Advisors Asset Management, Inc. and Advisors Disciplined Trust; Notice of Application, 7082-7084 [E9-2966]
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7082
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 28 / Thursday, February 12, 2009 / Notices
Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503,
and to Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports
Clearance Officer, National Science
Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard,
Suite 295, Arlington, Virginia 22230 or
send e-mail to splimpto@nsf.gov.
Comments regarding these information
collections are best assured of having
their full effect if received within 30
days of this notification. Copies of the
submission(s) may be obtained by
calling 703–292–7556.
NSF may not conduct or sponsor a
collection of information unless the
collection of information displays a
currently valid OMB control number
and the agency informs potential
persons who are to respond to the
collection of information that such
persons are not required to respond to
the collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid OMB control
number.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Survey of Earned Doctorates.
OMB Control Number: 3145–0019.
Summary of Collection: The Survey of
Earned Doctorates has been conducted
continuously since 1958 and is jointly
sponsored by six Federal agencies in
order to avoid duplication. It is an
accurate, timely source of information
on our Nation’s most precious
resource—highly educated individuals.
Data are obtained via paper
questionnaire or Web survey from each
person earning a research doctorate at
the time they receive the degree.
Graduate Schools help distribute the
Survey of Earned Doctorates to their
graduating doctorate recipients. Data are
collected on the doctorate recipient’s
field of specialty, educational
background, sources of support in
graduate school, debt level,
postgraduation plans for employment,
and demographic characteristics.
The survey will be collected in
conformance with the National Science
Foundation Act of 1950, as amended,
and the Privacy Act of 1974. Responses
from individuals are voluntary. NSF
will ensure that all individually
identifiable information collected will
be kept strictly confidential and will be
used for research or statistical purposes,
analyzing data, and preparing scientific
reports and articles.
The first Federal Register notice for
this survey was 73 FR 74757, published
December 9, 2008, and one comment
was received.
Comment: On December 9, 2008 we
published in the Federal Register (73
FR 74757) a 60-day notice of our intent
to request reinstatement of this
information collection authority from
OMB. In that notice, we solicited public
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17:03 Feb 11, 2009
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comments for 60 days ending
February 9, 2009. One comment was
received from the public notice. The
comment came from B. Sachau of
Floram Park, NJ, via e-mail on December
9, 2008. Ms. Sachau objected to the
information collection. Ms. Sachau had
no specific suggestions for altering the
data collection plans other than to
discontinue them entirely.
Response: We responded to Ms.
Sachau on December 17, 2008
describing the program, the frequency
and the cost issues raised by Ms.
Sachau. NSF believes that because the
comment does not pertain to the
collection of information on the
required forms for which NSF is seeking
OMB approval, NSF is proceeding with
the clearance request.
Need and Use of the Information: The
Federal government, universities,
researchers, and others use the
information extensively. The National
Science Foundation, as the lead agency,
publishes statistics from the survey in
several reports, but primarily in the
annual publication series, ‘‘Science and
Engineering Doctorates’’ and the
Interagency Report, ‘‘Doctorate
Recipients from U.S. Universities:
Summary Report.’’ These reports are
available on the Web. NSF uses this
information to prepare Congressionally
mandated reports such as Science and
Engineering Indicators and Women,
Minorities and Persons with Disabilities
in Science and Engineering.
Description of Respondents:
Individuals.
Number of Respondents: 49,000.
Frequency of Responses: Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 27,738.
Dated: February 9, 2009.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science
Foundation.
[FR Doc. E9–2995 Filed 2–11–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Investment Company Act Release No.
28613; 812–13536]
Advisors Asset Management, Inc. and
Advisors Disciplined Trust; Notice of
Application
February 6, 2009.
AGENCY: Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘Commission’’).
ACTION: Notice of an application under
sections 6(c) and 17(b) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (‘‘Act’’) for an
exemption from section 17(a) of the Act.
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Summary of Application: Applicants
request an order to permit transactions
in certain securities between series of
certain registered unit investment trusts
(‘‘UITs’’).
