0.001 of a fine ounce are disregarded. Redemption distributions will be subject to the deduction of any applicable tax or other governmental charges which may be due.
Delivery of Redemption Distribution
The redemption distribution due from the Trust will be delivered to the Authorized Participant on the third business day following the redemption order date if, by 9 a.m. New York time on such third business day, the Trustee's DTC account has been credited with the
Baskets to be redeemed. Terms relating to the Trust and the Shares referred to, but not defined, herein are defined in the Registration
Statement.
The Custodian will transfer the redemption platinum amount from the
Trust Allocated Account to the Trust Unallocated Account and, thereafter, to the redeeming Authorized Participant's Authorized
Participant Unallocated Account.
The Trustee may, in its discretion, and will when directed by the
Sponsor, suspend the right of redemption, or postpone the redemption settlement date, (1) for any period during which the NYSE Arca is closed other than customary weekend or holiday closings, or trading on the NYSE Arca is suspended or restricted or (2) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which delivery, disposal or evaluation of platinum is not reasonably practicable.
The Trustee will reject a redemption order if the order is not in proper form as described in the Authorized Participant Agreement or if the fulfillment of the order, in the opinion of its counsel, might be unlawful.
Creation and Redemption Transaction Fee
To defray the costs incurred by the Trustee in providing services for processing the creation and redemption of Baskets, an Authorized
Participant will be required to pay a transaction fee to the Trustee of
$500 per order to create or redeem Baskets. An order may include multiple Baskets. The transaction fee may be reduced, increased or otherwise changed by the Trustee with the consent of the Sponsor. The
Trustee shall notify DTC of any agreement to change the transaction fee and will not implement any increase in the fee for the redemption of
Baskets until 30 days after the date of the notice.
Termination Events
The Trustee will terminate and liquidate the Trust if the aggregate market capitalization of the Trust, based on the closing price for the
Shares, was less than $350 million (as adjusted for inflation) at any time after the first anniversary after the Trust's formation and the
Trustee receives, within six months after the last of those trading days, notice from the Sponsor of its decision to terminate the Trust.
The Trustee will terminate the Trust if the CFTC determines that the
Trust is a commodities pool under the CEA. The Trustee may also terminate the Trust upon the agreement of the owners of beneficial interests in the Shares (``Shareholders'') owning at least 75% of the outstanding Shares.
Additional information regarding the Shares and the operation of the Trust, including termination events, risks, and creation and redemption procedures, are described in the Registration Statement.
Valuation of Platinum, Definition of Net Asset Value and Adjusted
Net Asset Value (``ANAV'')
As of the London PM Fix on each day that the NYSE Arca is open for regular trading or, if there is no London PM Fix on such day or the
London PM Fix has not been announced by 12 noon New York time on such day, as of 12 noon New York time on such day (Evaluation Time), the
Trustee will evaluate the platinum held by the Trust and determine both the ANAV and the NAV of the Trust.
At the Evaluation Time, the Trustee will value the Trust's platinum on the basis of that day's London PM Fix or, if no London PM Fix is made on such day or has not been announced by the Evaluation Time, the next most recent London platinum price fix (AM or PM) determined prior to the Evaluation Time will be used, unless the Sponsor determines that such price is inappropriate as a basis for evaluation. In the event the
Sponsor determines that the London PM Fix or such other publicly available price as the Sponsor may deem fairly represents the commercial value of the Trust's platinum is not an appropriate basis for evaluation of the Trust's platinum, it shall identify an alternative basis for such evaluation to be employed by the Trustee.
Neither the Trustee nor the Sponsor shall be liable to any person for the determination that the London PM Fix or last prior London platinum price fix is not appropriate as a basis for evaluation of the Trust's platinum or for any determination as to the alternative basis for such evaluation provided that such determination is made in good faith.\24\
\24\ The Exchange, pursuant to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.12, has the discretion to halt trading in the Shares if the London Fix is not determined or available for an extended period based on extraordinary circumstances or market conditions.
