SK Private Investment Fund 1998 LLC, et al.; Notice of Application, 27494-27498 [2012-11256]
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27494
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 91 / Thursday, May 10, 2012 / Notices
Written comments are invited on: (a)
Whether the collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of
the functions of the Commission,
including whether the information has
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
Commission’s estimate of the burden of
the collection of information; (c) ways to
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity
of the information collected; and (d)
ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on
respondents, including through the use
of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Consideration will be given to
comments and suggestions submitted in
writing within 60 days after this
publication.
Please direct your written comments
to Thomas Bayer, Director/Chief
Information Officer, Securities and
Exchange Commission, c/o Remi PavlikSimon, 6432 General Green Way,
Alexandria, VA 22312; or send an email
to: PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov.
Dated: May 4, 2012.
Kevin M. O’Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012–11249 Filed 5–9–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Investment Company Act Release No.
30060; 813–194]
SK Private Investment Fund 1998 LLC,
et al.; Notice of Application
May 4, 2012.
Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘Commission’’).
ACTION: Notice of an application for an
order under sections 6(b) and 6(e) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the
‘‘Act’’) granting an exemption from all
provisions of the Act, except sections 9,
17, 30 and 36 through 53, and the rules
and regulations under the Act (the
‘‘Rules and Regulations’’). With respect
to sections 17(a), (d), (f), (g), and (j) of
the Act, sections 30(a), (b), (e), and (h)
of the Act and the Rules and
Regulations and rule 38a–1 under the
Act, applicants request a limited
exemption as set forth in the
application.
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AGENCY:
Summary of the Application:
Applicants request an order to exempt
certain limited liability companies
formed for the benefit of eligible
employees of Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom and its affiliates from
certain provisions of the Act. Each
limited liability company will be an
SUMMARY:
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‘‘employees’ securities company’’
within the meaning of section 2(a)(13) of
the Act.
Applicants: SK Private Investment
Fund 1998 LLC, Project Capital 2004
Investment Fund LLC, Project Capital
2006 Investment Fund LLC, and Project
Capital 2008 Investment Fund LLC
(‘‘Existing Funds’’), and Skadden, Arps,
Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (‘‘Skadden
Arps LLP’’).
DATES: Filing Dates: The application
was filed on June 5, 1998 and amended
on February 18, 1999, April 2, 1999,
August 30, 2000, February 1, 2005, May
18, 2009, November 17, 2009, October
25, 2010, November 18, 2011, March 20,
2012, and May 3, 2012.
Hearing or Notification of Hearing: An
order granting the application will be
issued unless the Commission orders a
hearing. Interested persons may request
a hearing by writing to the
Commission’s Secretary and serving
applicants with a copy of the request,
personally or by mail. Hearing requests
should be received by the Commission
by 5:30 p.m. on May 30, 2012 and
should be accompanied by proof of
service on applicants, in the form of an
affidavit or, for lawyers, a certificate of
service. Hearing requests should state
the nature of the writer’s interest, the
reason for the request, and the issues
contested. Persons who wish to be
notified of a hearing may request
notification by writing to the
Commission’s Secretary.
ADDRESSES: Secretary, U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street
NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090.
Applicants, Four Times Square, New
York, New York 10036.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Marilyn Mann, Special Counsel, at (202)
551–6813 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/seach.htm or by
calling (202) 551–8090.
Applicants’ Representations
1. The Existing Funds are Delaware
limited liability companies formed
pursuant to limited liability company
agreements. The applicants may in the
future offer additional pooled
investment vehicles identical in all
material respects (other than form of
organization, investment objective and/
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or strategy) to the same class of
investors as those investing in the
Existing Funds (the ‘‘Subsequent
Funds’’ and, together with the Existing
Funds, the ‘‘Investment Funds’’). The
applicants anticipate that each
Subsequent Fund will also be structured
as a limited liability company, although
a Subsequent Fund could be structured
as a domestic or offshore general
partnership, limited partnership or
corporation. The operating agreements
of the Investment Funds are the
‘‘Investment Fund Agreements.’’ An
Investment Fund may include a single
vehicle designed to issue interests in
series (‘‘Series’’) or having similar
features to enable a single fund to
function as if it were several successive
funds for ease of administration. Each
Investment Fund will be an employees’
securities company within the meaning
of section 2(a)(13) of the Act. Skadden
Arps LLP, a Delaware limited liability
partnership, and any ‘‘affiliates,’’ as
defined in rule 12b–2 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Exchange Act’’), that are organized to
practice law are referred to collectively
as ‘‘Skadden Arps’’ and individually as
a ‘‘Skadden Arps Entity.’’
2. In light of the community of
interest that exists between Skadden
Arps and the Eligible Investors (as
defined below), the Investment Funds
have been, and will be, established and
controlled by Skadden Arps, within the
meaning of section 2(a)(9) of the Act, so
as to enable the Eligible Investors to
participate in certain investment
opportunities that come to the attention
of Skadden Arps. Such opportunities
may include separate accounts,
registered investment companies,
investment companies exempt from
registration under the Act, commodity
pools, real estate investment funds, and
other securities investments (each
particular investment, except any
investment that is a ‘‘Temporary
Investment,’’ 1 is referred to as an
‘‘Investment’’). Participation as
investors in the Investment Funds will
allow the Eligible Investors who are
members of the Investment Funds (the
‘‘Members’’) to diversify their
investments and to have the opportunity
to participate in investments that might
not otherwise be available to them or
1 It is anticipated that capital will be contributed
to an Investment Fund only in connection with the
funding of an Investment. Pending the payment of
the full purchase price for an Investment, funds
contributed to the Investment Fund will be invested
in high quality short-term investments, shares of
money market funds, or bank deposits (collectively,
‘‘Temporary Investments’’).
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that might be beyond their individual
means.
3. Interests in an Investment Fund
(‘‘Units’’) will be offered and sold in
reliance upon the exemption from
registration under the Securities Act of
1933 (the ‘‘Securities Act’’) contained in
section 4(2) of the Securities Act or
Regulation D under the Securities Act.
Units will be offered only to persons
(‘‘Eligible Investors’’) who meet the
following criteria: (a) Current or former
partners of, or key administrative
employees and lawyers employed by,
Skadden Arps (collectively, ‘‘Eligible
Affiliates’’), the immediate family
members of Eligible Affiliates, which
are a person’s siblings, spouse, children,
spouses of children, and grandchildren,
including step and adoptive
relationships (‘‘Eligible Family
Members’’), or trusts or other entities
the sole beneficiaries of which consist of
Eligible Affiliates or their Eligible
Family Members (‘‘Eligible Trusts’’);
and (b) who are ‘‘accredited investors’’
as that term is defined in Regulation D
under the Securities Act. Prior to
offering a Unit to an individual, the
Investment Committee (as defined
below) must reasonably believe that the
individual is a sophisticated investor
capable of understanding and evaluating
the risks of participating in the
Investment Fund without the benefit of
regulatory safeguards.