Applicants: Advisors Asset
Management, Inc. (‘‘AAM’’) and any
entity controlling, controlled by or
under common control with AAM
(collectively, the ‘‘Depositor’’); Advisors
Disciplined Trust (‘‘ADT’’); any future
registered UITs sponsored by the
Depositor (together with ADT, the
‘‘Trusts’’) and the future and existing
series of each Trust (each a ‘‘Series’’).1
Filing Dates: The application was
filed on May 28, 2008, and amended on
November 24, 2008. 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 March 3, 2009, 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 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, 18925 Base Camp
Road, Monument, CO 80132.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean
E. Minarick, Senior Counsel, at (202)
551–6811, or Julia Kim Gilmer, 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
Commission’s Public Reference Room,
100 F Street, NE., Washington DC
20549–1520 (tel. 202–551–5850).
Applicants’ Representations
1. ADT is a UIT registered under the
Act. Each Series will be a series of a
1 All existing Trusts that currently intend to rely
on the requested order have been named as
applicants. Any other Trust that relies on the
requested order in the future will comply with the
terms and conditions of the application.
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 28 / Thursday, February 12, 2009 / Notices
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Trust, each a UIT, which is or will be
registered under the Act. AAM, a
broker-dealer registered under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(‘‘Exchange Act’’), is the depositor of
each Series. Each Series is or will be
created by a trust indenture
(‘‘Indenture’’) between the Depositor
and a banking institution satisfying the
requirements of Section 26(a) of the Act
and unaffiliated with the Depositor, as
trustee (‘‘Trustee’’).
2. The Depositor acquires a portfolio
of securities, which it deposits with the
Trustee in exchange for certificates
representing units of fractional
undivided beneficial interest in the
deposited portfolio (‘‘Units’’). As UITs,
the Series are not actively managed. A
Series generally holds securities until
the Series terminates or until the
securities mature. A Series may sell
portfolio securities (‘‘Selling Series’’) in
connection with termination of the
Series, to fund redemptions of its Units,
or under certain extraordinary
circumstances specified in the Series
Indenture.2 At the same time, another
Series (‘‘Purchasing Series’’) holding
one or more of the same securities as the
Selling Series may be issuing additional
units and may need to purchase the
same securities that are being sold by
the Selling Series. In addition, when
certain Selling Series holding U.S.
Treasury securities (‘‘Treasuries’’)
terminate, the Depositor may offer
successor Series (‘‘New Series’’) that
will hold the same Treasuries.
3. Applicants request relief to permit
purchases and sales of Qualified
Securities, as defined below, between
different Series acting as principal.3
Applicants also seek relief to allow a
2 The Depositor maintains a secondary market for
the Units and applicants state that as a practical
matter redemptions are initiated primarily by the
Depositor because, with the exception of
redemptions in kind, the Indenture requires the
Trustee to sell units tendered for redemption to the
Depositor as long as it maintains a secondary
market for the units. Securities also may be sold by
a Series: (a) to pay deferred sales charges or
expenses or (b) if the Series has elected to be taxed
as a ‘‘regulated investment company’’ as defined in
subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended, and either (i) the sale is necessary or
advisable to maintain the qualification of the Series
as a regulated investment company or (ii) to provide
funds to make any distribution for a taxable year
to avoid imposition of any income or excise taxes
on the Series or on undistributed income in the
Series. The Indenture also authorizes but does not
require the Depositor to direct the Trustee to sell
securities from a Series’ portfolio in certain other
circumstances, but any sale made under those
circumstances will not be made in reliance on the
requested relief.
3 Rollovers are conducted in accordance with a
prior order of the Commission. See Fixed Income
Securities, L.P. and Advisor’s Disciplined Trust,
Investment Company Act Rel. Nos. 26529 (Aug. 9,
2004) (notice) and 26593 (Sept. 3, 2004) (order).
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17:03 Feb 11, 2009
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terminating Series (‘‘Rollover Series’’)
that holds U.S. Treasury securities
(‘‘Treasuries’’) to sell Treasuries to a
New Series.
