J.P. Morgan Fleming Series Trust and J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc.; Notice of Application, 29186-29189 [E6-7638]
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29186
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 97 / Friday, May 19, 2006 / Notices
accommodations after this date but
cannot guarantee their availability. The
meeting site is accessible to individuals
with disabilities.
DATE AND TIME: Open sessions—June 6,
2006, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from
3 p.m. to 6 p.m.; and June 7, 2006, from
8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Closed Session—June 6,
2006, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The National Institute for
Literacy, 1775 I Street, NW., Suite 730,
Washington, DC 20006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Liz
Hollis, Special Assistant to the Director;
National Institute for Literacy, 1775 I
Street, NW., Suite 730, Washington, DC
20006; telephone number: (202) 233–
2072; e-mail: ehollis@nifl.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board
is established under section 242 of the
Workforce Investment Act of 1998,
Public Law 105–220 (20 U.S.C. 9252).
The Board consists of ten individuals
appointed by the President with the
advice and consent of the Senate. The
Board advises and makes
recommendations to the Interagency
Group that administers the Institute.
The Interagency Group is composed of
the Secretaries of Education, Labor, and
Health and Human Services. The
Interagency Group considers the Board’s
recommendations in planning the goals
of the Institute and in implementing any
programs to achieve those goals.
Specifically, the Board performs the
following functions: (a) Makes
recommendations concerning the
appointment of the Director and the
staff of the Institute; (b) provides
independent advice on operation of the
Institute; and (c) receives reports from
the Interagency Group and the
Institute’s Director.
The National Institute for Literacy
Advisory Board will meet June 6–7,
2006. On June 6, 2006 from 8:30 a.m. to
1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.; and
June 7, 2006 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., the
Board will meet in open session to
discuss the Institute’s program
priorities; status of on-going Institute
work; and other Board business as
necessary. On June 6, 2006 from 1 p.m.
to 3 p.m., the Board meeting will meet
in closed session in order to discuss
personnel issues. This discussion relates
to the internal personnel rules and
practices of the Institute and is likely to
disclose information of personal nature
where disclosure would constitute a
clearly unwarranted invasion of
personnel privacy. The discussion must
therefore be held in closed session
under exemptions 2 and 6 of the
Government in the Sunshine Act, 5
U.S.C. 552b(c)(2) and (6). A summary of
the activities at the closed session and
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related matters that are informative to
the public and consistent with the
policy of 5 U.S.C. 552b will be available
to the public within 14 days of the
meeting.
The National Institute for Literacy
Advisory Board meeting on June 6–7,
2006, will focus on future and current
program activities, presentations by
education researchers, and other
relevant literacy activities and issues.
Records are kept of all Advisory
Board proceedings and are available for
public inspection at the National
Institute for Literacy, 1775 I Street, NW.,
Suite 730, Washington, DC 20006, from
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Dated: May 11, 2006.
Sandra L. Baxter,
Director.
[FR Doc. E6–7655 Filed 5–18–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6055–01–P
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Notice of Permit Application Received
Under the Antarctic Conservation Act
of 1978
application under this Regulation for
the continued operation of a small
remote research camp at Cape Shirreff,
Livingston Island, Antarctica
(62°28′07″S, 60°46′10″W), for another
five years to continue predator-prey
studies initiated in 1996 at the site. The
permit period requested is from October
15, 2006 to April 15, 2011. Cape Shirreff
is an ice-free peninsula towards the
western end of the north coast of
Livingston Island, and is designated an
Antarctic Specially Protected Area No.
149 under the Antarctic Treaty. The
camp consists of approximately four
semi-permanent structures containing
work, living, and storage spaces. During
the field season from early September
through the end of March of each year,
four to six scientists will utilize the
camp.
The permit applicant is: Dr. Rennie S.
Holt, Director, U.S. AMLR Program,
Southwest Fisheries Science Center,
National Marine Fisheries Service, 8604
La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA
92038.
AGENCY:
Polly A. Penhale,
Environmental Officer.
[FR Doc. 06–4688 Filed 5–18–06; 8:45am]
ACTION:
BILLING CODE 7555–01–M
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that
the National Science Foundation (NSF)
has received a waste management
permit application for continued
operation of a small research camp at
Cape Shirreff, Livingston Island,
Antarctica, by Dr. Rennie S. Holt, a
citizen of the United States. The
application is submitted to NSF
pursuant to regulations issued under the
Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978.
DATES: Interested parties are invited to
submit written data, comments, or
views with respect to this permit
application by June 19, 2006. Permit
applications may be inspected by
interested parties at the Permit Office,
address below.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be
addressed to Permit Office, Room 755,
Office of Polar Programs, National
Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson
Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
Polly A. Penhale, Environmental Officer
at the above address or (703) 292–8030.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NSF’s
Antarctic Waste Regulation, 45 CFR part
671, requires all U.S. citizens and
entities to obtain a permit for the use or
release of a designated pollutant in
Antarctica, and for the release of waste
in Antarctica. NSF has received a permit
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
National Science Foundation.
