Medallion Financial Corp.; Notice of Application, 17794-17796 [2010-7848]

Download as PDF 17794 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 66 / Wednesday, April 7, 2010 / Notices SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Investment Company Act Release No. 29201; 812–13667] number, or for an applicant using the Company name box, at https:// www.sec.gov/search/search.htm, or by calling (202) 551–8090. Applicant’s Representations 1. The Company, a Delaware corporation, is an internally managed, non-diversified, closed-end investment April 1, 2010. company that has elected to be AGENCY: Securities and Exchange regulated as a business development Commission (‘‘Commission’’). company (‘‘BDC’’) under the Act.1 The ACTION: Notice of an application for an Company is a specialty finance order under section 6(c) of the company that has a leading position in Investment Company Act of 1940 (the originating, acquiring, and servicing ‘‘Act’’) for an exemption from sections 23(a), 23(b) and 63 of the Act, and under loans that finance taxicab medallions sections 57(a)(4) and 57(i) of the Act and and various types of commercial businesses. The Company currently rule 17d–1 under the Act permitting operates its business through three certain joint transactions otherwise prohibited by section 57(a)(4) of the Act. wholly owned consolidated subsidiaries and one wholly owned unconsolidated SUMMARY: Summary of the Application: portfolio company. Shares of the Applicant, Medallion Financial Corp. Company’s common stock are traded on (the ‘‘Company’’), requests an order to the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol ‘‘TAXI.’’ As of May 5, permit it to issue restricted shares of its 2009, there were 17,565,771 shares of common stock to its officers and the Company’s common stock employees under the terms of its outstanding. As of that date, the employee compensation plan. DATES: Filing Dates: The application was Company had 126 employees, including filed on June 12, 2009, and amended on employees of its wholly owned subsidiaries. August 27, 2009, and March 31, 2010. 2. The Company currently has a nineHearing or Notification of Hearing: An member board of directors (the ‘‘Board’’) order granting the application will be of whom three are ‘‘interested persons’’ issued unless the Commission orders a hearing. Interested persons may request of the Company within the meaning of section 2(a)(19) of the Act and six are a hearing by writing to the not interested persons (the ‘‘NonCommission’s Secretary and serving interested Directors’’). The Company has applicant with a copy of the request, seven directors who are neither officers personally or by mail. Hearing requests nor employees of the Company. should be received by the Commission 3. The Company believes that its by 5:30 p.m. on April 23, 2010, and successful performance depends on its should be accompanied by proof of ability to offer fair compensation service on applicant, in the form of an packages to its professionals that are affidavit or, for lawyers, a certificate of competitive with those offered by other service. Hearing requests should state investment management businesses. the nature of the writer’s interest, the The Company believes that the ability to reason for the request, and the issues offer equity-based compensation to its contested. Persons who wish to be professionals is vital to the Company’s notified of a hearing may request future growth and success. The notification by writing to the Company wishes to adopt the 2009 Commission’s Secretary. Employee Restricted Stock Plan (the ADDRESSES: Secretary, U.S. Securities ‘‘Plan’’) providing for the periodic and Exchange Commission, 100 F issuance of shares of restricted stock Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549– (i.e., stock that, at the time of issuance, 1090. Applicant, 437 Madison Avenue, is subject to certain forfeiture 38th Floor, New York, NY 10022. restrictions, and thus is restricted as to FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: its transferability until such forfeiture Christine Y. Greenlees, Senior Counsel, restrictions have lapsed) (the ‘‘Restricted at (202) 551–6879, or Mary Kay Frech, Branch Chief, at (202) 551–6821, 1 The Company was incorporated in Delaware in (Division of Investment Management, 1995 and commenced operations on May 29, 1996, in connection with the closing of its initial public Office of Investment Company offering and simultaneous acquisition of three Regulation). established finance companies. Section 2(a)(48) defines a BDC to be any closed-end investment SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The company that operates for the purpose of making following is a summary of the investments in securities described in sections application. The complete application 55(a)(1) through 55(a)(3) of the Act and makes may be obtained via the Commission’s available significant managerial assistance with respect to the issuers of such securities. Web site by searching for the file WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with NOTICES Medallion Financial Corp.; Notice of Application VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:18 Apr 06, 2010 Jkt 220001 PO 00000 Frm 00114 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Stock’’) for its employees and officers, and employees of its wholly owned subsidiaries (each a ‘‘Participant,’’ and collectively, the ‘‘Participants’’). 