State Farm Associates' Funds Trust, et al.; Notice of Application, 7619-7620 [2016-02834]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 29 / Friday, February 12, 2016 / Notices 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act 6 and subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b–4 thereunder.7 At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is: (i) Necessary or appropriate in the public interest; (ii) for the protection of investors; or (iii) otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule should be approved or disapproved. IV. Solicitation of Comments Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: available for Web site viewing and printing in the Commission’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–Phlx– 2016–16 and should be submitted on or before March 4, 2016. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.8 Robert W. Errett, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016–02836 Filed 2–11–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P Electronic Comments • Use the Commission’s Internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/ rules/sro.shtml); or • Send an email to rule-comments@ sec.gov. Please include File Number SR– Phlx–2016–16 on the subject line. asabaliauskas on DSK9F6TC42PROD with NOTICES2 Paper Comments • Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–Phlx–2016–16. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission’s Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/ rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be 6 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(a)(iii). CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b– 4(f)(6) requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change at least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. The Exchange has satisfied this requirement. 7 17 VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:38 Feb 11, 2016 Jkt 238001 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Investment Company Act Release No. 31988; File No. 812–14558] State Farm Associates’ Funds Trust, et al.; Notice of Application February 8, 2016. Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’). ACTION: Notice of an application for an order under section 12(d)(1)(J) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the ‘‘Act’’) for an exemption from sections 12(d)(1)(A), (B), and (C) of the Act and under sections 6(c) and 17(b) of the Act for an exemption from sections 17(a)(1) and (2) of the Act. The requested order would permit certain registered openend investment companies to acquire shares of certain registered open-end investment companies, registered closed-end investment companies, and registered unit investment trusts (collectively, ‘‘Underlying Funds’’) that are within and outside the same group of investment companies as the acquiring investment companies, in excess of the limits in section 12(d)(1) of the Act. AGENCY: Applicants: State Farm Associates’ Funds Trust, State Farm Mutual Fund Trust and State Farm Variable Product Trust, each a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Act as an openend management investment company with multiple series (each, a ‘‘Trust’’); State Farm Investment Management 8 17 PO 00000 Corp. (‘‘SFIMC’’), a Delaware Corporation registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940; and State Farm VP Management Corp., a Delaware corporation, registered as a brokerdealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Exchange Act’’). DATES: Filing Dates: The application was filed on October 2, 2015, and amended on January 5, 2016. Hearing or Notification of Hearing: An order granting the requested relief will be issued unless the Commission orders a hearing. Interested persons may request a hearing by writing to the Commission’s Secretary and serving applicants with a copy of the request, personally or by mail. Hearing requests should be received by the Commission by 5:30 p.m. on March 4, 2016 and should be accompanied by proof of service on the applicants, in the form of an affidavit, or, for lawyers, a certificate of service. Pursuant to Rule 0–5 under the Act, hearing requests should state the nature of the writer’s interest, any facts bearing upon the desirability of a hearing on the matter, 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: Brent J. Fields, Secretary, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090. Applicants: c/o Mr. David Moore, State Farm Investment Management Corp., One State Farm Plaza, Bloomington, IL 61710–0001. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean E. Minarick, Senior Counsel, at (202) 551–6811, or Daniele Marchesani, Branch Chief, at (202) 551–6821 (Division of Investment Management, Chief Counsel’s Office). 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. Summary of the Application 1. Applicants request an order to permit (a) a Fund 1 (each a ‘‘Fund of 1 Applicants request that the order apply to each existing and future series of the Trusts and to each existing and future registered open-end investment company or series thereof that is advised by SFIMC or its successor or by any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with SFIMC or its successor and is part of the same ‘‘group of CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). Frm 00123 Fmt 4703 7619 Continued Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\12FEN1.SGM 12FEN1 7620 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 29 / Friday, February 12, 2016 / Notices Funds’’) to acquire shares of Underlying Funds 2 in excess of the limits in sections 12(d)(1)(A) and (C) of the Act and (b) the Underlying Funds that are registered open-end investment companies or series thereof, their principal underwriters and any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act to sell shares of the Underlying Fund to the Fund of Funds in excess of the limits in section 12(d)(1)(B) of the Act.3 Applicants also request an order of exemption under sections 6(c) and 17(b) of the Act from the prohibition on certain affiliated transactions in section 17(a) of the Act to the extent necessary to permit the Underlying Funds to sell their shares to, and redeem their shares from, the Funds of Funds.4 Applicants state that such transactions will be consistent with the policies of each Fund of Funds and each Underlying Fund and with the general purposes of the Act and will be based on the net asset values of the Underlying Funds. 