Notice of permit applications
received under the Antarctic
Conservation Act.
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[Investment Company Act Release No.
27320; 812–13189]
J.P. Morgan Fleming Series Trust and
J.P. Morgan Investment Management
Inc.; Notice of Application
May 15, 2006.
Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘Commission’’).
ACTION: Notice of an application under
section 6(c) of the Investment Company
Act of 1940 (‘‘Act’’) for an exemption
from section 15(a) of the Act and rule
18f–2 under the Act, as well as certain
disclosure requirements.
AGENCY:
Applicants
request an order that would permit them
to enter into and materially amend
subadvisory agreements without
shareholder approval and would grant
relief from certain disclosure
requirements.
APPLICANTS: J.P. Morgan Fleming Series
Trust (the ‘‘Trust’’) and J.P. Morgan
Investment Management Inc. (the
‘‘Manager’’).
FILING DATES: The application was filed
on May 17, 2005 and amended on May
8, 2006.
SUMMARY OF APPLICATION:
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An
order granting the application 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 June 12, 2006, and
should be accompanied by proof of
service on the applicants, in the form of
an affidavit or, for lawyers, a certificate
of service. Hearing requests should state
the nature of the writer’s interest, the
reason for the request, and the issues
contested. Persons may request
notification of a hearing by writing to
the Commission’s Secretary.
ADDRESSES: Secretary, U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street
NE., Washington DC 20549–1090.
Applicants, Stephen M. Benham, Esq.,
J.P. Morgan Investment Management
Inc., 522 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY,
10036.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Laura J. Riegel, Senior Counsel, at (202)
551–6873, or Nadya B. Roytblat,
Assistant Director, at (202) 551–6821
(Division of Investment Management,
Office of Investment Company
Regulation).
HEARING OR NOTIFICATION OF HEARING:
The
following is a summary of the
application. The complete application
may be obtained for a fee at the
Commission’s Public Reference Branch,
100 F Street NE, Washington DC 20549–
0102 (tel. 202–551–5850).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Applicants’ Representations
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1. The Trust is organized as a
Massachusetts business trust and is
registered under the Act as an open-end
management investment company. The
Trust currently offers two series, each of
which has its own investment
objectives, restrictions, and policies
(each current or future series, a ‘‘Fund’’
and collectively, the ‘‘Funds’’). Certain
of the Funds use or may use the multimanager structure described below
(each, a ‘‘Multi-Manager Fund,’’ and
collectively, the ‘‘Multi-Manager
Funds’’).1 The Manager is registered as
1Applicants request that any relief granted that
pursuant to the application also apply to any other
existing or future registered open-management
investment company or series thereof that: (i) is
advised by the Manager or any entity controlling,
controlled by, or under common control with the
Manager; and (ii) adopts the multi-manager
structure described in the application (included in
the term ‘‘Multi-Manager Funds’’). Any MultiManager Fund that relies on the requested order
will do so only in accordance with the terms and
conditions contained in the application. The Trust
is the only existing registered open-end
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an investment adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940
(‘‘Advisers Act’’) and provides
investment management services to the
Funds pursuant to an investment
advisory and management agreement
with the Trust (‘‘Advisory Agreement’’).
The Advisory Agreement has been
approved by the board of trustees of the
Trust (the ‘‘Board’’), including a
majority of the trustees who are not
‘‘interested persons,’’ as defined in
section 2(a)(19) of the Act, of the Trust
(‘‘Disinterested Board Members’’), as
well by each Fund’s shareholders.
2. Under the terms of the Advisory
Agreement, the Manager oversees the
investments of the Multi-Manager
Funds and manages each MultiManager’s business affairs, subject to
oversight by the Board. The Advisory
Agreement also provides that the
Manager may select and contract with
one or more investment advisers (‘‘SubAdvisers’’) to exercise day-to-day
investment discretion over all or a
portion of the assets of the MultiManager Funds (each such agreement, a
‘‘Sub-advisory Agreement’’ and
collectively, the ‘‘Sub-advisory
Agreements’’). The Manager monitors
and evaluates the Sub-Advisers and
recommends to the Board their hiring,
retention or termination. Sub-Advisers
recommended to the Board by the
Manager have been, or will be, selected
and approved by the Board, including a
majority of the Disinterested Board
Members. Each Sub-Adviser to a MultiManager Fund is, and any future SubAdviser to a Multi-Manager Fund will
be, an investment adviser registered
under the Advisers Act. The Manager
compensates or will compensate each
Sub-Adviser out of the fees paid to the
Manager under the Advisory
Agreement.