4. Qualified Securities are limited to
those securities that are actively traded
(i.e., have had an average daily trading
volume in the preceding six months of
at least 500 shares equal in value to at
least U.S. $25,000) on an exchange (a
‘‘Qualified Exchange’’) that is either (i)
a national securities exchange that
meets the qualifications of section 6 of
the Exchange Act, or (ii) a foreign
securities exchange meeting the
qualifications set forth in the proposed
amendments to rule 12d3–1(d)(6) under
the Act 4 and releasing daily closing
prices, and included in a published
index (securities meeting the preceding
tests are referred to as ‘‘Qualified
Securities’’).
5. Purchases and sales of securities
are effected under the direction of the
Depositor’s professional traders.
Pursuant to procedures to be adopted by
the Depositor and the Trustee upon the
granting of the requested order, the
Depositor will make an initial
determination that two Series are on
opposite sides of a transaction in
Qualified Securities. The Depositor will
certify in writing to the Trustee of each
affected Series, no later than the close
of business on the business day
following each sale pursuant to the
requested order: (a) That the transaction
is consistent with the investment
objective and policies of each Series as
recited in their respective registration
statements and reports filed under the
Act, (b) the reason that the Selling
Series is selling the Qualified Securities,
(c) the date of the transaction, (d) how
the securities being sold meet the
definition of Qualified Securities set
forth in the requested order, and (e) the
closing sale price of the Qualified
Securities on the Qualified Exchange for
the date the Qualified Securities are
sold. The certificate will be forwarded
to the Trustee of each Series for its
approval. The Trustee will then
countersign the certificate, unless, in the
event that the Trustee disagrees with the
4 Investment Company Act Rel. No. 17096 (Aug.
3, 1989) (proposing amendments to rule 12d3–1).
The proposed amended rule defined a ‘‘Qualified
Foreign Exchange’’ as a stock exchange in a country
other than the United States where: (i) trading
generally occurred at least four days per week; (ii)
there were limited restrictions on the ability of
acquiring companies to trade their holdings on the
exchange; (iii) the exchange had a trading volume
in stocks for the previous year of at least U.S. $7.5
billion; and (iv) the exchange had a turnover ratio
for the preceding year of at least 20% of its market
capitalization. The version of the amended rule that
was adopted did not include the part of the
proposed amendment defining the term ‘‘Qualified
Foreign Exchange.’’
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7083
price listed on the certificate, the
Trustee immediately informs the
Depositor orally of any such
disagreement and returns the certificate
within five days with the corrections
duly noted. Upon receipt by the
Depositor of the corrected certificate, if
the Depositor can verify the correct
price by reference to any independent
published list of prices for the date of
the transaction, the Depositor will
ensure that the price of Units of each of
the Purchasing Series and the Selling
Series accurately reflects the corrected
price. To the extent that the Depositor
disagrees with the Trustee’s corrected
price, the Depositor and the Trustee will
jointly determine the correct sales price
by reference to a mutually agreeable,
independently published list of prices
for the date of the transaction.
6. In connection with the purchase of
Treasuries by a New Series from a
Rollover Series, sales would be effected
at the offer-side evaluation of the
Treasuries as of the evaluation time on
the sale date, as determined by an
independent evaluator that will be a
‘‘qualified evaluator’’ as defined in rule
22c–1(b)(2) under the Act (an
‘‘Independent Evaluator’’). To minimize
the potential for overreaching in these
situations, the Depositor will certify in
writing to the Trustee of both the
Rollover Series and the New Series,
within five days of each sale of
Treasuries from a Rollover Series to a
New Series: (i) That the transaction is
consistent with the policies of both the
Rollover Series and the New Series, as
recited in their respective registration
statements and reports filed under the
Act; (ii) the date of the transaction; and
(iii) the price determined by the
Independent Evaluator for the sale date
of the Treasuries. The Trustee will then
countersign the certificate, unless, in the
event that the Trustee disagrees with the
price listed on the certificate, the
Trustee immediately informs the
Depositor orally of such disagreement
and returns the certificate within five
days to the Depositor with corrections
duly noted. Upon the Depositor’s
receipt of a corrected certificate, the
Depositor and the Trustee will jointly
determine the correct sales price by
reference to a mutually agreeable,
published list of prices for the date of
the transaction.
