Document ID: SEC-2017-0412-0001
Agency: sec
Document Type: Notice
Title: Self-Regulatory Organizations; Proposed Rule Changes: NYSE Arca, Inc.
Posted Date: 2017-03-15T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 15, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13889-13893]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-05090]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-80189; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2017-01]

Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing 
of Amendment No. 2 and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of a 
Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 2, Amending the NYSE 
Arca Equities Rule 5 and Rule 8 Series

March 9, 2017.

I. Introduction

    On January 6, 2017, NYSE Arca, Inc. (``Exchange'' or ``Arca'') 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission''), 
pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ a proposed rule change to 
amend the NYSE Arca Equities Rule (``Rule'') 5 and Rule 8 Series to add 
specific continued listing standards for exchange-traded products 
(``ETPs'') and to specify the delisting procedures for these products. 
The proposed rule change was published for comment in the Federal 
Register on January 25, 2017.\3\ On February 10, 2017, the Exchange 
filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change, which amended and 
replaced the original proposal. On March 6, 2017, the Exchange filed 
Amendment No. 2 to the proposed rule change, which amended and replaced 
the original proposal, as modified by Amendment No. 1.\4\ The 
Commission received nine comment letters on the proposed rule 
change.\5\ The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments 
on Amendment No. 2 from interested persons, and is approving the 
proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 2, on an accelerated 
basis.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79834 (January 18, 
2017), 82 FR 8444.
    \4\ In Amendment No. 2, the Exchange: (i) Further amended rules 
within the Rule 5 and Rule 8 Series to reflect that certain listing 
requirements (including certain statements or representations in 
rule filings for the listing and trading of specific products) apply 
on an initial and ongoing basis; (ii) further amended rules within 
the Rule 5 and Rule 8 Series to consistently state that the Exchange 
will maintain surveillance procedures for listed products and will 
initiate delisting proceedings if continued listing requirements are 
not maintained; (iii) further amended rules within the Rule 5 and 
Rule 8 Series to provide that, in a rule filing to list and trade a 
product, all statements or representations regarding the 
applicability of Exchange listing rules (including, for example, 
statements and representations related to the dissemination of the 
intraday indicative value and index value, as applicable) specified 
in such rule filing constitute continued listing requirements; (iv) 
specified an implementation date for the proposed changes; and (v) 
made other technical, clarifying, and conforming changes throughout 
the Rule 5 and Rule 8 Series. Amendment No. 2 is available at 
https://www.sec.gov/comments/sr-nysearca-2017-01/nysearca201701-1618319-137048.pdf.
    \5\ See Letters to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Commission, from 
David W. Blass, General Counsel, Investment Company Institute, dated 
January 12, 2017 (``ICI Letter''); Anna Paglia, Head of Legal, 
Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC, dated February 10, 2017 
(``PowerShares Letter''); Steven Price, SVP, Director of 
Distribution Services and Chief Compliance Officer, ALPS 
Distributors, Inc., ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc., 
dated February 10, 2017 (``ALPS Letter''); James E. Ross, Executive 
Vice President and Chairman, Global SPDR Business, State Street 
Global Advisors, dated February 13, 2017 (``SSGA Letter''); Samara 
Cohen, Managing Director, U.S. Head of iShares Capital Markets, 
Joanne Medero, Managing Director, Government Relations & Public 
Policy, and Deepa Damre, Managing Director, Legal & Compliance, 
BlackRock, Inc., dated February 14, 2017 (``BlackRock Letter''); 
Peter K. Ewing, Senior Vice President, Northern Trust Investments, 
Inc., dated February 14, 2017 (``NTI Letter''); Ryan Louvar, General 
Counsel, WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc., dated February 15, 2017 
(``WisdomTree Letter''); Kevin McCarthy, Senior Managing Director, 
Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, dated February 15, 2017 (``Nuveen 
Letter''); and Matthew B. Farber, Assistant General Counsel, First 
Trust Advisors L.P., dated February 23, 2017 (``First Trust 
Letter'').