3. Applicants request relief to permit
the Manager to enter into and materially
amend Sub-advisory Agreements
without obtaining shareholder approval.
The requested relief will not extend to
any Sub-Adviser that is an affiliated
person, as defined in section 2(a)(3) of
the Act, of a Multi-Manager Fund or the
Manager, other than by reason of serving
as a Sub-Adviser to one or more of the
Funds (‘‘Affiliated Sub-Adviser’’). None
of the current Sub-Advisers is an
Affiliated Sub-Adviser.
management investment company that currently
intends to rely on the order. If the name of any
Multi-Manager Fund contains the name of a SubAdviser (asdefined below), then the name of the
Manager or the name of the entity controlling,
controlled by, or under commond control with the
Manager that serves as the primary adviser to the
Multi-Manager Fund will precede the name of the
Sub-Adviser.
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4. Applicants also request an
exemption from the various disclosure
provisions described below that may
require the Multi-Manager Funds to
disclose the fees paid by the Manager to
the Sub-Advisers. An exemption is
requested to permit a Multi-Manager
Fund to disclose (as both a dollar
amount and as a percentage of the
Multi-Manager Fund’s net assets): (a)
the aggregate fees paid to the Manager
and any Affiliated Sub-Advisers; and (b)
the aggregate fees paid to Sub-Advisers
other than Affiliated Sub-Advisers
(‘‘Aggregate Fees’’). If a Multi-Manager
Fund employs an Affiliated SubAdviser, the Fund will provide separate
disclosure of any fees paid to the
Affiliated Sub-Adviser.
Applicants’ Legal Analysis
1. Section 15(a) of the Act provides,
in relevant part, that it is unlawful for
any person to act as an investment
adviser to a registered investment
company except under a written
contract that has been approved by the
vote of a majority of the company’s
outstanding voting securities. Rule 18f–
2 under the Act provides that each
series or class of stock in a series
company affected by a matter must
approve such matter if the Act requires
shareholder approval.
2. Form N–1A is the registration
statement used by open-end investment
companies. Item 14(a)(3) of Form N–1A
requires disclosure of the method and
amount of the investment adviser’s
compensation.
3. Rule 20a–1 under the Act requires
proxies solicited with respect to an
investment company to comply with
Schedule 14A under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘1934 Act’’).
Items 22(c)(1)(ii), 22(c)(1)(iii), 22(c)(8)
and 22(c)(9) of Schedule 14A, taken
together, require a proxy statement for a
shareholder meeting at which the
advisory contract will be voted upon to
include the ‘‘rate of compensation of the
investment adviser,’’ the ‘‘aggregate
amount of the investment adviser’s
fees,’’ a description of the ‘‘terms of the
contract to be acted upon,’’ and, if a
change in the advisory fee is proposed,
the existing and proposed fees and the
difference between the two fees.
4. Form N–SAR is the semi-annual
report filed with the Commission by
registered investment companies. Item
48 of Form N–SAR requires investment
companies to disclose the rate schedule
for fees paid to their investment
advisers, including the Sub-Advisers.
5. Regulation S–X sets forth the
requirements for financial statements
required to be included as part of
investment company registration
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statements and shareholder reports filed
with the Commission. Sections 6–
07(2)(a), (b), and (c) of Regulation S–X
require that investment companies
include in their financial statements
information about investment advisory
fees.
6. Section 6(c) 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 provisions of the
Act, or from any rule thereunder, 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. Applicants
state that their requested relief meets
this standard for the reasons discussed
below.
7. Applicants assert that by investing
in a Multi-Manager Fund, shareholders,
in effect, will hire the Manager to
manage the Multi-Manager Fund’s
assets by using its investment adviser
selection and monitoring process.
Applicants assert that investors will
purchase Multi-Manager Fund shares to
gain access to the Manager’s expertise in
these areas. Applicants further assert
that the requested relief will reduce
Multi-Manager Fund expenses and
enable the Multi-Manager Funds to
operate more efficiently. Applicants
note that the Advisory Agreement will
remain subject to the shareholder
approval requirements of section 15(a)
and rule 18f–2.
8. Applicants assert that many SubAdvisers charge their customers for
advisory services according to a
‘‘posted’’ fee schedule. Applicants state
that while Sub-Advisers are willing to
negotiate fees that are lower than those
posted on the schedule, they are
reluctant to do so where the fees are
disclosed to other prospective and
existing customers. Applicants submit
that the requested relief will better
enable the Manager to negotiate lower
advisory fees with the Sub-Advisers, the
benefits of which would be passed on to
the shareholders of the Multi-Manager
Funds.
Applicants’ Conditions
Applicants agree that any order
granting the requested relief will be
subject to the following conditions:
1. Before a Multi-Manager Fund may
rely on the requested order, the
operation of the Multi-Manager Fund in
the manner described in the application
will be approved by a majority of the
Multi-Manager Fund’s outstanding
voting securities, as defined in the Act,
or, in the case of a Multi-Manager Fund
whose public shareholders purchase
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shares on the basis of a prospectus
containing the disclosure contemplated
by condition 2 below, by the initial
shareholder(s) prior to offering shares of
the Multi-Manager Fund to the public.