Applicants’ Legal Analysis
1. Section 17(a) of the Act prohibits
an affiliated person of a registered
investment company from selling
securities to, or purchasing securities
from, the company. Section 2(a)(3) of
the Act defines an ‘‘affiliated person’’ of
another person to include, any person
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directly or indirectly controlling,
controlled by, or under common control
with the other person. The Depositor
will sponsor each Series. Because the
Depositor of a Series may be deemed to
control the Series, all of the Series may
be deemed to be affiliated persons of
each other.
2. Rule 17a–7 under the Act was
designed to permit registered
investment companies which might be
deemed affiliated persons by reason of
common investment advisers, directors
and/or officers, to purchase securities
from or sell securities to one another at
an independently determined price,
provided that certain conditions are
met. With respect to a sale of Qualified
Securities by a Selling Series to a
Purchasing Series, Applicants represent
that they will comply with all the
provisions of rule 17a–7, other than
paragraphs (e) and (f). With respect to a
sale of Treasuries by a Rollover Series
to a New Series, Applicants represent
that they will comply with all the
provisions of rule 17a–7, other than
paragraphs (b), (e) and (f).
3. Paragraph (e) of rule 17a–7 requires
an investment company’s board of
directors (‘‘Board’’) to adopt and
monitor procedures to assure
compliance with the rule. Paragraph (f)
of the rule requires that the Board
satisfy certain corporate governance
requirements. Because the Trusts do not
have Boards, the Series would be unable
to comply with these requirements.
Paragraph (b) of rule 17a–7 requires that
the transactions be effected at the
independent current market price of a
security. The Treasuries would fall
within the paragraph (b)(4) category of
‘‘all other securities,’’ for which the
current market price under rule 17a–
7(b) is the average of the highest current
independent bid and lowest current
independent offer determined on the
basis of reasonable inquiry.
4. Section 17(b) of the Act provides
that the Commission will exempt a
proposed transaction from section 17(a)
if evidence establishes that: (i) The
terms of the transaction are reasonable
and fair and do not involve
overreaching; (ii) the transaction is
consistent with the policies of each
registered investment company
involved; and (iii) the transaction is
consistent with the general purposes of
the Act. Applicants believe that the
proposed transactions satisfy the
requirements of sections 6(c) and 17(b).
5. Applicants state that the condition
that the Qualified Securities must be
actively traded on a Qualified Exchange
protects against overreaching.
Applicants further state that a sale of
Qualified Securities by a Selling Series
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17:03 Feb 11, 2009
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to a Purchasing Series will satisfy each
of the requirements of rule 17a–7 other
than paragraphs (e) and (f). Applicants
note that the requirements in rule 17a–
7(e) that the board of directors adopt
and monitor certain procedures was
adopted, among other things, because
transactions permitted by rule 17a–7
may involve entities that are not
registered investment companies. The
requested relief would extend only to
transactions between registered UITs.
Applicants represent that purchases and
sales between the Selling and
Purchasing Series will be consistent
with the policies of each Series.
Applicants further state that permitting
the proposed transactions would result
in savings on brokerage fees for the
Series.
6. With respect to Treasuries,
applicants state that sales by a Rollover
Series to a New Series will comply with
all of the provisions of rule 17a–7 other
than paragraph (b), (e) and (f).
Applicants state that the Treasuries
would be sold by a Rollover Series to a
New Series at the Treasuries’ offer-side
evaluation as determined by the
Independent Evaluator. Other
Treasuries acquired by the Purchasing
Series will be acquired at the offer-side
evaluation and the Purchasing Series
would be valued during its initial
offering period based on the Treasuries’
offer-side evaluation. Applicants state
that all unitholders of the New Series,
both unitholders from a Rollover Series
and new unitholders, will acquire Units
with a value based on the offer-side
evaluation of the Treasuries. Applicants
state that the sales of Treasuries
between Series will reduce transaction
costs to unitholders of the Rollover
Series. In addition, Applicants state that
transactions will be consistent with the
policy of each Series.
