First American Investment Funds, Inc., et al.; Notice of Application, 26657-26659 [E7-9001]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 90 / Thursday, May 10, 2007 / Notices Dated: May 7, 2007. R. Michelle Schroll, Office of the Secretary. [FR Doc. 07–2336 Filed 5–8–07; 12:46 pm] Hodapp, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 N. Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611– 2092 or send an E-mail to Ronald.Hodapp@RRB.GOV. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice. BILLING CODE 7590–01–P Proposed Collection, Comment Request pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD Charles Mierzwa, Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. E7–8949 Filed 5–9–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7905–01–P SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirement of Section 3506 (c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 which provides opportunity for public comment on new or revised data collections, the Railroad Retirement Board will publish periodic summaries of proposed data collections. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information has practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the RRB’s estimate of the burden of the collection of the information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden related to the collection of information on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Title and Purpose of information collection: Designation of Contact Officials; 3220–0200. Coordination between railroad employers and the RRB is essential to properly administer the payment of benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) and the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA). In order to enhance timely coordination activity, the RRB utilizes Form G–117a, Designation of Contact Officials. Form G–117a is used by railroad employers to designate employees who are to act as point of contact with the RRB on a variety of RRA and RUIA-related matters. The RRB estimates that about 100 G– 117a’s will be submitted annually. Completion is voluntary. One response is requested from each respondent. Completion time is estimated at 15 minutes. No changes are proposed to Form G–117a. Additional Information or Comments: To request more information or to obtain a copy of the information collection justification, forms, and/or supporting material, please call the RRB Clearance Officer at (312) 751–3363 or send an E-mail request to Charles.Mierzwa@RRB.GOV. Comments regarding the information collection should be addressed to Ronald J. VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:04 May 09, 2007 Jkt 211001 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Investment Company Act Release No. 27818; 812–13268] First American Investment Funds, Inc., et al.; Notice of Application May 4, 2007. Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’). ACTION: Notice of an application for an order 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 from certain disclosure requirements. AGENCY: SUMMARY OF THE 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: First American Investment Funds, Inc. (‘‘FAIF’’) and FAF Advisors, Inc. (‘‘Adviser’’). FILING DATES: The application was filed on March 8, 2006, and amended on May 1, 2007. 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 May 29, 2007 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 by writing to the Commission’s Secretary. ADDRESSES: Secretary, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549– PO 00000 Frm 00070 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 26657 1090. Applicants, 800 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55402. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lewis B. Reich, Senior Counsel, at (202) 551–6919, or Julia Kim Gilmer, Branch Chief, at (202) 551–6871 (Office of Investment Company Regulation, Division of Investment Management). 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 (telephone (202) 551–5850). Applicants’ Representations 1. FAIF is organized as a Maryland corporation and is registered under the Act as an open-end management investment company. FAIF currently offers its shares in 39 series, each with its own investment objectives, restrictions and policies. Two of these series, the International Fund and the International Select Fund (collectively, the ‘‘International Funds’’) will operate under a manager of managers structure. Applicants also request relief for any other existing or future series of FAIF that is advised by the Adviser or by an entity that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the Adviser, uses the manager of managers investment management approach, and complies with the terms and conditions of the application (such series, together with the International Funds, the ‘‘Funds’’).1 2. The Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the ‘‘Advisers Act’’) and serves as investment adviser to the International Funds pursuant to an investment advisory agreement (‘‘Advisory Agreement’’) with each Fund. The Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and FAIF, acting on behalf of the International Funds, was approved by the shareholders of the International Fund and the initial shareholder of the International Select Fund and by the Board of each International Fund, including a majority of the directors who are not ‘‘interested persons’’ as defined in section 2(a)(19) of the Act (‘‘Independent Directors’’), of the International Funds. 