2. Each Multi-Manager Fund will
disclose in its prospectus the existence,
substance and effect of any order
granted pursuant to the application. In
addition, each Multi-Manager Fund will
hold itself out to the public as
employing the multi-manager approach
described in the application. The
prospectus will prominently disclose
that the Manager has ultimate
responsibility (subject to oversight by
the Board) for the investment
performance of the Multi-Manager Fund
due to its responsibility to oversee SubAdvisers and recommend their hiring,
termination and replacement.
3. Within 90 days of the hiring of any
new Sub-Adviser, the Manager will
furnish shareholders of the affected
Multi-Manager Fund with all of the
information about the new Sub-Adviser
that would be contained in a proxy
statement, except as modified by the
order to permit the disclosure of
Aggregate Fees. This information will
include the disclosure of Aggregate Fees
and any change in such disclosure
caused by the addition of a new SubAdviser. The Manager will meet this
condition by providing shareholders
with an information statement meeting
the requirements of Regulation 14C,
Schedule 14C and Item 22 of Schedule
14A under the 1934 Act, except as
modified by the order to permit the
disclosure of Aggregate Fees.
4. The Manager will not enter into a
Sub-advisory Agreement with any
Affiliated Sub-Adviser without such
agreement, including the compensation
to be paid thereunder, being approved
by the shareholders of the affected
Multi-Manager Fund.
5. At all times, at least a majority of
the Board will be Disinterested Board
Members, and the nomination of new or
additional Disinterested Board Members
will be placed within the discretion of
the then-existing Disinterested Board
Members. The Board also will satisfy
the fund governance standards defined
in rule 0–1(a)(7) under the Act.
6. When a change of Sub-Adviser is
proposed for a Multi-Manager Fund
with an Affiliated Sub-Adviser, the
Board, including a majority of the
Disinterested Board Members, will make
a separate finding, reflected in the Board
minutes, that such change is in the best
interests of the Multi-Manager Fund and
its shareholders and does not involve a
conflict of interest from which the
Manager or an Affiliated Sub-Adviser
derives an inappropriate advantage.
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7. The Manager will provide general
management services to each MultiManager Fund, including overall
supervisory responsibility for the
general management and investment of
the Multi-Manager Fund’s assets and,
subject to review and approval of the
Board, will: (i) Set the Multi-Manager
Fund’s overall investment strategies; (ii)
evaluate, select and recommend SubAdvisers to manage all or a part of the
Multi-Manager Fund’s assets; (iii) when
appropriate, allocate and reallocate the
Multi-Manager Fund’s assets among
multiple Sub-Advisers; (iv) monitor and
evaluate the Sub-Advisers’ performance;
and (v) implement procedures
reasonably designed to ensure that the
Sub-Advisers comply with the MultiManager Fund’s investment objectives,
policies and restrictions.
8. No trustee or officer of a MultiManager Fund, or director or officer of
the Manager will own directly or
indirectly (other than through a pooled
investment vehicle over which such
person does not have control) any
interest in a Sub-Adviser except for: (i)
ownership of interests in the Manager or
any entity that controls, is controlled by,
or is under common control with the
Manager; or (ii) ownership of less than
1% of the outstanding securities of any
class of equity or debt of a publicly
traded company that is either a SubAdviser or an entity that controls, is
controlled by, or is under common
control with a Sub-Adviser.
9. Each Multi-Manager Fund will
disclose in its registration statement the
Aggregate Fees.
10. Independent legal counsel, as
defined in rule 0–1(a)(6) under the Act,
will be engaged to represent the
Disinterested Board Members. The
selection of such counsel will be within
the discretion of the then-existing
Disinterested Board Members.
11. The Manager will provide the
Board, no less frequently than quarterly,
with information about the Manager’s
profitability on a per-Multi-Manager
Fund basis. The information will reflect
the impact on profitability of the hiring
or termination of any Sub-Adviser
during the applicable quarter.
12. Whenever a Sub-Adviser is hired
or terminated, the Manager will provide
the Board with information showing the
expected impact on the Manager’s
profitability.
13. The requested order will expire on
the effective date of rule 15a–5 under
the Act, if adopted.
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For the Commission, by the Division of
Investment Management, under delegated
authority.
Jill M. Peterson
Assistant Secretary
[FR Doc. E6–7638 Filed 5–18–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. IC–27318; 812–13291]
Morgan Stanley and Co. Incorporated,
et al.; Notice of Application and
Temporary Order
May 15, 2006.
Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘Commission’’).
ACTION: Temporary order and notice of
application for a permanent order under
section 9(c) of the Investment Company
Act of 1940 (‘‘Act’’).
AGENCY:
Applicants
have received a temporary order
exempting them and any other company
of which Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated (‘‘MS&Co.’’) is or in the
future becomes an affiliated person
(‘‘Covered Persons’’) from section 9(a) of
the Act with respect to an injunction
entered against MS&Co. on May 12,
2006 by the U.S. District Court for the
District of Columbia (the ‘‘Injunction’’),
until the Commission takes final action
on an application for a permanent order.
Applicants also have applied for a
permanent order with respect to the
Injunction.
APPLICANTS: MS&Co., Morgan Stanley
AIP GP LP, Morgan Stanley Asset &
Investment Trust Management Co.,
Limited, Morgan Stanley Investment
Advisors Inc., Morgan Stanley
Investment Management Company,
Morgan Stanley Investment
Management Inc., Morgan Stanley
Investment Management Limited, Van
Kampen Advisors Inc., and Van
Kampen Asset Management (together,
the ‘‘Advisers’’); Morgan Stanley
Distribution, Inc., Morgan Stanley
Distributors Inc., and Van Kampen
Funds Inc. (together, the
‘‘Underwriters’’); Morgan Stanley
Capital Partners III, Inc., Morgan Stanley
Global Emerging Markets, Inc., Morgan
Stanley Private Equity Asia, Inc.,
Morgan Stanley Venture Capital III, Inc.,
MSDW Capital Partners IV, Inc., MSDW
OIP Investors, Inc., MSDW Real Estate
Special Situations II Manager, L.L.C.,
MSDW Venture Partners IV, Inc.,
MSREF II, Inc., MSREF III, Inc., MSREF
IV, L.L.C., MSREF V, L.L.C. and MSVP
2002, Inc. (together, ‘‘ESC Managers’’
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SUMMARY OF APPLICATION:
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and, with the Advisers and
Underwriters, the ‘‘Applicants’’).
FILING DATES: The application was filed
on May 10, 2006. 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 application 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 June 9, 2006, and
should be accompanied by proof of
service on Applicants, in the form of an
affidavit, or for lawyers, a certificate of
service. Hearing requests should state
the nature of the writer’s interest, 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, U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission, 100 F
Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549–
1090; Applicants, c/o Barry Fink, Esq.,
Morgan Stanley, 1221 Avenue of the
Americas, 22nd Floor, New York, NY
10020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John
Yoder, Senior Counsel, at (202) 551–
6878, or Mary Kay Frech, Branch Chief,
at (202) 551–6821 (Division of
Investment Management, Office of
Investment Company Regulation).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
following is a summary of the
application. The complete application
may be obtained for a fee at the Public
Reference Desk, U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission, 100 F Street,
NE., Washington DC 20549–0102,
(telephone (202) 551–5850).
Applicants’ Representations
1. Each Applicant is a direct or
indirect subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, a
Delaware corporation. Morgan Stanley
is a publicly held global financial
services company that, through its
subsidiaries and affiliates, provides
investment, financing, advisory,
insurance, banking and related products
and services. MS&Co., a Delaware
corporation, is a global financial
services firm and is registered as a
broker-dealer under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the ‘‘Exchange
Act’’) and as an investment adviser
under the Investment Advisers Act of
1940. MS&Co. serves as principal
underwriter for, and the other
Applicants serve as investment adviser,
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29189
subadviser, depositor or principal
underwriter for, numerous registered
investment companies (‘‘Funds’’). The
ESC Managers serve as the general
partner or investment adviser to certain
employees’ securities companies
operating pursuant to Commission
orders (included in the term ‘‘Funds’’).1
2. On May 12, 2006, the U.S. District
Court for the District of Columbia
entered the Injunction against MS&Co.
in a matter brought by the Commission.2
The Commission alleged in the
complaint (‘‘Complaint’’) that MS&Co.
violated section 17(b) of the Exchange
Act and rule 17a–4(j) thereunder of the
Exchange Act by failing to produce emails to the Commission staff pursuant
to Commission subpoenas and requests
in the Commission’s investigation into
MS&Co.’s practices in allocating shares
of stock in initial public offerings and
an investigation into conflicts of interest
between the firm’s research and
investment banking practices. Without
admitting or denying any of the
allegations in the Complaint, except as
to jurisdiction, MS&Co. consented to the
entry of the Injunction as well as the
payment of a civil penalty of $15
million.3
Applicants’ Legal Analysis
1. Section 9(a)(2) of the Act, in
relevant part, prohibits a person who
has been enjoined from engaging in or
continuing any conduct or practice in
connection with the purchase or sale of
a security from acting, among other
things, as an investment adviser or
depositor of any registered investment
company or a principal underwriter for
any registered open-end investment
company, registered unit investment
trust or registered face-amount
certificate company. Section 9(a)(3) of
the Act makes the prohibition in section
9(a)(2) applicable to a company, any
affiliated person of which has been
disqualified under the provisions of
section 9(a)(2). Section 2(a)(3) of the Act
defines ‘‘affiliated person’’ to include
any person directly or indirectly
controlling, controlled by, or under
common control with, the other person.