2. Applicants agree that any order granting the requested relief will be subject to the terms and conditions stated in the application. Such terms and conditions are designed to, among other things, help prevent any potential (i) undue influence over an Underlying Fund that is not in the same ‘‘group of investment companies’’ as the Fund of Funds through control or voting power, or in connection with certain services, transactions, and underwritings, (ii) excessive layering of fees, and (iii) overly complex fund structures, which are the concerns underlying the limits in sections 12(d)(1)(A), (B), and (C) of the Act. 3. Section 12(d)(1)(J) of the Act provides that the Commission may exempt any person, security, or transaction, or any class or classes of persons, securities, or transactions, from any provision of section 12(d)(1) if the exemption is consistent with the public interest and the protection of investors. Section 17(b) of the Act authorizes the Commission to grant an order permitting a transaction otherwise prohibited by section 17(a) if it finds that (a) the terms of the proposed transaction are fair and reasonable and do not involve overreaching on the part of any person concerned; (b) the proposed transaction is consistent with the policies of each registered investment company involved; and (c) the proposed transaction is consistent with the general purposes of the Act. Section 6(c) of the Act permits the Commission to exempt any persons or transactions from any provision of the Act if such exemption is necessary or appropriate in the public interest and consistent with the protection of investors and the purposes fairly intended by the policy and provisions of the Act. For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, pursuant to delegated authority. Robert W. Errett, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016–02834 Filed 2–11–16; 8:45 am] asabaliauskas on DSK9F6TC42PROD with NOTICES2 BILLING CODE 8011–01–P investment companies’’ as the Trusts (each, a ‘‘Fund’’). For purposes of the requested order, ‘‘successor’’ is limited to an entity that results from a reorganization into another jurisdiction or a change in the type of business organization. For purposes of the request for relief, the term ‘‘group of investment companies’’ means any two or more registered investment companies, including closedend investment companies, that hold themselves out to investors as related companies for purposes of investment and investor services. 2 Certain of the Underlying Funds have obtained exemptions from the Commission necessary to permit their shares to be listed and traded on a national securities exchange at negotiated prices and, accordingly, to operate as an exchange-traded fund (‘‘ETF’’). 3 Applicants do not request relief for the Funds of Funds to invest in reliance on the order in closed-end investment companies that are not listed and traded on a national securities exchange. 4 A Fund of Funds generally would purchase and sell shares of an Underlying Fund that operates as an ETF through secondary market transactions rather than through principal transactions with the Underlying Fund. Applicants nevertheless request relief from section 17(a) to permit a Fund of Funds to purchase or redeem shares from the ETF. A Fund of Funds will purchase and sell shares of an Underlying Fund that is a closed-end fund through secondary market transactions at market prices rather than through principal transactions with the closed-end fund. Accordingly, applicants are not requesting section 17(a) relief with respect to transactions in shares of closed-end funds. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:38 Feb 11, 2016 Jkt 238001 publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons. I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change Nasdaq proposes to add NextShares to the list of securities eligible to be Qualified Securities under the Lead Market Maker Program of Rule 7014(f) and to make a technical change to the rule. Nasdaq will implement the proposed rule change on February 26, 2016. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Nasdaq’s Web site at https://nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com, at the principal office of Nasdaq, and at the Commission’s Public Reference Room. II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change In its filing with the Commission, Nasdaq included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. Nasdaq has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements. A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change 1. Purpose SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–77080; File No. SR– NASDAQ–2016–019] Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Include NextShares in the Lead Market Maker Program February 8, 2016. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2 notice is hereby given that on February 2, 2016, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (‘‘Nasdaq’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘SEC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by Nasdaq. The Commission is 1 15 2 17 PO 00000 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). CFR 240.19b–4. Frm 00124 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Background Nasdaq is proposing to include NextShares, listed under Rule 5745, to the list of securities eligible to be treated as a Qualified Security under the Lead Market Maker (‘‘LMM’’) Program of Rule 7014(f). The LMM Program is designed to provide incentive to market makers to make markets in certain relatively illiquid exchange-traded products (‘‘ETPs’’). To achieve this goal, Nasdaq provides credits to a designated LMM for execution of a Qualified Security. Under Rule 7014(f)(1), a security may be designated as a ‘‘Qualified Security’’ if: (A) It is an exchange-traded fund or index-linked security listed on Nasdaq pursuant to Nasdaq Rules 5705, 5710, 5720, or 5735; and (B) it has at least one LMM. An LMM is a registered Nasdaq market maker for a Qualified Security that has committed to maintain minimum performance standards, which are based on certain percentages E:\FR\FM\12FEN1.SGM 12FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 29 (Friday, February 12, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7619-7620]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-02834]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Investment Company Act Release No. 31988; File No. 812-14558]