3. Under the terms of the Advisory Agreements, the Adviser will provide 1 All existing entities that currently intend to rely on the order are named as applicants. If the name of any Fund contains the name of a Money Manager (as defined below), the name of the Adviser, or the name of the entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Adviser that serves as the primary adviser to the Fund will precede the name of the Money Manager. E:\FR\FM\10MYN1.SGM 10MYN1 26658 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 90 / Thursday, May 10, 2007 / Notices pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES general investment management services to each Fund, including overall supervisory responsibility for the general management and investment of the Fund’s assets, and have the authority, subject to Board approval, to enter into investment subadvisory agreements (‘‘Investment Subadvisory Agreements’’) with one or more subadvisers (‘‘Money Managers’’). Each Money Manager will be registered under the Advisers Act. The Adviser will evaluate, allocate assets to and oversee the Money Managers and recommend to the Board their hiring, retention or termination. Money Managers recommended to the Board by the Adviser are selected and approved by the Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors. Each Money Manager will have discretionary authority to invest the assets or a portion of the assets of the applicable Fund. The Adviser will compensate each Money Manager out of the fees paid to the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement. 4. Applicants request an order that would permit the Adviser to select and hire Money Managers and materially amend Investment Subadvisory Agreements without obtaining shareholder approval. The requested relief will not extend to any Money Manager that is an affiliated person, as defined in section 2(a)(3) of the Act, of a Fund or the Adviser, other than by reason of serving as a Money Manager to one or more of the Funds (‘‘Affiliated Money Manager’’). 5. Applicants also request an exemption from various disclosure provisions described below that may require a Fund to disclose fees paid by the Adviser to each Money Manager. An exemption is requested to permit a Fund to disclose (as both a dollar amount and as a percentage of the Fund’s net assets): (a) The aggregate fees paid to the Adviser and any Affiliated Money Managers; and (b) the aggregate fees paid to Money Managers other than Affiliated Money Managers (collectively, ‘‘Aggregate Fee Disclosure’’). For any Fund that employs an Affiliated Money Manager, the Fund will provide separate disclosure of any fees paid to the Affiliated Money Manager. 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– VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:04 May 09, 2007 Jkt 211001 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 an 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 Money Managers. 5. Regulation S–X sets forth the requirements for financial statements required to be included as part of investment company registration 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 the shareholders of a Fund rely on the Adviser to select one or more Money Managers which have the appropriate skills and experience to manage the assets of the Fund. Applicants assert that, from the perspective of an investor PO 00000 Frm 00071 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 in a Fund, the role of the Money Managers is substantially equivalent to that of the individual portfolio managers employed by traditional investment company advisory firms. Applicants state that requiring shareholder approval of each Investment Subadvisory Agreement would impose costs and unnecessary delays on the Funds, and may preclude the Adviser from acting promptly in a manner considered advisable by the Board. Applicants note that the Advisory Agreement and any Investment Subadvisory Agreement with an Affiliated Money Manager will remain subject to section 15(a) of the Act and rule 18f–2 under the Act. 8. Applicants assert that some Money Managers use a ‘‘posted’’ rate schedule to set their fees. Applicants state that while Money Managers 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 would allow the Adviser to negotiate more effectively with each individual Money Manager. Applicants’ Conditions Applicants agree that any order granting the requested relief will be subject to the following conditions: 1. Before a Fund may rely on the order requested in the application, the operation of the Fund in the manner described in the application will be approved by a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities, as defined in the Act, or, in the case of a Fund whose public shareholders purchase shares on the basis of a prospectus containing the disclosure contemplated by condition 2 below, by the sole initial shareholder before offering the Fund’s shares to the public. 2. The prospectus for each Fund will disclose the existence, substance, and effect of any order granted pursuant to the Application. Each Fund will hold itself out to the public as employing the management structure described in the Application. The prospectus will prominently disclose that the Adviser has ultimate responsibility (subject to oversight by the Board) to oversee the Money Managers and recommend their hiring, termination, and replacement. 3. Within 90 days of the hiring of a new Money Manager, the affected Fund shareholders will be furnished all information about the new Money Manager that would be included in a proxy statement, except as modified by the order to permit Aggregate Fee Disclosure. This information will include Aggregate Fee Disclosure and E:\FR\FM\10MYN1.SGM 10MYN1 pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 90 / Thursday, May 10, 2007 / Notices any change in such disclosure caused by the addition of the new Money Manager. To meet this obligation, the Fund will provide shareholders within 90 days of the hiring of a new Money Manager 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 Aggregate Fee Disclosure. 