1 Morgan Stanley Capital Investors, L.P.,
Investment Company Act Release Nos. 24340 (Mar.
17, 2000) (notice) and 24389 (Apr. 12, 2000) (order);
Morgan Stanley Venture Investors, L.P., Investment
Company Act Release Nos. 20206 (Apr. 8, 1994)
(notice) and 20276 (May 4, 1994) (order).
2 U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission v.
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Final Judgment
Against Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated,
06:CV00882 (RCL) (D.D.C., filed May 12, 2006).
3 The civil penalty would be reduced by any
amounts up to $5,000,000 paid by MS&Co. pursuant
to its agreements with NASD and the New York
Stock Exchange to pay a total of $5,000,000 in
penalties in related proceedings.
E:\FR\FM\19MYN1.SGM
19MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 97 (Friday, May 19, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29186-29189]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-7638]
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Investment Company Act Release No. 27320; 812-13189]
J.P. Morgan Fleming Series Trust and J.P. Morgan Investment
Management Inc.; Notice of Application
May 15, 2006.
AGENCY: Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'').
ACTION: Notice of an application under section 6(c) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (``Act'') for an exemption from section 15(a) of
the Act and rule 18f-2 under the Act, as well as certain disclosure
requirements.
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Summary of Application: Applicants request an order that would permit
them to enter into and materially amend subadvisory agreements without
shareholder approval and would grant relief from certain disclosure
requirements.
Applicants: J.P. Morgan Fleming Series Trust (the ``Trust'') and J.P.
Morgan Investment Management Inc. (the ``Manager'').
Filing Dates: The application was filed on May 17, 2005 and amended on
May 8, 2006.
[[Page 29187]]
Hearing or Notification of Hearing: An order granting the application
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 June 12, 2006, and should be accompanied by proof of service on
the applicants, in the form of an affidavit or, for lawyers, a
certificate of service. Hearing requests should state the nature of the
writer's interest, the reason for the request, and the issues
contested. Persons may request notification of a hearing by writing to
the Commission's Secretary.
Addresses: Secretary, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F
Street NE., Washington DC 20549-1090. Applicants, Stephen M. Benham,
Esq., J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc., 522 Fifth Avenue, New
York, NY, 10036.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura J. Riegel, Senior Counsel, at
(202) 551-6873, or Nadya B. Roytblat, Assistant Director, at (202) 551-
6821 (Division of Investment Management, Office of Investment Company
Regulation).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following is a summary of the
application. The complete application may be obtained for a fee at the
Commission's Public Reference Branch, 100 F Street NE, Washington DC
20549-0102 (tel. 202-551-5850).
Applicants' Representations
1. The Trust is organized as a Massachusetts business trust and is
registered under the Act as an open-end management investment company.
The Trust currently offers two series, each of which has its own
investment objectives, restrictions, and policies (each current or
future series, a ``Fund'' and collectively, the ``Funds''). Certain of
the Funds use or may use the multi-manager structure described below
(each, a ``Multi-Manager Fund,'' and collectively, the ``Multi-Manager
Funds'').\1\ The Manager is registered as an investment adviser under
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (``Advisers Act'') and provides
investment management services to the Funds pursuant to an investment
advisory and management agreement with the Trust (``Advisory
Agreement''). The Advisory Agreement has been approved by the board of
trustees of the Trust (the ``Board''), including a majority of the
trustees who are not ``interested persons,'' as defined in section
2(a)(19) of the Act, of the Trust (``Disinterested Board Members''), as
well by each Fund's shareholders.
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\1\Applicants request that any relief granted that pursuant to
the application also apply to any other existing or future
registered open-management investment company or series thereof
that: (i) is advised by the Manager or any entity controlling,
controlled by, or under common control with the Manager; and (ii)
adopts the multi-manager structure described in the application
(included in the term ``Multi-Manager Funds''). Any Multi-Manager
Fund that relies on the requested order will do so only in
accordance with the terms and conditions contained in the
application. The Trust is the only existing registered open-end
management investment company that currently intends to rely on the
order. If the name of any Multi-Manager Fund contains the name of a
Sub-Adviser (asdefined below), then the name of the Manager or the
name of the entity controlling, controlled by, or under commond
control with the Manager that serves as the primary adviser to the
Multi-Manager Fund will precede the name of the Sub-Adviser.