4. Each Investment Fund will have an
investment committee (‘‘Investment
Committee’’), which will consist of not
less than two persons who are Eligible
Affiliates and who may but are not
required to be Members. The chief
function of the Investment Committee
will be to review possible Investments
for the Investment Fund for submission
to the Members for approval or
disapproval. Members of the Investment
Committee are selected by the executive
managing partner of Skadden Arps, and
typically include partners and key
administrative employees of Skadden
Arps knowledgeable in operation,
taxation and regulation of Investments
and of the Investment Funds. The
Investment Committee may select
Temporary Investments for the
Investment Fund. No Investment will be
made by an Investment Fund unless the
Investment has been ‘‘Approved by the
Members,’’ which means (i) with respect
to any matter relating to the Investment
Fund, the approval by Members
representing at least a majority of the
capital commitments of such Investment
Fund and (ii) with respect to any matter
relating to a particular Series, the
approval by Members representing at
least a majority of the capital
commitments attributable to such
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Series. No Members will make or have
the right to make an individual
investment decision with respect to any
Investment submitted to the Members
for approval or disapproval. The
Investment Committee will consider
whether it or any other person involved
in the operation of the Investment Fund
is required to register under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the
‘‘Advisers Act’’). Such persons will
register as investment advisers under
the Advisers Act if such registration is
required under the Advisers Act and the
rules under the Advisers Act.
5. Each Investment Fund will have an
administrator (the ‘‘Administrator’’)
who is selected by the executive
managing partner of Skadden Arps and
who is knowledgeable in the operation
and taxation of the Investment Funds.
The Administrator may, but is not
required to be, a Member in the
Investment Fund. The Administrator
will not recommend Investments or
exercise investment discretion. No
management fee or other compensation
will be paid by any Investment Fund or
the Members to the Administrator.
6. Applicants represent and concede
that each of the Administrator, the
members of the Investment Committee
and the Tax Matters Partner (as defined
below) are, as applicable, an ‘‘employee,
officer, director, member of the an
advisory board, investment adviser, or
depositor’’ of the Investment Funds
within the meaning of section 9 of the
Act and an ‘‘officer, director, member of
any advisory board, investment adviser,
or depositor’’ within the meaning of
section 36 of the Act and are subject to
those sections.
7. The specific investment objectives
and strategies for a particular
Investment Fund will be set forth in the
Investment Fund Agreement and an
information memorandum relating to
the Units offered by the Investment
Fund, and each Eligible Investor will
receive a copy of the information
memorandum and Investment Fund
Agreement before making an investment
in the Investment Fund. The terms of an
Investment Fund will be disclosed to
each Eligible Investor at the time the
investor is invited to participate in the
Investment Fund.
8. The value of the Members’ capital
accounts for the purpose of filing tax
returns will be determined at such times
as the Administrator, in consultation
with the Tax Matters Partner under
section 6231(a)(7) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 (the ‘‘Tax Matters
Partner’’) deems appropriate or
necessary; however, such valuation will
be done at least annually at the
Investment Fund’s fiscal year-end. Tax
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Matters Partner for the Investment
Funds is selected by the executive
managing partner of Skadden Arps, and
typically will be a partner or a senior
administrative employee of Skadden
Arps responsible for the preparation or
administration of tax reporting in
connection with the Investment Funds.
The Administrator will value the assets
of an Investment Fund at the current
market price (closing price) in the case
of marketable securities. All other
securities or assets will be valued at fair
value as determined in good faith by the
Administrator.
9. Administration of the Investment
Funds will be vested in the Investment
Committee, Tax Matters Partner and the
Administrator. Each Investment Fund
Agreement provides that the Investment
Fund will bear its own expenses or that
such expenses shall be borne by
Skadden Arps. No separate management
fee will be charged to an Investment
Fund by the Investment Committee or
the Administrator. No compensation
will be paid by any Investment Fund or
its Members to the Administrator, Tax
Matters Partner, or the members of the
Investment Committee for their services
in such capacity.
10. Whenever Skadden Arps, the
members of the Investment Committees,
the Administrator, the Tax Matters
Partner or any other person acting for or
on behalf of the Investment Funds is
required or permitted to make a
decision, take or approve an action or
omit to do any of the foregoing in such
person’s discretion, then such person
shall exercise such discretion in
accordance with reasonableness and
good faith and their fiduciary duties (if
any) owed to the Investment Funds and
their Members.
11. Each Investment Fund Agreement
and any other organizational documents
for and any other contractual
arrangement regarding an Investment
Fund will not contain any provision
which protects or purports to protect
Skadden Arps, the members of the
Investment Committee, the
Administrator, the Tax Matters Partner,
or their delegates against any liability to
the Investment Fund or the Members to
which such person would otherwise be
subject by reason of such person’s
willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross
negligence in the performance of such
person’s duties, or by reason of such
person’s reckless disregard of such
person’s obligations and duties under
such contract or organizational
documents.
12. Each Investment Fund will send
its Members an annual report regarding
its operations as soon as practicable
after the end of each fiscal year. The
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annual report of the Investment Fund
will contain audited financial
statements.2 Each Investment Fund,
within 120 days after the end of the tax
year of such Investment Fund, if
possible, or as soon as practicable
thereafter, will transmit a report to each
Member setting out information with
respect to the Member’s distributive
share of income, gains, losses, credits
and other items for federal income tax
purposes, resulting from the operation
of the Investment Fund during that year.
13. Members will not be entitled to
redeem their respective Units. A
Member will be permitted to transfer his
or her Units only to Eligible Investors
and only with the express consent of the
Investment Committee or the
Administrator. No fee of any kind will
be charged in connection with the sale
of Units of the Investment Fund.
14. Each Investment Fund Agreement
provides that the Administrator may
require a Member to withdraw from the
Investment Fund if the Administrator,
in its discretion, deems such
withdrawal to be in the best interests of
the Investment Fund, including in
instances in which the Member is no
longer an Eligible Investor or affiliated
with Skadden Arps. Upon withdrawal,
a Member will be entitled to receive at
a minimum the lesser of (i) the amount
actually paid by the Member to acquire
the Units, plus interest, less those
amounts returned to the Member as
distributions, or (ii) the fair market
value of the Units, determined at the
time of withdrawal, as determined in
good faith by the Administrator.
15. To provide flexibility in
connection with an Investment Fund’s
obligation to contribute capital to fund
an Investment, and the associated
obligation of the Members to make
capital contributions with respect to
their capital commitments, each
Investment Fund Agreement provides
that the Investment Fund may engage in
borrowings in connection with such
funding of Investments. All borrowings
by an Investment Fund will be debt of
the Investment Fund and without
recourse to the Members. The
Investment Funds will not borrow from
any person if the borrowing would
cause any person not named in section
2(a)(13) of the Act to own any
outstanding securities of the Investment
Fund (other than short-term paper). If
Skadden Arps makes a loan to an
Investment Fund, it (as lender) will be
entitled to receive interest at a rate no
less favorable to the Investment Funds
2 For purposes of this requirement, ‘‘audit’’ shall
have the meaning defined in rule 1–02(d) of
Regulation S–X.
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than the rate that could be obtained on
an arm’s length basis. Skadden Arps
may in its discretion advance funds to
Eligible Investors for the purpose of
making their capital contributions.
Skadden Arps will charge no interest
with respect to such loans.
16. An Investment Fund will not
acquire any security issued by a
registered investment company if
immediately after the acquisition, the
Investment Fund would own more than
3% of the total outstanding voting stock
of the registered investment company.
