Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Listing and Trading of Shares of the SPDR® DoubleLine Total Return Tactical ETF Under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600
Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 3 (Tuesday, January 6, 2015)
Federal Register Volume 80, Number 3 (Tuesday, January 6, 2015)
Notices
Pages 572-582
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office www.gpo.gov
FR Doc No: 2014-30894
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Release No. 34-73958; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2014-143
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Listing and Trading of Shares of the SPDRsupreg DoubleLine Total Return Tactical ETF Under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600
December 30, 2014.
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 December 17, 2014, NYSE Arca, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or ``NYSE Arca'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
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\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
\3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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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 SPDRsupreg DoubleLine Total Return Tactical ETF under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600 (``Managed Fund Shares''). The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site at www.nyse.com, at the principal office of the Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.
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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.
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Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
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Purpose
The Exchange proposes to list and trade shares (''Shares'') of the following under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600, which governs the listing and trading of Managed Fund Shares: \4\ SPDRsupreg DoubleLine Total Return Tactical ETF (``Fund'').\5\ The Shares will be offered by
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SSgA Active ETF Trust (the ``Trust''), which is organized as a Massachusetts business trust and is registered with the Commission as an open-end management investment company.\6\ SSgA Funds Management, Inc. will serve as the investment adviser to the Fund (the ``Adviser'' or ``SSgA FM''). DoubleLine Capital L.P. will be the Fund's sub-adviser (``Sub-Adviser''). State Street Global Markets, LLC (the ``Distributor'') will be the principal underwriter and distributor of the Fund's Shares. State Street Bank and Trust Company (the ``Administrator'', ``Custodian'' or ``Transfer Agent'') will serve as administrator, custodian and transfer agent for the Fund.
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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 Equities Rule 5.2(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 Commission has previously approved listing and trading on the Exchange of a number of actively managed funds under Rule 8.600. See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 57801 (May 8, 2008), 73 FR 27878 (May 14, 2008) (SR-NYSEArca-2008-31) (order approving Exchange listing and trading of twelve actively-managed funds of the WisdomTree Trust); 62502 (July 15, 2010), 75 FR 42471 (July 21, 2010) (SR-NYSEArca-2010-57) (order approving listing and trading of AdviserShares WCM/BNY Mellon Focused Growth ADR ETF); 63076 (October 12, 2010), 75 FR 63874 (October 18, 2010) (SR-
NYSEArca-2010-79) (order approving listing and trading of Cambria Global Tactical ETF); 71540 (February 12, 2014), 79 FR 9515 (February 19, 2014) (SR-NYSEArca-2013-138) (order approving listing and trading of shares of the iShares Enhanced International Large-
Cap ETF and iShares Enhanced International Small-Cap ETF).
\6\ The Trust is registered under the 1940 Act. On May 30, 2014, the Trust filed with the Commission an amendment to its registration statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933 (``Securities Act'') (15 U.S.C. 77a), and under the 1940 Act relating to the Fund (File Nos. 333-173276 and 811-22542) (``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 granting certain exemptive relief to the Trust under the 1940 Act. See Investment Company Act Release No. 29524 (December 13, 2010) (File No. 812-13487) (``Exemptive Order'').
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Commentary .06 to Rule 8.600 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 a ``fire wall'' between the investment adviser and the broker-dealer with respect to access to information concerning the composition and/or changes to such investment company portfolio. In addition, Commentary .06 further requires that personnel who make decisions on the open-end fund's portfolio composition must be subject to procedures designed to prevent the use and dissemination of material nonpublic information regarding the open-end fund's portfolio.\7\ Commentary .06 to Rule 8.600 is similar to Commentary .03(a)(i) and (iii) to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3); however, Commentary .06 in connection with the establishment of a ``fire wall'' between the investment adviser and the broker-dealer reflects the applicable open-end fund's portfolio, not an underlying benchmark index, as is the case with index-based funds. The Adviser and Sub-Adviser are not registered as a broker-dealer but the Adviser is affiliated with a broker-dealer and has implemented a ``fire wall'' with respect to such broker-dealer regarding access to information concerning the composition and/or changes to the Fund's portfolio. The Sub-Adviser is not affiliated with a broker-dealer. In the event (a) the Adviser or Sub-Adviser becomes registered as a broker-dealer or newly affiliated with a broker-dealer, or (b) any new adviser or sub-adviser is a registered broker-dealer or becomes affiliated with a broker-dealer, it will implement a fire wall with respect to its relevant personnel or 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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\7\ 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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SPDRsupreg DoubleLine Total Return Tactical ETF
Principal Investments
According to the Registration Statement, the investment objective of the Fund will be to maximize total return. Under normal circumstances,\8\ the Fund will invest all of its assets in the SSgA DoubleLine Total Return Tactical Portfolio (the ``Portfolio''), a separate series of the SSgA Master Trust with an identical investment objective as the Fund. As a result, the Fund will invest indirectly in all of the securities and assets owned by the Portfolio.\9\
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\8\ The term ``under normal circumstances'' includes, but is not limited to, the absence of extreme volatility or trading halts in the fixed income markets or the financial markets generally; operational issues causing dissemination of inaccurate market information; or force majeure type events such as systems failure, natural or man-made disaster, act of God, armed conflict, act of terrorism, riot or labor disruption or any similar intervening circumstance.
\9\ The Fund is intended to be managed in a ``master-feeder'' structure, under which the Fund invests substantially all of its assets in a corresponding Portfolio (i.e., a ``master fund''), which is a separate mutual fund registered under the 1940 Act that has an identical investment objective. As a result, the Fund (i.e., a ``feeder fund'') has an indirect interest in all of the securities and assets owned by the Portfolio. Because of this indirect interest, the Fund's investment returns should be the same as those of the Portfolio, adjusted for the expenses of the Fund. In extraordinary instances, the Fund reserves the right to make direct investments in securities and other assets. The Adviser and Sub-
Adviser will manage the investments of the Portfolio. Under the master-feeder arrangement, and pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and the Trust, investment advisory fees charged at the Portfolio level are deducted from the advisory fees charged at the Fund level. This arrangement avoids a ``layering'' of fees, i.e., the Fund's total annual operating expenses would be no higher as a result of investing in a master-
feeder arrangement than they would be if the Fund pursued its investment objective directly. In addition, the Fund may discontinue investing through the master-feeder arrangement and pursue its investment objective directly if the Fund's Board of Trustees (``Board'') determines that doing so would be in the best interests of shareholders.