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2. Under the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Manager oversees
the investments of the Multi-Manager Funds and manages each Multi-
Manager's business affairs, subject to oversight by the Board. The
Advisory Agreement also provides that the Manager may select and
contract with one or more investment advisers (``Sub-Advisers'') to
exercise day-to-day investment discretion over all or a portion of the
assets of the Multi-Manager Funds (each such agreement, a ``Sub-
advisory Agreement'' and collectively, the ``Sub-advisory
Agreements''). The Manager monitors and evaluates the Sub-Advisers and
recommends to the Board their hiring, retention or termination. Sub-
Advisers recommended to the Board by the Manager have been, or will be,
selected and approved by the Board, including a majority of the
Disinterested Board Members. Each Sub-Adviser to a Multi-Manager Fund
is, and any future Sub-Adviser to a Multi-Manager Fund will be, an
investment adviser registered under the Advisers Act. The Manager
compensates or will compensate each Sub-Adviser out of the fees paid to
the Manager under the Advisory Agreement.
3. Applicants request relief to permit the Manager to enter into
and materially amend Sub-advisory Agreements without obtaining
shareholder approval. The requested relief will not extend to any Sub-
Adviser that is an affiliated person, as defined in section 2(a)(3) of
the Act, of a Multi-Manager Fund or the Manager, other than by reason
of serving as a Sub-Adviser to one or more of the Funds (``Affiliated
Sub-Adviser''). None of the current Sub-Advisers is an Affiliated Sub-
Adviser.
4. Applicants also request an exemption from the various disclosure
provisions described below that may require the Multi-Manager Funds to
disclose the fees paid by the Manager to the Sub-Advisers. An exemption
is requested to permit a Multi-Manager Fund to disclose (as both a
dollar amount and as a percentage of the Multi-Manager Fund's net
assets): (a) the aggregate fees paid to the Manager and any Affiliated
Sub-Advisers; and (b) the aggregate fees paid to Sub-Advisers other
than Affiliated Sub-Advisers (``Aggregate Fees''). If a Multi-Manager
Fund employs an Affiliated Sub-Adviser, the Fund will provide separate
disclosure of any fees paid to the Affiliated Sub-Adviser.
Applicants' Legal Analysis
1. Section 15(a) of the Act provides, in relevant part, that it is
unlawful for any person to act as an investment adviser to a registered
investment company except under a written contract that has been
approved by the vote of a majority of the company's outstanding voting
securities. Rule 18f-2 under the Act provides that each series or class
of stock in a series company affected by a matter must approve such
matter if the Act requires shareholder approval.
2. Form N-1A is the registration statement used by open-end
investment companies. Item 14(a)(3) of Form N-1A requires disclosure of
the method and amount of the investment adviser's compensation.
3. Rule 20a-1 under the Act requires proxies solicited with respect
to an investment company to comply with Schedule 14A under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``1934 Act''). Items 22(c)(1)(ii),
22(c)(1)(iii), 22(c)(8) and 22(c)(9) of Schedule 14A, taken together,
require a proxy statement for a shareholder meeting at which the
advisory contract will be voted upon to include the ``rate of
compensation of the investment adviser,'' the ``aggregate amount of the
investment adviser's fees,'' a description of the ``terms of the
contract to be acted upon,'' and, if a change in the advisory fee is
proposed, the existing and proposed fees and the difference between the
two fees.
4. Form N-SAR is the semi-annual report filed with the Commission
by registered investment companies. Item 48 of Form N-SAR requires
investment companies to disclose the rate schedule for fees paid to
their investment advisers, including the Sub-Advisers.
5. Regulation S-X sets forth the requirements for financial
statements required to be included as part of investment company
registration
[[Page 29188]]
statements and shareholder reports filed with the Commission. Sections
6-07(2)(a), (b), and (c) of Regulation S-X require that investment
companies include in their financial statements information about
investment advisory fees.
6. Section 6(c) 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 provisions of the Act, or
from any rule thereunder, 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. Applicants state that their requested relief meets this standard
for the reasons discussed below.
7. Applicants assert that by investing in a Multi-Manager Fund,
shareholders, in effect, will hire the Manager to manage the Multi-
Manager Fund's assets by using its investment adviser selection and
monitoring process. Applicants assert that investors will purchase
Multi-Manager Fund shares to gain access to the Manager's expertise in
these areas. Applicants further assert that the requested relief will
reduce Multi-Manager Fund expenses and enable the Multi-Manager Funds
to operate more efficiently. Applicants note that the Advisory
Agreement will remain subject to the shareholder approval requirements
of section 15(a) and rule 18f-2.
8. Applicants assert that many Sub-Advisers charge their customers
for advisory services according to a ``posted'' fee schedule.
Applicants state that while Sub-Advisers are willing to negotiate fees
that are lower than those posted on the schedule, they are reluctant to
do so where the fees are disclosed to other prospective and existing
customers. Applicants submit that the requested relief will better
enable the Manager to negotiate lower advisory fees with the Sub-
Advisers, the benefits of which would be passed on to the shareholders
of the Multi-Manager Funds.
