Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 119 / Wednesday, June 20, 2018 / Notices 28697 

10See e.g., NYSE Arca Equities Fees and Charges, 

NYSE Arca Marketplace: Other Fees and Charges, 

Connectivity Fees. See also, Nasdaq Phlx LLC 

Pricing Schedule, Section XI, Direct Connectivity to 

Phlx. 

11 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A). 

12 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f). 13 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). 

this competitive dynamic imposes 

powerful restraints on the ability of any 

exchange to charge unreasonable fees 

for connectivity. 

Furthermore, the proposed rule 

change is also an equitable allocation of 

reasonable dues, fees, and other charges 

as the Exchange believes that the 

proposed increased physical port fees 

will enable it to cover its infrastructure 

costs associated with establishing 

physical ports to connect to the 

Exchange’s systems. The additional 

revenue from the increased fees will 

also enable the Exchange to continue to 

maintain and improve its market 

technology and services. Similarly, the 

Exchange believes the proposed fees for 

the Disaster Recovery Physical Ports 

will allow the Exchange to maintain the 

Disaster Recovery Physical Ports in case 

they become necessary. 

Lastly, the Exchange believes the fees 

remain competitive with those charged 

by other venues and therefore continue 

to be reasonable and equitably allocated 

to Members.10

(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 not 

necessary or appropriate in furtherance 

of the purposes of the Act. As discussed 

above, the Exchange believes that fees 

for connectivity are constrained by the 

robust competition for order flow among 

exchanges and non-exchange markets. 

The Exchange does not believe that the 

proposed changes represent a significant 

departure from previous pricing offered 

by the Exchange or pricing offered by 

the Exchange’s competitors. 

Additionally, Members may opt to 

disfavor the Exchange’s pricing if they 

believe that alternatives offer them 

better value. Further, excessive fees for 

connectivity would serve to impair an 

exchange’s ability to compete for order 

flow rather than burdening competition. 

(C) Self-Regulatory Organization’s 

Statement on Comments on the 

Proposed Rule Change Received From 

Members, Participants or Others 

The Exchange has not solicited, and 

does not intend to solicit, comments on 

this proposed rule change. The 

Exchange has not received any 

unsolicited written comments from 

Members or other interested parties. 

III. Date of Effectiveness of the 

Proposed Rule Change and Timing for 

Commission Action 

The foregoing rule change has become 

effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) 

of the Act 11 and paragraph (f) of Rule 

19b–4 thereunder.12 At any time within 

60 days of the filing of the 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– 

CboeEDGX–2018–017 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–CboeEDGX–2018–017. 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–CboeEDGX–2018–017 and 

should be submitted on or before July 

11, 2018. 

For the Commission, by the Division of 

Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated 

authority.13

Eduardo A. Aleman, 

Assistant Secretary. 

[FR Doc. 2018–13160 Filed 6–19–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8011–01–P 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE 

COMMISSION 

[Investment Company Act Release No. 

33123; 812–14872] 

Sprott ETF Trust and Sprott Asset 

Management USA Inc. 

June 15, 2018. 

AGENCY: Securities and Exchange 

Commission (‘‘Commission’’). 

ACTION: Notice. 

Notice of an application for an order 

under section 6(c) of the Investment 

Company Act of 1940 (the ‘‘Act’’) for an 

exemption from sections 2(a)(32), 

5(a)(1), 22(d), and 22(e) of the Act and 

rule 22c–1 under the Act, under 

sections 6(c) and 17(b) of the Act for an 

exemption from sections 17(a)(1) and 

17(a)(2) of the Act, and under section 

12(d)(1)(J) for an exemption from 

sections 12(d)(1)(A) and 12(d)(1)(B) of 

the Act. The requested order would 

permit (a) index-based series of certain 

open-end management investment 

companies (‘‘Funds’’) to issue shares 

redeemable in large aggregations 

(‘‘Creation Units’’); (b) secondary market 

transactions in Fund shares to occur at 

negotiated market prices rather than at 

net asset value (‘‘NAV’’); (c) certain 

Funds to pay redemption proceeds, 

under certain circumstances, more than 

seven days after the tender of shares for 

redemption; (d) certain affiliated 

persons of a Fund to deposit securities 

into, and receive securities from, the 

Fund in connection with the purchase 

and redemption of Creation Units; (e) 

certain registered management 

investment companies and unit 

investment trusts outside of the same 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
28698 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 119 / Wednesday, June 20, 2018 / Notices 

1Applicants request that the order apply to the 

Initial Fund and any additional series of the Trust, 

and any other existing or future open-end 

management investment company or existing or 

future series thereof (each, included in the term 

‘‘Fund’’), each of which will operate as an ETF, and 

their respective existing or future master funds, and 

will track a specified index comprised of domestic 

and/or foreign equity securities and/or domestic 

and/or foreign fixed income securities (each, an 

‘‘Underlying Index’’). Any Fund will (a) be advised 

by the Initial Adviser or an entity controlling, 

controlled by, or under common control with the 

Initial Adviser (each of the foregoing and any 

successor thereto, an ‘‘Adviser’’) and (b) comply 

with the terms and conditions of the application. 