Applicants’ Legal Analysis
1. Section 6(b) of the Act provides, in
part, that the Commission will exempt
employees’ securities companies from
the provisions of the Act to the extent
that the exemption is consistent with
the protection of investors. Section 6(b)
provides that the Commission will
consider, in determining the provisions
of the Act from which the company
should be exempt, the company’s form
of organization and capital structure, the
persons owning and controlling its
securities, the price of the company’s
securities and the amount of any sales
load, the disposition of the proceeds of
any sales of the company’s securities,
how the company’s funds are invested,
and the relationship between the
company and the issuers of the
securities in which it invests. Section
2(a)(13) defines an employees’ securities
company as any investment company
all of whose securities (other than shortterm paper) are beneficially owned (a)
by current or former employees, or
persons on retainer, of one or more
affiliated employers, (b) by immediate
family members of such persons, or (c)
by such employer or employers together
with any of the persons in (a) or (b).
2. Section 7 of the Act generally
prohibits investment companies that are
not registered under section 8 of the Act
from selling or redeeming their
securities. Section 6(e) of the Act
provides that, in connection with any
order exempting an investment
company from any provision of section
7, certain provisions of the Act, as
specified by the Commission, will be
applicable to the company and other
persons dealing with the company as
though the company were registered
under the Act. Applicants request an
order under sections 6(b) and 6(e) of the
Act exempting applicants from all
provisions of the Act, except sections 9,
17, 30, 36 through 53, and the Rules and
Regulations. With respect to sections
17(a), (d), (f), (g) and (j) and 30(a), (b),
(e) and (h) of the Act and the Rules and
Regulations, and rule 38a–1 under the
Act, applicants request a limited
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exemption as set forth in the
application.
3. Section 17(a) of the Act generally
prohibits any affiliated person of a
registered investment company, or any
affiliated person of an affiliated person,
acting as principal, from knowingly
selling or purchasing any security or
other property to or from the company.
Applicants request an exemption from
section 17(a) to permit an Investment
Fund: to invest in or participate as a
selling security-holder in a principal
transaction with one or more affiliated
persons (as defined in section 2(a)(3) of
the Act) (‘‘First-Tier Affiliates’’) and
affiliated persons of such First-Tier
Affiliates (‘‘Second-Tier Affiliates,’’ and
together with First-Tier Affiliates,
‘‘Affiliates’’) of an Investment Fund.
4. Applicants submit that the
exemptions sought from section 17(a)
are consistent with the purposes of the
Act and the protection of investors.
Applicants state that the Members will
be informed in an Investment Fund’s
communications relating to a particular
Investment of the possible extent of the
dealings by such Investment and its
sponsors with Skadden Arps or any
affiliated person thereof. Applicants
also state that, as experienced
professionals acting on behalf of
financial services businesses, the
Members will be able to evaluate the
risks associated with such dealings.
Applicants assert that the community of
interest among the Members and
Skadden Arps will serve to reduce the
risk of abuse in transactions involving
the Investment Fund and Skadden Arps
or any Affiliate thereof.
5. Section 17(d) of the Act and rule
17d–1 under the Act prohibit any
affiliated person of a registered
investment company, or any affiliated
person of such person, acting as
principal, from participating in any joint
arrangement with the registered
investment company unless authorized
by the Commission. Applicants request
an exemption from section 17(d) and
rule 17d–1 to the extent necessary to
permit an Investment Fund to engage in
transactions in which an Affiliate
participates as a joint or a joint and
several participant with such
Investment Fund.
6. Joint transactions in which an
Investment Fund could participate
might include the following: (a) A joint
investment by one or more Investment
Funds in a security in which Skadden
Arps or another Investment Fund is a
joint participant or plans to become a
participant or (b) a joint investment by
one or more Investment Funds in
another Investment Fund or any other
investment vehicle sponsored, offered
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or managed by Skadden Arps or any
Affiliate thereof; and (c) a joint
investment by one or more Investment
Funds in a security in which an Affiliate
is an investor or plans to become an
investor, including situations in which
an Affiliate has a partnership or other
interest in, or compensation
arrangements with, such issuer, sponsor
or offeror.
7. Applicants assert that compliance
with section 17(d) and rule 17d–1
would cause an Investment Fund to
forego investment opportunities simply
because a Member, Skadden Arps or
other Affiliates also had or
contemplated making a similar
investment. In addition, because
attractive investment opportunities of
the types considered by an Investment
Fund often require that each participant
make available funds in an amount that
may be substantially greater than that
available to the investor alone, there
may be certain attractive opportunities
of which an Investment Fund may be
unable to take advantage except as a coparticipant with other persons,
including Affiliates. Applicants believe
that the flexibility to structure co- and
joint investments in the manner
described above will not involve abuses
of the type section 17(d) and rule 17d–
1 were designed to prevent. Applicants
acknowledge that any transactions
subject to section 17(d) and rule 17d–1
for which exemptive relief has not been
requested in the application would
require specific approval by the
Commission.
8. Section 17(f) of the Act designates
the entities that may act as investment
company custodians, and rule 17f–2
under the Act allows an investment
company to act as self-custodian.
Applicants request an exemption to
permit the following exceptions from
the requirements of rule 17f–2: (i)
Compliance with paragraph (b) of the
rule may be achieved through
safekeeping in the locked files of
Skadden Arps or of a partner of
Skadden Arps; (ii) for the purposes of
paragraph (d) of the rule, (A) employees
of Skadden Arps will be deemed
employees of the Investment Funds, (B)
the Administrator will be deemed to be
an officer of the Investment Funds, and
(C) the members of the Investment
Committee will be deemed to be the
board of directors of the Investment
Funds; and (iii) instead of the
verification procedure under paragraph
(f) of the rule, verification will be
effected quarterly by two employees of
Skadden Arps each of whom shall have
sufficient knowledge, sophistication and
experience in business matters to
perform such examination. Investments
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also may be evidenced by partnership
agreements or similar documents. Such
instruments are most suitably kept in
Skadden Arps’ files, where they can be
referred to as necessary. Applicants will
comply with all other provisions of rule
17f–2.
9. Section 17(g) and rule 17g–1
generally require the bonding of officers
and employees of a registered
investment company who have access to
its securities or funds. Rule 17g–1
requires that a majority of directors who
are not interested persons of a registered
investment company (‘‘disinterested
directors’’) take certain actions and give
certain approvals relating to fidelity
bonding. Paragraph (g) of rule 17g–1 sets
forth certain materials relating to the
fidelity bond that must be filed with the
Commission and certain notices relating
to the fidelity bond that must be given
to each member of the investment
company’s board of directors. Paragraph
(h) of rule 17g–1 provides that an
investment company must designate
one of its officers to make the filings and
give the notices required by paragraph
(g). Paragraph (j) of rule 17g–1 exempts
a joint insured bond provided and
maintained by an investment company
and one or more parties from section
17(d) of the Act and the rules
thereunder. Rule 17g–1(j)(3) requires
that the board of directors of an
investment company satisfy the fund
governance standards defined in rule
0–1(a)(7).
