Lazard Global Total Return and Income Fund, Inc., et al.; Notice of Application, 37856-37860 [2010-15887]
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 125 / Wednesday, June 30, 2010 / Notices
disclosed to other federal offices of
inspectors general and councils
comprising officials from other federal
offices of inspectors general, as required
by the Inspector General Act of 1978, as
amended. The purpose is to ensure that
OIG audit and investigative operations
can be subject to integrity and efficiency
peer reviews, and to permit other offices
of inspectors general to investigate and
report on allegations of misconduct by
senior OIG officials as directed by a
council, the President, or Congress.
Records originating from any other
PBGC systems of records, which may be
duplicated in or incorporated into this
system, also may be disclosed with all
personally identifiable information
redacted.
6. A record may be disclosed to the
Department of the Treasury and the
Department of Justice when the OIG
seeks an ex parte court order to obtain
taxpayer information from the Internal
Revenue Service.
7. A record may be disclosed to a
‘‘consumer reporting agency,’’ as that
term is defined in the Fair Credit
Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681a(f)) and
the Federal Claims Collection Act of
1966 (31 U.S.C. 3701(a)(3)), to obtain
information in the course of an
investigation, audit, or evaluations.
8. A record may be disclosed to any
governmental, professional or licensing
authority when such record reflects on
qualifications, either moral, educational
or vocational, of an individual seeking
to be licensed or to maintain a license.
9. A record may be disclosed to any
direct or indirect recipient of federal
funds, e.g., a contractor, where such
record reflects problems with the
personnel working for a recipient, and
disclosure of the record is made to
permit a recipient to take corrective
action beneficial to the government.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING,
RETRIEVING, ACCESSING, RETAINING, AND
DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
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The information in the records is
maintained in a variety of media,
including paper, magnetic tapes or
discs, and an automated database. The
records are maintained in limited access
areas during all times; electronic records
are maintained in computers and
networks that require multiple
individual identifications and
passwords.
Records are also maintained on
magnetic tapes and back-up hard
drives.
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CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
Records are indexed by name or other
personal identifier, subject category, or
assigned case number.
Exempt. However, consideration will
be given requests made in compliance
with 29 CFR 4902.3.
RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
SAFEGUARDS:
Paper records, computers, and
computer-storage media are located in
controlled-access areas under
supervision of program personnel.
Access to these areas is limited to
authorized personnel, who must be
identified with a badge. Access to
records is limited to individuals whose
official duties require such access.
Contractors and licensees are subject to
contract controls and unannounced onsite audits and inspections. Computers
are protected by mechanical locks, cardkey systems, or other physical-access
control methods. The use of computer
systems is regulated with installed
security software, computer-logon
identifications, and operating-system
controls including access controls,
terminal and transaction logging, and
file-management software.
Inspector General, Pension Benefit
Guaranty Corporation, 1200 K Street,
NW., Washington, DC 20005–4026.
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:
This system is exempt from the
notification requirements. However,
consideration will be given to inquiries
made in compliance with 29 CFR
4902.3.
RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:
This system is exempt from the access
requirements. However, consideration
will be given to requests made in
compliance with 29 CFR 4902.3.
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SYSTEMS EXEMPTED FROM CERTAIN PROVISIONS
OF THE ACT:
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(j) and (k),
PBGC has established regulations at 29
CFR 4902.11 that exempt records in this
system depending on their purpose.
BILLING CODE 7709–01–P
1. Official investigative case files,
evidence and custody files, and
informant files are retained up to 11
years after closeout of the investigation.
If significant, the files are transferred to
the National Archives and Records
Administration.
2. Information reports, investigative
analysis reports, and inquiry files are
retained up to 6 years after closeout of
the investigation.
3. Internal administrative reports are
retained up to 3 years after closeout of
the investigation.
Records existing on paper are
destroyed by burning, pulping, or
shredding. Records existing on
computer storage media are destroyed
according to the applicable PBGC media
sanitization practice.
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The information contained in this
system may be derived or received from
individual complainants, witnesses,
interviews conducted during
investigations, Federal, state and local
government records, individual or
company records, claim and payment
files, employer medical records,
insurance records, court records, articles
from publications, financial data, bank
information, telephone data, insurers,
service providers, other law
enforcement organizations, grantees and
subgrantees, contractors and
subcontractors, and other sources.
[FR Doc. 2010–15872 Filed 6–29–10; 8:45 am]
RETENTION AND DISPOSAL:
SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS:
STORAGE:
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RETRIEVABILITY:
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Investment Company Act Release No.
29331; File No. 812–13218]
Lazard Global Total Return and Income
Fund, Inc., et al.; Notice of Application
June 24, 2010.
AGENCY: Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘Commission’’).
ACTION: Notice of application under
section 6(c) of the Investment Company
Act of 1940 (‘‘Act’’) for an exemption
from section 19(b) of the Act and rule
19b–1 under the Act.
Summary of Application: Applicants
request an order to permit certain
registered closed-end investment
companies to make periodic
distributions of long-term capital gains
with respect to their outstanding
common stock as frequently as monthly
in any one taxable year, and as
frequently as distributions are specified
by or in accordance with the terms of
any outstanding preferred stock that
such investment companies may issue.
Applicants: Lazard Global Total
Return and Income Fund, Inc. (‘‘LGI’’),
Lazard World Dividend & Income Fund,
Inc. (‘‘LOR’’) (each, a ‘‘Fund’’) and Lazard
Asset Management LLC (the ‘‘Investment
Adviser’’).
Filing Dates: The application was
filed on July 25, 2005 and amended on
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July 15, 2009, September 3, 2009, May
5, 2010 and June 8, 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
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 July 20, 2010, and
should be accompanied by proof of
service on applicants, in the form of an
affidavit or, for lawyers, a certificate of
service. Hearing requests should state
the nature of the writer’s interest, the
reason for the request, and the issues
contested. Persons who wish to be
notified of a hearing may request
notification by writing to the
Commission’s Secretary.
ADDRESSES: Secretary, Securities and
Exchange Commission, 100 F Street,
NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090;
Applicants, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New
York, New York 10112–6300, Contact:
Brian D. Simon, Esq.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Emerson S. Davis, Senior Counsel, at
(202) 551–6868, or Julia K. 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 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.
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Applicants’ Representations
1. Each of LGI and LOR is a closedend management investment company
registered under the Act.1 LGI’s
1 All existing registered closed-end investment
companies that currently intend to rely on the
requested order are named as applicants.
