85 FR 246 pgs. 83650-83656 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To List and Trade Shares of the ProShares VIX Short-Term Futures ETF and the ProShares VIX Mid-Term Futures ETF, Each a Series of ProShares Trust II, Under Rule 14.11(f)(4) (Trust Issued Receipts)
Type: NOTICEVolume: 85Number: 246Pages: 83650 - 83656
Pages: 83650, 83651, 83652, 83653, 83654, 83655, 83656Docket number: [Release No. 34–90685; File No. SR–CboeBZX–2020–092]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2020–28149 Filed 12–21–20; 8:45 am]
Agency: Securities and Exchange Commission
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
[top]
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-90685; File No. SR-CboeBZX-2020-092]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To List and Trade Shares of the ProShares VIX Short-Term Futures ETF and the ProShares VIX Mid-Term Futures ETF, Each a Series of ProShares Trust II, Under Rule 14.11(f)(4) (Trust Issued Receipts)
December 16, 2020.
[top] 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 December 14, 2020, Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. ("Exchange" or "BZX") filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Exchange filed the proposal as a "non-controversial"
Footnotes:
1 ?15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 ?17 CFR 240.19b-4.
3 ?15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
4 ?17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to list and trade Shares of the ProShares VIX Short-Term Futures ETF and the ProShares VIX Mid-Term Futures ETF (each a "Fund" and, collectively, the "Funds") under Rule 14.11(f)(4), which governs the listing and trading of Trust Issued Receipts? 5 on the Exchange. 6 The Exchange notes that the Funds have previously been approved by the Commission and are currently listed on Arca. 7 This proposal is substantively identical to the Prior Proposal and the issuer represents that all material representations contained within the Prior Proposal remain true. Further, the Funds are already trading on the Exchange pursuant to unlisted trading privileges, as provided in Rule 14.11(j).
Footnotes:
5 ?Rule 14.11(f)(4) applies to Trust Issued Receipts that invest in "Financial Instruments." The term "Financial Instruments," as defined in Rule 14.11(f)(4)(A)(iv), means any combination of investments, including cash; securities; options on securities and indices; futures contracts; options on futures contracts; forward contracts; equity caps, collars and floors; and swap agreements.
6 ?The Commission approved BZX Rule 14.11(f)(4) in Securities Exchange Act Release No. 68619 (January 10, 2013), 78 FR 3489 (January 16, 2013) (SR-BATS-2012-044).
7 ? See Securities Exchange Act No. 63317 (November 16, 2010) 75 FR 71158 (November 22, 2010) (SR-NYSEArca-2010-101) (Proposal to list and trade Shares of the ProShares VIX Short-Term Futures ETF and the ProShares VIX Mid-Term Futures ETF (the "Prior Proposal")). See also Securities Exchange Act No. 63610 (December 27, 2010) 76 FR 199 (January 3, 2011) (SR-NYSEArca-2010-101) (Order approving the listing and trading of the ProShares VIX Short-Term Futures ETF and the ProShares VIX Mid-Term Futures ETF).
The text of the proposed rule change is also available on the Exchange's website ( http://markets.cboe.com/us/equities/regulation/rule_filings/bzx/ ), at the Exchange's Office of the Secretary, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
The Exchange proposes to list and trade Shares of the ProShares VIX Short-Term Futures ETF and the ProShares VIX Mid-Term Futures ETF (each a "Fund" and, collectively, the "Funds") under Rule 14.11(f)(4), which governs the listing and trading of Trust Issued Receipts? 8 on the Exchange. 9 The Exchange notes that the Funds have previously been approved by the Commission and are currently listed on Arca. 10 This proposal is substantively identical to the Prior Proposal and the issuer represents that all material representations contained within the Prior Proposal remain true. Further, the Funds are already trading on the Exchange pursuant to unlisted trading privileges, as provided in Rule 14.11(j).
Footnotes:
8 ?Rule 14.11(f)(4) applies to Trust Issued Receipts that invest in "Financial Instruments." The term "Financial Instruments," as defined in Rule 14.11(f)(4)(A)(iv), means any combination of investments, including cash; securities; options on securities and indices; futures contracts; options on futurescontracts; forward contracts; equity caps, collars and floors; and swap agreements.
9 ?The Commission approved BZX Rule 14.11(f)(4) in Securities Exchange Act Release No. 68619 (January 10, 2013), 78 FR 3489 (January 16, 2013) (SR-BATS-2012-044).