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[[Page 13890]]

II. Description of the Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment 
No. 2

    The Exchange proposes to amend the Rule 5 and Rule 8 Series to 
specify continued listing requirements for ETPs listed under those 
rules, which include products listed pursuant to Rule 19b-4(e) under 
the Act (``generically-listed products'') and products listed pursuant 
to proposed rule changes filed with the Commission (``non-generically-
listed products'').\6\
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    \6\ See infra notes 29-31 and accompanying text. The Exchange 
also proposes to amend the requirement to delist a product if, 
following the initial 12-month period following commencement of 
trading on the Exchange, there are fewer than 50 record and/or 
beneficial holders of the listed product for 30 or more consecutive 
trading days, by deleting the threshold of ``30 or more consecutive 
trading days.'' See, e.g., proposed changes to Rule 5.5(g)(2)(a)(1).
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    The Exchange also proposes to amend the Rule 5 and Rule 8 Series to 
specify issuer notification requirements related to failures to comply 
with continued listing requirements. Specifically, the Exchange 
proposes to amend Rule 5.2(b) to require an issuer with securities 
listed under Rule 5.2 or Rule 8 to promptly notify the Exchange after 
the issuer becomes aware of any non-compliance by the issuer with the 
applicable continued listing requirements of Rule 5.2, Rule 5.5, or 
Rule 8.\7\ As proposed, the Exchange would initiate delisting 
proceedings for a product listed under the Rule 5 or Rule 8 Series if 
any of its continued listing requirements (including those set forth in 
an Exchange Rule and those set forth in an applicable proposed rule 
change) is not continuously maintained.
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    \7\ The Exchange also proposes to specify issuer notification 
requirements in the product listing rules within the Rule 5 and Rule 
8 Series. See, e.g., proposed Rules 5.2(j)(2)(G) and 8.100(e).
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    The Exchange also proposes to amend Rule 5.5(m) to specify the 
delisting procedures for products listed under the Rule 5 and Rule 8 
Series. According to the Exchange, listed ETPs are currently subject to 
the delisting procedures in Rule 5.5(m). The Exchange notes that, under 
Rule 5.5(m), it has the discretion to offer non-compliant issuers the 
opportunity to submit a plan to regain compliance.\8\ If such a plan is 
accepted, non-compliant issuers are afforded a cure period to regain 
compliance.
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    \8\ Similarly, other exchanges' delisting procedures for ETPs 
provide that, under certain circumstances, the exchange may accept 
and review an issuer's plan to regain compliance. See, e.g., 
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79784 (January 12, 2017), 82 FR 
6664, 6665 (January 19, 2017) (SR-NASDAQ-2016-135).
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    Finally, the Exchange proposes to make conforming and technical 
changes throughout the Rule 5 and Rule 8 Series to maintain consistency 
in its rules. For example, the Exchange proposes to consistently use 
the language ``initiate delisting proceedings under Rule 5.5(m)'' when 
describing the delisting procedures for a product that fails to meet 
continued listing requirements; \9\ and consistently reflect that 
delisting ``following the initial twelve month period following . . . 
commencement of trading on the Corporation'' only applies to the 
record/beneficial holder, number of shares issued and outstanding, and 
the market value of shares issued and outstanding requirements.\10\
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    \9\ See, e.g., proposed changes to Rules 5.5(g)(2)(a) and 
8.100(f)(2)(i).
    \10\ See, e.g., proposed changes to Rule 8.200(d)(2); see also, 
e.g., Rule 8.200, Commentary .02(d)(2) (currently applying the 
twelve month threshold only to the record/beneficial holder, number 
of shares issued and outstanding, and market value of shares issued 
and outstanding requirements for certain Trust Issued Receipts).
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    The Exchange proposes to implement the rule changes by October 1, 
2017.