4. The Plan will authorize the issuance of shares of Restricted Stock subject to certain forfeiture restrictions. These restrictions may relate to continued employment, achievement of specified performance objectives, or other restrictions deemed by the Committee (as defined below) to be appropriate.2 The Restricted Stock will be subject to restrictions on transferability and other restrictions as required by the Committee. Except to the extent restricted under the terms of the Plan, a Participant granted Restricted Stock will have all the rights of any other stockholder, including the right to vote the Restricted Stock and the right to receive dividends. During the restriction period, the Restricted Stock generally may not be sold, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, margined, or otherwise encumbered by the Participant. Except as the Board otherwise determines, upon termination of a Participant’s employment or service on the Board during the applicable restriction period, Restricted Stock for which forfeiture restrictions have not lapsed at the time of such termination shall be forfeited. 5. The maximum amount of Restricted Stock that may be issued under the Plan will be 10% of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company on the effective date of the Plan plus 10% of the number of shares of the Company’s common stock issued or delivered by the Company (other than pursuant to compensation plans) during the term of the Plan.3 The Plan limits the total number of shares that may be awarded to any single Participant in a fiscal year to 200,000 shares. In addition, no Restricted Stock Participant may be granted more than 25% of the shares reserved for issuance under the Plan. The Plan will be administered by the Committee, which, upon approval of the required majority, as defined in section 57(o) of the Act,4 of the Board, will 2 The Compensation Committee of the Board (the ‘‘Committee’’) is comprised solely of the Noninterested Directors. 3 For purposes of calculating compliance with this limit, the Company will count as Restricted Stock all shares of its common stock that are issued pursuant to the Plan less any shares that are forfeited back to the Company and cancelled as a result of forfeiture restrictions not lapsing. 4 The term ‘‘required majority,’’ when used with respect to the approval of a proposed transaction, plan, or arrangement, means both a majority of a BDC’s directors or general partners who have no financial interest in such transaction, plan, or arrangement and a majority of such directors or general partners who are not interested persons of such company. E:\FR\FM\07APN1.SGM 07APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 66 / Wednesday, April 7, 2010 / Notices award shares of Restricted Stock to the Participants from time to time as part of the Participants’ compensation based on a Participant’s actual or expected performance and value to the Company. 6. Each issuance of Restricted Stock under the Plan will be approved by the required majority, as defined in section 57(o) of the Act, of the Company’s directors on the basis that the issuance is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. The date on which the required majority approves an issuance of Restricted Stock will be deemed the date on which the subject Restricted Stock is granted. 7. The Plan has been approved by the Committee, as well as the Board, including the required majority as defined in section 57(o) of the Act. The Plan will be submitted for approval to the Company’s stockholders, and will become effective upon such approval, subject to and following receipt of the order. Applicant’s Legal Analysis WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with NOTICES Sections 23(a) and (b), Section 63 1. Under section 63 of the Act, the provisions of section 23(a) of the Act generally prohibiting a registered closed-end investment company from issuing securities for services or for property other than cash or securities are made applicable to BDCs. This provision would prohibit the issuance of Restricted Stock as a part of the Plan. 2. Section 23(b) generally prohibits a closed-end management investment company from selling its common stock at a price below its current net asset value (‘‘NAV’’). Section 63(2) makes section 23(b) applicable to BDCs unless certain conditions are met. Because Restricted Stock that would be granted under the Plan would not meet the terms of section 63(2), sections 23(b) and 63 prohibit the issuance of the Restricted Stock. 3. Section 6(c) provides that the Commission may, by order upon application, conditionally or unconditionally exempt any person, security, or transaction, or any class or classes of persons, securities or transactions, from any provision of the Act, if and to the extent that the 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. 4. The Company requests an order pursuant to section 6(c) of the Act granting an exemption from the provisions of sections 23(a) and (b) and VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:18 Apr 06, 2010 Jkt 220001 section 63 of the Act.5 The Company states that the concerns underlying those sections include: (a) Preferential treatment of investment company insiders and the use of options and other rights by insiders to obtain control of the investment company; (b) complication of the investment company’s structure that made it difficult to determine the value of the company’s shares; and (c) dilution of stockholders’ equity in the investment company. The Company states that the Plan does not raise concerns about preferential treatment of the Company’s insiders because the Plan is a bona fide compensation plan of the type common among corporations generally. In addition, section 61(a)(3)(B) of the Act permits a BDC to issue to its officers, directors and employees, pursuant to an executive compensation plan, warrants, options and rights to purchase the BDC’s voting securities, subject to certain requirements. The Company