Applicants’ Conditions
Applicants agree that any order
granting the requested relief will be
subject to the following conditions:
1. Each sale of Qualified Securities
between the Series will be effected at
the closing price of the Qualified
Securities sold on the applicable
Qualified Exchange on the sale date.
Each sale of Treasuries between the
Series will be effected at the Treasuries’
offer-side evaluation as determined by
an Independent Evaluator as of the
evaluation time on the sale date. Sales
of Qualified Securities and Treasuries
will be effected without any brokerage
charges or other remuneration except
customary transfer fees, if any.
2. The nature and conditions of such
transactions will be fully disclosed to
investors of each participating Series.
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3. The Trustee of each Series will (a)
review the procedures relating to the
sale of Qualified Securities and
Treasuries from one Series to another
and (b) make any changes to those
procedures as the Trustee considers
necessary as reasonably designed to
comply with paragraphs (a), (b) (except
for transactions in Treasuries), (c) and
(d) of rule 17a–7.
4. A written copy of these procedures
and a written record of each transaction
pursuant to this order will be
maintained as provided in rule 17a–7(g).
For the Commission, by the Division of
Investment Management, under delegated
authority.
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9–2966 Filed 2–11–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Small Business Size Standards:
Waiver of the Nonmanufacturer Rule
AGENCY: U.S. Small Business
Administration.
ACTION: Notice of intent to terminate the
Nonmanufacturer Rule Class Waiver for
Product Service Code (PSC) 3930,
Warehouse Trucks and Tractors, SelfPropelled.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Small Business
Administration (SBA) intends to
terminate a waiver of the
Nonmanufacturer Rule for PSC 3930,
Warehouse Trucks and Tractors, SelfPropelled based on SBA’s recent
discovery of small business
manufacturers. Terminating this waiver
will require recipients of contracts set
aside for small businesses, servicedisabled veteran-owned small
businesses, or participants in SBA’s 8(a)
Business Development (BD) Program to
provide the products of small business
manufacturers or processors on such
contracts.
DATES: Comments and source
information must be submitted by
February 27, 2009.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
and source information to Edith G.
Butler, Program Analyst, Small Business
Administration, Office of Government
Contracting, 409 3rd Street, SW., Suite
8800, Washington, DC 20416.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Edith G. Butler, by telephone at (202)
619–0422; by FAX at (202) 481–1788; or
by e-mail at edith.butler@sba.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section
8(a)(17) of the Small Business Act (Act),
15 U.S.C. 637(a)(17), and SBA’s
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 28 (Thursday, February 12, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7082-7084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-2966]
=======================================================================
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Investment Company Act Release No. 28613; 812-13536]
Advisors Asset Management, Inc. and Advisors Disciplined Trust;
Notice of Application
February 6, 2009.
AGENCY: Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'').
ACTION: Notice of an application under sections 6(c) and 17(b) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (``Act'') for an exemption from section
17(a) of the Act.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary of Application: Applicants request an order to permit
transactions in certain securities between series of certain registered
unit investment trusts (``UITs'').
Applicants: Advisors Asset Management, Inc. (``AAM'') and any
entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with AAM
(collectively, the ``Depositor''); Advisors Disciplined Trust
(``ADT''); any future registered UITs sponsored by the Depositor
(together with ADT, the ``Trusts'') and the future and existing series
of each Trust (each a ``Series'').\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ All existing Trusts that currently intend to rely on the
requested order have been named as applicants. Any other Trust that
relies on the requested order in the future will comply with the
terms and conditions of the application.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Filing Dates: The application was filed on May 28, 2008, and
amended on November 24, 2008. 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 March 3, 2009, 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 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, 18925 Base Camp
Road, Monument, CO 80132.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean E. Minarick, Senior Counsel, at
(202) 551-6811, or Julia Kim Gilmer, 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
Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, NE., Washington DC
20549-1520 (tel. 202-551-5850).