Applicants request that the order also apply to each
registered closed-end investment company that in
the future is advised by the Investment Adviser
(including any successor in interest) or by an entity
controlling, controlled by, or under common
control (within the meaning of section 2(a)(9) of the
Act) with the Investment Adviser. Any closed-end
investment company that relies on the requested
order in the future will comply with the terms and
conditions of the order and will satisfy each of the
representations in the application except that such
representations will be made in respect of actions
by the board of trustees or directors of such future
fund and will be made at a future time. LGI, LOR
and as the context requires, such future funds, are
collectively referred to as the ‘‘Funds’’ and
separately as a ‘‘Fund’’. A successor in interest is
limited to an entity that results from a
reorganization into another jurisdiction or a change
in the type of business organization.
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investment objective is total return,
consisting of capital appreciation and
income. LOR’s investment objective is
total return through a combination of
dividends, income and capital
appreciation. The common shares
issued by LGI and LOR are listed on the
NYSE. As of the date of the application,
LGI and LOR did not intend to issue any
shares of preferred stock. Applicants
believe that the shareholders of LGI and
LOR are generally conservative,
dividend-sensitive investors who desire
current income periodically.
2. The Investment Adviser, a
`
subsidiary of Lazard Freres & Co., is
registered as an investment adviser
under the Investment Advisers Act of
1940. The Investment Adviser serves as
investment adviser to LGI and LOR.
3. Applicants state that on June 2,
2009 and August 20, 2009, respectively,
the boards of directors of LGI and LOR
(each, a ‘‘Board’’), including a majority
of the members of each Board who are
not ‘‘interested persons’’ as defined in
section 2(a)(19) of the Act (the
‘‘Independent Directors’’), reviewed
information regarding the purpose and
terms of a proposed distribution policy,
the relationship between LGI’s or LOR’s
distribution rate on its common shares
under the policy and its total return (in
relation to net asset value per share),
whether the rate of distribution would
exceed LGI’s or LOR’s expected total
return in relation to its net asset value
per share and any reasonably
foreseeable material effects of such
policy on LGI’s or LOR’s long-term total
return (in relation to market price and
net asset value per share). Applicants
state that the Independent Directors of
LGI and LOR also considered what
conflicts of interest the Investment
Adviser and the affiliated persons of the
Investment Adviser and LGI and LOR
might have with respect to the adoption
or implementation of such policy.
Applicants further state that after
considering such information, the
Board, including the Independent
Directors, approved a distribution
policy with respect to each of LGI’s and
LOR’s common shares (each a ‘‘Plan’’)
and determined that such Plan is in the
best interests of each respective Fund’s
common shareholders.
4. Applicants state that the purpose of
LGI’s and LOR’s Plans is to make fixed
periodic distributions to provide steady
cash flow to LGI’s and LOR’s
shareholders. Under each Plan, each of
LGI and LOR would distribute to its
respective common shareholders a
periodic, level distribution as frequently
as monthly, based on a fixed amount per
share, a fixed percentage of market price
or a fixed percentage of the Fund’s net
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asset value per common share, any of
which may be adjusted from time to
time. Applicants state that the minimum
annual distribution rate with respect to
LGI’s and LOR’s common stock would
be independent of performance during
any particular period but would be
expected to correlate with such Fund’s
performance over time. Applicants
further explain that each distribution on
the common shares would be at the
stated rate then in effect, except for
extraordinary distributions and
potential increases or decreases in the
final dividend periods in light of the
Fund’s performance for the entire
calendar year and to enable the Fund to
comply with the distribution
requirements of Subchapter M of the
Internal Revenue Code (‘‘Code’’) for the
calendar year.
5. Prior to a Fund relying on the
Order, the Fund’s Board, including a
majority of its Independent Directors,
will adopt policies and procedures
under rule 38a–1 under the Act that (a)
are reasonably designed to ensure that
all notices sent to the Fund’s
shareholders pursuant to section 19(a)
of the Act, rule 19a–1 under the Act and
condition IV below (each a ‘‘19(a)
Notice’’) include the disclosure required
by rule 19a–1 under the Act and by
condition II.A. below, and that all other
written communications by the Fund or
its agents regarding distributions under
the Fund’s Plan include the disclosure
required by condition III.A. below and
(b) that require each Fund to keep
records that demonstrate its compliance
with all of the conditions of the
requested order and that are necessary
for such Fund to form the basis for, or
demonstrate the calculation of, the
amounts disclosed in its 19(a) Notices.
Applicants’ Legal Analysis
1. Section 19(b) generally makes it
unlawful for any registered investment
company to make long-term capital
gains distributions more than once
every twelve months. Rule 19b–1 limits
the number of capital gains dividends,
as defined in section 852(b)(3)(C) of the
Code (‘‘distributions’’), that a fund may
make with respect to any one taxable
year to one, plus a supplemental ‘‘clean
up’’ distribution made pursuant to
section 855 of the Code not exceeding
10% of the total amount distributed for
the year, plus one additional capital
gain dividend made in whole or in part
to avoid the excise tax under section
4982 of the Code.
2. Section 6(c) provides, in relevant
part, that the Commission may exempt
any person or transaction from any
provision of the Act to the extent that
such exemption is necessary or
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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.
3. Applicants state that the one of the
concerns leading to the enactment of
section 19(b) and adoption of rule 19b–
1 was that shareholders might be unable
to distinguish between frequent
distributions of capital gains and
dividends from investment income.
Applicants state, however, that rule
19a–1 effectively addresses this concern
by requiring that a separate statement
showing the sources of a distribution
(e.g., estimated net income, net shortterm capital gains, net long-term capital
gains and/or return of capital)
accompany any distributions (or the
confirmation of the reinvestment of
distributions) estimated to be sourced in
part from capital gains or capital.
Applicants also state that the same
information is, or will be, included in
each Fund’s annual report to
shareholders and on its IRS Form 1099–
DIV, which is sent to each common and
preferred shareholder who received
distributions during a particular year
(including shareholders who have sold
shares during a particular year).
4. Applicants further state that each of
the Funds will make the additional
disclosures required by the conditions
set forth below, and each of them will
adopt compliance policies and
procedures in accordance with rule
38a–1 under the Act to ensure that all
19(a) Notices and disclosures are sent to
shareholders. Applicants argue that rule
19a–1, the Plans and the compliance
policies would ensure that each Fund’s
shareholders are provided sufficient
information to understand that their
periodic distributions are not tied to the
Fund’s net investment income (which
for this purpose is the Fund’s taxable
income other than from capital gains)
and realized capital gains to date, and
may not represent yield or investment
return. Applicants also state that
compliance with each Fund’s
compliance procedures and condition
III set forth below will ensure that
prospective shareholders and third
parties are provided with the same
information. Accordingly, applicants
assert that continuing to subject the
Funds to section 19(b) and rule 19b–1
would afford shareholders no extra
protection.