states that, for reasons that are unclear, section 61 and its legislative history do not address the issuance by a BDC of restricted stock as incentive compensation. The Company states, however, that the issuance of Restricted Stock is substantially similar, for purposes of investor protection under the Act, to the issuance of warrants, options, and rights as contemplated by section 61. The Company also asserts that the Plan would not become a means for insiders to obtain control of the Company because the number of shares of the Company issuable under the Plan would be limited as set forth in the application. Moreover, no individual Restricted Stock Participant could be issued more than 25% of the shares reserved for issuance under the Plan. 5. The Company further states that the Plan will not unduly complicate the Company’s structure because equitybased compensation arrangements are widely used among corporations and commonly known to investors. The Company notes that the Plan will be submitted to its stockholders for their approval. The Company represents that a concise, ‘‘plain English’’ description of the Plan, including its potential dilutive effect, will be provided in the proxy materials that will be submitted to the 5 The Company asks that the order apply also to any future officers and employees of the Company and future employees of the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries that are eligible to receive Restricted Stock under the Plan. Additionally, to the extent that the Company creates or acquires additional wholly owned subsidiaries, and to the extent that such future subsidiaries have employees to whom the relief requested herein would otherwise apply, the Company asks that such relief, if granted, be extended to such employees of any future subsidiaries. PO 00000 Frm 00115 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 17795 Company’s stockholders. The Company also states that it will comply with the proxy disclosure requirements in Item 10 of Schedule 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ‘‘Exchange Act’’). The Company further notes that the Plan will be disclosed to investors in accordance with the requirements of the Form N–2 registration statement for closed-end investment companies, and pursuant to the standards and guidelines adopted by the Financial Accounting Standards Board for operating companies. In addition, the Company will comply with the disclosure requirements for executive compensation plans applicable to operating companies under the Exchange Act.6 The Company thus concludes that the Plan will be adequately disclosed to investors and appropriately reflected in the market value of the Company’s shares. 6. The Company acknowledges that, while awards granted under the Plan would have a dilutive effect on the stockholders’ equity in the Company, that effect would be outweighed by the anticipated benefits of the Plan to the Company and its stockholders. The Company asserts that it needs the flexibility to provide the requested equity-based employee compensation in order to be able to compete effectively with other financial services firms for talented professionals. These professionals, the Company suggests, in turn are likely to increase the Company’s performance and stockholder value. The Company also asserts that equity-based compensation would more closely align the interests of the Company’s employees with those of its stockholders. In addition, the Company states that its stockholders will be further protected by the conditions to the requested order that assure continuing oversight of the operation of the Plan by the Company’s Board. Section 57(a)(4), Rule 17d–1 7. Section 57(a) proscribes certain transactions between a BDC and persons related to the BDC in the manner 6 The Company will comply with the amendments to the disclosure requirements for executive and director compensation, related party transactions, director independence and other corporate governance matters, and security ownership of officers and directors to the extent adopted and applicable to BDCs. See Executive Compensation and Related Party Disclosure, Securities Act Release No. 8655 (Jan. 27, 2006) (proposed rule); Executive Compensation and Related Party Disclosure, Securities Act Release No. 8732A (Aug. 29, 2006) (final rule and proposed rule), as amended by Executive Compensation Disclosure, Securities Act Release No. 8765 (Dec. 22, 2006) (adopted as interim final rules with request for comments). E:\FR\FM\07APN1.SGM 07APN1 17796 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 66 / Wednesday, April 7, 2010 / Notices WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with NOTICES described in section 57(b) (‘‘57(b) persons’’), absent a Commission order. Section 57(a)(4) generally prohibits a 57(b) person from effecting a transaction in which the BDC is a joint participant absent such an order. Rule 17d–1, made applicable to BDCs by section 57(i), proscribes participation in a ‘‘joint enterprise or other joint arrangement or profit-sharing plan,’’ which includes a stock option or purchase plan. Employees and directors of a BDC are 57(b) persons. Thus, the issuance of shares of Restricted Stock could be deemed to involve a joint transaction involving a BDC and a 57(b) person in contravention of section 57(a)(4). Rule 17d–1(b) provides that, in considering relief pursuant to the rule, the Commission will consider (i) whether the participation of the company in a joint enterprise is consistent with the Act’s policies and purposes and (ii) the extent to which that participation is on a basis different from or less advantageous than that of other participants. 