10. Applicants request an exemption
from section 17(g) and rule 17g–1 to
permit the Administrator to take actions
and determinations as set forth in the
rule. Applicants state that, because the
Administrator will be an interested
person of the Fund, the Fund could not
comply with rule 17g–1 without the
requested relief. Specifically, each Fund
will comply with rule 17g–1 by having
the Administrator take such actions and
make approvals as are set forth in rule
17g–1. Applicants also request an
exemption from the requirements of rule
17g–1(g) and (h) relating to the filing of
copies of fidelity bonds and related
information with the Commission and
the provision of notices to the board of
directors and from the requirements of
rule 17g–1(j)(3). Applicants believe the
filing requirements are burdensome and
unnecessary as applied to the
Investment Funds. The Administrator
will maintain the materials otherwise
required to be filed with the
Commission by rule 17g–1(g) and agrees
that all such material will be subject to
examination by the Commission and its
staff. Applicants also state that the
notices otherwise required to be given to
the board of directors are unnecessary in
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27497
the case of the Investment Funds. The
Funds will comply with all other
requirements of rule 17g–1. The fidelity
bond of the Investment Funds will cover
all employees of Skadden Arps who
have access to the securities or funds of
the Investment Funds.
11. Applicants request an exemption
from the requirements, contained in
section 17(j) of the Act and rule 17j–1
under the Act, that every registered
investment company adopt a written
code of ethics and every ‘‘access
person’’ of such registered investment
company report to the investment
company with respect to transactions in
any security in which such access
person has, or by reason of the
transaction acquires, any direct or
indirect beneficial ownership in the
security. Applicants request an
exemption from the requirements in
rule 17j–1, with the exception of rule
17j–1(b), because they are burdensome
and unnecessary as applied to the
Investment Funds and because the
exemption is consistent with the policy
of the Act. Requiring the Investment
Funds to adopt a written code of ethics
and requiring access persons to report
each of their securities transactions
would be time-consuming and
expensive and would serve little
purpose in light of, among other things,
the community of interest among the
Members of the Investment Fund by
virtue of their common association with
Skadden Arps. Accordingly, the
requested exemption is consistent with
the purposes of the Act because the
dangers against which section 17(j) and
rule 17j–1 are intended to guard are not
present in the case of the Investment
Fund.
12. Applicants request an exemption
from the requirements in sections 30(a),
30(b), and 30(e) of the Act, and the rules
under those sections, that registered
investment companies prepare and file
with the Commission and mail to their
shareholders certain periodic reports
and financial statements. Applicants
contend that the forms prescribed by the
Commission for periodic reports have
little relevance to the Investment Funds
and would entail administrative and
legal costs that outweigh any benefit to
the Members. Applicants request
exemptive relief to the extent necessary
to permit the Investment Funds to
report annually to their Members.
Applicants also request an exemption
from section 30(h) of the Act to the
extent necessary to exempt the
Administrator, the members of the
Investment Committee, and any other
person who may be deemed to be an
officer, director, member of an advisory
board, or otherwise subject to section
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30(h), from filing Forms 3, 4 and 5
under section 16 of the Exchange Act
with respect to their ownership of Units.
Applicants assert that, because there
would be no trading market and the
transfer of Units is severely restricted,
these filings are unnecessary for the
protection of investors and burdensome
to those required to make them.
13. Rule 38a–1 requires investment
companies to adopt, implement and
periodically review written policies
reasonably designed to prevent violation
of the federal securities laws and to
appoint a chief compliance officer. Each
Investment Fund will comply with rule
38a–1(a), (c) and (d), except that (i)
because the Investment Fund does not
have a formal board of directors, the
Investment Committee will fulfill the
responsibilities assigned to the board of
directors under the rule, and (ii) because
the Investment Committee does not
have any disinterested members,
approval by a majority of the
disinterested board members required
by rule 38a–1 will not be obtained. In
addition, the Investment Funds will
comply with the requirement in rule
38a–1(a)(4)(iv) that the chief compliance
officer meet with the independent
directors by having the chief
compliance officer meet with the
Investment Committee.
Applicants’ Conditions
The applicants agree that any order
granting the requested relief will be
subject to the following conditions:
1. Each proposed transaction, to
which an Investment Fund is a party,
otherwise prohibited by section 17(a) or
section 17(d) and rule 17d–1 (the
‘‘Section 17 Transactions’’) will be
effected only if the Investment
Committee determines that: (a) The
terms of the Section 17 Transaction,
including the consideration to be paid
or received, are fair and reasonable to
Members of such Investment Fund and
do not involve overreaching of such
Investment Fund or its Members on the
part of any person concerned; and (b)
the Section 17 Transaction is consistent
with the interests of the Members of
such Investment Fund, the Investment
Fund’s organizational documents and
the Investment Fund’s reports to its
Members.
In addition, the Administrator will
record and preserve a description of
such Section 17 Transactions, the
findings of the Investment Committee,
the information or materials upon
which their findings are based and the
basis therefor. All such records will be
maintained for the life of such
Investment Fund and at least six years
thereafter, and will be subject to
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17:18 May 09, 2012
Jkt 226001
examination by the Commission and its
staff. All such records will be
maintained in an easily accessible place
for at least the first two years.
2. If purchases or sales are made by
an Investment Fund from or to an entity
affiliated with the Investment Fund by
reason of a member of the Investment
Committee (a) serving as an officer,
director, general partner or investment
adviser of the entity, or (b) having a 5%
or more investment in the entity, such
individual will not participate in (i) the
Investment Committee’s determination
of whether or not to submit such
Investment to the Members of the
Investment Fund for approval and (ii)
the vote of the Members to approve or
disapprove the Investment.
3. The Investment Committee will
adopt, and periodically review and
update, procedures designed to ensure
that reasonable inquiry is made, prior to
the consummation of any Section 17
Transaction, with respect to the possible
involvement in the transaction of any
affiliated person or promoter of or
principal underwriter for such
Investment Fund, or any affiliated
person of such a person, promoter, or
principal underwriter.
4. The Investment Committee will not
make available to the Members of an
Investment Fund any investment in
which a Co-Investor, as defined below,
has or proposes to acquire the same
class of securities of the same issuer,
where the investment involves a joint
enterprise or other joint arrangement
within the meaning of rule 17d–1 in
which the Investment Fund and the CoInvestor are participants, unless any
such Co-Investor, prior to disposing of
all or part of its investment, (a) gives the
Investment Fund sufficient, but not less
than one day’s, notice of its intent to
dispose of its investment, and (b)
refrains from disposing of its investment
unless the Investment Fund holding
such investment has the opportunity to
dispose of its investment prior to or
concurrently with, on the same terms as,
and on a pro rata basis with, the CoInvestor. The term ‘‘Co-Investor’’ with
respect to any Investment Fund means
any person who is (a) an ‘‘affiliated
person’’ (as defined in section 2(a)(3) of
the Act) of the Investment Fund; (b)
Skadden Arps; (c) a partner, lawyer, or
employee of Skadden Arps; (d) an
investment vehicle offered, sponsored,
or managed by Skadden Arps or an
affiliated person of Skadden Arps; or (e)
an entity in which Skadden Arps acts as
a general partner or has a similar
capacity to control the sale or other
disposition of the entity’s securities.
The restrictions contained in this
condition, however, shall not be
PO 00000
Frm 00083
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
deemed to limit or prevent the
disposition of an investment by a CoInvestor: (a) To its direct or indirect
wholly-owned subsidiary, to any
company (a ‘‘Parent’’) of which the CoInvestor is a direct or indirect whollyowned subsidiary, or to a direct or
indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of its
Parent; (b) to immediate family
members of the Co-Investor or a trust
established for the benefit of any such
immediate family member; (c) when the
investment is comprised of securities
that are listed on a national securities
exchange registered under section 6 of
the Exchange Act; or (d) when the
investment is comprised of securities
that are NMS Stocks pursuant to section
11A(a)(2) of the Exchange Act and Rule
600(b) under the Exchange Act.