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Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in a diversified portfolio of fixed income securities of any credit quality, as described further below.\10\ Fixed income securities in which the Portfolio principally will invest include the following, as discussed further below: Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored corporations; inflation protected public obligations of the U.S. Treasury (commonly known as ``TIPS''); agency and non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities (``RMBS''); agency and non-
agency commercial mortgage-backed securities (``CMBS''); agency and non-agency asset-backed securities
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(``ABS''); \11\ domestic corporate bonds; fixed income securities issued by foreign corporations and foreign governments including emerging markets; bank loans (primarily senior loans, including loan participations or assignments whose loan syndication exceeds $300 million), municipal bonds and other securities (such as perpetual bonds) bearing fixed interest rates of any maturity.
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\10\ Generally, as used in this proposed rule change, the terms debt security, debt obligation, bond, fixed income instrument and fixed income security are used interchangeably. These terms should be considered to include any evidence of indebtedness, including, by way of example, a security or instrument having one or more of the following characteristics: A security or instrument issued at a discount to its face value, a security or instrument that pays interest at a fixed, floating, or variable rate, or a security or instrument with a stated principal amount that requires repayment of some or all of that principal amount to the holder of the security. These terms are interpreted broadly to include any instrument or security evidencing what is commonly referred to as an IOU rather than evidencing the corporate ownership of equity unless that equity represents an indirect or derivative interest in one or more debt securities. For this purpose, the terms also include instruments that are intended to provide one or more of the characteristics of a direct investment in one or more debt securities.
\11\ The term asset-backed securities is used by the Fund to describe securities backed by installment contracts, credit-card receivables or other assets but does not include either residential or commercial mortgage-backed securities. Both asset-backed and commercial mortgage-backed securities represent interests in ``pools'' of assets in which payments of both interest and principal on the securities are made on a regular basis. Asset-backed securities also include institutionally traded senior floating rate debt obligations issued by asset-backed pools and other issues, and interests therein.
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The Portfolio intends to invest at least 20% of its net assets in mortgage-backed securities of any maturity or type guaranteed by, or secured by collateral that is guaranteed by, the United States Government, its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored corporations, or in privately issued mortgage-backed securities rated at the time of investment Aa3 or higher by Moody's Investor Service, Inc. (``Moody's'') or AA- or higher by Standard & Poor's Rating Service (``S&P'') or the equivalent by any other nationally recognized statistical rating organization (``NRSRO'') or in unrated securities that are determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality.
The Portfolio may invest up to 20% of its net assets in the aggregate in non-agency RMBS, CMBS and ABS.
The Sub-Adviser will actively manage the Portfolio's asset class exposure using a top-down approach based on analysis of sector fundamentals. The Sub-Adviser will rotate Portfolio assets among sectors in various markets to attempt to maximize return. Individual securities within asset classes will be selected using a bottom up approach. Under normal circumstances, the Sub-Adviser will use a controlled risk approach in managing the Portfolio's investments. The techniques of this approach attempt to control the principal risk components of the fixed income markets and include consideration of security selection within a given sector; relative performance of the various market sectors; the shape of the yield curve; and fluctuations in the overall level of interest rates.
The Portfolio may invest in corporate bonds.\12\ The investment return of corporate bonds reflects interest on the bond and changes in the market value of the bond. The market value of a corporate bond may be affected by the credit rating of the corporation, the corporation's performance and perceptions of the corporation in the market place. Such corporate bonds may be investment grade or may be below investment grade.
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\12\ The Adviser expects that, under normal circumstances, the Fund will generally seek to invest in corporate bond issuances that have at least $100,000,000 par amount outstanding in developed countries and at least $200,000,000 par amount outstanding in emerging market countries.
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The Portfolio may invest in sovereign debt. Sovereign debt obligations are issued or guaranteed by foreign governments or their agencies. Sovereign debt may be in the form of conventional securities or other types of debt instruments such as loans or loan participations. Sovereign debt obligations may be either investment grade or below investment grade.
The Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its net assets in corporate high yield securities (commonly known as ``junk bonds''). Under normal circumstances, the combined total of corporate, sovereign, non-agency and all other debt rated below investment grade will not exceed 40% of the Fund's net assets. The Sub-Adviser will strive to allocate below investment grade securities broadly by industry and issuer in an attempt to reduce the impact of negative events on an industry or issuer. Below investment grade securities are instruments that are rated BB+ or lower by S&P or Fitch Inc. or Ba1 or lower by Moody's or, if unrated by a NRSRO, of comparable quality in the opinion of the Sub-
Adviser.
The Portfolio may invest up to 15% of its net assets in securities denominated in foreign currencies, and may invest beyond this limit in U.S. dollar-denominated securities of foreign issuers. The Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its net assets in securities and instruments that are economically tied to emerging market countries.
The Sub-Adviser also will monitor the duration of the securities held by the Portfolio to seek to mitigate exposure to interest rate risk.\13\ Under normal circumstances, the Sub-Adviser will seek to maintain an investment portfolio with a weighted average effective duration of no less than 1 year and no more than 8 years. The duration of the portfolio may vary materially from its target, from time to time.
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\13\ Duration is a measure used to determine the sensitivity of a security's price to changes in interest rates. The longer a security's duration, the more sensitive it will be to changes in interest rates.
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The Portfolio may invest in U.S. Government obligations. U.S. Government obligations are a type of bond. U.S. Government obligations include securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.
The Portfolio may invest in TIPS of the U.S. Treasury, as well as TIPS of major governments and emerging market countries, excluding the United States. TIPS are a type of security issued by a government that are designed to provide inflation protection to investors.
The Portfolio may invest a substantial portion of its assets in U.S. agency mortgage pass-through securities. The term ``U.S. agency mortgage pass-through security'' refers to a category of pass-through securities backed by pools of mortgages and issued by one of several U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises: Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
The Portfolio will seek to obtain exposure to U.S. agency mortgage pass-through securities primarily through the use of ``to-be-
announced'' or ``TBA transactions.'' ``TBA'' refers to a commonly used mechanism for the forward settlement of U.S. agency mortgage pass-
through securities, and not to a separate type of mortgage-backed security. Most transactions in mortgage pass-through securities occur through the use of TBA transactions.\14\
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\14\ TBA transactions generally are conducted in accordance with widely-accepted guidelines which establish commonly observed terms and conditions for execution, settlement and delivery. In a TBA transaction, the buyer and seller decide on general trade parameters, such as agency, settlement date, par amount, and price. The actual pools delivered generally are determined two days prior to settlement date.