10 ? See Securities Exchange Act No. 63317 (November 16, 2010) 75 FR 71158 (November 22, 2010) (SR-NYSEArca-2010-101) (Proposal to list and trade Shares of the ProShares VIX Short-Term Futures ETF and the ProShares VIX Mid-Term Futures ETF (the "Prior Proposal")). See also Securities Exchange Act No. 63610 (December 27, 2010) 76 FR 199 (January 3, 2011) (SR-NYSEArca-2010-101) (Order approving the listing and trading of the ProShares VIX Short-Term Futures ETF and the ProShares VIX Mid-Term Futures ETF).
The Funds seek to provide investment results (before fees and expenses) that match the performance of a benchmark that seeks to offer exposure to market volatility through publicly traded futures markets. The benchmark for ProShares VIX Short-Term Futures ETF is the S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures Index (ticker symbol SPVIXSTR) and the benchmark for ProShares VIX Mid-Term Futures ETF is the S&P 500 VIX Mid-Term Futures Index (ticker symbol SPVIXMTR, each an "Index", and, collectively, the "Indexes"). 11 As discussed in further detail below, the S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures Index utilizes prices of the next two near-term Cboe Volatility Index ("VIX") futures contracts to replicate a position that rolls the nearest month VIX futures to the next month on a daily basis in equal fractional amounts, while the S&P 500 VIX Mid-Term Futures Index measures the return of a daily rolling long position in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh month of VIX futures contracts. The Funds will invest in futures contracts based on the VIX to pursue their respective investment objectives. Each Fund also may invest in Cash and Cash Equivalents? 12 such as U.S. Treasury securities or other high credit quality short-term fixed-income or similar securities (including shares of money market funds, bank deposits, bank money market accounts, certain variable rate-demand notes and repurchase agreements collateralized by government securities) that may serve as collateral for the futures contracts.
Footnotes:
11 ?Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC is the index sponsor with respect to the Indexes and has implemented procedures designed to prevent the use and dissemination of material, non-public information regarding the Indexes.
12 ?For purposes of this proposal, the term "Cash and Cash Equivalents" shall have the definition provided in Exchange Rule 14.11(i)(4)(C)(iii), applicable to Managed Fund Shares.
ProShare Capital Management LLC (the "Sponsor"), a Maryland limited liability company, serves as the Sponsor of ProShares Trust II (the "Trust"). The Sponsor is a commodity pool operator. 13 Bank of New York Mellon serves as the administrator (the "Administrator"), custodian and transfer agent of the Funds and their respective Shares. SEI Investments Distribution Co. ("Distributor") serves as Distributor of the Shares. Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation, is the sole trustee of the Trust.
Footnotes:
13 ?The ProShares VIX Short-Term Futures ETF has filed a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, dated May 11, 2020 (File No. 333-238175) and the ProShares VIX Mid-Term Futures ETF has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, dated August 12, 2020 (File No.: 333-244420) (collectively, the "Registration Statement"). The description of the Funds and the Shares contained herein are based on the Registration Statement.
[top] If the Sponsor to the Trust issuing the Trust Issued Receipts is affiliated with a broker-dealer, such Sponsor to the Trust shall erect a "fire wall" between the Sponsor and the broker-dealer with respect to access to information concerning the composition and/or changes to such Trust portfolio. The Sponsor is not a broker-dealer, but is affiliated with a broker-dealer and has implemented and will maintain a "fire wall" with respect to such broker-dealer regarding access to information concerning the composition and/or
According to the Registration Statement, if a Fund is successful in meeting its objective, its value (before fees and expenses) should gain approximately as much on a percentage basis as the level of its corresponding Index when the Index rises. Conversely, its value (before fees and expenses) should lose approximately as much on a percentage basis as the level of its corresponding Index when the Index declines. Each Fund acquires exposure through VIX futures contracts traded on the Cboe Futures Exchange ("VIX Futures Contracts") ("CFE"), such that each Fund typically has exposure intended to approximate the benchmark at the time of its net asset value ("NAV") calculation. 14
Footnotes:
14 ?Terms relating to the Funds, the Shares and the Indexes referred to, but not defined, herein are defined in the Registration Statement.