5. Applicants note that section 19(b)
and rule 19b–1 also were intended to
prevent certain improper sales practices,
including, in particular, the practice of
urging an investor to purchase shares of
a fund on the basis of an upcoming
capital gains dividend (‘‘selling the
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dividend’’), where the dividend would
result in an immediate corresponding
reduction in NAV and would be in
effect a taxable return of the investor’s
capital. Applicants assert that the
‘‘selling the dividend’’ concern should
not apply to closed-end investment
companies, such as the Funds, which do
not continuously distribute shares.
According to applicants, if the
underlying concern extends to
secondary market purchases of shares of
closed-end funds that are subject to a
large upcoming capital gains dividend,
adoption of a periodic distribution plan
actually helps minimize the concern by
avoiding, through periodic
distributions, any buildup of large endof-the-year distributions.
6. Applicants also note that common
shares of closed-end funds that invest
primarily in equity securities often trade
in the marketplace at a discount to their
NAV. Applicants believe that this
discount may be reduced if the Fund is
permitted to pay relatively frequent
dividends on their common shares at a
consistent rate, whether or not those
dividends contain an element of longterm capital gain.
7. Applicants assert that the
application of rule 19b–1 to a Plan
actually could have an inappropriate
influence on portfolio management
decisions. Applicants state that, in the
absence of an exemption from rule 19b–
1, the adoption of a periodic
distribution plan imposes pressure on
management (i) not to realize any net
long-term capital gains until the point in
the year that the fund can pay all of its
remaining distributions in accordance
with rule 19b–1, and (ii) not to realize
any long-term capital gains during any
particular year in excess of the amount
of the aggregate pay-out for the year
(since as a practical matter excess gains
must be distributed and accordingly
would not be available to satisfy pay-out
requirements in following years),
notwithstanding that purely investment
considerations might favor realization of
long-term gains at different times or in
different amounts. Applicants assert
that the limitation on the number of
capital gain distributions that a fund
may make with respect to any one year
imposed by rule 19b–1 may prevent the
normal and efficient operation of a
periodic distribution plan whenever
that fund’s realized net long-term
capital gains in any year exceed the total
of the periodic distributions that may
include such capital gains under the
rule.
8. Applicants also assert that rule
19b–1 may force fixed regular periodic
distributions under a periodic
distribution plan to be funded with
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returns of capital 2 (to the extent net
investment income and realized shortterm capital gains are insufficient to
fund the distribution), even though
realized net long-term capital gains
otherwise could be available. To
distribute all of a fund’s long-term
capital gains within the limits in rule
19b–1, a fund may be required to make
total distributions in excess of the
annual amount called for by its periodic
distribution plan, or to retain and pay
taxes on the anomalous excess amount.
Applicants assert that the requested
order would minimize these anomalous
effects of rule 19b–1 by enabling the
Funds to realize long-term capital gains
as often as investment considerations
dictate without fear of violating rule
19b–1.
9. Applicants state that Revenue
Ruling 89–81 under the Code requires
that a fund that seeks to qualify as a
regulated investment company under
the Code and that has both common
stock and preferred stock outstanding
designate the types of income, e.g.,
investment income and capital gains, in
the same proportion as the total
distributions distributed to each class
for the tax year. To satisfy the
proportionate designation requirements
of Revenue Ruling 89–81, whenever a
fund has realized a long-term capital
gain with respect to a given tax year, the
fund must designate the required
proportionate share of such capital gain
to be included in common and preferred
stock dividends. Applicants state that
although rule 19b–1 allows a fund some
flexibility with respect to the frequency
of capital gains distributions, a fund
might use all of the exceptions available
under the rule for a tax year and still
need to distribute additional capital
gains allocated to the preferred stock to
comply with Revenue Ruling 89–81.
10. Applicants assert that the
potential abuses addressed by section
19(b) and rule 19b–1 do not arise with
respect to preferred stock issued by a
closed-end fund. Applicants assert that
such distributions are fixed or
determined in periodic auctions by
reference to short-term interest rates
rather than by reference to performance
of the issuer and Revenue Ruling 89–81
determines the proportion of such
distributions that are comprised of the
long-term capital gains.
11. Applicants also submit that the
‘‘selling the dividend’’ concern is not
applicable to preferred stock, which
entitles a holder to no more than a
periodic dividend at a fixed rate or the
2 Returns of capital as used in the application
means return of capital for financial accounting
purposes and not for tax accounting purposes.
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rate determined by the market, and, like
a debt security, is priced based upon its
liquidation value, dividend rate, credit
quality and frequency of payment.
Applicants state that investors buy
preferred shares for the purpose of
receiving payments at the frequency
bargained for, and do not expect the
liquidation value of their shares to
change.
12. Applicants request an order under
section 6(c) granting an exemption from
the provisions of section 19(b) and rule
19b–1 to permit each Fund to make
periodic capital gain distributions (as
defined in section 852(b)(3)(C) of the
Code) as often as monthly in any one
taxable year in respect of its common
shares and as often as specified by or
determined in accordance with the
terms thereof in respect of its preferred
shares.
Applicants’ Conditions
Applicants agree that the order of the
Commission granting the requested
relief will be subject to the following
conditions:
I. Compliance Review and Reporting.
The Fund’s chief compliance officer
will: (a) Report to the Fund’s Board, no
less frequently than once every three
months or at the next regularly
scheduled quarterly Board meeting,
whether (i) the Fund and its Investment
Adviser have complied with the
conditions of the Order, and (ii) a
material compliance matter, as defined
in rule 38a–1(e)(2) under the Act, has
occurred with respect to such
conditions; and (b) review the adequacy
of the policies and procedures adopted
by the Board no less frequently than
annually.