Once the value of the platinum has been determined, the Trustee will subtract all estimated accrued but unpaid fees, expenses and other liabilities of the Trust from the total value of the platinum and all other assets of the Trust (other than any amounts credited to the
Trust's reserve account, if established). The resulting figure is the
ANAV of the Trust. The ANAV of the Trust is used to compute the
Sponsor's Fee.
To determine the Trust's NAV, the Trustee will subtract the amount of estimated accrued but unpaid fees computed by reference to the ANAV of the Trust and to the value of the platinum held by the Trust from the ANAV of the Trust. The resulting figure is the NAV of the Trust.
The Trustee will also determine the NAV per Share by dividing the NAV of the Trust by the number of the Shares outstanding as of the close of trading on the NYSE Arca (which includes the net number of any Shares created or redeemed on such evaluation day).
Page 59326
The NAV of the Trust is the aggregate value of the Trust's assets less its liabilities (which include estimated accrued but unpaid fees and expenses). In determining the NAV of the Trust, the Trustee will value the platinum held by the Trust on the basis of the price of an ounce of platinum as set by the afternoon session of the twice daily fix of the price of an ounce of platinum which starts at 2 p.m. London,
England time (London PM Fix) and is performed by the four members of the London Platinum and Palladium Market (LPPM). The Trustee will determine the NAV of the Trust on each day the NYSE Arca is open for regular trading, at the earlier of the London PM Fix for the day or 12 noon New York time. If no London PM Fix is made on a particular evaluation day or has not been announced by 12 noon New York time on a particular evaluation day, the next most recent London platinum price fix (AM or PM) will be used in the determination of the NAV of the
Trust, unless the Sponsor determines that such price is inappropriate to use as basis for such determination.
The Shares will be book-entry only and individual certificates will not be issued for the Shares.
Liquidity
The Shares may trade at, above or below the NAV per Share. The NAV per Share will fluctuate with changes in the market value of the
Trust's assets. The trading price of the Shares will fluctuate in accordance with changes in the NAV per Share as well as market supply and demand. The amount of the discount or premium in the trading price relative to the NAV per Share may be influenced by non-concurrent trading hours between the NYSE Arca and the major platinum markets.
While the Shares will trade on the NYSE Arca until 8 p.m. New York time, liquidity in the market for platinum will be reduced after the close of the major world platinum markets, including London and the
NYMEX. As a result, during this time, trading spreads, and the resulting premium or discount, on the Shares may widen.
Availability of Information Regarding Platinum Prices
Currently, the Consolidated Tape Plan does not provide for dissemination of the spot price of a commodity, such as platinum, over the Consolidated Tape. However, there will be disseminated over the
Consolidated Tape the last sale price for the Shares, as is the case for all equity securities traded on the Exchange (including exchange- traded funds). In addition, there is a considerable amount of platinum price and platinum market information available on public Web sites and through professional and subscription services.
Investors may obtain on a 24-hour basis platinum pricing information based on the spot price for an ounce of platinum from various financial information service providers, such as Reuters and
Bloomberg. Reuters and Bloomberg provide at no charge on their Web sites delayed information regarding the spot price of platinum and last sale prices of platinum futures, as well as information about news and developments in the platinum market. Reuters and Bloomberg also offer a professional service to subscribers for a fee that provides information on platinum prices directly from market participants. An organization named EBS provides an electronic trading platform to institutions such as bullion banks and dealers for the trading of spot platinum, as well as a feed of live streaming prices to Reuters and Moneyline Telerate subscribers. Complete real-time data for platinum futures and options prices traded on the NYMEX are available by subscription from Reuters and Bloomberg. The NYMEX also provides delayed futures and options information on current and past trading sessions and market news free of charge on its Web site. There are a variety of other public Web sites providing information on platinum, ranging from those specializing in precious metals to sites maintained by major newspapers, such as The Wall Street Journal. In addition, the London AM
Fix and London PM Fix are publicly available at no charge at http:// www.lbma.org.uk/statistics_current.htm or http:// www.thebulliondesk.com.