III. Discussion and Commission Findings

    The Commission finds that the proposed rule change, as modified by 
Amendment No. 2, is consistent with the requirements of the Act and the 
rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a national securities 
exchange.\11\ In particular, the Commission finds that the proposed 
rule change is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\12\ which 
requires, among other things, that the rules of a national securities 
exchange be 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 
a national market system and, in general, to protect investors and the 
public interest.
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    \11\ In approving this proposed rule change, the Commission has 
considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, 
and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
    \12\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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    The Commission received nine comment letters that express concerns 
regarding the proposal.\13\ First, commenters question how an ETF, 
especially one that uses indexes established and maintained by 
unaffiliated third parties, would comply with the proposed rules, and 
how the Exchange would enforce them.\14\ Commenters assert that it 
would be unrealistic to anticipate that an ETF could ensure that an 
unaffiliated index complies with the initial listing standards on an 
ongoing basis, and express concern that an equity-index ETF, through no 
action of its own, could see certain of the constituent securities of 
the unaffiliated index fall below the listing requirements.\15\ One 
commenter believes that even if a third party index provider was 
amenable to changes to an underlying index that would allow an ETF to 
regain compliance with the continued listing standards, it is unlikely 
that the ETF would be able to formulate a compliance plan within 45 
calendar days of the Exchange staff's notification.\16\ Second, 
commenters argue that the proposal would provide for unfair 
discrimination because the proposed rules would result in differential 
treatment of ETFs as compared to other securities (e.g., common 
stock).\17\ Commenters believe that the continued listing standards for 
equity securities generally differ from the initial listing standards, 
whereas the proposed ETF continued listing standards would be the same 
as the initial listing standards.\18\ Third, commenters assert that the 
proposal provides no explanation or evidence regarding the potential 
manipulation of ETFs under the current rules, or how the proposal would 
reduce the potential for manipulation.\19\ One commenter also believes 
that significant compliance enhancements could be required to ensure 
proper and continuous testing of securities held in an index, and 
questions how this type of testing would enhance investor 
protection.\20\
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    \13\ See supra note 5.
    \14\ See ICI Letter at 1-2; see also PowerShares Letter at 1; 
SSGA Letter at 1; BlackRock Letter at 1-2; and Nuveen Letter at 1. 
The Commission notes that the ALPS Letter, NTI Letter, WisdomTree 
Letter, and First Trust Letter also express general support for all 
the views expressed in the ICI Letter.
    \15\ See ICI Letter at 1-3; see also PowerShares Letter at 2; 
SSGA Letter at 1; BlackRock Letter at 2; and Nuveen Letter at 2.
    \16\ See BlackRock Letter at 2.
    \17\ See ICI Letter at 2; see also PowerShares Letter at 1; SSGA 
Letter at 1; and Nuveen Letter at 1-2.
    \18\ See ICI Letter at 2; see also Nuveen Letter at 1-2.
    \19\ See ICI Letter at 2; see also PowerShares Letter at 1-2; 
SSGA Letter at 1; and Nuveen Letter at 2.
    \20\ See BlackRock Letter at 2.
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    The Commission believes that the proposal is consistent with the 
Act. As the Commission previously stated, the development, 
implementation, and enforcement of standards governing the initial and 
continued listing of securities on an exchange are activities of 
critical importance to financial markets and the investing public.\21\ 
Once a security has been approved for initial listing, continued 
listing criteria allow an exchange to monitor the status and trading 
characteristics of that issue

[[Page 13891]]