Applicants' Representations
1. ADT is a UIT registered under the Act. Each Series will be a
series of a
[[Page 7083]]
Trust, each a UIT, which is or will be registered under the Act. AAM, a
broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(``Exchange Act''), is the depositor of each Series. Each Series is or
will be created by a trust indenture (``Indenture'') between the
Depositor and a banking institution satisfying the requirements of
Section 26(a) of the Act and unaffiliated with the Depositor, as
trustee (``Trustee'').
2. The Depositor acquires a portfolio of securities, which it
deposits with the Trustee in exchange for certificates representing
units of fractional undivided beneficial interest in the deposited
portfolio (``Units''). As UITs, the Series are not actively managed. A
Series generally holds securities until the Series terminates or until
the securities mature. A Series may sell portfolio securities
(``Selling Series'') in connection with termination of the Series, to
fund redemptions of its Units, or under certain extraordinary
circumstances specified in the Series Indenture.\2\ At the same time,
another Series (``Purchasing Series'') holding one or more of the same
securities as the Selling Series may be issuing additional units and
may need to purchase the same securities that are being sold by the
Selling Series. In addition, when certain Selling Series holding U.S.
Treasury securities (``Treasuries'') terminate, the Depositor may offer
successor Series (``New Series'') that will hold the same Treasuries.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ The Depositor maintains a secondary market for the Units and
applicants state that as a practical matter redemptions are
initiated primarily by the Depositor because, with the exception of
redemptions in kind, the Indenture requires the Trustee to sell
units tendered for redemption to the Depositor as long as it
maintains a secondary market for the units. Securities also may be
sold by a Series: (a) to pay deferred sales charges or expenses or
(b) if the Series has elected to be taxed as a ``regulated
investment company'' as defined in subchapter M of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and either (i) the sale is
necessary or advisable to maintain the qualification of the Series
as a regulated investment company or (ii) to provide funds to make
any distribution for a taxable year to avoid imposition of any
income or excise taxes on the Series or on undistributed income in
the Series. The Indenture also authorizes but does not require the
Depositor to direct the Trustee to sell securities from a Series'
portfolio in certain other circumstances, but any sale made under
those circumstances will not be made in reliance on the requested
relief.
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3. Applicants request relief to permit purchases and sales of
Qualified Securities, as defined below, between different Series acting
as principal.\3\ Applicants also seek relief to allow a terminating
Series (``Rollover Series'') that holds U.S. Treasury securities
(``Treasuries'') to sell Treasuries to a New Series.
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\3\ Rollovers are conducted in accordance with a prior order of
the Commission. See Fixed Income Securities, L.P. and Advisor's
Disciplined Trust, Investment Company Act Rel. Nos. 26529 (Aug. 9,
2004) (notice) and 26593 (Sept. 3, 2004) (order).
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4. Qualified Securities are limited to those securities that are
actively traded (i.e., have had an average daily trading volume in the
preceding six months of at least 500 shares equal in value to at least
U.S. $25,000) on an exchange (a ``Qualified Exchange'') that is either
(i) a national securities exchange that meets the qualifications of
section 6 of the Exchange Act, or (ii) a foreign securities exchange
meeting the qualifications set forth in the proposed amendments to rule
12d3-1(d)(6) under the Act \4\ and releasing daily closing prices, and
included in a published index (securities meeting the preceding tests
are referred to as ``Qualified Securities'').
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\4\ Investment Company Act Rel. No. 17096 (Aug. 3, 1989)
(proposing amendments to rule 12d3-1). The proposed amended rule
defined a ``Qualified Foreign Exchange'' as a stock exchange in a
country other than the United States where: (i) trading generally
occurred at least four days per week; (ii) there were limited
restrictions on the ability of acquiring companies to trade their
holdings on the exchange; (iii) the exchange had a trading volume in
stocks for the previous year of at least U.S. $7.5 billion; and (iv)
the exchange had a turnover ratio for the preceding year of at least
20% of its market capitalization. The version of the amended rule
that was adopted did not include the part of the proposed amendment
defining the term ``Qualified Foreign Exchange.''