5. Each Investment Fund will send to
each person who was a Member in such
Investment Fund at any time during the
fiscal year then ended audited financial
statements with respect to those Series
in which the Member held Units. At the
end of each fiscal year, the
Administrator will make a valuation or
have a valuation made of all of the
assets of the Investment Fund as of the
fiscal year end. In addition, as soon as
practicable after the end of each fiscal
year of each Investment Fund, the
Investment Fund shall send a report to
each person who was a Member at any
time during the fiscal year then ended,
setting forth such tax information as
shall be necessary for the preparation by
the Member of his or her federal and
state income tax returns and a report of
the investment activities of such
Investment Fund during such year.
6. Each Investment Fund will
maintain and preserve, for the life of
such Investment Fund and at least six
years thereafter, such accounts, books,
and other documents as constitute the
record forming the basis for the audited
financial statements and annual reports
of such Investment Fund to be provided
to its Members, and agree that all such
records will be subject to examination
by the Commission and its staff. All
such records will be maintained in an
easily accessible place for at least the
first two years.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Investment Management, pursuant to
delegated authority.
Kevin M. O’Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012–11256 Filed 5–9–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 91 (Thursday, May 10, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27494-27498]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-11256]
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Investment Company Act Release No. 30060; 813-194]
SK Private Investment Fund 1998 LLC, et al.; Notice of
Application
May 4, 2012.
AGENCY: Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'').
ACTION: Notice of an application for an order under sections 6(b) and
6(e) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the ``Act'') granting an
exemption from all provisions of the Act, except sections 9, 17, 30 and
36 through 53, and the rules and regulations under the Act (the ``Rules
and Regulations''). With respect to sections 17(a), (d), (f), (g), and
(j) of the Act, sections 30(a), (b), (e), and (h) of the Act and the
Rules and Regulations and rule 38a-1 under the Act, applicants request
a limited exemption as set forth in the application.
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SUMMARY: Summary of the Application: Applicants request an order to
exempt certain limited liability companies formed for the benefit of
eligible employees of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and its
affiliates from certain provisions of the Act. Each limited liability
company will be an ``employees' securities company'' within the meaning
of section 2(a)(13) of the Act.
Applicants: SK Private Investment Fund 1998 LLC, Project Capital
2004 Investment Fund LLC, Project Capital 2006 Investment Fund LLC, and
Project Capital 2008 Investment Fund LLC (``Existing Funds''), and
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (``Skadden Arps LLP'').
DATES: Filing Dates: The application was filed on June 5, 1998 and
amended on February 18, 1999, April 2, 1999, August 30, 2000, February
1, 2005, May 18, 2009, November 17, 2009, October 25, 2010, November
18, 2011, March 20, 2012, and May 3, 2012.
Hearing or Notification of Hearing: An order granting the
application will be issued unless the Commission orders a hearing.
Interested persons may request a hearing by writing to the Commission's
Secretary and serving applicants with a copy of the request, personally
or by mail. Hearing requests should be received by the Commission by
5:30 p.m. on May 30, 2012 and should be accompanied by proof of service
on applicants, in the form of an affidavit or, for lawyers, a
certificate of service. Hearing requests should state the nature of the
writer's interest, the reason for the request, and the issues
contested. Persons who wish to be notified of a hearing may request
notification by writing to the Commission's Secretary.
ADDRESSES: Secretary, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F
Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090. Applicants, Four Times Square,
New York, New York 10036.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marilyn Mann, Special Counsel, at
(202) 551-6813 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/seach.htm or by calling (202) 551-8090.
Applicants' Representations
1. The Existing Funds are Delaware limited liability companies
formed pursuant to limited liability company agreements. The applicants
may in the future offer additional pooled investment vehicles identical
in all material respects (other than form of organization, investment
objective and/or strategy) to the same class of investors as those
investing in the Existing Funds (the ``Subsequent Funds'' and, together
with the Existing Funds, the ``Investment Funds''). The applicants
anticipate that each Subsequent Fund will also be structured as a
limited liability company, although a Subsequent Fund could be
structured as a domestic or offshore general partnership, limited
partnership or corporation. The operating agreements of the Investment
Funds are the ``Investment Fund Agreements.'' An Investment Fund may
include a single vehicle designed to issue interests in series
(``Series'') or having similar features to enable a single fund to
function as if it were several successive funds for ease of
administration. Each Investment Fund will be an employees' securities
company within the meaning of section 2(a)(13) of the Act. Skadden Arps
LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership, and any ``affiliates,''
as defined in rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
``Exchange Act''), that are organized to practice law are referred to
collectively as ``Skadden Arps'' and individually as a ``Skadden Arps
Entity.''
2. In light of the community of interest that exists between
Skadden Arps and the Eligible Investors (as defined below), the
Investment Funds have been, and will be, established and controlled by
Skadden Arps, within the meaning of section 2(a)(9) of the Act, so as
to enable the Eligible Investors to participate in certain investment
opportunities that come to the attention of Skadden Arps. Such
opportunities may include separate accounts, registered investment
companies, investment companies exempt from registration under the Act,
commodity pools, real estate investment funds, and other securities
investments (each particular investment, except any investment that is
a ``Temporary Investment,'' \1\ is referred to as an ``Investment'').
Participation as investors in the Investment Funds will allow the
Eligible Investors who are members of the Investment Funds (the
``Members'') to diversify their investments and to have the opportunity
to participate in investments that might not otherwise be available to
them or
[[Page 27495]]
that might be beyond their individual means.
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\1\ It is anticipated that capital will be contributed to an
Investment Fund only in connection with the funding of an
Investment. Pending the payment of the full purchase price for an
Investment, funds contributed to the Investment Fund will be
invested in high quality short-term investments, shares of money
market funds, or bank deposits (collectively, ``Temporary
Investments'').
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3. Interests in an Investment Fund (``Units'') will be offered and
sold in reliance upon the exemption from registration under the
Securities Act of 1933 (the ``Securities Act'') contained in section
4(2) of the Securities Act or Regulation D under the Securities Act.
Units will be offered only to persons (``Eligible Investors'') who meet
the following criteria: (a) Current or former partners of, or key
administrative employees and lawyers employed by, Skadden Arps
(collectively, ``Eligible Affiliates''), the immediate family members
of Eligible Affiliates, which are a person's siblings, spouse,
children, spouses of children, and grandchildren, including step and
adoptive relationships (``Eligible Family Members''), or trusts or
other entities the sole beneficiaries of which consist of Eligible
Affiliates or their Eligible Family Members (``Eligible Trusts''); and
(b) who are ``accredited investors'' as that term is defined in
Regulation D under the Securities Act. Prior to offering a Unit to an
individual, the Investment Committee (as defined below) must reasonably
believe that the individual is a sophisticated investor capable of
understanding and evaluating the risks of participating in the
Investment Fund without the benefit of regulatory safeguards.