State Farm Associates' Funds Trust, et al.; Notice of Application

February 8, 2016.
AGENCY: Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'').

ACTION: Notice of an application for an order under section 12(d)(1)(J) 
of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the ``Act'') for an exemption 
from sections 12(d)(1)(A), (B), and (C) of the Act and under sections 
6(c) and 17(b) of the Act for an exemption from sections 17(a)(1) and 
(2) of the Act. The requested order would permit certain registered 
open-end investment companies to acquire shares of certain registered 
open-end investment companies, registered closed-end investment 
companies, and registered unit investment trusts (collectively, 
``Underlying Funds'') that are within and outside the same group of 
investment companies as the acquiring investment companies, in excess 
of the limits in section 12(d)(1) of the Act.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

    Applicants: State Farm Associates' Funds Trust, State Farm Mutual 
Fund Trust and State Farm Variable Product Trust, each a Delaware 
statutory trust and registered under the Act as an open-end management 
investment company with multiple series (each, a ``Trust''); State Farm 
Investment Management Corp. (``SFIMC''), a Delaware Corporation 
registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act 
of 1940; and State Farm VP Management Corp., a Delaware corporation, 
registered as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Exchange Act'').

DATES: Filing Dates: The application was filed on October 2, 2015, and 
amended on January 5, 2016.
    Hearing or Notification of Hearing: An order granting the requested 
relief will be issued unless the Commission orders a hearing. 
Interested persons may request a hearing by writing to the Commission's 
Secretary and serving applicants with a copy of the request, personally 
or by mail. Hearing requests should be received by the Commission by 
5:30 p.m. on March 4, 2016 and should be accompanied by proof of 
service on the applicants, in the form of an affidavit, or, for 
lawyers, a certificate of service. Pursuant to Rule 0-5 under the Act, 
hearing requests should state the nature of the writer's interest, any 
facts bearing upon the desirability of a hearing on the matter, 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: Brent J. Fields, Secretary, U.S. Securities and Exchange 
Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090. Applicants: c/
o Mr. David Moore, State Farm Investment Management Corp., One State 
Farm Plaza, Bloomington, IL 61710-0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean E. Minarick, Senior Counsel, at 
(202) 551-6811, or Daniele Marchesani, Branch Chief, at (202) 551-6821 
(Division of Investment Management, Chief Counsel's Office).

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.