According to the Registration Statement, each Fund is not actively managed by traditional methods, which typically involve effecting changes in the composition of a portfolio on the basis of judgments relating to economic, financial and market considerations with a view toward obtaining positive results under all market conditions. Rather, each Fund seeks to remain fully invested at all times in investment positions that, in combination, provide exposure to its Index consistent with its investment objective, even during periods in which that benchmark is flat or moving in a manner which causes the value of a Fund to decline.
In seeking to achieve each Fund's investment objective, the Sponsor uses a mathematical approach to investing. Using this approach, the Sponsor determines the type, quantity and mix of investment positions that the Sponsor believes in combination should produce daily returns consistent with such Fund's objective. The Sponsor relies upon a pre-determined model to generate orders that result in repositioning the Funds' investments in accordance with their respective investment objectives.
VIX Futures Contracts
The Indexes are comprised of, and the value of the Funds will be based on, VIX Futures Contracts. VIX Futures Contracts are measures of the market's expectation of the level of VIX at certain points in the future, and as such will behave differently than current, or spot, VIX. 15 The Funds are not linked to the VIX, and in many cases the Indexes, and by extension the Funds, will significantly underperform the VIX.
Footnotes:
15 ?VIX is the ticker symbol for the Cboe Volatility Index, a popular measure of implied volatility. The goal of the VIX is to estimate the implied volatility of the S&P 500 over the next 30 days. A relatively high level of the VIX corresponds to a more volatile U.S. equity market as expressed by more costly options on the S&P 500 Index. The VIX represents one measure of the market's expectation of over the next 30 day period. It is a blend of prices for a range of options on the S&P 500 Index. The formula utilizes current market prices for a series of out-of-the-money calls and puts for the near and next-term expirations.
While the VIX represents a measure of the current expected volatility of the S&P 500 over the next 30 days, the prices of VIX Futures Contracts are based on the current expectation of what the expected 30-day volatility will be at a particular time in the future (on the expiration date). For example, a VIX Futures Contract purchased in March that expires in May, in effect, is a forward contract on what the level of the VIX, as a measure of 30-day implied volatility of the S&P 500, will be on the May expiration date. The forward volatility reading of the VIX may not correlate directly to the current volatility reading of the VIX because the implied volatility of the S&P 500 at a future expiration date may be different from the current implied volatility of the S&P 500. To illustrate, on December 4, 2019, the VIX closed at a price of 14.8 and the price of the February 2020 VIX Futures Contracts expiring on February 19, 2020 was 18.125. In this example, the price of the VIX represented the 30-day implied, or "spot," volatility (the volatility expected for the period from December 5, 2019 to January 5, 2020) of the S&P 500 and the February 2020 VIX Futures Contracts represented forward implied volatility (the volatility expected for the period from February 19 to March 19, 2020) of the S&P 500.
The S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures Index and S&P 500 VIX Mid-Term Futures Index
According to the Registration Statement, the Indexes act as a measure of the implied volatility of the S&P 500 as reflected by the price of certain VIX Futures Contracts (the "Index Components"), with the price of each VIX Futures Contract reflecting the market's measure of the expected volatility ( i.e., the rate and magnitude of variations in performance) of the S&P 500 over the next 30 days. Each Index seeks to reflect the returns that are potentially available from holding an unleveraged long position in certain VIX Futures Contracts.
Unlike the Indexes, the VIX, which is not a benchmark for either Fund, is calculated based on the prices of put and call options on the S&P 500, which are traded on Cboe Exchange, Inc.
The S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures Index employs rules for selecting the Index Components and a formula to calculate a level for the Index from the prices of these components. Specifically, the Index Components represent the prices of the two near-term VIX futures months, replicating a position that rolls the nearest month VIX Futures Contract to the next month VIX Futures Contract on a daily basis in equal fractional amounts. This results in a constant weighted average maturity of one month. The roll period begins on the Tuesday prior to the monthly CFE VIX Futures Contracts settlement date and runs through the Tuesday prior to the subsequent month's CFE VIX Futures Contract settlement date.
The S&P 500 VIX Mid Term Futures Index also employs rules for selecting the Index Components and a formula to calculate the level of the Index from the prices of these components. Currently, the Index Components represent the prices for four contract months of VIX Futures Contracts, representing a market-based estimation of constant maturity, five month forward implied VIX values. The S&P 500 VIX Mid-Term Futures Index measures the return from a rolling long position in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh month VIX Futures Contracts, and rolls continuously throughout each month while maintaining positions in the fifth and sixth month contracts. This results in a constant weighted average maturity of five months.