8. The Company requests an order pursuant to section 57(a)(4) and rule 17d–1 to permit the Plan. The Company states that the Plan, although benefiting the Participants and the Company in different ways, is in the interests of the Company’s stockholders because the Plan will help align the interests of the Company’s employees and officers with those of its stockholders, which will encourage conduct on the part of those employees and officers designed to produce a better return for the Company’s stockholders. Applicant’s Conditions Applicant agrees that the order granting the requested relief will be subject to the following conditions: 1. The Plan will be authorized by the Company’s stockholders. 2. Each issuance of Restricted Stock to a Participant will be approved by the required majority, as defined in section 57(o) of the Act, of the Company’s directors on the basis that such issuance is in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders. 3. The amount of voting securities that would result from the exercise of all of the Company’s outstanding warrants, options, and rights, together with any Restricted Stock issued pursuant to the Plan, at the time of issuance shall not exceed 25% of the outstanding voting securities of the Company, except that if the amount of voting securities that would result from the exercise of all of the Company’s outstanding warrants, options, and rights issued to the Company’s directors, officers, and employees, together with any Restricted VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:18 Apr 06, 2010 Jkt 220001 Stock issued pursuant to the Plan, would exceed 15% of the outstanding voting securities of the Company, then the total amount of voting securities that would result from the exercise of all outstanding warrants, options, and rights, together with any Restricted Stock issued pursuant to the Plan, at the time of issuance shall not exceed 20% of the outstanding voting securities of the Company. 4. The maximum amount of shares of Restricted Stock that may be issued under the Plan will be 10% of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company on the effective date of the Plan plus 10% of the number of shares of the Company’s common stock issued or delivered by the Company (other than pursuant to compensation plans) during the term of the Plan. 5. The Board will review the Plan at least annually. In addition, the Board will review periodically the potential impact that the issuance of Restricted Stock under the Plan could have on the Company’s earnings and NAV per share, such review to take place prior to any decisions to grant Restricted Stock under the Plan, but in no event less frequently than annually. Adequate procedures and records will be maintained to permit such review. The Board will be authorized to take appropriate steps to ensure that the grant of Restricted Stock under the Plan would not have an effect contrary to the interests of the Company’s stockholders. This authority will include the authority to prevent or limit the granting of additional Restricted Stock under the Plan. All records maintained pursuant to this condition will be subject to examination by the Commission and its staff. For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, under delegated authority. Florence E. Harmon, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2010–7848 Filed 4–6–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Investment Company Act Release No. 29200; File No. 811–21873] American Vantage Companies; Notice of Application April 1, 2010. AGENCY: Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’). ACTION: Notice of application for deregistration under section 8(f) of the PO 00000 Frm 00116 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Investment Company Act of 1940 (the ‘‘Act’’). Summary of Application: American Vantage Companies requests an order declaring that it has ceased to be an investment company. A notice of application was issued on March 11, 2010 (Investment Company Act Release No. 29174). Applicant subsequently amended the application to state that it had not yet filed its Semi-Annual Report for Registered Investment Companies on Form N–SAR (‘‘Form N–SAR’’) and its Certified Shareholder Report of Registered Management Investment Companies on Form N–CSR (‘‘Form N– CSR’’), each for the reporting period ended December 31, 2009. The amended application states that applicant undertakes to make such filings by January 31, 2011, and adds certain other conditions. This amended notice incorporates the changes in the application made by applicant’s amendment. Applicant: American Vantage Companies (the ‘‘Company’’). Filing Dates: The application was filed on November 25, 2008 and amended on April 30, 2009, November 12, 2009, February 4, 2010, March 10, 2010 and March 31, 2010. Hearing or Notification of Hearing: An order granting the requested relief will be issued unless the Commission orders a hearing. Interested persons may request a hearing by writing to the Commission’s Secretary and serving applicant with a copy of the request, personally or by mail. Hearing requests should be received by the Commission by 5:30 p.m. on April 26, 2010 and should be accompanied by proof of service on applicant, 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. Applicant, P.O. Box 81920, Las Vegas, Nevada 89180. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jaea F. Hahn, Senior Counsel, at (202) 551– 6870, or Jennifer L. Sawin, Branch Chief, at (202) 551–6821 (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 via the Commission’s E:\FR\FM\07APN1.SGM 07APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 7, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17794-17796]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7848]