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5. Purchases and sales of securities are effected under the
direction of the Depositor's professional traders. Pursuant to
procedures to be adopted by the Depositor and the Trustee upon the
granting of the requested order, the Depositor will make an initial
determination that two Series are on opposite sides of a transaction in
Qualified Securities. The Depositor will certify in writing to the
Trustee of each affected Series, no later than the close of business on
the business day following each sale pursuant to the requested order:
(a) That the transaction is consistent with the investment objective
and policies of each Series as recited in their respective registration
statements and reports filed under the Act, (b) the reason that the
Selling Series is selling the Qualified Securities, (c) the date of the
transaction, (d) how the securities being sold meet the definition of
Qualified Securities set forth in the requested order, and (e) the
closing sale price of the Qualified Securities on the Qualified
Exchange for the date the Qualified Securities are sold. The
certificate will be forwarded to the Trustee of each Series for its
approval. The Trustee will then countersign the certificate, unless, in
the event that the Trustee disagrees with the price listed on the
certificate, the Trustee immediately informs the Depositor orally of
any such disagreement and returns the certificate within five days with
the corrections duly noted. Upon receipt by the Depositor of the
corrected certificate, if the Depositor can verify the correct price by
reference to any independent published list of prices for the date of
the transaction, the Depositor will ensure that the price of Units of
each of the Purchasing Series and the Selling Series accurately
reflects the corrected price. To the extent that the Depositor
disagrees with the Trustee's corrected price, the Depositor and the
Trustee will jointly determine the correct sales price by reference to
a mutually agreeable, independently published list of prices for the
date of the transaction.
6. In connection with the purchase of Treasuries by a New Series
from a Rollover Series, sales would be effected at the offer-side
evaluation of the Treasuries as of the evaluation time on the sale
date, as determined by an independent evaluator that will be a
``qualified evaluator'' as defined in rule 22c-1(b)(2) under the Act
(an ``Independent Evaluator''). To minimize the potential for
overreaching in these situations, the Depositor will certify in writing
to the Trustee of both the Rollover Series and the New Series, within
five days of each sale of Treasuries from a Rollover Series to a New
Series: (i) That the transaction is consistent with the policies of
both the Rollover Series and the New Series, as recited in their
respective registration statements and reports filed under the Act;
(ii) the date of the transaction; and (iii) the price determined by the
Independent Evaluator for the sale date of the Treasuries. The Trustee
will then countersign the certificate, unless, in the event that the
Trustee disagrees with the price listed on the certificate, the Trustee
immediately informs the Depositor orally of such disagreement and
returns the certificate within five days to the Depositor with
corrections duly noted. Upon the Depositor's receipt of a corrected
certificate, the Depositor and the Trustee will jointly determine the
correct sales price by reference to a mutually agreeable, published
list of prices for the date of the transaction.
Applicants' Legal Analysis
1. Section 17(a) of the Act prohibits an affiliated person of a
registered investment company from selling securities to, or purchasing
securities from, the company. Section 2(a)(3) of the Act defines an
``affiliated person'' of another person to include, any person
[[Page 7084]]
directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common
control with the other person. The Depositor will sponsor each Series.
Because the Depositor of a Series may be deemed to control the Series,
all of the Series may be deemed to be affiliated persons of each other.
2. Rule 17a-7 under the Act was designed to permit registered
investment companies which might be deemed affiliated persons by reason
of common investment advisers, directors and/or officers, to purchase
securities from or sell securities to one another at an independently
determined price, provided that certain conditions are met. With
respect to a sale of Qualified Securities by a Selling Series to a
Purchasing Series, Applicants represent that they will comply with all
the provisions of rule 17a-7, other than paragraphs (e) and (f). With
respect to a sale of Treasuries by a Rollover Series to a New Series,
Applicants represent that they will comply with all the provisions of
rule 17a-7, other than paragraphs (b), (e) and (f).