Calculation of the Indexes
The level of each Index is calculated in accordance with the method described in the Registration Statement. The level of each Index will be published at least every 15 seconds both in real time from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., E.T. and at the close of trading on each Business Day? 16 by Bloomberg L.P. and Reuters.
Footnotes:
16 ?A "Business Day" means any day other than a day when any of BZX, Cboe, CFE or other exchange material to the valuation or operation of the Funds, or the calculation of the VIX, options contracts underlying the VIX, VIX Futures Contracts or the Indexes is closed for regular trading.
[top]
The Index Components comprising each Index represent the prices of certain futures contracts on the VIX. Each Index takes a daily rolling long position in contracts of specified maturities and is intended to reflect the returns that are potentially available through an unleveraged investment in those contracts. The S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures Index measures the return from a rolling long position in the first and second month VIX Futures Contracts. The Index rolls continuously throughout each month from the first month VIX Futures Contracts into the second month VIX Futures Contracts. The S&P 500 VIX Mid-Term Futures Index measures the return from a rolling long position in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh month VIX Futures Contracts. The Index rolls continuously throughout each month from the fourth month contract into the seventh month contract while maintaining positions in the fifth month and sixth month contracts.
The Indexes roll on a daily basis. One of the effects of daily rolling is to maintain a constant weighted average maturity for the underlying futures contracts. Unlike equities, which typically entitle the holder to a continuing stake in a corporation, futures contracts normally specify a certain date for the delivery of the underlying asset or financial instrument or, in the case of futures contracts relating to indices such as the VIX, a certain date for payment in cash of an amount determined by the level of the underlying index. The Indexes operate by selling, on a daily basis, Index Components with a nearby settlement date and purchasing Index Components with a longer-dated settlement date. The roll for each contract occurs on each Business Day according to a pre-determined schedule that has the effect of keeping constant the weighted average maturity of the relevant futures contracts. This process is known as "rolling" a futures position, and each Index is a "rolling index". The constant weighted average maturity for the futures underlying the S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures Index is one month and for the futures underlying the S&P 500 VIX Mid-Term Futures Index is five months.
Because the Indexes incorporate this process of rolling futures positions on a daily basis, and the Funds, in general, also roll their positions on a daily basis, the daily roll is not anticipated to be a significant source of tracking error between either Fund and its respective Index. The Indexes are based on VIX Futures Contracts and not the VIX, and, as such, neither the Funds nor the Indexes are expected to track the VIX.
Purchases and Redemptions of Creation Units
The Funds will create and redeem Shares from time to time in one or more Creation Units. A Creation Unit is a block of 25,000 Shares. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, the Shares are not redeemable securities.
On any Business Day, an authorized participant may place an order with the Distributor to create one or more Creation Units. 17 The total cash payment required to create each Creation Unit is the NAV of 25,000 Shares of the Funds on the purchase order date plus the applicable transaction fee.
Footnotes:
17 ?Authorized participants have a cut-off time of 2:00 p.m. E.T. to place creation and redemption orders.
The procedures by which an authorized participant can redeem one or more Creation Units mirror the procedures for the purchase of Creation Units. On any Business Day, an authorized participant may place an order with the Distributor to redeem one or more Creation Units. The redemption proceeds from a Fund consist of the cash redemption amount. The cash redemption amount is equal to the NAV of the number of Creation Unit(s) of a Fund requested in the authorized participant's redemption order as of the time of the calculation of a Fund's NAV on the redemption order date, less applicable transaction fees.
Availability of Information Regarding the Shares
The NAV for the Funds' Shares will be calculated by the Administrator once a day and will be disseminated daily to all market participants at the same time. 18 Pricing information will be available on the Fund's website including: (1) The prior Business Day's reported NAV, the closing market price or the bid/ask price, daily trading volume, and a calculation of the premium and discount of the closing market price or bid/ask price against the NAV; and (2) data in chart format displaying the frequency distribution of discounts and premiums of the daily closing price against the NAV, within appropriate ranges, for each of the four previous calendar quarters. The closing prices and settlement prices of the Index Components are also readily available from the websites of CFE ( http://www.cfe.cboe.com ), automated quotation systems, published or other public sources, or on-line information services such as Bloomberg or Reuters. Complete real-time data for component futures underlying the Indexes is available by subscription from Reuters and Bloomberg. Specifically, the level of each Index will be published at least every 15 seconds both in real time from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. E.T. and at the close of trading on each Business Day by Bloomberg and Reuters. The CFE also provides delayed futures information on current and past trading sessions and market news free of charge on its website. The specific contract specifications for component futures underlying the Indexes are also available on such websites, as well as other financial informational sources.