4. Each Investment Fund will have an investment committee
(``Investment Committee''), which will consist of not less than two
persons who are Eligible Affiliates and who may but are not required to
be Members. The chief function of the Investment Committee will be to
review possible Investments for the Investment Fund for submission to
the Members for approval or disapproval. Members of the Investment
Committee are selected by the executive managing partner of Skadden
Arps, and typically include partners and key administrative employees
of Skadden Arps knowledgeable in operation, taxation and regulation of
Investments and of the Investment Funds. The Investment Committee may
select Temporary Investments for the Investment Fund. No Investment
will be made by an Investment Fund unless the Investment has been
``Approved by the Members,'' which means (i) with respect to any matter
relating to the Investment Fund, the approval by Members representing
at least a majority of the capital commitments of such Investment Fund
and (ii) with respect to any matter relating to a particular Series,
the approval by Members representing at least a majority of the capital
commitments attributable to such Series. No Members will make or have
the right to make an individual investment decision with respect to any
Investment submitted to the Members for approval or disapproval. The
Investment Committee will consider whether it or any other person
involved in the operation of the Investment Fund is required to
register under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the ``Advisers
Act''). Such persons will register as investment advisers under the
Advisers Act if such registration is required under the Advisers Act
and the rules under the Advisers Act.
5. Each Investment Fund will have an administrator (the
``Administrator'') who is selected by the executive managing partner of
Skadden Arps and who is knowledgeable in the operation and taxation of
the Investment Funds. The Administrator may, but is not required to be,
a Member in the Investment Fund. The Administrator will not recommend
Investments or exercise investment discretion. No management fee or
other compensation will be paid by any Investment Fund or the Members
to the Administrator.
6. Applicants represent and concede that each of the Administrator,
the members of the Investment Committee and the Tax Matters Partner (as
defined below) are, as applicable, an ``employee, officer, director,
member of the an advisory board, investment adviser, or depositor'' of
the Investment Funds within the meaning of section 9 of the Act and an
``officer, director, member of any advisory board, investment adviser,
or depositor'' within the meaning of section 36 of the Act and are
subject to those sections.
7. The specific investment objectives and strategies for a
particular Investment Fund will be set forth in the Investment Fund
Agreement and an information memorandum relating to the Units offered
by the Investment Fund, and each Eligible Investor will receive a copy
of the information memorandum and Investment Fund Agreement before
making an investment in the Investment Fund. The terms of an Investment
Fund will be disclosed to each Eligible Investor at the time the
investor is invited to participate in the Investment Fund.
8. The value of the Members' capital accounts for the purpose of
filing tax returns will be determined at such times as the
Administrator, in consultation with the Tax Matters Partner under
section 6231(a)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the ``Tax
Matters Partner'') deems appropriate or necessary; however, such
valuation will be done at least annually at the Investment Fund's
fiscal year-end. Tax Matters Partner for the Investment Funds is
selected by the executive managing partner of Skadden Arps, and
typically will be a partner or a senior administrative employee of
Skadden Arps responsible for the preparation or administration of tax
reporting in connection with the Investment Funds. The Administrator
will value the assets of an Investment Fund at the current market price
(closing price) in the case of marketable securities. All other
securities or assets will be valued at fair value as determined in good
faith by the Administrator.
9. Administration of the Investment Funds will be vested in the
Investment Committee, Tax Matters Partner and the Administrator. Each
Investment Fund Agreement provides that the Investment Fund will bear
its own expenses or that such expenses shall be borne by Skadden Arps.
No separate management fee will be charged to an Investment Fund by the
Investment Committee or the Administrator. No compensation will be paid
by any Investment Fund or its Members to the Administrator, Tax Matters
Partner, or the members of the Investment Committee for their services
in such capacity.
10. Whenever Skadden Arps, the members of the Investment
Committees, the Administrator, the Tax Matters Partner or any other
person acting for or on behalf of the Investment Funds is required or
permitted to make a decision, take or approve an action or omit to do
any of the foregoing in such person's discretion, then such person
shall exercise such discretion in accordance with reasonableness and
good faith and their fiduciary duties (if any) owed to the Investment
Funds and their Members.
11. Each Investment Fund Agreement and any other organizational
documents for and any other contractual arrangement regarding an
Investment Fund will not contain any provision which protects or
purports to protect Skadden Arps, the members of the Investment
Committee, the Administrator, the Tax Matters Partner, or their
delegates against any liability to the Investment Fund or the Members
to which such person would otherwise be subject by reason of such
person's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the
performance of such person's duties, or by reason of such person's
reckless disregard of such person's obligations and duties under such
contract or organizational documents.
12. Each Investment Fund will send its Members an annual report
regarding its operations as soon as practicable after the end of each
fiscal year. The
[[Page 27496]]
annual report of the Investment Fund will contain audited financial
statements.\2\ Each Investment Fund, within 120 days after the end of
the tax year of such Investment Fund, if possible, or as soon as
practicable thereafter, will transmit a report to each Member setting
out information with respect to the Member's distributive share of
income, gains, losses, credits and other items for federal income tax
purposes, resulting from the operation of the Investment Fund during
that year.
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\2\ For purposes of this requirement, ``audit'' shall have the
meaning defined in rule 1-02(d) of Regulation S-X.
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13. Members will not be entitled to redeem their respective Units.
A Member will be permitted to transfer his or her Units only to
Eligible Investors and only with the express consent of the Investment
Committee or the Administrator. No fee of any kind will be charged in
connection with the sale of Units of the Investment Fund.
14. Each Investment Fund Agreement provides that the Administrator
may require a Member to withdraw from the Investment Fund if the
Administrator, in its discretion, deems such withdrawal to be in the
best interests of the Investment Fund, including in instances in which
the Member is no longer an Eligible Investor or affiliated with Skadden
Arps. Upon withdrawal, a Member will be entitled to receive at a
minimum the lesser of (i) the amount actually paid by the Member to
acquire the Units, plus interest, less those amounts returned to the
Member as distributions, or (ii) the fair market value of the Units,
determined at the time of withdrawal, as determined in good faith by
the Administrator.
15. To provide flexibility in connection with an Investment Fund's
obligation to contribute capital to fund an Investment, and the
associated obligation of the Members to make capital contributions with
respect to their capital commitments, each Investment Fund Agreement
provides that the Investment Fund may engage in borrowings in
connection with such funding of Investments. All borrowings by an
Investment Fund will be debt of the Investment Fund and without
recourse to the Members. The Investment Funds will not borrow from any
person if the borrowing would cause any person not named in section
2(a)(13) of the Act to own any outstanding securities of the Investment
Fund (other than short-term paper). If Skadden Arps makes a loan to an
Investment Fund, it (as lender) will be entitled to receive interest at
a rate no less favorable to the Investment Funds than the rate that
could be obtained on an arm's length basis. Skadden Arps may in its
discretion advance funds to Eligible Investors for the purpose of
making their capital contributions. Skadden Arps will charge no
interest with respect to such loans.
16. An Investment Fund will not acquire any security issued by a
registered investment company if immediately after the acquisition, the
Investment Fund would own more than 3% of the total outstanding voting
stock of the registered investment company.
Applicants' Legal Analysis
1. Section 6(b) of the Act provides, in part, that the Commission
will exempt employees' securities companies from the provisions of the
Act to the extent that the exemption is consistent with the protection
of investors. Section 6(b) provides that the Commission will consider,
in determining the provisions of the Act from which the company should
be exempt, the company's form of organization and capital structure,
the persons owning and controlling its securities, the price of the
company's securities and the amount of any sales load, the disposition
of the proceeds of any sales of the company's securities, how the
company's funds are invested, and the relationship between the company
and the issuers of the securities in which it invests. Section 2(a)(13)
defines an employees' securities company as any investment company all
of whose securities (other than short-term paper) are beneficially
owned (a) by current or former employees, or persons on retainer, of
one or more affiliated employers, (b) by immediate family members of
such persons, or (c) by such employer or employers together with any of
the persons in (a) or (b).