3. Paragraph (e) of rule 17a-7 requires an investment company's
board of directors (``Board'') to adopt and monitor procedures to
assure compliance with the rule. Paragraph (f) of the rule requires
that the Board satisfy certain corporate governance requirements.
Because the Trusts do not have Boards, the Series would be unable to
comply with these requirements. Paragraph (b) of rule 17a-7 requires
that the transactions be effected at the independent current market
price of a security. The Treasuries would fall within the paragraph
(b)(4) category of ``all other securities,'' for which the current
market price under rule 17a-7(b) is the average of the highest current
independent bid and lowest current independent offer determined on the
basis of reasonable inquiry.
4. Section 17(b) of the Act provides that the Commission will
exempt a proposed transaction from section 17(a) if evidence
establishes that: (i) The terms of the transaction are reasonable and
fair and do not involve overreaching; (ii) the transaction is
consistent with the policies of each registered investment company
involved; and (iii) the transaction is consistent with the general
purposes of the Act. Applicants believe that the proposed transactions
satisfy the requirements of sections 6(c) and 17(b).
5. Applicants state that the condition that the Qualified
Securities must be actively traded on a Qualified Exchange protects
against overreaching. Applicants further state that a sale of Qualified
Securities by a Selling Series to a Purchasing Series will satisfy each
of the requirements of rule 17a-7 other than paragraphs (e) and (f).
Applicants note that the requirements in rule 17a-7(e) that the board
of directors adopt and monitor certain procedures was adopted, among
other things, because transactions permitted by rule 17a-7 may involve
entities that are not registered investment companies. The requested
relief would extend only to transactions between registered UITs.
Applicants represent that purchases and sales between the Selling and
Purchasing Series will be consistent with the policies of each Series.
Applicants further state that permitting the proposed transactions
would result in savings on brokerage fees for the Series.
6. With respect to Treasuries, applicants state that sales by a
Rollover Series to a New Series will comply with all of the provisions
of rule 17a-7 other than paragraph (b), (e) and (f). Applicants state
that the Treasuries would be sold by a Rollover Series to a New Series
at the Treasuries' offer-side evaluation as determined by the
Independent Evaluator. Other Treasuries acquired by the Purchasing
Series will be acquired at the offer-side evaluation and the Purchasing
Series would be valued during its initial offering period based on the
Treasuries' offer-side evaluation. Applicants state that all
unitholders of the New Series, both unitholders from a Rollover Series
and new unitholders, will acquire Units with a value based on the
offer-side evaluation of the Treasuries. Applicants state that the
sales of Treasuries between Series will reduce transaction costs to
unitholders of the Rollover Series. In addition, Applicants state that
transactions will be consistent with the policy of each Series.
Applicants' Conditions
Applicants agree that any order granting the requested relief will
be subject to the following conditions:
1. Each sale of Qualified Securities between the Series will be
effected at the closing price of the Qualified Securities sold on the
applicable Qualified Exchange on the sale date. Each sale of Treasuries
between the Series will be effected at the Treasuries' offer-side
evaluation as determined by an Independent Evaluator as of the
evaluation time on the sale date. Sales of Qualified Securities and
Treasuries will be effected without any brokerage charges or other
remuneration except customary transfer fees, if any.
2. The nature and conditions of such transactions will be fully
disclosed to investors of each participating Series.
3. The Trustee of each Series will (a) review the procedures
relating to the sale of Qualified Securities and Treasuries from one
Series to another and (b) make any changes to those procedures as the
Trustee considers necessary as reasonably designed to comply with
paragraphs (a), (b) (except for transactions in Treasuries), (c) and
(d) of rule 17a-7.
4. A written copy of these procedures and a written record of each
transaction pursuant to this order will be maintained as provided in
rule 17a-7(g).
For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management,
under delegated authority.
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-2966 Filed 2-11-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P