Footnotes:
18 ?According to the Registration Statement, net asset value means the total assets of the Funds including, but not limited to, all Cash and Cash Equivalents or other debt securities less total liabilities of the Funds, each determined on the basis of generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, consistently applied under the accrual method of accounting. Each Fund's NAV is calculated once each trading day as of 4 p.m. (E.T.), or an earlier time as set forth on www.proshares.com.
Quotation and last-sale information regarding the Shares will be disseminated through the facilities of the Consolidated Tape Association ("CTA"). Information relating to VIX Futures Contracts will be available from the exchange on which such instruments are traded. Pricing information regarding VIX Futures Contracts is generally available through nationally recognized data services providers through subscription agreements. Pricing information regarding Cash and Cash Equivalents in which the Funds may invest is generally available through nationally recognized data services providers, such as Reuters and Bloomberg, through subscription agreements.
[top] In addition, the Funds' website at www.proshares.com will display the end of day closing Index levels, and NAV per share for the Funds. The Funds will provide website disclosure of portfolio holdings daily and will include, as applicable, the notional value (in U.S. dollars) of VIX Futures Contracts and characteristics of such instruments and Cash and Cash Equivalents, and amount of cash held in the portfolio of the Funds. This website disclosure of the portfolio composition of the Funds will occur at the same time as the disclosure by the Funds of the portfolio composition to authorized participants so that all market participants are provided portfolio composition information at the same time. Therefore, the same portfolio information will be provided on the public website as well as in electronic files provided to authorized participants. Accordingly, each investor
In addition, in order to provide updated information relating to the Funds for use by investors and market professionals, an updated Intraday Indicative Value ("IIV") will be calculated. The IIV is an indicator of the value of the VIX Futures Contracts and Cash and/or Cash Equivalents less liabilities of a Fund at the time the IIV is disseminated. The IIV will be calculated and widely disseminated by one or more major market data vendors every 15 seconds throughout Regular Trading Hours. 19
Footnotes:
19 ?As defined in Rule 1.5(w), the term "Regular Trading Hours" means the time between 9:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. E.T.
In addition, the IIV is published on the Exchange's website and is available through on-line information services such as Bloomberg and Reuters.
The IIV disseminated during Regular Trading Hours should not be viewed as an actual real time update of the NAV, which is calculated only once a day. The IIV also should not be viewed as a precise value of the Shares.
The Exchange believes that dissemination of the IIV provides additional information regarding the Funds that is not otherwise available to the public and is useful to professionals and investors in connection with the related Shares trading on the Exchange or the creation or redemption of such Shares.
Additional information regarding the Funds 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.
Initial and Continued Listing
The Shares of each Fund will conform to the initial and continued listing criteria under BZX Rule 14.11(f)(4). The Exchange represents that, for initial and continued listing, the Funds and the Trust must be in compliance with Rule 10A-3 under the Act. A minimum of 100,000 Shares of each 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 for each Fund will be calculated daily and will be made available to all market participants at the same time.
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 Funds. The Exchange will halt trading in the Shares under the conditions specified in BZX Rule 11.18. Trading may be halted because of market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in the Shares inadvisable. These may include: (1) The extent to which trading is not occurring in the securities and/or the financial instruments composing the daily disclosed portfolio of the Funds; or (2) whether other unusual conditions or circumstances detrimental to the maintenance of a fair and orderly market are present. Trading in the Shares also will be subject to Rule 14.11(f)(4)(C)(ii), which sets forth circumstances under which Shares of a Fund may be halted.
The Exchange represents that the Exchange may halt trading in the Shares of a Fund during the day in which an interruption to the dissemination of the IIV, the value of an Index, the VIX or the value of the underlying VIX Futures Contracts occurs. If an interruption to the dissemination of the IIV, the value of an Index, the VIX or the value of the underlying VIX Futures Contracts persists past the trading day in which it occurred, the Exchange will halt trading no later than the beginning of the trading day following the interruption. In addition, if the Exchange becomes aware that the NAV with respect to the Shares is not disseminated to all market participants at the same time, it will halt trading in the Shares until such time as the NAV is available to all market participants.