[[Page 17794]]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Investment Company Act Release No. 29201; 812-13667]


Medallion Financial Corp.; Notice of Application

April 1, 2010.
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 (the ``Act'') for an exemption from 
sections 23(a), 23(b) and 63 of the Act, and under sections 57(a)(4) 
and 57(i) of the Act and rule 17d-1 under the Act permitting certain 
joint transactions otherwise prohibited by section 57(a)(4) of the Act.

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SUMMARY: Summary of the Application: Applicant, Medallion Financial 
Corp. (the ``Company''), requests an order to permit it to issue 
restricted shares of its common stock to its officers and employees 
under the terms of its employee compensation plan.

DATES: Filing Dates: The application was filed on June 12, 2009, and 
amended on August 27, 2009, and March 31, 2010.
    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 applicant with a copy of the request, personally 
or by mail. Hearing requests should be received by the Commission by 
5:30 p.m. on April 23, 2010, and should be accompanied by proof of 
service on applicant, 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. Applicant, 437 Madison Avenue, 
38th Floor, New York, NY 10022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christine Y. Greenlees, Senior 
Counsel, at (202) 551-6879, 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 via the 
Commission's Web site by searching for the file number, or for an 
applicant using the Company name box, at https://www.sec.gov/search/search.htm, or by calling (202) 551-8090.