The Trust Web site will provide an intraday indicative value
(``IIV'') per share for the Shares, updated at least every 15 seconds, as calculated by the Exchange or a third party financial data provider, during the Exchange's Core Trading Session (9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., New
York time). The IIV is calculated by multiplying the indicative spot price of platinum by the quantity of platinum backing each Share. The
Trust Web site will also provide the NAV of the Trust as calculated each business day by the Sponsor. In addition, the Web site for the
Trust will contain the following information, on a per Share basis, for the Trust: (a) the NAV as of the close of the prior business day and the mid-point of the bid-ask price \25\ at the close of trading in relation to such NAV (``Bid/Ask Price''), and a calculation of the premium or discount of such price against such NAV; and (b) data in chart format displaying the frequency distribution of discounts and premiums of the Bid/Ask Price against the NAV, within appropriate ranges, for each of the four previous calendar quarters. The Web site for the Trust will also provide the following information: the Creation
Basket Deposit, the Trust's prospectus, and the two most recent reports to stockholders. Finally, the Trust Web site will also provide the last sale price of the Shares as traded in the US market. The Exchange will provide on its Web site (http://www.nyx.com) a link to the Trust's Web site. In addition, the Exchange will make available over the
Consolidated Tape quotation information, trading volume, closing prices and NAV for the Shares from the previous day.
\25\ The bid-ask price of the Trust is determined using the highest bid and lowest offer on the Consolidated Tape as of the time of calculation of the closing day NAV.
Criteria for Initial and Continued Listing
The Trust will be subject to the criteria in NYSE Arca Equities
Rule 8.201(e) for initial and continued listing of the Shares.
A minimum of 100,000 Shares will be required to be outstanding at the start of trading.\26\ The minimum number of shares required to be outstanding is comparable to requirements that have been applied to previously listed shares of the streetTRACKS Gold Trust, the iShares
COMEX Gold Trust, the iShares Silver Trust and exchange-traded funds.
It is anticipated that the initial price of a Share will be approximately $110.00. The Exchange believes that the anticipated minimum number of Shares outstanding at the start of trading is sufficient to provide adequate market liquidity.
\26\ See e-mail from Michael Cavalier, Chief Counsel, NYSE
Euronext, to David Liu, Assistant Director, Christopher W. Chow,
Special Counsel, and Andrew Madar, Special Counsel, Commission, dated November 9, 2009.
Trading Rules
The Exchange deems the Shares to be equity securities, thus rendering trading in the Fund subject to the Exchange's existing rules governing the trading of equity securities. Trading in the Shares on the Exchange will occur in accordance with NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.34(a). The Exchange has appropriate rules to facilitate transactions in the Shares during all trading sessions. The minimum trading increment for Shares on the Exchange will be $0.01.
Further, NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201 sets forth certain restrictions on ETP Holders acting as registered Market Makers in the
Shares to facilitate
Page 59327
surveillance. Pursuant to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201(h), an ETP
Holder acting as a registered Market Maker in the Shares is required to provide the Exchange with information relating to its trading in the underlying platinum, related futures or options on futures, or any other related derivatives. NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201(i) prohibits an ETP Holder acting as a registered Market Maker in the Shares from using any material nonpublic information received from any person associated with an ETP Holder or employee of such person regarding trading by such person or employee in the underlying platinum, related futures or options on futures or any other related derivative
(including the Shares).
As a general matter, the Exchange has regulatory jurisdiction over its ETP Holders and their associated persons, which include any person or entity controlling an ETP Holder, as well as a subsidiary or affiliate of an ETP Holder that is in the securities business. A subsidiary or affiliate of an ETP Holder that does business only in commodities or futures contracts would not be subject to Exchange jurisdiction, but the Exchange could obtain information regarding the activities of such subsidiary or affiliate through surveillance sharing agreements with regulatory organizations of which such subsidiary or affiliate is a member.
With respect to trading halts, the Exchange may consider all relevant factors in exercising its discretion to halt or suspend trading in the Shares. Trading on the Exchange in the Shares may be halted because of market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in the Shares inadvisable. These may include: (1) the extent to which conditions in the underlying platinum market have caused disruptions and/or lack of trading, or (2) whether other unusual conditions or circumstances detrimental to the maintenance of a fair and orderly market are present. In addition, trading in Shares will be subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to the Exchange's ``circuit breaker'' rule.\27\
\27\ See NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.12.