II. Disclosures to Fund Shareholders:
A. Each 19(a) Notice disseminated to the
holders of the Fund’s common shares,
in addition to the information required
by section19(a) and rule 19a–1:
1. Will provide, in a tabular or
graphical format:
(a) The amount of the distribution, on
a per common share basis, together with
the amounts of such distribution
amount, on a per common share basis
and as a percentage of such distribution
amount, from estimated: (A) Net
investment income; (B) net realized
short-term capital gains; (C) net realized
long-term capital gains; and (D) return
of capital or other capital source;
(b) The fiscal year-to-date cumulative
amount of distributions, on a per
common share basis, together with the
amounts of such cumulative amount, on
a per common share basis and as a
percentage of such cumulative amount
of distributions, from estimated: (A) Net
investment income; (B) net realized
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short-term capital gains; (C) net realized
long-term capital gains; and (D) return
of capital or other capital source;
(c) The average annual total return in
relation to the change in NAV for the 5year period (or, if the Fund’s history of
operations is less than five years, the
time period commencing immediately
following the Fund’s first public
offering) ending on the last day of the
month ended immediately prior to the
most recent distribution record date
compared to the current fiscal period’s
annualized distribution rate expressed
as a percentage of NAV as of the last day
of the month prior to the most recent
distribution record date; and
(d) The cumulative total return in
relation to the change in NAV from the
last completed fiscal year to the last day
of the month prior to the most recent
distribution record date compared to the
fiscal year-to-date cumulative
distribution rate expressed as a
percentage of NAV as of the last day of
the month prior to the most recent
distribution record date.
Such disclosure shall be made in a
type size at least as large and as
prominent as the estimate of the sources
of the current distribution; and
2. Will include the following
disclosure:
(a) ‘‘You should not draw any
conclusions about the Fund’s
investment performance from the
amount of this distribution or from the
terms of the Fund’s Plan’’;
(b) ‘‘The Fund estimates that it has
distributed more than its income and
net realized capital gains; therefore, a
portion of your distribution may be a
return of capital. A return of capital may
occur, for example, when some or all of
the money that you invested in the
Fund is paid back to you. A return of
capital distribution does not necessarily
reflect the Fund’s investment
performance and should not be
confused with ‘yield’ or ‘income’ ’’ 3; and
(c) ‘‘The amounts and sources of
distributions reported in this 19(a)
Notice are only estimates and are not
being provided for tax reporting
purposes. The actual amounts and
sources of the amounts for tax reporting
purposes will depend upon the Fund’s
investment experience during the
remainder of its fiscal year and may be
subject to changes based on tax
regulations. The Fund will send you a
Form 1099–DIV for the calendar year
that will tell you how to report these
distributions for federal income tax
purposes.’’
3 The disclosure in condition II.A.2.(b) will be
included only if the current distribution or the
fiscal year-to-date cumulative distributions are
estimated to include a return of capital.
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Such disclosure shall be made in a
type size at least as large as and as
prominent as any other information in
the 19(a) Notice and placed on the same
page in close proximity to the amount
and the sources of the distribution.
B. On the inside front cover of each
report to shareholders under rule 30e–
1 under the Act, the Fund will:
1. Describe the terms of the Plan
(including the fixed amount or fixed
percentage of the distributions and the
frequency of the distributions);
2. Include the disclosure required by
condition II.A.2.(a) above;
3. State, if applicable, that the Plan
provides that the Board may amend or
terminate the Plan at any time without
prior notice to Fund shareholders; and
4. Describe any reasonably foreseeable
circumstances that might cause the
Fund to terminate the Plan and any
reasonably foreseeable consequences of
such termination.
C. Each report provided to
shareholders under rule 30e–1 and each
prospectus filed with the Commission
on Form N–2 under the Act, will
provide the Fund’s total return in
relation to changes in NAV in the
financial highlights table and in any
discussion about the Fund’s total return.
III. Disclosure to Shareholders,
Prospective Shareholders and Third
Parties: A. Each Fund will include the
information contained in the relevant
19(a) Notice, including the disclosure
required by condition II.A.2 above, in
any written communication (other than
a communication on Form 1099) about
the Plan or distributions under the Plan
by the Fund, or agents that the Fund has
authorized to make such
communication on the Fund’s behalf, to
any Fund common shareholder,
prospective common shareholder or
third-party information provider;
B. The Fund will issue,
contemporaneously with the issuance of
any 19(a) Notice, a press release
containing the information in the 19(a)
Notice and will file with the
Commission the information contained
in such 19(a) Notice, including the
disclosure required by condition II.A.2
above, as an exhibit to its next filed
Form N–CSR; and
C. The Fund will post prominently a
statement on its (or the Investment
Adviser’s) Web site containing the
information in each 19(a) Notice,
including the disclosure required by
condition II.A.2 above, and will
maintain such information on such Web
site for at least 24 months.
IV. Delivery of 19(a) Notices to
Beneficial Owners: If a broker, dealer,
bank or other person (‘‘financial
intermediary’’) holds common stock
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37860
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 125 / Wednesday, June 30, 2010 / Notices
issued by a Fund in nominee name, or
otherwise, on behalf of a beneficial
owner, the Fund: (a) Will request that
the financial intermediary, or its agent,
forward the 19(a) Notice to all beneficial
owners of the Fund’s shares held
through such financial intermediary; (b)
will provide, in a timely manner, to the
financial intermediary, or its agent,
enough copies of the 19(a) Notice
assembled in the form and at the place
that the financial intermediary, or its
agent, reasonably requests to facilitate
the financial intermediary’s sending of
the 19(a) Notice to each beneficial
owner of the Fund’s shares; and (c)
upon the request of any financial
intermediary, or its agent, that receives
copies of the 19(a) Notice, will pay the
financial intermediary, or its agent, the
reasonable expenses of sending the 19(a)
Notice to such beneficial owners.
V. Additional Board Determinations
for Funds Whose Shares Trade at a
Premium: If: A. A Fund’s common
shares have traded on the exchange that
they primarily trade on at the time in
question at an average premium to NAV
equal to or greater than 10%, as
determined on the basis of the average
of the discount or premium to NAV of
the Fund’s common shares as of the
close of each trading day over a 12-week
rolling period (each such 12-week
rolling period ending on the last trading
day of each week); and
B. The Fund’s annualized distribution
rate for such 12-week rolling period,
expressed as a percentage of NAV as of
the ending date of such 12-week rolling
period, is greater than the Fund’s
average annual total return in relation to
the change in NAV over the 2-year
period ending on the last day of such
12-week rolling period; then:
1. At the earlier of the next regularly
scheduled meeting or within four
months of the last day of such 12-week
rolling period, the Board including a
majority of the Independent Directors:
(a) Will request and evaluate, and the
Investment Adviser will furnish, such
information as may be reasonably
necessary to make an informed
determination of whether the Plan
should be continued or continued after
amendment;
(b) Will determine whether
continuation, or continuation after
amendment, of the Plan is consistent
with the Fund’s investment objective(s)
and policies and in the best interests of
the Fund and its shareholders, after
considering the information in
condition V.B.1.(a) above; including,
without limitation:
(1) Whether the Plan is accomplishing
its purpose(s);
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:53 Jun 29, 2010
Jkt 220001
(2) The reasonably foreseeable
material effects of the Plan on the
Fund’s long-term total return in relation
to the market price and NAV of the
Fund’s common shares; and
(3) The Fund’s current distribution
rate, as described in condition V.B
above, compared with the Fund’s
average annual taxable income or total
return over the 2-year period, as
described in condition V.B, or such
longer period as the Board deems
appropriate; and
(c) Based upon that determination,
will approve or disapprove the
continuation, or continuation after
amendment, of the Plan; and
2. The Board will record the
information considered by it, including
its consideration of the factors listed in
condition V.B.1.(b) above, and the basis
for its approval or disapproval of the
continuation, or continuation after
amendment, of the Plan in its meeting
minutes, which must be made and
preserved for a period of not less than
six years from the date of such meeting,
the first two years in an easily accessible
place.