Applicant's Representations

    1. The Company, a Delaware corporation, is an internally managed, 
non-diversified, closed-end investment company that has elected to be 
regulated as a business development company (``BDC'') under the Act.\1\ 
The Company is a specialty finance company that has a leading position 
in originating, acquiring, and servicing loans that finance taxicab 
medallions and various types of commercial businesses. The Company 
currently operates its business through three wholly owned consolidated 
subsidiaries and one wholly owned unconsolidated portfolio company. 
Shares of the Company's common stock are traded on the NASDAQ Global 
Select Market under the symbol ``TAXI.'' As of May 5, 2009, there were 
17,565,771 shares of the Company's common stock outstanding. As of that 
date, the Company had 126 employees, including employees of its wholly 
owned subsidiaries.
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    \1\ The Company was incorporated in Delaware in 1995 and 
commenced operations on May 29, 1996, in connection with the closing 
of its initial public offering and simultaneous acquisition of three 
established finance companies. Section 2(a)(48) defines a BDC to be 
any closed-end investment company that operates for the purpose of 
making investments in securities described in sections 55(a)(1) 
through 55(a)(3) of the Act and makes available significant 
managerial assistance with respect to the issuers of such 
securities.
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    2. The Company currently has a nine-member board of directors (the 
``Board'') of whom three are ``interested persons'' of the Company 
within the meaning of section 2(a)(19) of the Act and six are not 
interested persons (the ``Non-interested Directors''). The Company has 
seven directors who are neither officers nor employees of the Company.
    3. The Company believes that its successful performance depends on 
its ability to offer fair compensation packages to its professionals 
that are competitive with those offered by other investment management 
businesses. The Company believes that the ability to offer equity-based 
compensation to its professionals is vital to the Company's future 
growth and success. The Company wishes to adopt the 2009 Employee 
Restricted Stock Plan (the ``Plan'') providing for the periodic 
issuance of shares of restricted stock (i.e., stock that, at the time 
of issuance, is subject to certain forfeiture restrictions, and thus is 
restricted as to its transferability until such forfeiture restrictions 
have lapsed) (the ``Restricted Stock'') for its employees and officers, 
and employees of its wholly owned subsidiaries (each a ``Participant,'' 
and collectively, the ``Participants'').
    4. The Plan will authorize the issuance of shares of Restricted 
Stock subject to certain forfeiture restrictions. These restrictions 
may relate to continued employment, achievement of specified 
performance objectives, or other restrictions deemed by the Committee 
(as defined below) to be appropriate.\2\ The Restricted Stock will be 
subject to restrictions on transferability and other restrictions as 
required by the Committee. Except to the extent restricted under the 
terms of the Plan, a Participant granted Restricted Stock will have all 
the rights of any other stockholder, including the right to vote the 
Restricted Stock and the right to receive dividends. During the 
restriction period, the Restricted Stock generally may not be sold, 
transferred, pledged, hypothecated, margined, or otherwise encumbered 
by the Participant. Except as the Board otherwise determines, upon 
termination of a Participant's employment or service on the Board 
during the applicable restriction period, Restricted Stock for which 
forfeiture restrictions have not lapsed at the time of such termination 
shall be forfeited.
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    \2\ The Compensation Committee of the Board (the ``Committee'') 
is comprised solely of the Non-interested Directors.
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    5. The maximum amount of Restricted Stock that may be issued under 
the Plan will be 10% of the outstanding shares of common stock of the 
Company on the effective date of the Plan plus 10% of the number of 
shares of the Company's common stock issued or delivered by the Company 
(other than pursuant to compensation plans) during the term of the 
Plan.\3\ The Plan limits the total number of shares that may be awarded 
to any single Participant in a fiscal year to 200,000 shares. In 
addition, no Restricted Stock Participant may be granted more than 25% 
of the shares reserved for issuance under the Plan. The Plan will be 
administered by the Committee, which, upon approval of the required 
majority, as defined in section 57(o) of the Act,\4\ of the Board, will

[[Page 17795]]

award shares of Restricted Stock to the Participants from time to time 
as part of the Participants' compensation based on a Participant's 
actual or expected performance and value to the Company.
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    \3\ For purposes of calculating compliance with this limit, the 
Company will count as Restricted Stock all shares of its common 
stock that are issued pursuant to the Plan less any shares that are 
forfeited back to the Company and cancelled as a result of 
forfeiture restrictions not lapsing.
    \4\ The term ``required majority,'' when used with respect to 
the approval of a proposed transaction, plan, or arrangement, means 
both a majority of a BDC's directors or general partners who have no 
financial interest in such transaction, plan, or arrangement and a 
majority of such directors or general partners who are not 
interested persons of such company.
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    6. Each issuance of Restricted Stock under the Plan will be 
approved by the required majority, as defined in section 57(o) of the 
Act, of the Company's directors on the basis that the issuance is in 
the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. The date on 
which the required majority approves an issuance of Restricted Stock 
will be deemed the date on which the subject Restricted Stock is 
granted.
    7. The Plan has been approved by the Committee, as well as the 
Board, including the required majority as defined in section 57(o) of 
the Act. The Plan will be submitted for approval to the Company's 
stockholders, and will become effective upon such approval, subject to 
and following receipt of the order.