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The Portfolio may invest in bank loans, which include floating rate loans. Bank loan interests may be acquired from U.S. or foreign commercial banks, insurance companies, finance companies or other financial institutions that have made loans or are members of a lending syndicate or from other holders of loan interests. Bank loans typically pay interest at rates which are re-determined periodically on the basis of a floating base lending rate (such as the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate) plus a premium. Bank loans are typically of below investment grade quality. Bank loans generally (but not always) hold the most senior position in the capital structure of a borrower and are often secured with collateral. The Portfolio may invest in both secured and unsecured loans.
The Portfolio may invest in collateralized loan obligations (``CLOs''). A CLO is a financing company (generally called a Special Purpose
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Vehicle or ``SPV''), created to reapportion the risk and return characteristics of a pool of assets. While the assets underlying CLOs are typically bank loans, the assets may also include (i) unsecured loans, (ii) other debt securities that are rated below investment grade, (iii) debt tranches of other CLOs, and (iv) equity securities incidental to investments in bank loans. When investing in CLOs, the Portfolio will not invest in equity tranches, which are the lowest tranche. However, the Portfolio may invest in lower debt tranches of CLOs, which typically experience a lower recovery, greater risk of loss, or deferral or non-payment of interest than more senior debt tranches of the CLO. In addition, the Portfolio intends to invest in CLOs consisting primarily of individual bank loans of borrowers and not repackaged CLO obligations from other high risk pools. The underlying bank loans purchased by CLOs are generally performing at the time of purchase but may become non-performing, distressed or defaulted. CLOs with underlying assets of non-performing, distressed or defaulted loans are not contemplated to comprise a significant portion of the Portfolio's investments in CLOs.
Non-Principal Investments
While the Adviser and Sub-Adviser, under normal circumstances, will invest at least 80% of the Portfolio's net assets in fixed income securities as described above, the Adviser and Sub-Adviser may invest up to 20% of the Portfolio's net assets in other securities and financial instruments, as described below.
According to the Registration Statement, in certain situations or market conditions, the Fund may (either directly or through the corresponding Portfolio) temporarily depart from its normal investment policies and strategies provided that the alternative is consistent with the Fund's investment objective and is in the best interest of the Fund. For example, the Fund may hold a higher than normal proportion of its assets in cash in times of extreme market stress.
The Fund may (either directly or through its investments in its corresponding Portfolio) invest in the following types of investments: Money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements, money market funds (including money market funds managed by the Adviser), and commercial paper.
The Portfolio may invest in preferred securities traded on an exchange or over-the-counter (``OTC''). Preferred securities pay fixed or adjustable rate dividends to investors, and have ``preference'' over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of a company's assets.
The Portfolio may invest in convertible securities traded on an exchange or OTC. Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks or other securities that may be converted or exchanged (by the holder or by the issuer) into shares of the underlying common stock (or cash or securities of equivalent value) at a stated exchange ratio.
The Portfolio may conduct foreign currency transactions on a spot (i.e., cash) or forward basis (i.e., by entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies).
The Portfolio may invest in foreign corporate and sovereign bonds originating from issuers in emerging market countries. An ``emerging market country'' is a country that, at the time the Fund invests in the related fixed income instruments, is classified as an emerging or developing economy by any supranational organization such as the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development or any affiliate thereof (the ``World Bank'') or the United Nations, or related entities, or is considered an emerging market country for purposes of constructing a major emerging market securities index.
The Portfolio may invest in ``Restricted Securities''. Restricted Securities are securities that are not registered under the Securities Act, but which can be offered and sold to ``qualified institutional buyers'' under Rule 144A under the Securities Act.\15\
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\15\ See note 21 and accompanying text, infra.
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The Portfolio may invest in exchange traded products (``ETPs''), which include exchange traded funds (``ETFs'') registered under the 1940 Act; exchange traded commodity trusts; and exchange traded notes (``ETNs''). The Adviser may receive management or other fees from the ETPs (``Affiliated ETPs'') in which the Portfolio or Fund may invest, as well as a management fee for managing the Fund.\16\
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\16\ For purposes of this filing, ETPs include Investment Company Units (as described in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3)); Index-Linked Securities (as described in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6)); Portfolio Depositary Receipts (as described in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.100); Trust Issued Receipts (as described in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.200); Commodity-Based Trust Shares (as described in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201); Currency Trust Shares (as described in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.202); Commodity Index Trust Shares (as described in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.203); and Managed Fund Shares (as described in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600). The Portfolio may invest in certain ETPs that pay fees to the Adviser and its affiliates for management, marketing or other services. The ETPs all will be listed and traded in the U.S. on national securities exchanges. While the Fund may invest in inverse ETPs, the Fund will not invest in leveraged or inverse leveraged ETPs (e.g., 2X or 3X).
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The Portfolio may invest up to 20% of its net assets in one or more ETPs that are qualified publicly traded partnerships (``QPTPs'') and whose principal activities are the buying and selling of commodities or options, futures, or forwards with respect to commodities. Income from QPTPs is generally qualifying income. A QPTP is an entity that is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, subject to certain requirements. If such an ETP fails to qualify as a QPTP, the income generated from the Portfolio's investment in the QPTP may not be qualifying income.\17\
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\17\ Income from QPTPs is generally qualifying income. Examples of such entities are the PowerShares DB Energy Fund, PowerShares DB Oil Fund, PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund, PowerShares DB Gold Fund, PowerShares DB Silver Fund, PowerShares DB Base Metals Fund, and PowerShares DB Agriculture Fund, which are listed and traded on the Exchange pursuant to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.200.
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The Portfolio may purchase exchange-traded common stocks and exchange-traded preferred securities of foreign corporations. The Fund's investments in common stock of foreign corporations may also be in the form of American Depositary Receipts (``ADRs''), Global Depositary Receipts (``GDRs'') and European Depositary Receipts (``EDRs'') (collectively ``Depositary Receipts'').\18\
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\18\ Depositary Receipts are receipts, typically issued by a bank or trust company, which evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign corporation. For ADRs, the depository is typically a U.S. financial institution and the underlying securities are issued by a foreign issuer. For other Depositary Receipts, the depository may be a foreign or a U.S. entity, and the underlying securities may have a foreign or a U.S. issuer. Depositary Receipts will not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as their underlying securities. Generally, ADRs, in registered form, are designed for use in the U.S. securities market, and EDRs, in bearer form, are designated for use in European securities markets. GDRs are tradable both in the United States and in Europe and are designed for use throughout the world. The Fund may invest in sponsored or unsponsored ADRs; however, not more than 10% of the net assets of the Fund will be invested in unsponsored ADRs. With the exception of unsponsored ADRs, all equity securities (i.e., common stocks, Depositary Receipts, certain preferred securities, ETPs and certain other exchange-traded investment company securities) in which the Portfolio or Fund may invest will trade on markets that are members of the Intermarket Surveillance Group (``ISG'') or that have entered into a comprehensive surveillance agreement with the Exchange.