2. Section 7 of the Act generally prohibits investment companies
that are not registered under section 8 of the Act from selling or
redeeming their securities. Section 6(e) of the Act provides that, in
connection with any order exempting an investment company from any
provision of section 7, certain provisions of the Act, as specified by
the Commission, will be applicable to the company and other persons
dealing with the company as though the company were registered under
the Act. Applicants request an order under sections 6(b) and 6(e) of
the Act exempting applicants from all provisions of the Act, except
sections 9, 17, 30, 36 through 53, and the Rules and Regulations. With
respect to sections 17(a), (d), (f), (g) and (j) and 30(a), (b), (e)
and (h) of the Act and the Rules and Regulations, and rule 38a-1 under
the Act, applicants request a limited exemption as set forth in the
application.
3. Section 17(a) of the Act generally prohibits any affiliated
person of a registered investment company, or any affiliated person of
an affiliated person, acting as principal, from knowingly selling or
purchasing any security or other property to or from the company.
Applicants request an exemption from section 17(a) to permit an
Investment Fund: to invest in or participate as a selling security-
holder in a principal transaction with one or more affiliated persons
(as defined in section 2(a)(3) of the Act) (``First-Tier Affiliates'')
and affiliated persons of such First-Tier Affiliates (``Second-Tier
Affiliates,'' and together with First-Tier Affiliates, ``Affiliates'')
of an Investment Fund.
4. Applicants submit that the exemptions sought from section 17(a)
are consistent with the purposes of the Act and the protection of
investors. Applicants state that the Members will be informed in an
Investment Fund's communications relating to a particular Investment of
the possible extent of the dealings by such Investment and its sponsors
with Skadden Arps or any affiliated person thereof. Applicants also
state that, as experienced professionals acting on behalf of financial
services businesses, the Members will be able to evaluate the risks
associated with such dealings. Applicants assert that the community of
interest among the Members and Skadden Arps will serve to reduce the
risk of abuse in transactions involving the Investment Fund and Skadden
Arps or any Affiliate thereof.
5. Section 17(d) of the Act and rule 17d-1 under the Act prohibit
any affiliated person of a registered investment company, or any
affiliated person of such person, acting as principal, from
participating in any joint arrangement with the registered investment
company unless authorized by the Commission. Applicants request an
exemption from section 17(d) and rule 17d-1 to the extent necessary to
permit an Investment Fund to engage in transactions in which an
Affiliate participates as a joint or a joint and several participant
with such Investment Fund.
6. Joint transactions in which an Investment Fund could participate
might include the following: (a) A joint investment by one or more
Investment Funds in a security in which Skadden Arps or another
Investment Fund is a joint participant or plans to become a participant
or (b) a joint investment by one or more Investment Funds in another
Investment Fund or any other investment vehicle sponsored, offered
[[Page 27497]]
or managed by Skadden Arps or any Affiliate thereof; and (c) a joint
investment by one or more Investment Funds in a security in which an
Affiliate is an investor or plans to become an investor, including
situations in which an Affiliate has a partnership or other interest
in, or compensation arrangements with, such issuer, sponsor or offeror.
7. Applicants assert that compliance with section 17(d) and rule
17d-1 would cause an Investment Fund to forego investment opportunities
simply because a Member, Skadden Arps or other Affiliates also had or
contemplated making a similar investment. In addition, because
attractive investment opportunities of the types considered by an
Investment Fund often require that each participant make available
funds in an amount that may be substantially greater than that
available to the investor alone, there may be certain attractive
opportunities of which an Investment Fund may be unable to take
advantage except as a co-participant with other persons, including
Affiliates. Applicants believe that the flexibility to structure co-
and joint investments in the manner described above will not involve
abuses of the type section 17(d) and rule 17d-1 were designed to
prevent. Applicants acknowledge that any transactions subject to
section 17(d) and rule 17d-1 for which exemptive relief has not been
requested in the application would require specific approval by the
Commission.
8. Section 17(f) of the Act designates the entities that may act as
investment company custodians, and rule 17f-2 under the Act allows an
investment company to act as self-custodian. Applicants request an
exemption to permit the following exceptions from the requirements of
rule 17f-2: (i) Compliance with paragraph (b) of the rule may be
achieved through safekeeping in the locked files of Skadden Arps or of
a partner of Skadden Arps; (ii) for the purposes of paragraph (d) of
the rule, (A) employees of Skadden Arps will be deemed employees of the
Investment Funds, (B) the Administrator will be deemed to be an officer
of the Investment Funds, and (C) the members of the Investment
Committee will be deemed to be the board of directors of the Investment
Funds; and (iii) instead of the verification procedure under paragraph
(f) of the rule, verification will be effected quarterly by two
employees of Skadden Arps each of whom shall have sufficient knowledge,
sophistication and experience in business matters to perform such
examination. Investments also may be evidenced by partnership
agreements or similar documents. Such instruments are most suitably
kept in Skadden Arps' files, where they can be referred to as
necessary. Applicants will comply with all other provisions of rule
17f-2.
9. Section 17(g) and rule 17g-1 generally require the bonding of
officers and employees of a registered investment company who have
access to its securities or funds. Rule 17g-1 requires that a majority
of directors who are not interested persons of a registered investment
company (``disinterested directors'') take certain actions and give
certain approvals relating to fidelity bonding. Paragraph (g) of rule
17g-1 sets forth certain materials relating to the fidelity bond that
must be filed with the Commission and certain notices relating to the
fidelity bond that must be given to each member of the investment
company's board of directors. Paragraph (h) of rule 17g-1 provides that
an investment company must designate one of its officers to make the
filings and give the notices required by paragraph (g). Paragraph (j)
of rule 17g-1 exempts a joint insured bond provided and maintained by
an investment company and one or more parties from section 17(d) of the
Act and the rules thereunder. Rule 17g-1(j)(3) requires that the board
of directors of an investment company satisfy the fund governance
standards defined in rule 0-1(a)(7).
10. Applicants request an exemption from section 17(g) and rule
17g-1 to permit the Administrator to take actions and determinations as
set forth in the rule. Applicants state that, because the Administrator
will be an interested person of the Fund, the Fund could not comply
with rule 17g-1 without the requested relief. Specifically, each Fund
will comply with rule 17g-1 by having the Administrator take such
actions and make approvals as are set forth in rule 17g-1. Applicants
also request an exemption from the requirements of rule 17g-1(g) and
(h) relating to the filing of copies of fidelity bonds and related
information with the Commission and the provision of notices to the
board of directors and from the requirements of rule 17g-1(j)(3).
Applicants believe the filing requirements are burdensome and
unnecessary as applied to the Investment Funds. The Administrator will
maintain the materials otherwise required to be filed with the
Commission by rule 17g-1(g) and agrees that all such material will be
subject to examination by the Commission and its staff. Applicants also
state that the notices otherwise required to be given to the board of
directors are unnecessary in the case of the Investment Funds. The
Funds will comply with all other requirements of rule 17g-1. The
fidelity bond of the Investment Funds will cover all employees of
Skadden Arps who have access to the securities or funds of the
Investment Funds.