VI. Public Offerings: A Fund will not
make a public offering of the Fund’s
common shares other than:
A. A rights offering below NAV to
holders of the Fund’s common shares;
B. An offering in connection with a
dividend reinvestment plan, merger,
consolidation, acquisition, spin-off or
reorganization of the Fund; or
C. An offering other than an offering
described in conditions VI.A and VI.B
above, provided that, with respect to
such other offering:
1. The Fund’s annualized distribution
rate for the six months ending on the
last day of the month ended
immediately prior to the most recent
distribution record date,4 expressed as a
percentage of NAV per share as of such
date, is no more than 1 percentage point
greater than the Fund’s average annual
total return for the 5-year period ending
on such date; 5 and
2. The transmittal letter
accompanying any registration
statement filed with the Commission in
connection with such offering discloses
that the Fund has received an order
under section 19(b) to permit it to make
periodic distributions of long-term
capital gains with respect to its common
stock as frequently as twelve times each
year, and as frequently as distributions
4 If the Fund has been in operation fewer than six
months, the measured period will begin
immediately following the Fund’s first public
offering.
5 If the Fund has been in operation fewer than five
years, the measured period will begin immediately
following the Fund’s first public offering.
PO 00000
Frm 00112
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
are specified by or determined in
accordance with the terms of any
outstanding preferred stock that such
Fund may issue.
VII. Amendments to Rule 19b–1: The
requested order will expire on the
effective date of any amendments to rule
19b–1 that provide relief permitting
certain closed-end investment
companies to make periodic
distributions of long-term capital gains
with respect to their outstanding
common stock as frequently as twelve
times each year.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Investment Management, under delegated
authority.
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010–15887 Filed 6–29–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[File No. 500–1]
Aris Industries, Inc., Bene Io, Inc.,
Commodore Separation Technologies,
Inc., Food Integrated Technologies,
Inc., Gap Instrument Corp., Skysat
Communications Network Corp., and
Vicon Fiber Optics Corp.; Order of
Suspension of Trading
June 28, 2010.
It appears to the Securities and
Exchange Commission that there is a
lack of current and accurate information
concerning the securities of Aris
Industries, Inc. because it has not filed
any periodic reports since the period
ended June 30, 2004.
It appears to the Securities and
Exchange Commission that there is a
lack of current and accurate information
concerning the securities of Bene Io, Inc.
because it has not filed any periodic
reports since the period ended
September 30, 2000.
It appears to the Securities and
Exchange Commission that there is a
lack of current and accurate information
concerning the securities of Commodore
Separation Technologies, Inc. because it
has not filed any periodic reports since
the period ended June 30, 2004.
It appears to the Securities and
Exchange Commission that there is a
lack of current and accurate information
concerning the securities of Food
Integrated Technologies, Inc. because it
has not filed any periodic reports since
the period ended January 31, 1997.
It appears to the Securities and
Exchange Commission that there is a
lack of current and accurate information
concerning the securities of Gap
E:\FR\FM\30JNN1.SGM
30JNN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 125 (Wednesday, June 30, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37856-37860]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-15887]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Investment Company Act Release No. 29331; File No. 812-13218]
Lazard Global Total Return and Income Fund, Inc., et al.; Notice
of Application
June 24, 2010.
AGENCY: Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'').
ACTION: Notice of application under section 6(c) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (``Act'') for an exemption from section 19(b) of
the Act and rule 19b-1 under the Act.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary of Application: Applicants request an order to permit
certain registered closed-end investment companies to make periodic
distributions of long-term capital gains with respect to their
outstanding common stock as frequently as monthly in any one taxable
year, and as frequently as distributions are specified by or in
accordance with the terms of any outstanding preferred stock that such
investment companies may issue.
Applicants: Lazard Global Total Return and Income Fund, Inc.
(``LGI''), Lazard World Dividend & Income Fund, Inc. (``LOR'') (each, a
``Fund'') and Lazard Asset Management LLC (the ``Investment Adviser'').
Filing Dates: The application was filed on July 25, 2005 and
amended on
[[Page 37857]]
July 15, 2009, September 3, 2009, May 5, 2010 and June 8, 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 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 July 20, 2010, and should be accompanied by proof of
service on applicants, in the form of an affidavit or, for lawyers, a
certificate of service. Hearing requests should state the nature of the
writer's interest, the reason for the request, and the issues
contested. Persons who wish to be notified of a hearing may request
notification by writing to the Commission's Secretary.
ADDRESSES: Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street,
NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090; Applicants, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New
York, New York 10112-6300, Contact: Brian D. Simon, Esq.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emerson S. Davis, Senior Counsel, at
(202) 551-6868, or Julia K. 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 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.
Applicants' Representations
1. Each of LGI and LOR is a closed-end management investment
company registered under the Act.\1\ LGI's investment objective is
total return, consisting of capital appreciation and income. LOR's
investment objective is total return through a combination of
dividends, income and capital appreciation. The common shares issued by
LGI and LOR are listed on the NYSE. As of the date of the application,
LGI and LOR did not intend to issue any shares of preferred stock.
Applicants believe that the shareholders of LGI and LOR are generally
conservative, dividend-sensitive investors who desire current income
periodically.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ All existing registered closed-end investment companies that
currently intend to rely on the requested order are named as
applicants. Applicants request that the order also apply to each
registered closed-end investment company that in the future is
advised by the Investment Adviser (including any successor in
interest) or by an entity controlling, controlled by, or under
common control (within the meaning of section 2(a)(9) of the Act)
with the Investment Adviser. Any closed-end investment company that
relies on the requested order in the future will comply with the
terms and conditions of the order and will satisfy each of the
representations in the application except that such representations
will be made in respect of actions by the board of trustees or
directors of such future fund and will be made at a future time.