Surveillance
The Exchange intends to utilize its existing surveillance procedures applicable to derivative products (including Commodity-Based
Trust Shares) to monitor trading in the Shares. 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 applicable federal securities laws.
The Exchange's current trading surveillance focuses on detecting securities trading outside their normal patterns. 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. Also, pursuant to NYSE
Arca Equities Rule 8.201(h), the Exchange is able to obtain information regarding trading in the Shares and the underlying platinum, platinum futures contracts, options on platinum futures, or any other platinum derivative, through ETP Holders acting as registered Market Makers, in connection with such ETP Holders' proprietary or customer trades which they effect on any relevant market. In addition, the Exchange may obtain trading information via the Intermarket Surveillance Group
(``ISG'') from other exchanges who are members of the ISG.\28\ NYMEX is an ISG member.
\28\ A list of ISG members is available at http:// www.isgportal.org. The Exchange notes that TOCOM is not an ISG member and the Exchange does not have in place a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement with such market. In addition, the
Exchange does not have access to information regarding platinum- related OTC transactions in spot, forwards, options or other derivatives.
Information Bulletin
Prior to the commencement of trading, the Exchange will inform its
ETP Holders in an Information Bulletin of the special characteristics and risks associated with trading the Shares. Specifically, the
Information Bulletin will discuss the following: (1) The procedures for purchases and redemptions of Shares in Baskets (including noting that
Shares are not individually redeemable); (2) NYSE Arca Equities Rule 9.2(a), which imposes a duty of due diligence on its ETP Holders to learn the essential facts relating to every customer prior to trading the Shares; (3) how information regarding the IIV is disseminated; (4) the requirement that ETP Holders deliver a prospectus to investors purchasing newly issued Shares prior to or concurrently with the confirmation of a transaction; (5) the possibility that trading spreads and the resulting premium or discount on the Shares may widen as a result of reduced liquidity of platinum trading during the Core and
Late Trading Sessions after the close of the major world platinum markets; and (6) trading information. For example, the Information
Bulletin will advise ETP Holders, prior to the commencement of trading, of the prospectus delivery requirements applicable to the Trust. The
Exchange notes that investors purchasing Shares directly from the Trust
(by delivery of the Creation Basket Deposit) will receive a prospectus.
ETP Holders purchasing Shares from the Trust for resale to investors will deliver a prospectus to such investors.
In addition, the Information Bulletin will reference that the Trust is subject to various fees and expenses described in the Registration
Statement. The Information Bulletin will also reference the fact that there is no regulated source of last sale information regarding physical platinum, that the Commission has no jurisdiction over the trading of platinum as a physical commodity, and that the CFTC has regulatory jurisdiction over the trading of platinum futures contracts and options on platinum futures contracts.
The Information Bulletin will also discuss any relief, if granted, by the Commission or the staff from any rules under the Act. 2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) \29\ of the Act, in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5),\30\ in particular, because it is designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in securities, and to remove impediments and perfect the mechanisms of a free and open market and to protect investors and the public interest. The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change will facilitate the listing and trading of an additional type of commodity-based product that will enhance competition among market participants, to the benefit of investors and the marketplace.
\29\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\30\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
-
Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
-
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.
Page 59328
-
-
Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
Within 35 days of the date of publication of this notice in the
Federal Register or within such longer period (i) as the Commission may designate up to 90 days of such date if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission will:
(A) By order approve the proposed rule change, or
(B) institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be disapproved.
-
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 (http:// www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
Send an e-mail to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include
File Number SR-NYSEArca-2009-95 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
Send paper comments in triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEArca-2009-95.
This file number should be included on the subject line if e-mail is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/ rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for inspection and copying in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street,
NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEArca-2009-95 and should be submitted on or before December 8, 2009.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.\31\
\31\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
FR Doc. E9-27495 Filed 11-16-09; 8:45 am
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