11. Applicants request an exemption from the requirements,
contained in section 17(j) of the Act and rule 17j-1 under the Act,
that every registered investment company adopt a written code of ethics
and every ``access person'' of such registered investment company
report to the investment company with respect to transactions in any
security in which such access person has, or by reason of the
transaction acquires, any direct or indirect beneficial ownership in
the security. Applicants request an exemption from the requirements in
rule 17j-1, with the exception of rule 17j-1(b), because they are
burdensome and unnecessary as applied to the Investment Funds and
because the exemption is consistent with the policy of the Act.
Requiring the Investment Funds to adopt a written code of ethics and
requiring access persons to report each of their securities
transactions would be time-consuming and expensive and would serve
little purpose in light of, among other things, the community of
interest among the Members of the Investment Fund by virtue of their
common association with Skadden Arps. Accordingly, the requested
exemption is consistent with the purposes of the Act because the
dangers against which section 17(j) and rule 17j-1 are intended to
guard are not present in the case of the Investment Fund.
12. Applicants request an exemption from the requirements in
sections 30(a), 30(b), and 30(e) of the Act, and the rules under those
sections, that registered investment companies prepare and file with
the Commission and mail to their shareholders certain periodic reports
and financial statements. Applicants contend that the forms prescribed
by the Commission for periodic reports have little relevance to the
Investment Funds and would entail administrative and legal costs that
outweigh any benefit to the Members. Applicants request exemptive
relief to the extent necessary to permit the Investment Funds to report
annually to their Members. Applicants also request an exemption from
section 30(h) of the Act to the extent necessary to exempt the
Administrator, the members of the Investment Committee, and any other
person who may be deemed to be an officer, director, member of an
advisory board, or otherwise subject to section
[[Page 27498]]
30(h), from filing Forms 3, 4 and 5 under section 16 of the Exchange
Act with respect to their ownership of Units. Applicants assert that,
because there would be no trading market and the transfer of Units is
severely restricted, these filings are unnecessary for the protection
of investors and burdensome to those required to make them.
13. Rule 38a-1 requires investment companies to adopt, implement
and periodically review written policies reasonably designed to prevent
violation of the federal securities laws and to appoint a chief
compliance officer. Each Investment Fund will comply with rule 38a-
1(a), (c) and (d), except that (i) because the Investment Fund does not
have a formal board of directors, the Investment Committee will fulfill
the responsibilities assigned to the board of directors under the rule,
and (ii) because the Investment Committee does not have any
disinterested members, approval by a majority of the disinterested
board members required by rule 38a-1 will not be obtained. In addition,
the Investment Funds will comply with the requirement in rule 38a-
1(a)(4)(iv) that the chief compliance officer meet with the independent
directors by having the chief compliance officer meet with the
Investment Committee.
Applicants' Conditions
The applicants agree that any order granting the requested relief
will be subject to the following conditions:
1. Each proposed transaction, to which an Investment Fund is a
party, otherwise prohibited by section 17(a) or section 17(d) and rule
17d-1 (the ``Section 17 Transactions'') will be effected only if the
Investment Committee determines that: (a) The terms of the Section 17
Transaction, including the consideration to be paid or received, are
fair and reasonable to Members of such Investment Fund and do not
involve overreaching of such Investment Fund or its Members on the part
of any person concerned; and (b) the Section 17 Transaction is
consistent with the interests of the Members of such Investment Fund,
the Investment Fund's organizational documents and the Investment
Fund's reports to its Members.
In addition, the Administrator will record and preserve a
description of such Section 17 Transactions, the findings of the
Investment Committee, the information or materials upon which their
findings are based and the basis therefor. All such records will be
maintained for the life of such Investment Fund and at least six years
thereafter, and will be subject to examination by the Commission and
its staff. All such records will be maintained in an easily accessible
place for at least the first two years.
2. If purchases or sales are made by an Investment Fund from or to
an entity affiliated with the Investment Fund by reason of a member of
the Investment Committee (a) serving as an officer, director, general
partner or investment adviser of the entity, or (b) having a 5% or more
investment in the entity, such individual will not participate in (i)
the Investment Committee's determination of whether or not to submit
such Investment to the Members of the Investment Fund for approval and
(ii) the vote of the Members to approve or disapprove the Investment.
3. The Investment Committee will adopt, and periodically review and
update, procedures designed to ensure that reasonable inquiry is made,
prior to the consummation of any Section 17 Transaction, with respect
to the possible involvement in the transaction of any affiliated person
or promoter of or principal underwriter for such Investment Fund, or
any affiliated person of such a person, promoter, or principal
underwriter.
4. The Investment Committee will not make available to the Members
of an Investment Fund any investment in which a Co-Investor, as defined
below, has or proposes to acquire the same class of securities of the
same issuer, where the investment involves a joint enterprise or other
joint arrangement within the meaning of rule 17d-1 in which the
Investment Fund and the Co-Investor are participants, unless any such
Co-Investor, prior to disposing of all or part of its investment, (a)
gives the Investment Fund sufficient, but not less than one day's,
notice of its intent to dispose of its investment, and (b) refrains
from disposing of its investment unless the Investment Fund holding
such investment has the opportunity to dispose of its investment prior
to or concurrently with, on the same terms as, and on a pro rata basis
with, the Co-Investor. The term ``Co-Investor'' with respect to any
Investment Fund means any person who is (a) an ``affiliated person''
(as defined in section 2(a)(3) of the Act) of the Investment Fund; (b)
Skadden Arps; (c) a partner, lawyer, or employee of Skadden Arps; (d)
an investment vehicle offered, sponsored, or managed by Skadden Arps or
an affiliated person of Skadden Arps; or (e) an entity in which Skadden
Arps acts as a general partner or has a similar capacity to control the
sale or other disposition of the entity's securities.
The restrictions contained in this condition, however, shall not be
deemed to limit or prevent the disposition of an investment by a Co-
Investor: (a) To its direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, to any
company (a ``Parent'') of which the Co-Investor is a direct or indirect
wholly-owned subsidiary, or to a direct or indirect wholly-owned
subsidiary of its Parent; (b) to immediate family members of the Co-
Investor or a trust established for the benefit of any such immediate
family member; (c) when the investment is comprised of securities that
are listed on a national securities exchange registered under section 6
of the Exchange Act; or (d) when the investment is comprised of
securities that are NMS Stocks pursuant to section 11A(a)(2) of the
Exchange Act and Rule 600(b) under the Exchange Act.
5. Each Investment Fund will send to each person who was a Member
in such Investment Fund at any time during the fiscal year then ended
audited financial statements with respect to those Series in which the
Member held Units. At the end of each fiscal year, the Administrator
will make a valuation or have a valuation made of all of the assets of
the Investment Fund as of the fiscal year end. In addition, as soon as
practicable after the end of each fiscal year of each Investment Fund,
the Investment Fund shall send a report to each person who was a Member
at any time during the fiscal year then ended, setting forth such tax
information as shall be necessary for the preparation by the Member of
his or her federal and state income tax returns and a report of the
investment activities of such Investment Fund during such year.
6. Each Investment Fund will maintain and preserve, for the life of
such Investment Fund and at least six years thereafter, such accounts,
books, and other documents as constitute the record forming the basis
for the audited financial statements and annual reports of such
Investment Fund to be provided to its Members, and agree that all such
records will be subject to examination by the Commission and its staff.
All such records will be maintained in an easily accessible place for
at least the first two years.
For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management,
pursuant to delegated authority.
Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-11256 Filed 5-9-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P