LGI, LOR and as the context requires, such future funds, are
collectively referred to as the ``Funds'' and separately as a
``Fund''. A successor in interest is limited to an entity that
results from a reorganization into another jurisdiction or a change
in the type of business organization.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. The Investment Adviser, a subsidiary of Lazard Fr[egrave]res &
Co., is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940. The Investment Adviser serves as investment
adviser to LGI and LOR.
3. Applicants state that on June 2, 2009 and August 20, 2009,
respectively, the boards of directors of LGI and LOR (each, a
``Board''), including a majority of the members of each Board who are
not ``interested persons'' as defined in section 2(a)(19) of the Act
(the ``Independent Directors''), reviewed information regarding the
purpose and terms of a proposed distribution policy, the relationship
between LGI's or LOR's distribution rate on its common shares under the
policy and its total return (in relation to net asset value per share),
whether the rate of distribution would exceed LGI's or LOR's expected
total return in relation to its net asset value per share and any
reasonably foreseeable material effects of such policy on LGI's or
LOR's long-term total return (in relation to market price and net asset
value per share). Applicants state that the Independent Directors of
LGI and LOR also considered what conflicts of interest the Investment
Adviser and the affiliated persons of the Investment Adviser and LGI
and LOR might have with respect to the adoption or implementation of
such policy. Applicants further state that after considering such
information, the Board, including the Independent Directors, approved a
distribution policy with respect to each of LGI's and LOR's common
shares (each a ``Plan'') and determined that such Plan is in the best
interests of each respective Fund's common shareholders.
4. Applicants state that the purpose of LGI's and LOR's Plans is to
make fixed periodic distributions to provide steady cash flow to LGI's
and LOR's shareholders. Under each Plan, each of LGI and LOR would
distribute to its respective common shareholders a periodic, level
distribution as frequently as monthly, based on a fixed amount per
share, a fixed percentage of market price or a fixed percentage of the
Fund's net asset value per common share, any of which may be adjusted
from time to time. Applicants state that the minimum annual
distribution rate with respect to LGI's and LOR's common stock would be
independent of performance during any particular period but would be
expected to correlate with such Fund's performance over time.
Applicants further explain that each distribution on the common shares
would be at the stated rate then in effect, except for extraordinary
distributions and potential increases or decreases in the final
dividend periods in light of the Fund's performance for the entire
calendar year and to enable the Fund to comply with the distribution
requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code (``Code'')
for the calendar year.
5. Prior to a Fund relying on the Order, the Fund's Board,
including a majority of its Independent Directors, will adopt policies
and procedures under rule 38a-1 under the Act that (a) are reasonably
designed to ensure that all notices sent to the Fund's shareholders
pursuant to section 19(a) of the Act, rule 19a-1 under the Act and
condition IV below (each a ``19(a) Notice'') include the disclosure
required by rule 19a-1 under the Act and by condition II.A. below, and
that all other written communications by the Fund or its agents
regarding distributions under the Fund's Plan include the disclosure
required by condition III.A. below and (b) that require each Fund to
keep records that demonstrate its compliance with all of the conditions
of the requested order and that are necessary for such Fund to form the
basis for, or demonstrate the calculation of, the amounts disclosed in
its 19(a) Notices.
Applicants' Legal Analysis
1. Section 19(b) generally makes it unlawful for any registered
investment company to make long-term capital gains distributions more
than once every twelve months. Rule 19b-1 limits the number of capital
gains dividends, as defined in section 852(b)(3)(C) of the Code
(``distributions''), that a fund may make with respect to any one
taxable year to one, plus a supplemental ``clean up'' distribution made
pursuant to section 855 of the Code not exceeding 10% of the total
amount distributed for the year, plus one additional capital gain
dividend made in whole or in part to avoid the excise tax under section
4982 of the Code.
2. Section 6(c) provides, in relevant part, that the Commission may
exempt any person or transaction from any provision of the Act to the
extent that such exemption is necessary or
[[Page 37858]]
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.
3. Applicants state that the one of the concerns leading to the
enactment of section 19(b) and adoption of rule 19b-1 was that
shareholders might be unable to distinguish between frequent
distributions of capital gains and dividends from investment income.
Applicants state, however, that rule 19a-1 effectively addresses this
concern by requiring that a separate statement showing the sources of a
distribution (e.g., estimated net income, net short-term capital gains,
net long-term capital gains and/or return of capital) accompany any
distributions (or the confirmation of the reinvestment of
distributions) estimated to be sourced in part from capital gains or
capital. Applicants also state that the same information is, or will
be, included in each Fund's annual report to shareholders and on its
IRS Form 1099-DIV, which is sent to each common and preferred
shareholder who received distributions during a particular year
(including shareholders who have sold shares during a particular year).
4. Applicants further state that each of the Funds will make the
additional disclosures required by the conditions set forth below, and
each of them will adopt compliance policies and procedures in
accordance with rule 38a-1 under the Act to ensure that all 19(a)
Notices and disclosures are sent to shareholders. Applicants argue that
rule 19a-1, the Plans and the compliance policies would ensure that
each Fund's shareholders are provided sufficient information to
understand that their periodic distributions are not tied to the Fund's
net investment income (which for this purpose is the Fund's taxable
income other than from capital gains) and realized capital gains to
date, and may not represent yield or investment return. Applicants also
state that compliance with each Fund's compliance procedures and
condition III set forth below will ensure that prospective shareholders
and third parties are provided with the same information. Accordingly,
applicants assert that continuing to subject the Funds to section 19(b)
and rule 19b-1 would afford shareholders no extra protection.
5. Applicants note that section 19(b) and rule 19b-1 also were
intended to prevent certain improper sales practices, including, in
particular, the practice of urging an investor to purchase shares of a
fund on the basis of an upcoming capital gains dividend (``selling the
dividend''), where the dividend would result in an immediate
corresponding reduction in NAV and would be in effect a taxable return
of the investor's capital. Applicants assert that the ``selling the
dividend'' concern should not apply to closed-end investment companies,
such as the Funds, which do not continuously distribute shares.
According to applicants, if the underlying concern extends to secondary
market purchases of shares of closed-end funds that are subject to a
large upcoming capital gains dividend, adoption of a periodic
distribution plan actually helps minimize the concern by avoiding,
through periodic distributions, any buildup of large end-of-the-year
distributions.
6. Applicants also note that common shares of closed-end funds that
invest primarily in equity securities often trade in the marketplace at
a discount to their NAV. Applicants believe that this discount may be
reduced if the Fund is permitted to pay relatively frequent dividends
on their common shares at a consistent rate, whether or not those
dividends contain an element of long-term capital gain.