4. The Adviser will not enter into an Investment Subadvisory Agreement with any Affiliated Money Manager without that agreement, including the compensation to be paid thereunder, being approved by Fund shareholders. 5. At all times, at least a majority of the Board will be Independent Directors, and the nomination of new or additional Independent Directors will be at the discretion of the then existing Independent Directors. 6. When a Money Manager change is proposed for a Fund with an Affiliated Money Manager, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors, will make a separate finding, reflected in the applicable Board minutes, that such change is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders and does not involve a conflict of interest from which the Adviser or the Affiliated Money Manager derives an inappropriate advantage. 7. Independent legal counsel, as defined in rule 0–1(a)(6) under the Act, will be engaged to represent the Independent Directors. The selection of such counsel will be within the discretion of the then existing Independent Directors. 8. Whenever a Money Manager is hired or terminated, the Adviser will provide the Board with information showing the expected impact on the profitability of the Adviser. 9. The Adviser will provide general investment management services to each Fund, including overall supervisory responsibility for the general management and investment of the Fund’s assets, and, subject to review and approval of the Board, will: (a) Set each Fund’s overall investment strategies, (b) evaluate, select and recommend Money Managers to manage all or a part of a Fund’s assets, (c) when appropriate, allocate and reallocate a Fund’s assets among multiple Money Managers, (d) monitor and evaluate the performance of Money Managers, and (e) implement procedures reasonably designed to ensure that the Money Managers comply with each Fund’s investment objective, policies and restrictions. 10. No director or officer of a Fund, or director or officer of the Adviser, will VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:04 May 09, 2007 Jkt 211001 own directly or indirectly (other than through a pooled investment vehicle that is not controlled by such person) any interest in a Money Manager, except for (a) ownership of interests in the Adviser or any entity that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the Adviser, or (b) 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 Money Manager or an entity that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with a Money Manager. 11. Each Fund will disclose in its registration statement the Aggregate Fee Disclosure. 12. The requested order will expire on the effective date of Rule 15a–5 under the Act, if adopted. 13. The Adviser will provide the Board, no less frequently than quarterly, with information about the profitability of the Adviser on a per-Fund basis. The information will reflect the impact on profitability of the hiring or termination of any Money Manager during the applicable quarter. For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, under delegated authority. Florence E. Harmon, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. E7–9001 Filed 5–9–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8010–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–55700; File No. SR–CBOE– 2007–42] Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Increase the Class Quoting Limit in ISE Options May 3, 2007. 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 April 30, 2007, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (‘‘CBOE’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been substantially prepared by the CBOE. The Exchange has designated this proposal as one constituting a stated policy, practice, or interpretation with 1 15 2 17 PO 00000 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). CFR 240.19b–4. Frm 00072 Fmt 4703 26659 respect to the meaning, administration, or enforcement of an existing rule under Section 19(b)(3)(A)(i) of the Act,3 and Rule 19b–4(f)(1) thereunder,4 which renders the proposal effective upon filing with the Commission. 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 CBOE proposes to increase the class quoting limit in an option class. The text of the proposed rule change is available on CBOE’s Web site (https:// www.cboe.com), at the CBOE’s Office of the Secretary, and at the Commission’s public reference room. II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change In its filing with the Commission, CBOE 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 CBOE 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 CBOE Rule 8.3A, Maximum Number of Market Participants Quoting Electronically per Product, establishes class quoting limits (‘‘CQLs’’) for each class traded on the Hybrid Trading System.5 A CQL is the maximum number of quoters that may quote electronically in a given product and the current levels are established from 25– 40, depending on the trading activity of the particular product. Rule 8.3A, Interpretation .01(c) provides a procedure by which the President of the Exchange may increase the CQL for a particular product. In this regard, the President of the Exchange may increase the CQL in exceptional circumstances, which are defined in the rule as ‘‘substantial trading volume, whether actual or expected.’’ 6 The 3 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(i). CFR 240.19b–4(f)(1). 5 See Rule 8.3A.01. 6 ‘‘Any actions taken by the President of the Exchange pursuant to this paragraph will be 4 17 Continued Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\10MYN1.SGM 10MYN1