to ensure that it continues to meet the exchange's standards for market 
depth and liquidity so that fair and orderly markets can be maintained.
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    \21\ See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release No. 65225 
(August 30, 2011), 76 FR 55148, 55152 (September 6, 2011) (SR-BATS-
2011-018).
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    With respect to commenters' concerns regarding the inability of 
certain ETFs to assure compliance with the proposal, the Commission 
believes that a variety of means are available to ETP (including ETF) 
issuers to monitor for a product's compliance with the continued 
listing standards. For example, information regarding the composition 
of a third party index may be publicly available, or may be obtained 
from the index provider pursuant to provisions in the index licensing 
agreement, so that the ETP issuer can monitor its compliance on an 
ongoing basis. If an index approaches the thresholds set forth in the 
continued listing standards, the issuer may decide to engage in 
discussions with the index provider regarding potential modifications 
to the index so that the ETP can continue to be listed on the Exchange. 
If an index provider is unwilling to modify the index in order to 
comply with the Exchange's listing requirements, the Exchange may 
submit a rule proposal to continue to list the product based on the 
index.\22\ Moreover, as noted below, the listing standards that address 
the index composition with respect to certain index-based ETPs already 
apply equally on an initial and ongoing basis,\23\ so some ETP issuers 
should have experience complying with these requirements. With respect 
to commenters' questions regarding the Exchange's enforcement of the 
proposed continued listing requirements, the Commission notes that the 
Exchange is proposing to apply its existing delisting procedures to 
products listed under the Rule 5 and Rule 8 Series, rather than 
adopting new delisting procedures for these products.
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    \22\ The Commission also notes that the Exchange may 
preemptively submit a rule proposal to provide for the continued 
listing of a specific product where the underlying index is 
approaching thresholds in the continued listing requirements, but 
has not yet fallen below those thresholds (i.e., submit a rule 
proposal before the delisting procedures are triggered).
     For an example of an exchange rule proposal to continue the 
listing of a product that no longer meets generic listing standards, 
see Securities Exchange Act Release No. 57320 (February 13, 2008), 
73 FR 9395 (February 20, 2008) (SR-NYSEArca-2008-15).
    \23\ See infra note 26 and accompanying text.
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    With respect to commenters' concerns that the proposed listing 
standards would treat ETPs fundamentally differently than other types 
of listed equity securities, the Commission notes that ETPs and other 
types of equity securities each have certain listing standards that are 
higher on an initial basis and lower on a continuing basis.\24\ 
Similarly, ETPs and other types of equity securities each have certain 
listing standards that are the same on an initial and continuing 
basis.\25\ In fact, the listing standards that address the index 
composition with respect to certain index-based ETPs already apply 
equally on an initial and ongoing basis.\26\
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    \24\ See, e.g., Rule 8.202, Commentary .04(a) (requiring a 
minimum of 100,000 shares of a series of Currency Trust Shares to be 
outstanding at commencement of trading); and Rule 8.202(e)(2)(ii) 
(requiring 50,000 Currency Trust Shares issued and outstanding for 
continued listing).
    \25\ See, e.g., Rule 5.2(c) (requiring at least 400 public 
beneficial holders for the initial listing of common stock on the 
Exchange under the Alternate Listing Requirements); and Rule 5.5(b) 
(requiring at least 400 public beneficial holders as one option for 
the continued listing of common stock on the Exchange).
    \26\ See Rule 5.2(j)(6)(B)(IV) (setting forth the initial and 
continued listing requirements for Fixed Income Index-Linked 
Securities and stating that ``[t]he Corporation will commence 
delisting or removal proceedings if any of the initial listing 
criteria described above are not continuously maintained''). The 
Commission also notes that ETPs are structurally different from 
other types of equity securities. See Securities Exchange Act 
Release No. 53142 (January 19, 2006), 71 FR 4180, 4182 and 4187 
(January 25, 2006) (SR-NASD-2006-001) (approving generic listing 
standards for Index-Linked Securities, stating that ``[a]n Index 
Security, just like an ETF, derives its value by reference to the 
underlying index. For this reason, the Commission has required that 
markets that list index based securities monitor the qualifications 
of not just the actual security (e.g., the ETF, index option, or 
Index Securities), but also of the underlying indexes (and of the 
index providers),'' and where the NASD stated that ``[i]n contrast 
to a typical corporate security (e.g., a share of common stock of a 
corporation), whose value is determined by the interplay of supply 
and demand in the marketplace, the fair value of an index-based 
security can be determined only by reference to the underlying index 