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The Portfolio may invest in the securities of other investment companies, including affiliated funds, money market funds and closed-
end funds, subject to applicable limitations under Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act.
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The Portfolio may invest in municipal securities, which are securities issued by states, municipalities and other political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and instrumentalities of states and multi-state agencies or authorities. The municipal securities which the Portfolio may purchase include general obligation bonds and limited obligation bonds (or revenue bonds), including industrial development bonds issued pursuant to former federal tax law. General obligation bonds are obligations involving the credit of an issuer possessing taxing power and are payable from such issuer's general revenues and not from any particular source. Limited obligation bonds are payable only from the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise or other specific revenue source. Also included within the general category of municipal securities are municipal leases, certificates of participation in such lease obligations or installment purchase contract obligations.
The Portfolio may invest up to 20% of its assets in derivatives, including exchange-traded futures on Treasuries or Eurodollars; U.S. exchange-traded or OTC put and call options contracts and OTC or exchange-traded swap agreements \19\ (including interest rate swaps, total return swaps, excess return swaps, and credit default swaps). The Portfolio will segregate cash and/or appropriate liquid assets if required to do so by Commission or Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``CFTC'') regulation or interpretation.
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\19\ Swap agreements are contracts between parties in which one party agrees to make periodic payments to the other party based on the change in market value or level of a specified rate, index or asset. In return, the other party agrees to make payments to the first party based on the return of a different specified rate, index or asset.
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In the case of a credit default swap (``CDS''), the contract gives one party (the buyer) the right to recoup the economic value of a decline in the value of debt securities of the reference issuer if the credit event (a downgrade or default) occurs. This value is obtained by delivering a debt security of the reference issuer to the party in return for a previously agreed payment from the other party (frequently, the par value of the debt security).\20\
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\20\ The Portfolio will enter into CDS agreements only with counterparties that meet certain standards of creditworthiness.
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CDSs may require initial premium (discount) payments as well as periodic payments (receipts) related to the interest leg of the swap or to the default of a reference obligation. The Portfolio will segregate assets necessary to meet any accrued payment obligations when it is the buyer of CDSs. In cases where the Portfolio is a seller of a CDS, if the CDS is physically settled, the Portfolio will be required to segregate the full notional amount of the CDS. Such segregation will not limit the Portfolio's exposure to loss.
The Portfolio may invest in variable and floating rate securities. Variable rate securities are instruments issued or guaranteed by entities such as (1) the U.S. Government, or an agency or instrumentality thereof, (2) corporations, (3) financial institutions, (4) insurance companies or (5) trusts that have a rate of interest subject to adjustment at regular intervals but less frequently than annually. A variable rate security provides for the automatic establishment of a new interest rate on set dates. Variable rate obligations whose interest is readjusted no less frequently than annually will be deemed to have a maturity equal to the period remaining until the next readjustment of the interest rate. The Portfolio may also purchase floating rate securities. A floating rate security provides for the automatic adjustment of its interest rate whenever a specified interest rate changes. Interest rates on these securities are ordinarily tied to, and are a percentage of, a widely recognized interest rate, such as the yield on 90-day U.S. Treasury bills or the prime rate of a specified bank. These rates may change as often as twice daily.
The Portfolio may invest in repurchase agreements with commercial banks, brokers or dealers to generate income from its excess cash balances and to invest securities lending cash collateral. A repurchase agreement is an agreement under which a fund acquires a financial instrument (e.g., a security issued by the U.S. Government or an agency thereof, a banker's acceptance or a certificate of deposit) from a seller, subject to resale to the seller at an agreed upon price and date (normally, the next business day).
The Portfolio may enter into reverse repurchase agreements, which involve the sale of securities with an agreement to repurchase the securities at an agreed-upon price, date and interest payment and have the characteristics of borrowing. The Portfolio's exposure to reverse repurchase agreements will be covered by securities having a value equal to or greater than such commitments. Under the 1940 Act, reverse repurchase agreements are considered borrowings. Although there is no limit on the percentage of Fund assets that can be used in connection with reverse repurchase agreements, the Portfolio does not expect to engage, under normal circumstances, in reverse repurchase agreements with respect to more than 33\1/3\% of its net assets.
The Portfolio may invest in short-term instruments, including money market instruments, (including money market funds advised by the Adviser), repurchase agreements, cash and cash equivalents, on an ongoing basis to provide liquidity or for other reasons. Money market instruments are generally short-term investments that may include but are not limited to: (i) Shares of money market funds (including those advised by the Adviser); (ii) obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities (including government-sponsored enterprises); (iii) negotiable certificates of deposit (``CDs''), bankers' acceptances, fixed time deposits and other obligations of U.S. and foreign banks (including foreign branches) and similar institutions; (iv) commercial paper rated at the date of purchase ``Prime-1'' by Moody's or ``A-1'' by S&P, or if unrated, of comparable quality as determined by the Adviser; (v) non-convertible corporate debt securities (e.g., bonds and debentures) with remaining maturities at the date of purchase of not more than 397 days and that satisfy the rating requirements set forth in Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act; and (vi) short-term U.S. dollar-denominated obligations of foreign banks (including U.S. branches) that, in the opinion of the Adviser, are of comparable quality to obligations of U.S. banks which may be purchased by the Portfolio. Any of these instruments may be purchased on a current or a forward-settled basis. Time deposits are non-
negotiable deposits maintained in banking institutions for specified periods of time at stated interest rates. Bankers' acceptances are time drafts drawn on commercial banks by borrowers, usually in connection with international transactions.
Investment Restrictions
The Fund may hold up to an aggregate amount of 15% of its net assets in illiquid assets (calculated at the time of investment), including Rule 144A Restricted Securities deemed illiquid by the Adviser, consistent with Commission guidance, and repurchase agreements having maturities longer than seven days.\21\ The Fund will
Page 577
monitor its portfolio liquidity on an ongoing basis to determine whether, in light of current circumstances, an adequate level of liquidity is being maintained, and will consider taking appropriate steps in order to maintain adequate liquidity if, through a change in values, net assets, or other circumstances, more than 15% of the Fund's net assets are held in illiquid assets. Illiquid assets include securities subject to contractual or other restrictions on resale and other instruments that lack readily available markets as determined in accordance with Commission staff guidance.\22\
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\21\ The Board has delegated the responsibility for determining the liquidity of Rule 144A Restricted Securities that the Portfolio may invest in to the Adviser. In reaching liquidity decisions, the Adviser may consider the following factors: The frequency of trades and quotes for the security; the number of dealers wishing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential purchasers; dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; and the nature of the security and the nature of the marketplace in which it trades (e.g., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers and the mechanics of transfer).