For purposes of the requested order, a ‘‘successor’’ 

is limited to an entity or entities that result from 

a reorganization into another jurisdiction or a 

change in the type of business organization. 

2Each Self-Indexing Fund will post on its website 

the identities and quantities of the investment 

positions that will form the basis for the Fund’s 

calculation of its NAV at the end of the day. 

Applicants believe that requiring Self-Indexing 

Funds to maintain full portfolio transparency will 

help address, together with other protections, 

conflicts of interest with respect to such Funds. 

group of investment companies as the 

Funds (‘‘Funds of Funds’’) to acquire 

shares of the Funds; (f) certain Funds 

(‘‘Feeder Funds’’) to create and redeem 

Creation Units in-kind in a masterfeeder structure; and (g) certain Funds 

to issue Shares in less than Creation 

Unit size to investors participating in a 

distribution reinvestment program. 

Applicants: Sprott ETF Trust (the 

‘‘Trust’’), a Delaware statutory trust, 

which is registered under the Act as an 

open-end management investment 

company with multiple series, and 

Sprott Asset Management USA Inc. (the 

‘‘Initial Adviser’’), a California 

Corporation registered as an investment 

adviser under the Investment Advisers 

Act of 1940. 

Filing Dates: The application was 

filed on January 23, 2018, and amended 

on May 22, 2018. Applicants have 

agreed to file an amendment during the 

notice period, the substance of which is 

reflected in this notice. 

Hearing or Notification of Hearing: An 

order granting the requested relief will 

be issued unless the Commission orders 

a hearing. Interested persons may 

request a hearing by writing to the 

Commission’s Secretary and serving 

applicants with a copy of the request, 

personally or by mail. Hearing requests 

should be received by the Commission 

by 5:30 p.m. on July 9, 2018, and should 

be accompanied by proof of service on 

applicants, in the form of an affidavit, 

or for lawyers, a certificate of service. 

Pursuant to rule 0–5 under the Act, 

hearing requests should state the nature 

of the writer’s interest, any facts bearing 

upon the desirability of a hearing on the 

matter, the reason for the request, and 

the issues contested. Persons who wish 

to be notified of a hearing may request 

notification by writing to the 

Commission’s Secretary. 

ADDRESSES: Secretary, Securities and 

Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, 

Washington, DC 20549–1090; 

Applicants, 1910 Palomar Point Way, 

Suite 200, Carlsbad, CA 92008. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Christine Y. Greenlees, Senior Counsel, 

at (202) 551–6879, or Andrea 

Ottomanelli Magovern, Branch Chief, at 

(202) 551–6821 (Division of Investment 

Management, Chief Counsel’s Office). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

following is a summary of the 

application. The complete application 

may be obtained via the Commission’s 

website by searching for the file 

number, or for an applicant using the 

Company name box, at http://

www.sec.gov/search/search.htm or by 

calling (202) 551–8090. 

Summary of the Application 

1. Applicants request an order that 

would allow Funds to operate as index 

exchange traded funds (‘‘ETFs’’).1 Fund 

shares will be purchased and redeemed 

at their NAV in Creation Units (other 

than pursuant to a distribution 

reinvestment program, as described in 

the application). All orders to purchase 

Creation Units and all redemption 

requests will be placed by or through an 

‘‘Authorized Participant,’’ which will 

have signed a participant agreement 

with the Distributor. Shares will be 

listed and traded individually on a 

national securities exchange, where 

share prices will be based on the current 

bid/offer market. Certain Funds may 

operate as Feeder Funds in a masterfeeder structure. Any order granting the 

requested relief would be subject to the 

terms and conditions stated in the 

application. 