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. The Exchange will allow trading in the Shares during all trading sessions on the Exchange and has the appropriate rules to facilitate transactions in the Shares during all trading sessions. As provided in BZX Rule 11.11(a), the minimum price variation for quoting and entry of orders in securities traded on the Exchange is $0.01, with the exception of securities that are priced less than $1.00, for which the minimum price variation for order entry is $0.0001.
Surveillance
Trading of the Shares through the Exchange will be subject to the Exchange's surveillance procedures for derivative products, including Trust Issued Receipts. The Exchange believes that its surveillance procedures are adequate to properly monitor the trading of the Shares on the Exchange during all trading sessions and to deter and detect violations of Exchange rules and the applicable federal securities laws. All of the VIX Futures Contracts held by the Funds will trade on markets that are a member of ISG or affiliated with a member of ISG or with which the Exchange has in place a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement. 20 The Exchange, FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, or both will communicate regarding trading in the Shares and the underlying listed instruments, including listed derivatives held by the Funds, with the ISG, other markets or entities who are members or affiliates of the ISG, or with which the Exchange has entered into a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement. In addition, the Exchange or FINRA may obtain information regarding trading in the Shares and the underlying listed instruments, including listed derivatives, held by the Funds from markets and other entities that are members of ISG or with which the Exchange has in place a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement. All statements and representations made in this filing regarding index composition, description of the portfolio or reference assets, limitations on portfolio holdings or reference assets, dissemination and availability of an index, reference asset, and IIVs, and the applicability of Exchange rules specified in this filing shall constitute continued listing requirements for the Funds. The issuer has represented to the Exchange that it will advise the Exchange of any failure by the Funds or the Shares to comply with the continued listing requirements, and, pursuant to its obligations under Section 19(g)(1) of the Act, the Exchange will surveil for compliance with the continued listing requirements. If the Funds or the Shares are not in compliance with the applicable listing requirements, the Exchange will commence delisting procedures under Exchange Rule 14.12. In addition, the Exchange also has a general policy prohibiting the distribution of material, non-public information by its employees.
Footnotes:
20 ?For a list of the current members and affiliate members of ISG, see www.isgportal.com. The Exchange notes that not all components of the Fund's holdings may trade on markets that are members of ISG or with which the Exchange has in place a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement.
Information Circular
[top] Prior to the commencement of trading, the Exchange will inform its members in an Information Circular of the special characteristics and risks
In addition, the Information Circular will advise members, prior to the commencement of trading, of the prospectus delivery requirements applicable to the Funds. Members purchasing Shares from the Funds for resale to investors will deliver a prospectus to such investors. The Information Circular will also discuss any exemptive, no-action and interpretive relief granted by the Commission from any rules under the Act.
In addition, the Information Circular will reference that the Funds are subject to various fees and expenses described in the Registration Statement. The Information Circular will also disclose the trading hours of the Shares of the Funds and the applicable NAV calculation time for the Shares. The Information Circular will disclose that information about the Shares of the Funds will be publicly available on the Funds' website.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act? 21 in general and Section 6(b)(5) of the Act? 22 in particular in that it is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest.
Footnotes:
21 ?15 U.S.C. 78f.
22 ?15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices in that the Shares will be listed and traded on the Exchange pursuant to the initial and continued listing criteria in Exchange Rule 14.11(f). The Exchange believes that its surveillance procedures are adequate to properly monitor the trading of the Shares on the Exchange during all trading sessions and to deter and detect violations of Exchange rules and the applicable federal securities laws. If the Sponsor to the Trust issuing the Trust Issued Receipts is affiliated with a broker-dealer, such Sponsor to the Trust shall erect and maintain a "fire wall" between the Sponsor and the broker-dealer with respect to access to information concerning the composition and/or changes to the Funds' portfolios. The Sponsor is not a broker-dealer, but is affiliated with a broker-dealer dealer and has implemented and will maintain a "fire wall" with respect to such broker-dealer regarding access to information concerning the composition and/or changes to the portfolio. In the event that (a) the Sponsor becomes a broker-dealer or newly affiliated with a broker-dealer, or (b) any new sponsor is a broker-dealer or becomes affiliated with a broker-dealer, it will implement and maintain a fire wall with respect to its relevant personnel or such broker-dealer affiliate, as applicable, 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 the portfolio. The Exchange, FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, or both may obtain information regarding trading in the Shares and the underlying VIX Futures Contracts via the ISG from other exchanges who are members or affiliates of the ISG or with which the Exchange has entered into a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement. In addition, the Exchange also has a general policy prohibiting the distribution of material, non-public information by its employees.