7. Applicants assert that the application of rule 19b-1 to a Plan
actually could have an inappropriate influence on portfolio management
decisions. Applicants state that, in the absence of an exemption from
rule 19b-1, the adoption of a periodic distribution plan imposes
pressure on management (i) not to realize any net long-term capital
gains until the point in the year that the fund can pay all of its
remaining distributions in accordance with rule 19b-1, and (ii) not to
realize any long-term capital gains during any particular year in
excess of the amount of the aggregate pay-out for the year (since as a
practical matter excess gains must be distributed and accordingly would
not be available to satisfy pay-out requirements in following years),
notwithstanding that purely investment considerations might favor
realization of long-term gains at different times or in different
amounts. Applicants assert that the limitation on the number of capital
gain distributions that a fund may make with respect to any one year
imposed by rule 19b-1 may prevent the normal and efficient operation of
a periodic distribution plan whenever that fund's realized net long-
term capital gains in any year exceed the total of the periodic
distributions that may include such capital gains under the rule.
8. Applicants also assert that rule 19b-1 may force fixed regular
periodic distributions under a periodic distribution plan to be funded
with returns of capital \2\ (to the extent net investment income and
realized short-term capital gains are insufficient to fund the
distribution), even though realized net long-term capital gains
otherwise could be available. To distribute all of a fund's long-term
capital gains within the limits in rule 19b-1, a fund may be required
to make total distributions in excess of the annual amount called for
by its periodic distribution plan, or to retain and pay taxes on the
anomalous excess amount. Applicants assert that the requested order
would minimize these anomalous effects of rule 19b-1 by enabling the
Funds to realize long-term capital gains as often as investment
considerations dictate without fear of violating rule 19b-1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ Returns of capital as used in the application means return
of capital for financial accounting purposes and not for tax
accounting purposes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. Applicants state that Revenue Ruling 89-81 under the Code
requires that a fund that seeks to qualify as a regulated investment
company under the Code and that has both common stock and preferred
stock outstanding designate the types of income, e.g., investment
income and capital gains, in the same proportion as the total
distributions distributed to each class for the tax year. To satisfy
the proportionate designation requirements of Revenue Ruling 89-81,
whenever a fund has realized a long-term capital gain with respect to a
given tax year, the fund must designate the required proportionate
share of such capital gain to be included in common and preferred stock
dividends. Applicants state that although rule 19b-1 allows a fund some
flexibility with respect to the frequency of capital gains
distributions, a fund might use all of the exceptions available under
the rule for a tax year and still need to distribute additional capital
gains allocated to the preferred stock to comply with Revenue Ruling
89-81.
10. Applicants assert that the potential abuses addressed by
section 19(b) and rule 19b-1 do not arise with respect to preferred
stock issued by a closed-end fund. Applicants assert that such
distributions are fixed or determined in periodic auctions by reference
to short-term interest rates rather than by reference to performance of
the issuer and Revenue Ruling 89-81 determines the proportion of such
distributions that are comprised of the long-term capital gains.
11. Applicants also submit that the ``selling the dividend''
concern is not applicable to preferred stock, which entitles a holder
to no more than a periodic dividend at a fixed rate or the
[[Page 37859]]
rate determined by the market, and, like a debt security, is priced
based upon its liquidation value, dividend rate, credit quality and
frequency of payment. Applicants state that investors buy preferred
shares for the purpose of receiving payments at the frequency bargained
for, and do not expect the liquidation value of their shares to change.
12. Applicants request an order under section 6(c) granting an
exemption from the provisions of section 19(b) and rule 19b-1 to permit
each Fund to make periodic capital gain distributions (as defined in
section 852(b)(3)(C) of the Code) as often as monthly in any one
taxable year in respect of its common shares and as often as specified
by or determined in accordance with the terms thereof in respect of its
preferred shares.
Applicants' Conditions
Applicants agree that the order of the Commission granting the
requested relief will be subject to the following conditions:
I. Compliance Review and Reporting. The Fund's chief compliance
officer will: (a) Report to the Fund's Board, no less frequently than
once every three months or at the next regularly scheduled quarterly
Board meeting, whether (i) the Fund and its Investment Adviser have
complied with the conditions of the Order, and (ii) a material
compliance matter, as defined in rule 38a-1(e)(2) under the Act, has
occurred with respect to such conditions; and (b) review the adequacy
of the policies and procedures adopted by the Board no less frequently
than annually.
II. Disclosures to Fund Shareholders: A. Each 19(a) Notice
disseminated to the holders of the Fund's common shares, in addition to
the information required by section19(a) and rule 19a-1:
1. Will provide, in a tabular or graphical format:
(a) The amount of the distribution, on a per common share basis,
together with the amounts of such distribution amount, on a per common
share basis and as a percentage of such distribution amount, from
estimated: (A) Net investment income; (B) net realized short-term
capital gains; (C) net realized long-term capital gains; and (D) return
of capital or other capital source;
(b) The fiscal year-to-date cumulative amount of distributions, on
a per common share basis, together with the amounts of such cumulative
amount, on a per common share basis and as a percentage of such
cumulative amount of distributions, from estimated: (A) Net investment
income; (B) net realized short-term capital gains; (C) net realized
long-term capital gains; and (D) return of capital or other capital
source;
(c) The average annual total return in relation to the change in
NAV for the 5-year period (or, if the Fund's history of operations is
less than five years, the time period commencing immediately following
the Fund's first public offering) ending on the last day of the month
ended immediately prior to the most recent distribution record date
compared to the current fiscal period's annualized distribution rate
expressed as a percentage of NAV as of the last day of the month prior
to the most recent distribution record date; and
(d) The cumulative total return in relation to the change in NAV
from the last completed fiscal year to the last day of the month prior
to the most recent distribution record date compared to the fiscal
year-to-date cumulative distribution rate expressed as a percentage of
NAV as of the last day of the month prior to the most recent
distribution record date.
Such disclosure shall be made in a type size at least as large and
as prominent as the estimate of the sources of the current
distribution; and
2. Will include the following disclosure:
(a) ``You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's
investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the
terms of the Fund's Plan'';
(b) ``The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its
income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of your
distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur,
for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the
Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not
necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be
confused with `yield' or `income' '' \3\; and
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ The disclosure in condition II.A.2.(b) will be included only
if the current distribution or the fiscal year-to-date cumulative
distributions are estimated to include a return of capital.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(c) ``The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this
19(a) Notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax
reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for
tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment
experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject
to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form
1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these
distributions for federal income tax purposes.''