itself, which is a proprietary creation of the particular index 
provider. For this reason, the Commission has always required that 
markets that list or trade index-based securities continuously 
monitor the qualifications of not just the actual securities being 
traded (e.g., exchange-traded funds (`ETF'), index options, or Index 
Securities), but also of the underlying indexes and of the index 
providers.'').
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    Finally, with respect to commenters' questions regarding the 
purpose of the proposal and its impact on the potential for 
manipulation and investor protection, the Commission notes that, in 
approving a wide variety of ETP listing standards, including standards 
that apply to underlying indexes or portfolios, the Commission has 
consistently explained that these standards, among other things,\27\ 
are intended to reduce the potential for manipulation by assuring that 
the ETP is sufficiently broad-based, and that the components of an 
index or portfolio underlying an ETP are adequately capitalized, 
sufficiently liquid, and that no one stock dominates the index.\28\
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    \27\ See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 54739 
(November 9, 2006), 71 FR 66993, 66997 (November 17, 2006) (SR-AMEX-
2006-78) (approving generic listing standards for Portfolio 
Depositary Receipts and Index Fund Shares based on international or 
global indexes, and stating that ``the proposed listing standards 
are designed to preclude ETFs from becoming surrogates for trading 
in unregistered securities'' and that ``the requirement that each 
component security underlying an ETF be listed on an exchange and 
subject to last-sale reporting should contribute to the transparency 
of the market for ETFs'' and that ``by requiring pricing information 
for both the relevant underlying index and the ETF to be readily 
available and disseminated, the proposal is designed to ensure a 
fair and orderly market for ETFs''); 53142 (January 19, 2006), 71 FR 
4180, 4186 (January 25, 2006) (SR-NASD-2006-001) (approving generic 
listing standards for Index-Linked Securities and stating that 
``[t]he Commission believes that by requiring pricing information 
for both the relevant underlying index or indexes and the Index 
Security to be readily available and disseminated, the proposed 
listing standards should help ensure a fair and orderly market for 
Index Securities''); 34758 (September 30, 1994), 59 FR 50943, 50945-
46 (October 6, 1994) (SR-NASD-94-49) (approving listing standards 
for Selected Equity-Linked Debt Securities (``SEEDS'') and stating 
that ``the listing standards and issuance restrictions should help 
to reduce the likelihood of any adverse market impact on the 
securities underlying SEEDS,'' and where the NASD stated that ``the 
proposed numerical, quantitative listing standards should ensure 
that only substantial companies capable of meeting their contingent 
obligations created by SEEDS are able to list such products on 
Nasdaq'').
    \28\ See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 54739 
(November 9, 2006), 71 FR 66993, 66996-97 (November 17, 2006) (SR-
AMEX-2006-78) (approving generic listing standards for Portfolio 
Depositary Receipts and Index Fund Shares based on international or 
global indexes, and stating that standards related to the 
composition of an index or portfolio underlying an ETF ``are 
designed, among other things, to require that components of an index 
or portfolio underlying an ETF are adequately capitalized and 
sufficiently liquid, and that no one stock dominates the index'' and 
that ``[t]aken together, the Commission finds that these standards 
are reasonably designed to ensure that stocks with substantial 
market capitalization and trading volume account for a substantial 
portion of any underlying index or portfolio, and that when applied 
in conjunction with the other applicable listing requirements, will 
permit the listing only of ETFs that are sufficiently broad-based in 
scope to minimize potential manipulation''); 53142 (January 19, 
2006), 71 FR 4180, 4186 (January 25, 2006) (SR-NASD-2006-001) 
(approving generic listing standards for Index-Linked Securities and 
stating that the listing standards for Index-Linked Securities, 
including minimum market capitalization, monthly trading volume, and 
relative weight requirements ``are designed to ensure that the 
trading markets for index components underlying Index Securities are 
adequately capitalized and sufficiently liquid, and that no one 
stock dominates the index. The Commission believes that these 
requirements should significantly minimize the potential for 
[[hairsp]] manipulation.''); 78397 (July 22, 2016), 81 FR 49320, 
49324-25 (July 27, 2016) (SR-NYSEArca-2015-110) (approving generic 
listing standards for Managed Fund Shares, noting the Exchange's 
statement that the proposed requirements for Managed Fund Shares are 
based in large part on the generic listing criteria currently 
applicable to Investment Company Units and stating that ``the 
Commission believes that this is an appropriate approach with 
respect to underlying asset classes covered by the existing generic 
standards, because the mere addition of active management to an ETF 
portfolio that would qualify for generic listing as an index-based 
ETF should not affect the portfolio's susceptibility to 
manipulation'').