Applicant's Legal Analysis

Sections 23(a) and (b), Section 63

    1. Under section 63 of the Act, the provisions of section 23(a) of 
the Act generally prohibiting a registered closed-end investment 
company from issuing securities for services or for property other than 
cash or securities are made applicable to BDCs. This provision would 
prohibit the issuance of Restricted Stock as a part of the Plan.
    2. Section 23(b) generally prohibits a closed-end management 
investment company from selling its common stock at a price below its 
current net asset value (``NAV''). Section 63(2) makes section 23(b) 
applicable to BDCs unless certain conditions are met. Because 
Restricted Stock that would be granted under the Plan would not meet 
the terms of section 63(2), sections 23(b) and 63 prohibit the issuance 
of the Restricted Stock.
    3. Section 6(c) provides that the Commission may, by order upon 
application, conditionally or unconditionally exempt any person, 
security, or transaction, or any class or classes of persons, 
securities or transactions, from any provision of the Act, if and to 
the extent that the 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.
    4. The Company requests an order pursuant to section 6(c) of the 
Act granting an exemption from the provisions of sections 23(a) and (b) 
and section 63 of the Act.\5\ The Company states that the concerns 
underlying those sections include: (a) Preferential treatment of 
investment company insiders and the use of options and other rights by 
insiders to obtain control of the investment company; (b) complication 
of the investment company's structure that made it difficult to 
determine the value of the company's shares; and (c) dilution of 
stockholders' equity in the investment company. The Company states that 
the Plan does not raise concerns about preferential treatment of the 
Company's insiders because the Plan is a bona fide compensation plan of 
the type common among corporations generally. In addition, section 
61(a)(3)(B) of the Act permits a BDC to issue to its officers, 
directors and employees, pursuant to an executive compensation plan, 
warrants, options and rights to purchase the BDC's voting securities, 
subject to certain requirements. The Company states that, for reasons 
that are unclear, section 61 and its legislative history do not address 
the issuance by a BDC of restricted stock as incentive compensation. 
The Company states, however, that the issuance of Restricted Stock is 
substantially similar, for purposes of investor protection under the 
Act, to the issuance of warrants, options, and rights as contemplated 
by section 61. The Company also asserts that the Plan would not become 
a means for insiders to obtain control of the Company because the 
number of shares of the Company issuable under the Plan would be 
limited as set forth in the application. Moreover, no individual 
Restricted Stock Participant could be issued more than 25% of the 
shares reserved for issuance under the Plan.
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    \5\ The Company asks that the order apply also to any future 
officers and employees of the Company and future employees of the 
Company's wholly owned subsidiaries that are eligible to receive 
Restricted Stock under the Plan. Additionally, to the extent that 
the Company creates or acquires additional wholly owned 
subsidiaries, and to the extent that such future subsidiaries have 
employees to whom the relief requested herein would otherwise apply, 
the Company asks that such relief, if granted, be extended to such 
employees of any future subsidiaries.
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    5. The Company further states that the Plan will not unduly 
complicate the Company's structure because equity-based compensation 
arrangements are widely used among corporations and commonly known to 
investors. The Company notes that the Plan will be submitted to its 
stockholders for their approval. The Company represents that a concise, 
``plain English'' description of the Plan, including its potential 
dilutive effect, will be provided in the proxy materials that will be 
submitted to the Company's stockholders. The Company also states that 
it will comply with the proxy disclosure requirements in Item 10 of 
Schedule 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ``Exchange 
Act''). The Company further notes that the Plan will be disclosed to 
investors in accordance with the requirements of the Form N-2 
registration statement for closed-end investment companies, and 
pursuant to the standards and guidelines adopted by the Financial 
Accounting Standards Board for operating companies. In addition, the 
Company will comply with the disclosure requirements for executive 
compensation plans applicable to operating companies under the Exchange 
Act.\6\ The Company thus concludes that the Plan will be adequately 
disclosed to investors and appropriately reflected in the market value 
of the Company's shares.
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    \6\ The Company will comply with the amendments to the 
disclosure requirements for executive and director compensation, 
related party transactions, director independence and other 
corporate governance matters, and security ownership of officers and 
directors to the extent adopted and applicable to BDCs. See 
Executive Compensation and Related Party Disclosure, Securities Act 
Release No. 8655 (Jan. 27, 2006) (proposed rule); Executive 
Compensation and Related Party Disclosure, Securities Act Release 
No. 8732A (Aug. 29, 2006) (final rule and proposed rule), as amended 
by Executive Compensation Disclosure, Securities Act Release No. 
8765 (Dec. 22, 2006) (adopted as interim final rules with request 
for comments).
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    6. The Company acknowledges that, while awards granted under the 
Plan would have a dilutive effect on the stockholders' equity in the 
Company, that effect would be outweighed by the anticipated benefits of 
the Plan to the Company and its stockholders. The Company asserts that 
it needs the flexibility to provide the requested equity-based employee 
compensation in order to be able to compete effectively with other 
financial services firms for talented professionals. These 
professionals, the Company suggests, in turn are likely to increase the 
Company's performance and stockholder value. The Company also asserts 
that equity-based compensation would more closely align the interests 
of the Company's employees with those of its stockholders. In addition, 
the Company states that its stockholders will be further protected by 
the conditions to the requested order that assure continuing oversight 
of the operation of the Plan by the Company's Board.