Such disclosure shall be made in a type size at least as large as
and as prominent as any other information in the 19(a) Notice and
placed on the same page in close proximity to the amount and the
sources of the distribution.
B. On the inside front cover of each report to shareholders under
rule 30e-1 under the Act, the Fund will:
1. Describe the terms of the Plan (including the fixed amount or
fixed percentage of the distributions and the frequency of the
distributions);
2. Include the disclosure required by condition II.A.2.(a) above;
3. State, if applicable, that the Plan provides that the Board may
amend or terminate the Plan at any time without prior notice to Fund
shareholders; and
4. Describe any reasonably foreseeable circumstances that might
cause the Fund to terminate the Plan and any reasonably foreseeable
consequences of such termination.
C. Each report provided to shareholders under rule 30e-1 and each
prospectus filed with the Commission on Form N-2 under the Act, will
provide the Fund's total return in relation to changes in NAV in the
financial highlights table and in any discussion about the Fund's total
return.
III. Disclosure to Shareholders, Prospective Shareholders and Third
Parties: A. Each Fund will include the information contained in the
relevant 19(a) Notice, including the disclosure required by condition
II.A.2 above, in any written communication (other than a communication
on Form 1099) about the Plan or distributions under the Plan by the
Fund, or agents that the Fund has authorized to make such communication
on the Fund's behalf, to any Fund common shareholder, prospective
common shareholder or third-party information provider;
B. The Fund will issue, contemporaneously with the issuance of any
19(a) Notice, a press release containing the information in the 19(a)
Notice and will file with the Commission the information contained in
such 19(a) Notice, including the disclosure required by condition
II.A.2 above, as an exhibit to its next filed Form N-CSR; and
C. The Fund will post prominently a statement on its (or the
Investment Adviser's) Web site containing the information in each 19(a)
Notice, including the disclosure required by condition II.A.2 above,
and will maintain such information on such Web site for at least 24
months.
IV. Delivery of 19(a) Notices to Beneficial Owners: If a broker,
dealer, bank or other person (``financial intermediary'') holds common
stock
[[Page 37860]]
issued by a Fund in nominee name, or otherwise, on behalf of a
beneficial owner, the Fund: (a) Will request that the financial
intermediary, or its agent, forward the 19(a) Notice to all beneficial
owners of the Fund's shares held through such financial intermediary;
(b) will provide, in a timely manner, to the financial intermediary, or
its agent, enough copies of the 19(a) Notice assembled in the form and
at the place that the financial intermediary, or its agent, reasonably
requests to facilitate the financial intermediary's sending of the
19(a) Notice to each beneficial owner of the Fund's shares; and (c)
upon the request of any financial intermediary, or its agent, that
receives copies of the 19(a) Notice, will pay the financial
intermediary, or its agent, the reasonable expenses of sending the
19(a) Notice to such beneficial owners.
V. Additional Board Determinations for Funds Whose Shares Trade at
a Premium: If: A. A Fund's common shares have traded on the exchange
that they primarily trade on at the time in question at an average
premium to NAV equal to or greater than 10%, as determined on the basis
of the average of the discount or premium to NAV of the Fund's common
shares as of the close of each trading day over a 12-week rolling
period (each such 12-week rolling period ending on the last trading day
of each week); and
B. The Fund's annualized distribution rate for such 12-week rolling
period, expressed as a percentage of NAV as of the ending date of such
12-week rolling period, is greater than the Fund's average annual total
return in relation to the change in NAV over the 2-year period ending
on the last day of such 12-week rolling period; then:
1. At the earlier of the next regularly scheduled meeting or within
four months of the last day of such 12-week rolling period, the Board
including a majority of the Independent Directors:
(a) Will request and evaluate, and the Investment Adviser will
furnish, such information as may be reasonably necessary to make an
informed determination of whether the Plan should be continued or
continued after amendment;
(b) Will determine whether continuation, or continuation after
amendment, of the Plan is consistent with the Fund's investment
objective(s) and policies and in the best interests of the Fund and its
shareholders, after considering the information in condition V.B.1.(a)
above; including, without limitation:
(1) Whether the Plan is accomplishing its purpose(s);
(2) The reasonably foreseeable material effects of the Plan on the
Fund's long-term total return in relation to the market price and NAV
of the Fund's common shares; and
(3) The Fund's current distribution rate, as described in condition
V.B above, compared with the Fund's average annual taxable income or
total return over the 2-year period, as described in condition V.B, or
such longer period as the Board deems appropriate; and
(c) Based upon that determination, will approve or disapprove the
continuation, or continuation after amendment, of the Plan; and
2. The Board will record the information considered by it,
including its consideration of the factors listed in condition
V.B.1.(b) above, and the basis for its approval or disapproval of the
continuation, or continuation after amendment, of the Plan in its
meeting minutes, which must be made and preserved for a period of not
less than six years from the date of such meeting, the first two years
in an easily accessible place.
VI. Public Offerings: A Fund will not make a public offering of the
Fund's common shares other than:
A. A rights offering below NAV to holders of the Fund's common
shares;
B. An offering in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan,
merger, consolidation, acquisition, spin-off or reorganization of the
Fund; or
C. An offering other than an offering described in conditions VI.A
and VI.B above, provided that, with respect to such other offering:
1. The Fund's annualized distribution rate for the six months
ending on the last day of the month ended immediately prior to the most
recent distribution record date,\4\ expressed as a percentage of NAV
per share as of such date, is no more than 1 percentage point greater
than the Fund's average annual total return for the 5-year period
ending on such date; \5\ and
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\4\ If the Fund has been in operation fewer than six months, the
measured period will begin immediately following the Fund's first
public offering.
\5\ If the Fund has been in operation fewer than five years, the
measured period will begin immediately following the Fund's first
public offering.
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2. The transmittal letter accompanying any registration statement
filed with the Commission in connection with such offering discloses
that the Fund has received an order under section 19(b) to permit it to
make periodic distributions of long-term capital gains with respect to
its common stock as frequently as twelve times each year, and as
frequently as distributions are specified by or determined in
accordance with the terms of any outstanding preferred stock that such
Fund may issue.
VII. Amendments to Rule 19b-1: The requested order will expire on
the effective date of any amendments to rule 19b-1 that provide relief
permitting certain closed-end investment companies to make periodic
distributions of long-term capital gains with respect to their
outstanding common stock as frequently as twelve times each year.
For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management,
under delegated authority.
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010-15887 Filed 6-29-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P