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[[Page 13892]]

    For exchange listing standards to effectively achieve their goals, 
including to effectively address the potential for manipulation of a 
listed ETP, their application cannot be linked to only a single point 
in time (i.e., the time of initial listing). Instead, they must be 
applied on an ongoing basis. The Commission notes that, currently, 
certain provisions within the Rule 5 and Rule 8 Series impose specific 
listing requirements on an initial basis, without imposing ongoing 
listing requirements that are intended to achieve the same goals as 
these initial listing requirements.\29\ To fill this gap, the proposal 
would specify that certain listing requirements in the Rule 5 and Rule 
8 Series apply both on an initial and ongoing basis, rather than only 
at the time of initial listing.\30\ Also, with respect to non-
generically listed products, the Exchange proposes to amend the Rule 5 
and Rule 8 Series to state that all statements or representations in 
the proposed rule change regarding: (i) The description of the index, 
portfolio, or reference asset (as applicable to a specific product); 
(ii) limitations on index, portfolio holdings, or reference assets (as 
applicable to a specific product); or (iii) the applicability of 
Exchange listing rules (including, for example, statements and 
representations related to the dissemination of the intraday indicative 
value and index value, as applicable) specified in the proposed rule 
change constitute continued listing requirements.\31\
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    \29\ Moreover, certain of the listing requirements do not 
explicitly state that they apply on an ongoing, as well as initial, 
basis. In these cases, the proposal would make explicit that the 
requirements apply both on an initial and ongoing basis. See, e.g., 
proposed changes to Rule 8.100, Commentary .01(b) and (c) (making 
explicit that, for Portfolio Depository Receipts overlying an equity 
index or portfolio, requirements related to index methodology and 
index value dissemination, as well as intraday indicative value 
dissemination, apply on an initial and ongoing basis); proposed 
changes to Rule 5.2(j)(6)(A)(e) (making explicit that, for Index-
Linked Securities, the requirement related to tangible net worth 
applies on an initial and ongoing basis); proposed changes to Rule 
5.2(j)(7), Commentary .03 (making explicit that, for Trust 
Certificates, requirements related to the qualifications of a 
trustee and changes to a trustee apply on an initial and ongoing 
basis).
    \30\ For example, current Rule 8.100, Commentary .01(a) sets 
forth requirements for component stocks of an index or portfolio 
underlying a series of generically-listed Portfolio Depository 
Receipts, which apply upon initial listing. These requirements 
include, for example, minimum market value, minimum monthly trading 
volume, and concentration limits for the component stocks. The 
proposal would specify that these requirements apply both on an 
initial and continued basis.
    \31\ The Commission notes that it has approved proposed rule 
changes for the listing and trading of ETPs that included similar 
representations. See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release No. 
77548 (April 6, 2016), 81 FR 21626, 21630 (April 12, 2016) (SR-
NASDAQ-2015-161). The Commission also notes that similar types of 
requirements exist in the Exchange's rules. See, e.g., Rule 8.100, 
Commentary .01(b) and (c) (setting forth, among other things, index 
value dissemination and intraday indicative value dissemination 
requirements for certain generically-listed Portfolio Depository 
Receipts).
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    Because the proposal specifies continued listing requirements for 
products listed pursuant to the Rule 5 and Rule 8 Series, the 
Commission believes the proposal is designed to achieve on a continuing 
basis the goals of the listing requirements, including ensuring that 
the Exchange lists products that are not susceptible to manipulation 
and maintaining fair and orderly markets for the listed products. In 
particular,\32\ the Commission believes that the proposal is designed 
to ensure that stocks with substantial market capitalization and 
trading volume account for a substantial portion of the weight of an 
index or portfolio underlying a listed product; \33\ provide 
transparency regarding the components of an index or portfolio 
underlying a listed product; \34\ ensure that there is adequate 
liquidity in the listed product itself; \35\ and provide timely and 
fair disclosure of useful information that may be necessary to price 
the listed product.\36\ Moreover, the Commission believes that the 
proposal to require an issuer to notify the Exchange of its failures to 
comply with continued listing requirements would supplement the 
Exchange's own surveillance of the listed products.\37\
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    \32\ See also supra notes 27-28 (noting additional goals of the 
ETP listing standards).
    \33\ For example, as proposed, the requirements under Rule 
8.100, Commentary .01(a)(A), including minimum market value and 
minimum monthly trading volume requirements for components of the 
index or portfolio underlying Portfolio Depository Receipts, would 
apply both on an initial and ongoing basis. Also, for non-
generically listed products, the proposal would provide that 
statements or representations made in the proposed rule changes 
relating to the description of the index or portfolio, among other 
things, constitute continued listing requirements. See, e.g., 
proposed Rule 8.100(e).
    \34\ For example, as proposed, the requirements under Rule 
8.100, Commentary .01(a)(A), including the requirement that 
components of the index or portfolio underlying Portfolio Depository 
Receipts be exchange-listed and NMS stocks, would apply both on an 
initial and ongoing basis.
    \35\ For example, the Exchange proposes to amend Rule 5.2(j)(2) 
to explicitly provide that listing requirements for Equity-Linked 
Notes (``ELNs'') apply both on an initial and ongoing basis, 
including, for example, the minimum public distribution of an issue 
of ELNs.
    The Commission also believes that the proposal to delete the 
threshold of ``30 or more consecutive trading days'' in the 
requirements for the number of beneficial and/or record holders is 
consistent with the goal of ensuring that there is adequate 
liquidity in the listed product on an ongoing basis. As proposed, 
the Exchange would initiate delisting proceedings for a product if 
it fails to comply with the minimum number of beneficial and/or 
record holder requirement, even if the non-compliance does not 
continue for 30 consecutive trading days. See supra note 6.
    \36\ For example, the proposed changes to Rule 8.100, Commentary 
.01(b) and (c) would make explicit that the requirements related to 
the dissemination of the value of the index underlying Portfolio 
Depository Receipts and the intraday indicative value for Portfolio 
Depository Receipts apply on an initial and ongoing basis.
    \37\ The Commission notes that the concept of issuer 
notification is not novel. For example, in connection with its 
proposal to adopt generic listing standards for Managed Fund Shares, 
the Exchange stated that, prior to listing pursuant to the generic 
listing standards, an issuer would be required to represent to the 
Exchange that it will advise the Exchange of any failure by a series 
of Managed Fund Shares to comply with the continued listing 
requirements, and, pursuant to its obligations under Section 
19(g)(1) of the Act, the Exchange will monitor for compliance with 
the continued listing requirements. See Securities Exchange Act 
Release No. 78397 (July 22, 2016), 81 FR 49320, 49324 (July 27, 
2016) (SR-NYSEArca-2015-110).
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    As noted above, the proposal specifies the delisting procedures for 
products listed pursuant to the Rule 5 and Rule 8 Series. The 
Commission believes that the proposed amendments to Rule 5.5(m) would 
provide transparency regarding the process that the Exchange will 
follow if a listed product fails to meet its continued listing 
requirements. Also, as noted above, the proposed delisting procedures 
already exist and are not novel.
    Finally, the Commission believes that the conforming and technical 
proposed changes do not raise novel issues, are designed to further the 
goals of the listing standards, and provide clarity and consistency in 
the Exchange's rules.
    For the reasons discussed above, the Commission finds that the 
proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 2, is consistent 
with the Act.