Agencies

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 90 (Thursday, May 10, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26657-26659]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-9001]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Investment Company Act Release No. 27818; 812-13268]


First American Investment Funds, Inc., et al.; Notice of 
Application

May 4, 2007.
AGENCY: Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'').

ACTION: Notice of an application for an order 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 from certain 
disclosure requirements.

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Summary of the 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: First American Investment Funds, Inc. (``FAIF'') and FAF 
Advisors, Inc. (``Adviser'').

Filing Dates: The application was filed on March 8, 2006, and amended 
on May 1, 2007.

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 May 29, 2007 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 by writing to the 
Commission's Secretary.

ADDRESSES: Secretary, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F 
Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090. Applicants, 800 Nicollet Mall, 
Minneapolis, MN 55402.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lewis B. Reich, Senior Counsel, at 
(202) 551-6919, or Julia Kim Gilmer, Branch Chief, at (202) 551-6871 
(Office of Investment Company Regulation, Division of Investment 
Management).

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 (telephone (202) 551-5850).

Applicants' Representations

    1. FAIF is organized as a Maryland corporation and is registered 
under the Act as an open-end management investment company. FAIF 
currently offers its shares in 39 series, each with its own investment 
objectives, restrictions and policies. Two of these series, the 
International Fund and the International Select Fund (collectively, the 
``International Funds'') will operate under a manager of managers 
structure. Applicants also request relief for any other existing or 
future series of FAIF that is advised by the Adviser or by an entity 
that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the 
Adviser, uses the manager of managers investment management approach, 
and complies with the terms and conditions of the application (such 
series, together with the International Funds, the ``Funds'').\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ All existing entities that currently intend to rely on the 
order are named as applicants. If the name of any Fund contains the 
name of a Money Manager (as defined below), the name of the Adviser, 
or the name of the entity controlling, controlled by, or under 
common control with the Adviser that serves as the primary adviser 
to the Fund will precede the name of the Money Manager.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. The Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the 
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the ``Advisers Act'') and serves as 
investment adviser to the International Funds pursuant to an investment 
advisory agreement (``Advisory Agreement'') with each Fund. The 
Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and FAIF, acting on behalf of 
the International Funds, was approved by the shareholders of the 
International Fund and the initial shareholder of the International 
Select Fund and by the Board of each International Fund, including a 
majority of the directors who are not ``interested persons'' as defined 
in section 2(a)(19) of the Act (``Independent Directors''), of the 
International Funds.
    3. Under the terms of the Advisory Agreements, the Adviser will 
provide

[[Page 26658]]

general investment management services to each Fund, including overall 
supervisory responsibility for the general management and investment of 
the Fund's assets, and have the authority, subject to Board approval, 
to enter into investment subadvisory agreements (``Investment 
Subadvisory Agreements'') with one or more subadvisers (``Money 
Managers''). Each Money Manager will be registered under the Advisers 
Act. The Adviser will evaluate, allocate assets to and oversee the 
Money Managers and recommend to the Board their hiring, retention or 
termination. Money Managers recommended to the Board by the Adviser are 
selected and approved by the Board, including a majority of the 
Independent Directors. Each Money Manager will have discretionary 
authority to invest the assets or a portion of the assets of the 
applicable Fund. The Adviser will compensate each Money Manager out of 
the fees paid to the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement.
    4. Applicants request an order that would permit the Adviser to 
select and hire Money Managers and materially amend Investment 
Subadvisory Agreements without obtaining shareholder approval. The 
requested relief will not extend to any Money Manager that is an 
affiliated person, as defined in section 2(a)(3) of the Act, of a Fund 
or the Adviser, other than by reason of serving as a Money Manager to 
one or more of the Funds (``Affiliated Money Manager'').
    5. Applicants also request an exemption from various disclosure 
provisions described below that may require a Fund to disclose fees 
paid by the Adviser to each Money Manager. An exemption is requested to 
permit a Fund to disclose (as both a dollar amount and as a percentage 
of the Fund's net assets): (a) The aggregate fees paid to the Adviser 
and any Affiliated Money Managers; and (b) the aggregate fees paid to 
Money Managers other than Affiliated Money Managers (collectively, 
``Aggregate Fee Disclosure''). For any Fund that employs an Affiliated 
Money Manager, the Fund will provide separate disclosure of any fees 
paid to the Affiliated Money Manager.

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 an 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 Money Managers.
    5. Regulation S-X sets forth the requirements for financial 
statements required to be included as part of investment company 
registration 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 the shareholders of a Fund rely on the 
Adviser to select one or more Money Managers which have the appropriate 
skills and experience to manage the assets of the Fund. Applicants 
assert that, from the perspective of an investor in a Fund, the role of 
the Money Managers is substantially equivalent to that of the 
individual portfolio managers employed by traditional investment 
company advisory firms. Applicants state that requiring shareholder 
approval of each Investment Subadvisory Agreement would impose costs 
and unnecessary delays on the Funds, and may preclude the Adviser from 
acting promptly in a manner considered advisable by the Board. 
Applicants note that the Advisory Agreement and any Investment 
Subadvisory Agreement with an Affiliated Money Manager will remain 
subject to section 15(a) of the Act and rule 18f-2 under the Act.
    8. Applicants assert that some Money Managers use a ``posted'' rate 
schedule to set their fees. Applicants state that while Money Managers 
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 would allow the Adviser to negotiate more effectively 
with each individual Money Manager.