Applicants' Conditions
Applicants agree that any order granting the requested relief will
be subject to the following conditions:
1. Before a Multi-Manager Fund may rely on the requested order, the
operation of the Multi-Manager Fund in the manner described in the
application will be approved by a majority of the Multi-Manager Fund's
outstanding voting securities, as defined in the Act, or, in the case
of a Multi-Manager Fund whose public shareholders purchase shares on
the basis of a prospectus containing the disclosure contemplated by
condition 2 below, by the initial shareholder(s) prior to offering
shares of the Multi-Manager Fund to the public.
2. Each Multi-Manager Fund will disclose in its prospectus the
existence, substance and effect of any order granted pursuant to the
application. In addition, each Multi-Manager Fund will hold itself out
to the public as employing the multi-manager approach described in the
application. The prospectus will prominently disclose that the Manager
has ultimate responsibility (subject to oversight by the Board) for the
investment performance of the Multi-Manager Fund due to its
responsibility to oversee Sub-Advisers and recommend their hiring,
termination and replacement.
3. Within 90 days of the hiring of any new Sub-Adviser, the Manager
will furnish shareholders of the affected Multi-Manager Fund with all
of the information about the new Sub-Adviser that would be contained in
a proxy statement, except as modified by the order to permit the
disclosure of Aggregate Fees. This information will include the
disclosure of Aggregate Fees and any change in such disclosure caused
by the addition of a new Sub-Adviser. The Manager will meet this
condition by providing shareholders with an information statement
meeting the requirements of Regulation 14C, Schedule 14C and Item 22 of
Schedule 14A under the 1934 Act, except as modified by the order to
permit the disclosure of Aggregate Fees.
4. The Manager will not enter into a Sub-advisory Agreement with
any Affiliated Sub-Adviser without such agreement, including the
compensation to be paid thereunder, being approved by the shareholders
of the affected Multi-Manager Fund.
5. At all times, at least a majority of the Board will be
Disinterested Board Members, and the nomination of new or additional
Disinterested Board Members will be placed within the discretion of the
then-existing Disinterested Board Members. The Board also will satisfy
the fund governance standards defined in rule 0-1(a)(7) under the Act.
6. When a change of Sub-Adviser is proposed for a Multi-Manager
Fund with an Affiliated Sub-Adviser, the Board, including a majority of
the Disinterested Board Members, will make a separate finding,
reflected in the Board minutes, that such change is in the best
interests of the Multi-Manager Fund and its shareholders and does not
involve a conflict of interest from which the Manager or an Affiliated
Sub-Adviser derives an inappropriate advantage.
7. The Manager will provide general management services to each
Multi-Manager Fund, including overall supervisory responsibility for
the general management and investment of the Multi-Manager Fund's
assets and, subject to review and approval of the Board, will: (i) Set
the Multi-Manager Fund's overall investment strategies; (ii) evaluate,
select and recommend Sub-Advisers to manage all or a part of the Multi-
Manager Fund's assets; (iii) when appropriate, allocate and reallocate
the Multi-Manager Fund's assets among multiple Sub-Advisers; (iv)
monitor and evaluate the Sub-Advisers' performance; and (v) implement
procedures reasonably designed to ensure that the Sub-Advisers comply
with the Multi-Manager Fund's investment objectives, policies and
restrictions.
8. No trustee or officer of a Multi-Manager Fund, or director or
officer of the Manager will own directly or indirectly (other than
through a pooled investment vehicle over which such person does not
have control) any interest in a Sub-Adviser except for: (i) ownership
of interests in the Manager or any entity that controls, is controlled
by, or is under common control with the Manager; or (ii) ownership of
less than 1% of the outstanding securities of any class of equity or
debt of a publicly traded company that is either a Sub-Adviser or an
entity that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with
a Sub-Adviser.
9. Each Multi-Manager Fund will disclose in its registration
statement the Aggregate Fees.
10. Independent legal counsel, as defined in rule 0-1(a)(6) under
the Act, will be engaged to represent the Disinterested Board Members.
The selection of such counsel will be within the discretion of the
then-existing Disinterested Board Members.
11. The Manager will provide the Board, no less frequently than
quarterly, with information about the Manager's profitability on a per-
Multi-Manager Fund basis. The information will reflect the impact on
profitability of the hiring or termination of any Sub-Adviser during
the applicable quarter.
12. Whenever a Sub-Adviser is hired or terminated, the Manager will
provide the Board with information showing the expected impact on the
Manager's profitability.
13. The requested order will expire on the effective date of rule
15a-5 under the Act, if adopted.
[[Page 29189]]
For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management,
under delegated authority.
Jill M. Peterson
Assistant Secretary
[FR Doc. E6-7638 Filed 5-18-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P