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 will be calculated daily and that the NAV and the Funds' holdings will be made available to all market participants at the same time. In addition, a large amount of information is publicly available regarding the Funds and the Shares, thereby promoting market transparency. Moreover, the IIV will be disseminated by one or more major market data vendors at least every 15 seconds during Regular Trading Hours. On each Business Day, before commencement of trading in Shares during Regular Trading Hours, the Funds will disclose on their website the holdings that will form the basis for each Fund's calculation of NAV at the end of the Business Day. Pricing information will be available on the Funds' website including: (1) The prior Business Day's reported NAV, the closing market price or the bid/ask price, daily trading volume, and a calculation of the premium and discount of the closing market price or bid/ask price against the NAV; and (2) data in chart format displaying the frequency distribution of discounts and premiums of the daily closing price against the NAV, within appropriate ranges, for each of the four previous calendar quarters. Additionally, information regarding market price and trading of the Shares will be continually available on a real-time basis throughout the day on brokers' computer screens and other electronic services, and quotation and last sale information for the Shares will be available on the facilities of the CTA. The website for the Funds will include a form of the prospectus for each Fund and additional data relating to NAV and other applicable quantitative information. Trading in Shares of the Funds will be halted under the conditions specified in Exchange Rule 11.18. Trading may also be halted because of market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in the Shares inadvisable. Finally, trading in the Shares will be subject to 14.11(f)(4)(C)(ii), which sets forth circumstances under which Shares of the Funds may be halted. In addition, as noted above, investors will have ready access to information regarding the Funds' holdings, the Indexes, the IIV, and quotation and last sale information for the Shares.
Quotation and last-sale information regarding the Shares will be disseminated through the facilities of the CTA. Quotation and last-sale information regarding VIX Futures Contracts will be available from the exchanges on which such instruments are traded. Pricing information regarding Cash and Cash Equivalents in which the Funds will invest is generally available through nationally recognized data services providers, such as Reuters and Bloomberg, through subscription agreements.
[top] The proposed rule change is designed to perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and, in general, to protect
For the above reasons, the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purpose of the Act. The Exchange notes that the proposed rule change, rather will facilitate the transfer from Arca and listing of additional exchange-traded products on the Exchange, which will enhance competition among listing venues, to the benefit of issuers, investors, and the marketplace more broadly.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
The Exchange has neither solicited nor received written comments on the proposed rule change.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action
Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not: (i) Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act? 23 and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder. 24
Footnotes:
23 ?15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
24 ?17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a brief description and text of the proposed rule change, at least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. The Exchange has satisfied this requirement.
A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6)? 25 normally does not become operative for 30 days after the date of the filing. However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii), 26 the Commission may designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal may become operative immediately upon filing. The Exchange states that waiver of the 30-day operative delay will allow the Funds to transfer listing to the Exchange as soon as is practicable and minimize the amount of time that the Funds' listing venue will be in transition. The Funds have previously been approved by the Commission to list and trade on NYSE Arca, Inc. 27 The Exchange states that this proposal is substantively identical to the Prior Proposal and the issuer represents that all material representations contained within the Prior Proposal remain true. For these reasons, the Commission believes that waiver of the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. Accordingly, the Commission waives the 30-day operative delay and designates the proposed rule change operative upon filing. 28
Footnotes:
25 ?17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
26 ?17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
27 ? See supra note 10.
28 ?For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the Commission has also considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
At any time within 60 days of the filing of such proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission's internet comment form ( http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR-CboeBZX-2020-092 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CboeBZX-2020-092. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission's internet website ( 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 website viewing and printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549 on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying information from comment submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CboeBZX-2020-092 and should be submitted on or before January 12, 2021.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority. 29
Footnotes:
29 ?17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-28149 Filed 12-21-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P