\22\ The Commission has stated that long-standing Commission guidelines have required open-end funds to hold no more than 15% of their net assets in illiquid securities and other illiquid assets. See Investment Company Act Release No. 28193 (March 11, 2008), 73 FR 14618 (March 18, 2008), footnote 34. See also, Investment Company Act Release No. 5847 (October 21, 1969), 35 FR 19989 (December 31, 1970) (Statement Regarding ``Restricted Securities''); Investment Company Act Release No. 18612 (March 12, 1992), 57 FR 9828 (March 20, 1992) (Revisions of Guidelines to Form N-1A). A fund's portfolio security is illiquid if it cannot be disposed of in the ordinary course of business within seven days at approximately the value ascribed to it by the fund. See Investment Company Act Release No. 14983 (March 12, 1986), 51 FR 9773 (March 21, 1986) (adopting amendments to Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act); Investment Company Act Release No. 17452 (April 23, 1990), 55 FR 17933 (April 30, 1990) (adopting Rule 144A under the Securities Act).
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According to the Registration Statement, the Portfolio and Fund will each be classified as a non-diversified investment company under the 1940 Act. A ``non-diversified'' classification means that the Portfolio or Fund is not limited by the 1940 Act with regard to the percentage of its assets that may be invested in the securities of a single issuer. This means that the Portfolio or Fund may invest a greater portion of its assets in the securities of a single issuer than a diversified fund.\23\
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\23\ The diversification standard is set forth in Section 5(b)(1) of the 1940 Act.
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The Portfolio and Fund do not intend to concentrate their investments in any particular industry. The Portfolio and Fund look to the Global Industry Classification Standard Level 3 (Industries) in making industry determinations.\24\
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\24\ See Form N-1A, Item 9. The Commission has taken the position that a fund is concentrated if it invests more than 25% of the value of its total assets in any one industry. See, e.g., Investment Company Act Release No. 9011 (October 30, 1975), 40 FR 54241 (November 21, 1975).
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The Portfolio and Fund intend to maintain the required level of diversification and otherwise conduct their operations so as to qualify as a ``regulated investment company'' for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.\25\
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\25\ 26 U.S.C. 851.
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The Fund's investments will be consistent with its investment objective and will not be used to enhance leverage.
Net Asset Value
The Fund will calculate net asset value (``NAV'') using the NAV of the Portfolio. To the extent that the Fund invests in instruments other than those in the Portfolio, the Fund will calculate its NAV based on all assets.
NAV per Share for the Fund will be computed by dividing the value of the net assets of the Portfolio (i.e., the value of its total assets less total liabilities) by the total number of Shares outstanding. Expenses and fees, including the management fees, will be accrued daily and taken into account for purposes of determining NAV. The NAV of the Portfolio will be calculated by the Custodian and determined as of the close of the regular trading session on the New York Stock Exchange (``NYSE'') (ordinarily 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day that such exchange is open. Fixed-income assets will generally be valued as of the announced closing time for trading in fixed-income instruments in a particular market or exchange. Any assets or liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar will be converted into U.S. dollars at market rates on the date of valuation (generally as of 4:00 p.m. London time) as quoted by one or more sources.
In calculating the Portfolio's NAV per Share, the Portfolio's investments will generally be valued using market valuations. A market valuation generally means a valuation (i) obtained from an exchange, a pricing service, or a major market maker (or dealer), (ii) based on a price quotation or other equivalent indication of value supplied by an exchange, a pricing service, or a major market maker (or dealer), or (iii) based on amortized cost. In the case of shares of other funds that are not traded on an exchange, a market valuation means such fund's published NAV per share. The Adviser may use various pricing services, or discontinue the use of any pricing service, as approved by the Board of the SSgA Master Trust from time to time. A price obtained from a pricing service based on such pricing service's valuation matrix may be considered a market valuation.
Common stocks and other exchange-traded equity securities (including shares of preferred securities, convertible securities, ETPs, and QPTPs) generally will be valued at the last reported sale price or the official closing price on that exchange where the stock is primarily traded on the day that the valuation is made. Foreign equities and exchange-listed Depositary Receipts will be valued at the last sale or official closing price on the relevant exchange on the valuation date. If, however, neither the last sales price nor the official closing price is available, each of these securities will be valued at either the last reported sale price or official closing price as of the close of regular trading of the principal market on which the security is listed. Unsponsored ADRs, which are traded in the OTC market, will be valued at the last reported sale price from the OTC Bulletin Board or OTC Link LLC on the valuation date. OTC-traded preferred securities and OTC-traded convertible securities will be valued based on price quotations obtained from a broker-dealer who makes markets in such securities or other equivalent indications of value provided by a third-party pricing service.
Securities of investment companies (other than ETFs registered under the 1940 Act), including affiliated funds, money market funds and closed-end funds, will be valued at NAV.
Rule 144A Restricted Securities, repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements will generally be valued at bid prices received from independent pricing services as of the announced closing time for trading in such instruments. Spot currency transactions will generally be valued at mid prices received from an independent pricing service converted into U.S. dollars at current market rates on the date of valuation. Foreign currency forwards normally will be valued on the basis of quotes obtained from broker-dealers or third party pricing services.
According to the Adviser, fixed income securities, including U.S. Government obligations; TIPS; U.S.-registered, dollar-denominated bonds of foreign corporations, governments, agencies and supra-national entities; sovereign debt; corporate bonds; ABS, RMBS, and CMBS (either agency or non-agency); CLOs; TBA transactions; municipal securities; inverse floaters and bank loans; and short-term instruments will generally be valued at bid prices received from independent pricing services as of the announced closing time for trading in fixed-income instruments in the respective market or
Page 578
exchange. In determining the value of a fixed income investment, pricing services determine valuations for normal institutional-size trading units of such securities using valuation models or matrix pricing, which incorporates yield and/or price with respect to bonds that are considered comparable in characteristics such as rating, interest rate and maturity date and quotations from securities dealers to determine current value.
The Trust will generally value listed futures and options at the settlement price determined by the applicable exchange. Non-exchange-
traded derivatives, including OTC-traded options, swaps and forwards, will normally be valued on the basis of quotations or equivalent indication of value supplied by a third-party pricing service or major market makers or dealers. The Fund's OTC-traded derivative instruments will generally be valued at bid prices. Certain OTC-traded derivative instruments, such as interest rate swaps and credit default swaps, will be valued at the mean price.