Section 57(a)(4), Rule 17d-1

    7. Section 57(a) proscribes certain transactions between a BDC and 
persons related to the BDC in the manner

[[Page 17796]]

described in section 57(b) (``57(b) persons''), absent a Commission 
order. Section 57(a)(4) generally prohibits a 57(b) person from 
effecting a transaction in which the BDC is a joint participant absent 
such an order. Rule 17d-1, made applicable to BDCs by section 57(i), 
proscribes participation in a ``joint enterprise or other joint 
arrangement or profit-sharing plan,'' which includes a stock option or 
purchase plan. Employees and directors of a BDC are 57(b) persons. 
Thus, the issuance of shares of Restricted Stock could be deemed to 
involve a joint transaction involving a BDC and a 57(b) person in 
contravention of section 57(a)(4). Rule 17d-1(b) provides that, in 
considering relief pursuant to the rule, the Commission will consider 
(i) whether the participation of the company in a joint enterprise is 
consistent with the Act's policies and purposes and (ii) the extent to 
which that participation is on a basis different from or less 
advantageous than that of other participants.
    8. The Company requests an order pursuant to section 57(a)(4) and 
rule 17d-1 to permit the Plan. The Company states that the Plan, 
although benefiting the Participants and the Company in different ways, 
is in the interests of the Company's stockholders because the Plan will 
help align the interests of the Company's employees and officers with 
those of its stockholders, which will encourage conduct on the part of 
those employees and officers designed to produce a better return for 
the Company's stockholders.

Applicant's Conditions

    Applicant agrees that the order granting the requested relief will 
be subject to the following conditions:
    1. The Plan will be authorized by the Company's stockholders.
    2. Each issuance of Restricted Stock to a Participant will be 
approved by the required majority, as defined in section 57(o) of the 
Act, of the Company's directors on the basis that such issuance is in 
the best interest of the Company and its stockholders.
    3. The amount of voting securities that would result from the 
exercise of all of the Company's outstanding warrants, options, and 
rights, together with any Restricted Stock issued pursuant to the Plan, 
at the time of issuance shall not exceed 25% of the outstanding voting 
securities of the Company, except that if the amount of voting 
securities that would result from the exercise of all of the Company's 
outstanding warrants, options, and rights issued to the Company's 
directors, officers, and employees, together with any Restricted Stock 
issued pursuant to the Plan, would exceed 15% of the outstanding voting 
securities of the Company, then the total amount of voting securities 
that would result from the exercise of all outstanding warrants, 
options, and rights, together with any Restricted Stock issued pursuant 
to the Plan, at the time of issuance shall not exceed 20% of the 
outstanding voting securities of the Company.
    4. The maximum amount of shares of Restricted Stock that may be 
issued under the Plan will be 10% of the outstanding shares of common 
stock of the Company on the effective date of the Plan plus 10% of the 
number of shares of the Company's common stock issued or delivered by 
the Company (other than pursuant to compensation plans) during the term 
of the Plan.
    5. The Board will review the Plan at least annually. In addition, 
the Board will review periodically the potential impact that the 
issuance of Restricted Stock under the Plan could have on the Company's 
earnings and NAV per share, such review to take place prior to any 
decisions to grant Restricted Stock under the Plan, but in no event 
less frequently than annually. Adequate procedures and records will be 
maintained to permit such review. The Board will be authorized to take 
appropriate steps to ensure that the grant of Restricted Stock under 
the Plan would not have an effect contrary to the interests of the 
Company's stockholders. This authority will include the authority to 
prevent or limit the granting of additional Restricted Stock under the 
Plan. All records maintained pursuant to this condition will be subject 
to examination by the Commission and its staff.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, 
under delegated authority.
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010-7848 Filed 4-6-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
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