IV. Accelerated Approval of Amendment No. 2

    As noted above, in Amendment No. 2, the Exchange: (i) Further 
amended rules within the Rule 5 and Rule 8 Series to reflect that 
certain listing requirements (including certain statements or 
representations in rule filings for the listing and trading of specific 
products) apply on an initial and ongoing basis; (ii) further amended 
rules within the Rule 5 and Rule 8 Series to consistently state that 
the Exchange will maintain surveillance procedures for listed products 
and will initiate delisting proceedings if continued listing 
requirements are not maintained; (iii) further amended rules within the 
Rule 5 and Rule 8 Series to provide that, in

[[Page 13893]]

a rule filing to list and trade a product, all statements or 
representations regarding the applicability of Exchange listing rules 
(including, for example, statements and representations related to the 
dissemination of the intraday indicative value and index value, as 
applicable) specified in such rule filing constitute continued listing 
requirements; (iv) specified an implementation date for the proposed 
changes; and (v) made other technical, clarifying, and conforming 
changes throughout the Rule 5 and Rule 8 Series. The Commission 
believes that Amendment No. 2 furthers the goals of the proposed rule 
change as discussed above, enhances consistency between the Exchange's 
proposal and recently approved proposals from other exchanges,\38\ and 
provides clarity and consistency within the Exchange's rules. 
Accordingly, the Commission finds good cause, pursuant to Section 
19(b)(2) of the Act,\39\ to approve the proposed rule change, as 
modified by Amendment No. 2, on an accelerated basis.
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    \38\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 79784 (January 12, 
2017), 82 FR 6664 (January 19, 2017) (SR-NASDAQ-2016-135) and 80169 
(March 7, 2017) (SR-BatsBZX-2016-80).
    \39\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
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V. Solicitation of Comments on Amendment No. 2

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether Amendment No. 2 
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-2017-01 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEArca-2017-01. 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 the filing also will be available 
for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All 
comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does 
not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should 
submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All 
submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEArca-2017-01 and should 
be submitted on or before April 5, 2017.

VI. Conclusion

    It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the 
Act,\40\ that the proposed rule change (SR-NYSEArca-2017-01), as 
modified by Amendment No. 2, be, and hereby is, approved on an 
accelerated basis.
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    \40\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\41\
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
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    \41\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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[FR Doc. 2017-05090 Filed 3-14-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P