Applicants' Conditions

    Applicants agree that any order granting the requested relief will 
be subject to the following conditions:
    1. Before a Fund may rely on the order requested in the 
application, the operation of the Fund in the manner described in the 
application will be approved by a majority of the Fund's outstanding 
voting securities, as defined in the Act, or, in the case of a Fund 
whose public shareholders purchase shares on the basis of a prospectus 
containing the disclosure contemplated by condition 2 below, by the 
sole initial shareholder before offering the Fund's shares to the 
public.
    2. The prospectus for each Fund will disclose the existence, 
substance, and effect of any order granted pursuant to the Application. 
Each Fund will hold itself out to the public as employing the 
management structure described in the Application. The prospectus will 
prominently disclose that the Adviser has ultimate responsibility 
(subject to oversight by the Board) to oversee the Money Managers and 
recommend their hiring, termination, and replacement.
    3. Within 90 days of the hiring of a new Money Manager, the 
affected Fund shareholders will be furnished all information about the 
new Money Manager that would be included in a proxy statement, except 
as modified by the order to permit Aggregate Fee Disclosure. This 
information will include Aggregate Fee Disclosure and

[[Page 26659]]

any change in such disclosure caused by the addition of the new Money 
Manager. To meet this obligation, the Fund will provide shareholders 
within 90 days of the hiring of a new Money Manager 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 Aggregate Fee Disclosure.
    4. The Adviser will not enter into an Investment Subadvisory 
Agreement with any Affiliated Money Manager without that agreement, 
including the compensation to be paid thereunder, being approved by 
Fund shareholders.
    5. At all times, at least a majority of the Board will be 
Independent Directors, and the nomination of new or additional 
Independent Directors will be at the discretion of the then existing 
Independent Directors.
    6. When a Money Manager change is proposed for a Fund with an 
Affiliated Money Manager, the Board, including a majority of the 
Independent Directors, will make a separate finding, reflected in the 
applicable Board minutes, that such change is in the best interests of 
the Fund and its shareholders and does not involve a conflict of 
interest from which the Adviser or the Affiliated Money Manager derives 
an inappropriate advantage.
    7. Independent legal counsel, as defined in rule 0-1(a)(6) under 
the Act, will be engaged to represent the Independent Directors. The 
selection of such counsel will be within the discretion of the then 
existing Independent Directors.
    8. Whenever a Money Manager is hired or terminated, the Adviser 
will provide the Board with information showing the expected impact on 
the profitability of the Adviser.
    9. The Adviser will provide general investment management services 
to each Fund, including overall supervisory responsibility for the 
general management and investment of the Fund's assets, and, subject to 
review and approval of the Board, will: (a) Set each Fund's overall 
investment strategies, (b) evaluate, select and recommend Money 
Managers to manage all or a part of a Fund's assets, (c) when 
appropriate, allocate and reallocate a Fund's assets among multiple 
Money Managers, (d) monitor and evaluate the performance of Money 
Managers, and (e) implement procedures reasonably designed to ensure 
that the Money Managers comply with each Fund's investment objective, 
policies and restrictions.
    10. No director or officer of a Fund, or director or officer of the 
Adviser, will own directly or indirectly (other than through a pooled 
investment vehicle that is not controlled by such person) any interest 
in a Money Manager, except for (a) ownership of interests in the 
Adviser or any entity that controls, is controlled by, or is under 
common control with the Adviser, or (b) 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 Money Manager or an entity that 
controls, is controlled by or is under common control with a Money 
Manager.
    11. Each Fund will disclose in its registration statement the 
Aggregate Fee Disclosure.
    12. The requested order will expire on the effective date of Rule 
15a-5 under the Act, if adopted.
    13. The Adviser will provide the Board, no less frequently than 
quarterly, with information about the profitability of the Adviser on a 
per-Fund basis. The information will reflect the impact on 
profitability of the hiring or termination of any Money Manager during 
the applicable quarter.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, 
under delegated authority.
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E7-9001 Filed 5-9-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P

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