2. Each Fund will hold investment 

positions selected to correspond closely 

to the performance of an Underlying 

Index. In the case of Self-Indexing 

Funds, an affiliated person, as defined 

in section 2(a)(3) of the Act (‘‘Affiliated 

Person’’), or an affiliated person of an 

Affiliated Person (‘‘Second-Tier 

Affiliate’’), of the Trust or a Fund, of the 

Adviser, of any sub-adviser to or 

promoter of a Fund, or of the Distributor 

will compile, create, sponsor or 

maintain the Underlying Index.2

3. Shares will be purchased and 

redeemed in Creation Units and 

generally on an in-kind basis, or issued 

in less than Creation Unit size to 

investors participating in a distribution 

reinvestment program. Except where the 

purchase or redemption will include 

cash under the limited circumstances 

specified in the application, purchasers 

will be required to purchase Creation 

Units by depositing specified 

instruments (‘‘Deposit Instruments’’), 

and shareholders redeeming their shares 

will receive specified instruments 

(‘‘Redemption Instruments’’). The 

Deposit Instruments and the 

Redemption Instruments will each 

correspond pro rata to the positions in 

the Fund’s portfolio (including cash 

positions) except as specified in the 

application. 

4. Because shares will not be 

individually redeemable, applicants 

request an exemption from section 

5(a)(1) and section 2(a)(32) of the Act 

that would permit the Funds to register 

as open-end management investment 

companies and issue shares that are 

redeemable in Creation Units (other 

than pursuant to a dividend 

reinvestment program). 

5. Applicants also request an 

exemption from section 22(d) of the Act 

and rule 22c–1 under the Act as 

secondary market trading in shares will 

take place at negotiated prices, not at a 

current offering price described in a 

Fund’s prospectus, and not at a price 

based on NAV. Applicants state that (a) 

secondary market trading in shares does 

not involve a Fund as a party and will 

not result in dilution of an investment 

in shares, and (b) to the extent different 

prices exist during a given trading day, 

or from day to day, such variances occur 

as a result of third-party market forces, 

such as supply and demand. Therefore, 

applicants assert that secondary market 

transactions in shares will not lead to 

discrimination or preferential treatment 

among purchasers. Finally, applicants 

represent that share market prices will 

be disciplined by arbitrage 

opportunities, which should prevent 

shares from trading at a material 

discount or premium from NAV. 

6. With respect to Funds that effect 

creations and redemptions of Creation 

Units in kind and that are based on 

certain Underlying Indexes that include 

foreign securities, applicants request 

relief from the requirement imposed by 

section 22(e) in order to allow such 

Funds to pay redemption proceeds 

within fifteen calendar days following 

the tender of Creation Units for 

redemption. Applicants assert that the 

requested relief would not be 

inconsistent with the spirit and intent of 

section 22(e) to prevent unreasonable, 

undisclosed or unforeseen delays in the 

actual payment of redemption proceeds. 

7. Applicants request an exemption to 

permit Funds of Funds to acquire Fund 

shares beyond the limits of section 

12(d)(1)(A) of the Act; and the Funds, 

and any principal underwriter for the 

Funds, and/or any broker or dealer 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 119 / Wednesday, June 20, 2018 / Notices 28699 

3The requested relief would apply to direct sales 

of shares in Creation Units by a Fund to a Fund of 

Funds and redemptions of those shares. Applicants, 

moreover, are not seeking relief from section 17(a) 

for, and the requested relief will not apply to, 

transactions where a Fund could be deemed an 

Affiliated Person, or a Second-Tier Affiliate, of a 

Fund of Funds because an Adviser or an entity 

controlling, controlled by or under common control 

with an Adviser provides investment advisory 

services to that Fund of Funds. 

1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 

2 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 

3The term ‘‘Market Makers’’ refers to 

‘‘Competitive Market Makers’’ and ‘‘Primary Market 

Makers’’ collectively. See Rule 100(a)(30). 

4A ‘‘Non-Nasdaq GEMX Market Maker’’ is a 

market maker as defined in Section 3(a)(38) of the 

Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, 

registered in the same options class on another 

options exchange. 

5A ‘‘Firm Proprietary’’ order is an order 

submitted by a member for its own proprietary 

account. 

6A ‘‘Broker-Dealer’’ order is an order submitted 

by a member for a broker-dealer account that is not 

its own proprietary account. 

7A ‘‘Professional Customer’’ is a person or entity 

that is not a broker/dealer and is not a Priority 

Customer. 

registered under the Exchange Act, to 

sell shares to Funds of Funds beyond 

the limits of section 12(d)(1)(B) of the 

Act. The application’s terms and 

conditions are designed to, among other 

things, help prevent any potential (i) 

undue influence over a Fund through 

control or voting power, or in 

connection with certain services, 

transactions, and underwritings, (ii) 

excessive layering of fees, and (iii) 

overly complex fund structures, which 

are the concerns underlying the limits 

in sections 12(d)(1)(A) and (B) of the 

Act. 