In the event that current market valuations are not readily available or such valuations do not reflect current market value, the SSgA Master Trust's procedures require the Pricing and Investment Committee (``Committee'') to determine a security's fair value if a market price is not readily available, in accordance with the 1940 Act.\26\ In determining such value the Committee may consider, among other things, (i) price comparisons among multiple sources, (ii) a review of corporate actions and news events, and (iii) a review of relevant financial indicators (e.g., movement in interest rates, market indices, and prices from the Portfolio's index provider). In these cases, the Portfolio's NAV may reflect certain portfolio securities' fair values rather than their market prices.
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\26\ If a security's market price is not readily available or does not otherwise accurately reflect the fair value of the security, the security will be valued by another method that the Board believes will better reflect fair value in accordance with the Trust's valuation policies and procedures and in accordance with the 1940 Act. The Board has delegated the process of valuing securities for which market quotations are not readily available or do not otherwise accurately reflect the fair value of the security to the Committee. The Committee, subject to oversight by the Board, may use fair value pricing in a variety of circumstances, including but not limited to, situations when trading in a security has been suspended or halted. Accordingly, the Portfolio's NAV may reflect certain securities' fair values rather than their market prices. Fair value pricing involves subjective judgments and it is possible that the fair value determination for a security is materially different than the value that could be received on the sale of the security. The Committee has implemented procedures designed to prevent the use and dissemination of material, non-public information regarding the Portfolio and the Fund.
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Creation and Redemption of Shares
The NAV of Shares of the Fund will be determined once each business day, normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. The Creation Unit size will be 50,000 Shares per Creation Unit. The Trust will issue and sell Shares of the Fund only in Creation Units on a continuous basis, without a sales load (but subject to transaction fees), at their NAV per Share next determined after receipt of an order, on any business day, in proper form.
The consideration for purchase of a Creation Unit of the Fund generally will consist of either (i) the in-kind deposit of a designated portfolio of securities held by the corresponding master fund (the ``Deposit Securities'') per each Creation Unit and the Cash Component (defined below), computed as described below, or (ii) the cash value of the Deposit Securities (``Deposit Cash'') and the ``Cash Component,'' computed as described below. When accepting purchases of Creation Units for cash, the Fund may incur additional costs associated with the acquisition of Deposit Securities that would otherwise be provided by an in-kind purchaser. Together, the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable, and the Cash Component constitute the ``Fund Deposit,'' which represents the minimum initial and subsequent investment amount for a Creation Unit of the Fund. The ``Cash Component'' is an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the Shares (per Creation Unit) and the market value of the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable. If the Cash Component is a positive number (i.e., the NAV per Creation Unit exceeds the market value of the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable), the Cash Component shall be such positive amount. If the Cash Component is a negative number (i.e., the NAV per Creation Unit is less than the market value of the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable), the Cash Component will be such negative amount and the creator will be entitled to receive cash in an amount equal to the Cash Component. The Cash Component serves the function of compensating for any differences between the NAV per Creation Unit and the market value of the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable.
The Custodian, through the National Securities Clearing Corporation (``NSCC''), will make available on each business day, immediately prior to the opening of business on the Exchange's Core Trading Session (9:30 a.m., Eastern time), the list of the names and the required amount of each Deposit Security or the required amount of Deposit Cash, as applicable, to be included in the current Fund Deposit (based on information at the end of the previous business day) for the Fund. Such Fund Deposit is subject to any applicable adjustments as described in the Registration Statement, in order to effect purchases of Creation Units of the Fund until such time as the next-announced composition of the Deposit Securities or the required amount of Deposit Cash, as applicable, is made available.
Shares may be redeemed only in Creation Units at their NAV next determined after receipt of a redemption request in proper form by the Fund through the Transfer Agent and only on a business day.
With respect to the Fund, the Custodian, through the NSCC, will make available immediately prior to the opening of business on the Exchange (9:30 a.m. Eastern time) on each business day, the list of the names and share quantities of the Fund's portfolio securities that will be applicable (subject to possible amendment or correction) to redemption requests received in proper form on that day (``Fund Securities''). Fund Securities received on redemption may not be identical to Deposit Securities.
Redemption proceeds for a Creation Unit will be paid either in-kind or in cash or a combination thereof, as determined by the Trust. With respect to in-kind redemptions of the Fund, redemption proceeds for a Creation Unit will consist of Fund Securities as announced by the Custodian on the business day of the request for redemption received in proper form plus cash in an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the Shares being redeemed, as next determined after a receipt of a request in proper form, and the value of the Fund Securities (the ``Cash Redemption Amount''), less a fixed redemption transaction fee and any applicable additional variable charge as set forth in the Registration Statement. In the event that the Fund Securities have a value greater than the NAV of the Shares, a compensating cash payment equal to the differential will be required to be made by or through an authorized participant by the redeeming shareholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at the Trust's discretion, an authorized participant may receive the corresponding cash value of the securities in lieu of the in-kind
Page 579
securities value representing one or more Fund Securities.
The creation/redemption order cut-off time for the Fund is expected to be 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. Creation/redemption order cut-off times may be earlier on any day that the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (``SIFMA'') (or applicable exchange or market on which the Portfolio's investments are traded) announces an early closing time. On days when the Exchange closes earlier than normal, the Fund may require orders for Creation Units to be placed earlier in the day.
Availability of Information
The Fund's Web site (www.spdrs.com), which will be publicly available prior to the public offering of Shares, will include a form of the prospectus for the Fund that may be downloaded. The Fund's Web site 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 mid-point of the bid/ask spread at the time of calculation of such NAV (the ``Bid/Ask Price''),\27\ 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 Web site the Disclosed Portfolio as defined in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600(c)(2) that will form the basis for the Fund's calculation of NAV at the end of the business day.\28\
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\27\ The Bid/Ask Price of the Fund will be determined using the midpoint 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.
\28\ Under accounting procedures followed by the Fund, trades made on the prior business day (``T'') will be booked and reflected in NAV on the current business day (``T + 1''). Accordingly, the Fund will be able to disclose at the beginning of the business day the portfolio that will form the basis for the NAV calculation at the end of the business day.
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The Fund's disclosure of derivative positions in the Disclosed Portfolio will include information that market participants can use to value these positions intraday. On a daily basis, the Fund will disclose on the Fund's Web site the following information regarding each portfolio holding, as applicable to the type of holding: Ticker symbol, CUSIP number or other identifier, if any; a description of the holding (including the type of holding, such as the type of swap); the identity of the security, commodity, index or other asset or instrument underlying the holding, if any; for options, the option strike price; quantity held (as measured by, for example, par value, notional value or number of shares, contracts or units); maturity date, if any; coupon rate, if any; effective date, if any; market value of the holding; and the percentage weighting of the holding in the Fund's portfolio. The Web site information will be publicly available at no charge.
In addition, a basket composition file, which includes the security names and quantities 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 NYSE via NSCC. The basket represents one Creation Unit of the Fund.
Investors can also obtain the Trust's Statement of Additional Information (``SAI''), the Fund's Shareholder Reports, and the Trust's Form N-CSR and Form N-SAR, filed twice a year. The Trust's SAI and Shareholder Reports are available free upon request from the Trust, and those documents and the Form N-CSR and Form N-SAR may be viewed on-
screen or downloaded from the Commission's Web site at www.sec.gov. Information regarding market price and trading volume of the Shares will be continually available on a real-time basis throughout the day on brokers' computer screens and other electronic services. Information regarding the previous day's closing price and trading volume information for the Shares will be published daily in the financial section of newspapers. Quotation and last sale information for the Shares will be available via the Consolidated Tape Association (``CTA'') high-speed line. The intra-day, closing and settlement prices of common stocks and other exchange-traded equity securities (including shares of Depositary Receipts, preferred securities, convertible securities, ETPs, and QPTPs) will be readily available from the national securities exchanges trading such securities as well as automated quotation systems, published or other public sources, or on-
line information services such as Bloomberg or Reuters. Intra-day and closing price information for exchange-traded options and futures will be available from the applicable exchange and from major market data vendors. In addition, price information for U.S. exchange-traded options is available from the Options Price Reporting Authority. Quotation information from brokers and dealers or pricing services will be available for fixed income securities, including U.S. Government obligations; TIPS; U.S. registered, dollar-denominated bonds of foreign corporations, governments, agencies and supra-national entities; sovereign debt; corporate bonds; asset-backed and commercial mortgage-
backed securities; residential mortgage backed securities (either agency or non-agency); CLOs; TBA transactions; municipal securities; inverse floaters and bank loans; and short-term instruments. Price information regarding OTC-traded derivative instruments, including, options, swaps, and spot and forward currency transactions, as well as equity securities traded in the OTC market, including Rule 144A Restricted Securities, OTC-traded preferred securities and OTC-traded convertible securities, is available from major market data vendors.
Pricing information regarding each asset class in which the Fund or Portfolio will invest, including investment company securities, Rule 144A Restricted Securities, repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements will generally be available through nationally recognized data service providers through subscription arrangements. In addition, the Indicative Optimized Portfolio Value (``IOPV''),\29\ which is the Portfolio Indicative Value as defined in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600(c)(3), will be widely disseminated at least every 15 seconds during the Exchange's Core Trading Session by one or more major market data vendors.\30\ The dissemination of the IOPV, together with the Disclosed Portfolio, will allow investors to determine the value of the underlying portfolio of the Fund and of the Portfolio on a daily basis and to provide a close estimate of that value throughout the trading day.
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\29\ Premiums and discounts between the IOPV and the market price may occur. This should not be viewed as a ``real-time'' update of the NAV per Share of the Fund, which will be calculated only once a day.
\30\ Currently, it is the Exchange's understanding that several major market data vendors display and/or make widely available Portfolio Indicative Values taken from CTA or other data feeds.
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Additional information regarding the Trust and the Shares, including investment strategies, risks, creation and redemption procedures, fees, portfolio holdings disclosure policies, distributions and taxes is included in the Registration Statement. All terms relating to the Fund that are referred to, but not defined in, this proposed rule
Page 580
change are defined in the Registration Statement.
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.\31\ Trading in Shares of the Fund will be halted if the circuit breaker parameters in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.12 have been reached. Trading also may be halted because of market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in the Shares inadvisable. These may include: (1) The extent to which trading is not occurring in the securities and/or the financial instruments comprising the Disclosed Portfolio of the Fund; or (2) whether other unusual conditions or circumstances detrimental to the maintenance of a fair and orderly market are present. Trading in the Shares will be subject to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600(d)(2)(D), which sets forth circumstances under which Shares of the Fund may be halted.
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\31\ See NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.12.
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Trading Rules
The Exchange deems the Shares to be equity securities, thus rendering trading in the Shares subject to the Exchange's existing rules governing the trading of equity securities. Shares will trade on the NYSE Arca Marketplace from 4:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time in accordance with NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.34 (Opening, 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 Equities Rule 7.6, Commentary .03, the minimum price variation (``MPV'') for quoting and entry of orders in equity securities traded on the NYSE Arca Marketplace is $0.01, with the exception of securities that are priced less than $1.00 for which the MPV for order entry is $0.0001.
The Shares will conform to the initial and continued listing criteria under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600. The Exchange represents that, for initial and/or continued listing, the Fund will be in compliance with Rule 10A-3 \32\ under the Act, as provided by NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.3. A minimum of 100,000 Shares for the Fund will be outstanding at the commencement of trading on the Exchange. 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.
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\32\ 17 CFR 240.10A-3.
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Surveillance
The Exchange represents that trading in the Shares will be subject to the existing trading surveillances, administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (``FINRA'') on behalf of the Exchange, which are designed to detect violations of Exchange rules and applicable federal securities laws.\33\ 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.
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\33\ FINRA surveils trading on the Exchange pursuant to a regulatory services agreement. The Exchange is responsible for FINRA's performance under this regulatory services agreement.
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The surveillances referred to above generally focus on detecting securities trading outside their normal patterns, which could be indicative of manipulative or other violative activity. When such situations are detected, surveillance analysis follows and investigations are opened, where appropriate, to review the behavior of all relevant parties for all relevant trading violations.
FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, will communicate as needed regarding trading in the Shares, exchange-traded options, common stocks and other exchange-traded equity securities (including shares of preferred securities, convertible securities, ETPs, certain exchange-
traded Depositary Receipts and QPTPs), and futures, with other markets and other entities that are members of the ISG, and FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, may obtain trading information regarding trading in the Shares and such exchange-traded instruments underlying the Shares from such markets and other entities. In addition, the Exchange may obtain information regarding trading in the Shares and such exchange-traded instruments underlying the Shares from markets and other entities that are members of ISG or with which the Exchange has in place a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement.\34\ 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 Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (``TRACE''). FINRA also can access data obtained from the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (``MSRB'') relating to municipal bond trading activity for surveillance purposes in connection with trading in the Shares.
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\34\ For a list of the current members of ISG, see www.isgportal.org. The Exchange notes that not all components of the Disclosed Portfolio for the Fund may trade on markets that are members of ISG or with which the Exchange has in place a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement.
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With the exception of unsponsored ADRs, which will comprise no more than 10% of the Fund's net assets, all equity securities (i.e., common stocks, Depositary Receipts, certain preferred securities, ETPs and certain other exchange-traded investment company securities) in which the Portfolio or Fund may invest will trade on markets that are members of the ISG or that have entered into a comprehensive surveillance agreement with the Exchange.
In addition, the Exchange also has a general policy prohibiting the distribution of material, non-public information by its employees.
Information Bulletin
Prior to the commencement of trading, 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 Equities Rule 9.2(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 Opening and Late Trading Sessions when an updated Portfolio Indicative Value will not be calculated or publicly disseminated; (4) how information regarding the Portfolio Indicative Value 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. Eastern time each trading day.
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Statutory Basis
The basis under the Act for this proposed rule change is the requirement under Section 6(b)(5) \35\ 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.
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\35\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices in that the Shares will be listed and traded on the Exchange pursuant to the initial and continued listing criteria in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600. The Exchange has in place surveillance procedures that are adequate to properly monitor trading in the Shares in all trading sessions and to deter and detect violations of Exchange rules and federal securities laws applicable to trading on the Exchange. The Adviser and Sub-Adviser are not registered as a broker-dealer but the Adviser is affiliated with a broker-dealer and has implemented a ``fire wall'' with respect to such broker-dealer regarding access to information concerning the composition and/or changes to the Fund's portfolio. The Sub-Adviser is not affiliated with a broker-dealer. In addition, the Trust's Pricing and Investment Committee has implemented procedures designed to prevent the use and dissemination of material, non-public information regarding the Portfolio and the Fund. FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, will communicate as needed regarding trading in the Shares, exchange-traded options, common stocks and other exchange-
traded equity securities (including shares of preferred securities, convertible securities, ETPs, and QPTPs), and futures with other markets and other entities that are members of the ISG, and FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, may obtain trading information regarding trading in the Shares and such exchange-traded securities underlying the Shares from such markets and other entities. In addition, the Exchange may obtain information regarding trading in the Shares and such exchange-traded securities underlying the Shares from markets and other entities that are members of ISG or with which the Exchange has in place a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement. 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. FINRA also can access data obtained from the MSRB relating to municipal bond trading activity for surveillance purposes in connection with trading in the Shares. The ETPs held by the Fund will be traded on U.S. national securities exchanges and will be subject to the rules of such exchanges, as approved by the Commission. With the exception of unsponsored ADRs, which will comprise no more than 10% of the Fund's net assets, all exchange-traded equity securities (i.e., common stocks, Depositary Receipts, certain preferred securities, ETPs and certain other exchange-traded investment company securities) in which the Portfolio or Fund may invest will trade on markets that are members of the ISG or that have entered into a comprehensive surveillance agreement with the Exchange. The Fund may hold up to an aggregate amount of 15% of its net assets in illiquid assets (calculated at the time of investment), including Rule 144A Restricted Securities deemed illiquid by the Adviser, consistent with Commission guidance, and repurchase agreements having maturities longer than seven days.
The proposed rule change is designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade and to protect investors and the public interest in that the Exchange will obtain a representation from the issuer of the Shares that the NAV per Share will be calculated daily and that the NAV and the Disclosed Portfolio will be made available to all market participants at the same time. In addition, a large amount of information is publicly available regarding the Fund and the Shares, thereby promoting market transparency. The Fund's portfolio holdings will be disclosed on its Web site daily after the close of trading on the Exchange and prior to the opening of trading on the Exchange the following day. Moreover, the IOPV will be widely disseminated by one or more major market data vendors at least every 15 seconds during the Exchange's Core Trading Session. On each business day, before commencement of trading in Shares in the Core Trading Session on the Exchange, the Fund will disclose on its Web site the Disclosed Portfolio that will form the basis for the Fund's calculation of NAV at the end of the business day. Quotation and last sale information for the Shares will be available via the CTA high-speed line. The intra-
day, closing and settlement prices of common stocks and other exchange-
traded equity securities (including shares of preferred securities, convertible securities, Depositary Receipts, ETPs, and QPTPs) will be readily available from the national securities exchanges trading such securities as well as automated quotation systems, published or other public sources, or on-line information services such as Bloomberg or Reuters. Intra-day and closing price information for exchange-traded options and futures will be available from the applicable exchange and from major market data vendors. In addition, price information for U.S. exchange-traded options is available from the Options Price Reporting Authority. Quotation information from brokers and dealers or pricing services will be available for fixed income securities, including U.S. Government obligations; U.S.- registered, dollar-denominated bonds of foreign corporations, governments, agencies and supra-national entities; corporate bonds; ABS; RMBS; CMBS; CLOs; variable and floating rate securities; TBA transactions; municipal securities; and short-term instruments. Price information regarding OTC-traded derivative securities, including, options, swaps, and spot and forward currency transactions, as well as equity securities traded in the OTC market, such as Rule 144A Restricted Securities, is available from major market data vendors. The Web site for the Fund will include a form of the prospectus for the Fund and additional data relating to NAV and other applicable quantitative information. Moreover, prior to the commencement of trading, the Exchange will inform its Equity Trading Permit Holders in an Information Bulletin of the special characteristics and risks associated with trading the Shares. Trading in Shares of the Fund will be halted if the circuit breaker parameters in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.12 have been reached or because of market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in the Shares inadvisable, and trading in the Shares will be subject to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600(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, the IOPV, 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 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 will enhance competition among market
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participants, to the benefit of investors and the marketplace. As noted above, the Exchange has in place surveillance procedures relating to trading in the Shares and may obtain information via ISG from other exchanges that are members of ISG or with which the Exchange has entered into a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement. In addition, as noted above, investors will have ready access to information regarding the Fund's holdings, the IOPV, the Disclosed Portfolio, and quotation and last sale information for the Shares.
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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 will invest in multiple asset classes and that will enhance competition among market participants, to the benefit of investors and the marketplace.
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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.
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Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action
Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register or within such longer period up to 90 days (i) as the Commission may designate if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission will:
(A) By order approve or disapprove the proposed rule change, or
(B) institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be disapproved.
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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 email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR-NYSEArca-2014-143 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-2014-143. 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 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 Web site 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 such filing will also 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-2014-143 and should be submitted on or before January 27, 2015.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.\36\
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\36\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Brent J. Fields,
Secretary.
FR Doc. 2014-30894 Filed 1-5-15; 8:45 am
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