Summary of the Application

    1. Applicants request an order to permit (a) a Fund \1\ (each a 
``Fund of

[[Page 7620]]

Funds'') to acquire shares of Underlying Funds \2\ in excess of the 
limits in sections 12(d)(1)(A) and (C) of the Act and (b) the 
Underlying Funds that are registered open-end investment companies or 
series thereof, their principal underwriters and any broker or dealer 
registered under the Exchange Act to sell shares of the Underlying Fund 
to the Fund of Funds in excess of the limits in section 12(d)(1)(B) of 
the Act.\3\ Applicants also request an order of exemption under 
sections 6(c) and 17(b) of the Act from the prohibition on certain 
affiliated transactions in section 17(a) of the Act to the extent 
necessary to permit the Underlying Funds to sell their shares to, and 
redeem their shares from, the Funds of Funds.\4\ Applicants state that 
such transactions will be consistent with the policies of each Fund of 
Funds and each Underlying Fund and with the general purposes of the Act 
and will be based on the net asset values of the Underlying Funds.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Applicants request that the order apply to each existing and 
future series of the Trusts and to each existing and future 
registered open-end investment company or series thereof that is 
advised by SFIMC or its successor or by any entity controlling, 
controlled by or under common control with SFIMC or its successor 
and is part of the same ``group of investment companies'' as the 
Trusts (each, a ``Fund''). For purposes of the requested order, 
``successor'' is limited to an entity that results from a 
reorganization into another jurisdiction or a change in the type of 
business organization. For purposes of the request for relief, the 
term ``group of investment companies'' means any two or more 
registered investment companies, including closed-end investment 
companies, that hold themselves out to investors as related 
companies for purposes of investment and investor services.
    \2\ Certain of the Underlying Funds have obtained exemptions 
from the Commission necessary to permit their shares to be listed 
and traded on a national securities exchange at negotiated prices 
and, accordingly, to operate as an exchange-traded fund (``ETF'').
    \3\ Applicants do not request relief for the Funds of Funds to 
invest in reliance on the order in closed-end investment companies 
that are not listed and traded on a national securities exchange.
    \4\ A Fund of Funds generally would purchase and sell shares of 
an Underlying Fund that operates as an ETF through secondary market 
transactions rather than through principal transactions with the 
Underlying Fund. Applicants nevertheless request relief from section 
17(a) to permit a Fund of Funds to purchase or redeem shares from 
the ETF. A Fund of Funds will purchase and sell shares of an 
Underlying Fund that is a closed-end fund through secondary market 
transactions at market prices rather than through principal 
transactions with the closed-end fund. Accordingly, applicants are 
not requesting section 17(a) relief with respect to transactions in 
shares of closed-end funds.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Applicants agree that any order granting the requested relief 
will be subject to the terms and conditions stated in the application. 
Such terms and conditions are designed to, among other things, help 
prevent any potential (i) undue influence over an Underlying Fund that 
is not in the same ``group of investment companies'' as the Fund of 
Funds through control or voting power, or in connection with certain 
services, transactions, and underwritings, (ii) excessive layering of 
fees, and (iii) overly complex fund structures, which are the concerns 
underlying the limits in sections 12(d)(1)(A), (B), and (C) of the Act.
    3. Section 12(d)(1)(J) of the Act provides that the Commission may 
exempt any person, security, or transaction, or any class or classes of 
persons, securities, or transactions, from any provision of section 
12(d)(1) if the exemption is consistent with the public interest and 
the protection of investors. Section 17(b) of the Act authorizes the 
Commission to grant an order permitting a transaction otherwise 
prohibited by section 17(a) if it finds that (a) the terms of the 
proposed transaction are fair and reasonable and do not involve 
overreaching on the part of any person concerned; (b) the proposed 
transaction is consistent with the policies of each registered 
investment company involved; and (c) the proposed transaction is 
consistent with the general purposes of the Act. Section 6(c) of the 
Act permits the Commission to exempt any persons or transactions from 
any provision of the Act if such exemption is necessary or appropriate 
in the public interest and consistent with the protection of investors 
and the purposes fairly intended by the policy and provisions of the 
Act.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, 
pursuant to delegated authority.
Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-02834 Filed 2-11-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
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