8. Applicants request an exemption 

from sections 17(a)(1) and 17(a)(2) of the 

Act to permit persons that are Affiliated 

Persons, or Second Tier Affiliates, of the 

Funds, solely by virtue of certain 

ownership interests, to effectuate 

purchases and redemptions in-kind. The 

deposit procedures for in-kind 

purchases of Creation Units and the 

redemption procedures for in-kind 

redemptions of Creation Units will be 

the same for all purchases and 

redemptions, and Deposit Instruments 

and Redemption Instruments will be 

valued in the same manner as those 

investment positions currently held by 

the Funds. Applicants also seek relief 

from the prohibitions on affiliated 

transactions in section 17(a) to permit a 

Fund to sell its shares to and redeem its 

shares from a Fund of Funds, and to 

engage in the accompanying in-kind 

transactions with the Fund of Funds.3

The purchase of Creation Units by a 

Fund of Funds directly from a Fund will 

be accomplished in accordance with the 

policies of the Fund of Funds and will 

be based on the NAVs of the Funds. 

9. Applicants also request relief to 

permit a Feeder Fund to acquire shares 

of another registered investment 

company managed by the Adviser 

having substantially the same 

investment objectives as the Feeder 

Fund (‘‘Master Fund’’) beyond the 

limitations in section 12(d)(1)(A) and 

permit the Master Fund, and any 

principal underwriter for the Master 

Fund, to sell shares of the Master Fund 

to the Feeder Fund beyond the 

limitations in section 12(d)(1)(B). 

10. Section 6(c) of the Act permits the 

Commission to exempt any persons or 

transactions from any provision of the 

Act if such exemption is necessary or 

appropriate in the public interest and 

consistent with the protection of 

investors and the purposes fairly 

intended by the policy and provisions of 

the Act. Section 12(d)(1)(J) of the Act 

provides that the Commission may 

exempt any person, security, or 

transaction, or any class or classes of 

persons, securities, or transactions, from 

any provision of section 12(d)(1) if the 

exemption is consistent with the public 

interest and the protection of investors. 

Section 17(b) of the Act authorizes the 

Commission to grant an order 

permitting a transaction otherwise 

prohibited by section 17(a) if it finds 

that (a) the terms of the proposed 

transaction are fair and reasonable and 

do not involve overreaching on the part 

of any person concerned; (b) the 

proposed transaction is consistent with 

the policies of each registered 

investment company involved; and (c) 

the proposed transaction is consistent 

with the general purposes of the Act. 

For the Commission, by the Division of 

Investment Management, under delegated 

authority. 

Eduardo A. Aleman, 

Assistant Secretary. 

[FR Doc. 2018–13217 Filed 6–19–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8011–01–P 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE 

COMMISSION 

[Release No. 34–83445; File No. SR–GEMX– 

2018–20] 

Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq 

GEMX, LLC; Notice of Filing and 

Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed 

Rule Change To Increase Certain 

Route-Out Fees Set Forth in Section 

II.A of the Schedule of Fees 

June 14, 2018. 

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 June 1, 

2018, Nasdaq GEMX, LLC (‘‘GEMX’’ or 

‘‘Exchange’’) 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 Commission is 

publishing this notice to solicit 

comments on the proposed rule change 

from interested persons. 

I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s 

Statement of the Terms of Substance of 

the Proposed Rule Change 

The Exchange proposes to increase 

certain route-out fees set forth in 

Section II.A of the Schedule of Fees. 

The text of the proposed rule change 

is available on the Exchange’s website at 

http://nasdaqgemx.cchwallstreet.com/, 

at the principal office of the Exchange, 

and at the Commission’s Public 

Reference Room. 

II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s 

Statement of the Purpose of, and 

Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule 

Change 

In its filing with the Commission, the 

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 purpose of the proposed rule 

change is to increase certain route-out 

fees set forth in Section II.A of the 

Schedule of Fees. Today, the Exchange 

charges Non-Priority Customers (i.e., 

Market Maker,3 Non-Nasdaq GEMX 

Market Maker,4 Firm Proprietary 5/ 

Broker-Dealer,6 and Professional 

Customer 7) route-out fees of $0.95 per 

contract for orders in Non-Penny 

Symbols that are routed to away 

exchanges in connection with the 

Options Order Protection and Locked/ 

Crossed Market Plan (the ‘‘Plan’’). The 

Exchange now proposes to increase this 

fee to $1.09 per contract for all NonPriority Customer orders in Non-Penny 

Symbols that are routed to away 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES