Columbia ETF Trust I, et al.; Notice of Application, 28915-28917 [2016-10984]

Download as PDF asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 90 / Tuesday, May 10, 2016 / Notices Advisors under their respective advisory agreements with the Regulated Entities and the Affiliated Investors, be shared by the Regulated Entities and the Affiliated Investors in proportion to the relative amounts of the securities held or to be acquired or disposed of, as the case may be. 13. Any transaction fee (including break-up or commitment fees but excluding brokers’ fees contemplated by section 17(e) or 57(k) of the Act, as applicable) 13 received in connection with a Co-Investment Transaction will be distributed to the participating Regulated Entities and Affiliated Investors on a pro rata basis based on the amount they invested or committed, as the case may be, in such CoInvestment Transaction. If any transaction fee is to be held by an Advisor pending consummation of the transaction, the fee will be deposited into an account maintained by the Advisor at a bank or banks having the qualifications prescribed in section 26(a)(1) of the Act, and the account will earn a competitive rate of interest that will also be divided pro rata among the participating Regulated Entities and Affiliated Investors based on the amount they invest in the Co-Investment Transaction. None of the other Regulated Entities, Affiliated Investors, the Advisors nor any affiliated person of the Regulated Entities or the Affiliated Investors will receive additional compensation or remuneration of any kind as a result of or in connection with a Co-Investment Transaction (other than (a) in the case of the Regulated Entities and the Affiliated Investors, the pro rata transaction fees described above and fees or other compensation described in condition 2(c)(iii)(c) and (b) in the case of the Advisors, investment advisory fees paid in accordance with the Regulated Entities’ and the Affiliated Investors’ investment advisory agreements). 14. The Advisors to the Regulated Entities and Affiliated Investors will maintain written policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with the foregoing conditions. These policies and procedures will require, among other things, that each of the Advisors to each Regulated Entity will be notified of all Potential Co-Investment Transactions that fall within a Regulated Entity’s then-current Objectives and Strategies and will be given sufficient information to make its independent determination 13 Applicants are not requesting and the Commission is not providing any relief for transaction fees received in connection with any Co-Investment Transaction. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:33 May 09, 2016 Jkt 238001 and recommendations under conditions 1, 2(a), 7 and 8. 15. If the Holders own in the aggregate more than 25 percent of the shares of a Regulated Entity, then the Holders will vote such shares as directed by an independent third party when voting on (1) the election of directors or trustees; (2) the removal of one or more directors or trustees; or (3) any matters requiring approval by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities, as defined in section 2(a)(42) of the Act. For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, under delegated authority. Robert W. Errett, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016–10960 Filed 5–9–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Investment Company Act Release No. 32107; 812–14552] Columbia ETF Trust I, et al.; Notice of Application May 5, 2016. Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: Notice of an application for an order under section 6(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the ‘‘Act’’) for an exemption from sections 2(a)(32), 5(a)(1), 22(d), and 22(e) of the Act and rule 22c–1 under the Act, under sections 6(c) and 17(b) of the Act for an exemption from sections 17(a)(1) and 17(a)(2) of the Act, and under section 12(d)(1)(J) for an exemption from sections 12(d)(1)(A) and 12(d)(1)(B) of the Act. The requested order would permit (a) index-based series of certain open-end management investment companies (‘‘Funds’’) to issue shares redeemable in large aggregations only (‘‘Creation Units’’); (b) secondary market transactions in Fund shares to occur at negotiated market prices rather than at net asset value (‘‘NAV’’); (c) certain Funds to pay redemption proceeds, under certain circumstances, more than seven days after the tender of shares for redemption; (d) certain affiliated persons of a Fund to deposit securities into, and receive securities from, the Fund in connection with the purchase and redemption of Creation Units; (e) certain registered management investment companies and unit investment trusts outside of the same group of investment companies as the Funds (‘‘Funds of Funds’’) to acquire SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00098 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 28915 shares of the Funds; and (f) certain Funds (‘‘Feeder Funds’’) to create and redeem Creation Units in-kind in a master-feeder structure. APPLICANTS: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the ‘‘Initial Adviser’’), a Minnesota limited liability company registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Columbia ETF Trust I (the ‘‘Trust’’), a Massachusetts business trust registered under the Act as an open-end management investment company with multiple series, and Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the ‘‘Distributor’’), a Delaware corporation and broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Exchange Act’’). DATES: FILING DATES: The application was filed on September 28, 2015, and amended on January 19, 2016, April 15, 2016, April 27, 2016, and May 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 May 27, 2016, and should be accompanied by proof of service on 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: Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090; Applicants: Columbia ETF Trust I and Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., 225 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110; Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, 100 Park Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, New York 10017. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jill Ehrlich, Senior Counsel at (202) 551– 6819, or David J. Marcinkus, 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 E:\FR\FM\10MYN1.SGM 10MYN1 28916 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 90 / Tuesday, May 10, 2016 / Notices Company name box, at https:// www.sec.gov/search/search.htm or by calling (202) 551–8090. asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Summary of the Application 1. Applicants request an order that would allow Funds to operate as index exchange traded funds (‘‘ETFs’’).1 Fund shares will be purchased and redeemed at their NAV in Creation Units only. All orders to purchase Creation Units and all redemption requests will be placed by or through an ‘‘Authorized Participant’’, which will have signed a participant agreement with the Distributor. Shares will be listed and traded individually on a national securities exchange, where share prices will be based on the current bid/offer market. Certain Funds may operate as Feeder Funds in a master-feeder structure. Any order granting the requested relief would be subject to the terms and conditions stated in the application. 2. Each Fund will hold investment positions selected to correspond generally to the performance of an Underlying Index. In the case of SelfIndexing Funds, an affiliated person, as defined in section 2(a)(3) of the Act (‘‘Affiliated Person’’), or an affiliated person of an Affiliated Person (‘‘SecondTier Affiliate’’), of the Trust or a Fund, of the Adviser, of any sub-adviser to or promoter of a Fund, or of the Distributor will compile, create, sponsor or maintain the Underlying Index.2 3. Shares will be purchased and redeemed in Creation Units and generally on an in-kind basis. Except where the purchase or redemption will include cash under the limited circumstances specified in the application, purchasers will be required to purchase Creation Units by depositing specified instruments (‘‘Deposit Instruments’’), and shareholders redeeming their shares will receive specified instruments (‘‘Redemption Instruments’’). The 1 Applicants request that the order apply to the initial funds and any additional series of the Trust, and any other open-end management investment company or series thereof, that may be created in the future (each, included in the term ‘‘Fund’’), each of which will operate as an ETF and will track a specified index comprised of domestic or foreign equity and/or fixed income securities (each, an ‘‘Underlying Index’’). Any Fund will (a) be advised by the Initial Adviser or an entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Initial Adviser (each, an ‘‘Adviser’’) and (b) comply with the terms and conditions of the application. 2 Each Self-Indexing Fund will post on its Web site the identities and quantities of the investment positions that will form the basis for the Fund’s calculation of its NAV at the end of the day. Applicants believe that requiring Self-Indexing Funds to maintain full portfolio transparency will help address, together with other protections, conflicts of interest with respect to such Funds. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:33 May 09, 2016 Jkt 238001 Deposit Instruments and the Redemption Instruments will each correspond pro rata to the positions in the Fund’s portfolio (including cash positions) except as specified in the application. 4. Because shares will not be individually redeemable, applicants request an exemption from section 5(a)(1) and section 2(a)(32) of the Act that would permit the Funds to register as open-end management investment companies and issue shares that are redeemable in Creation Units only. 5. Applicants also request an exemption from section 22(d) of the Act and rule 22c-1 under the Act as secondary market trading in shares will take place at negotiated prices, not at a current offering price described in a Fund’s prospectus, and not at a price based on NAV. Applicants state that (a) secondary market trading in shares does not involve a Fund as a party and will not result in dilution of an investment in shares, and (b) to the extent different prices exist during a given trading day, or from day to day, such variances occur as a result of third-party market forces, such as supply and demand. Therefore, applicants assert that secondary market transactions in shares will not lead to discrimination or preferential treatment among purchasers. Finally, applicants represent that share market prices will be disciplined by arbitrage opportunities, which should prevent shares from trading at a material discount or premium from NAV. 6. With respect to Funds that effect creations and redemptions of Creation Units in kind and that are based on certain Underlying Indexes that include foreign securities, applicants request relief from the requirement imposed by section 22(e) in order to allow such Funds to pay redemption proceeds within fourteen calendar days following the tender of Creation Units for redemption. Applicants assert that the requested relief would not be inconsistent with the spirit and intent of section 22(e) to prevent unreasonable, undisclosed or unforeseen delays in the actual payment of redemption proceeds. 7. Applicants request an exemption to permit Funds of Funds to acquire Fund shares beyond the limits of section 12(d)(1)(A) of the Act; and the Funds, and any principal underwriter for the Funds, and/or any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act, to sell shares to Funds of Funds beyond the limits of section 12(d)(1)(B) of the Act. The application’s terms and conditions are designed to, among other things, help prevent any potential (i) undue influence over a Fund through control or voting power, or in PO 00000 Frm 00099 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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) and (B) of the Act. 8. Applicants request an exemption from sections 17(a)(1) and 17(a)(2) of the Act to permit persons that are Affiliated Persons, or Second Tier Affiliates, of the Funds, solely by virtue of certain ownership interests, to effectuate purchases and redemptions in-kind. The deposit procedures for in-kind purchases of Creation Units and the redemption procedures for in-kind redemptions of Creation Units will be the same for all purchases and redemptions and Deposit Instrument and Redemption Instruments will be valued in the same manner as those investment positions currently held by the Funds. Applicants also seek relief from the prohibitions on affiliated transactions in section 17(a) to permit a Fund to sell its shares to and redeem its shares from a Fund of Funds, and to engage in the accompanying in-kind transactions with the Fund of Funds.3 The purchase of Creation Units by a Fund of Funds directly from a Fund will be accomplished in accordance with the policies of the Fund of Funds and will be based on the NAVs of the Funds. 9. Applicants also request relief to permit a Feeder Fund to acquire shares of another registered investment company managed by the Adviser having substantially the same investment objectives as the Feeder Fund (‘‘Master Fund’’) beyond the limitations in section 12(d)(1)(A) and permit the Master Fund, and any principal underwriter for the Master Fund, to sell shares of the Master Fund to the Feeder Fund beyond the limitations in section 12(d)(1)(B). 10. 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. Section 12(d)(1)(J) of the Act provides that the Commission may exempt any person, security, or 3 The requested relief would apply to direct sales of shares in Creation Units by a Fund to a Fund of Funds and redemptions of those shares. Applicants, moreover, are not seeking relief from section 17(a) for, and the requested relief will not apply to, transactions where a Fund could be deemed an Affiliated Person, or a Second-Tier Affiliate, of a Fund of Funds because an Adviser or an entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with an Adviser provides investment advisory services to that Fund of Funds. E:\FR\FM\10MYN1.SGM 10MYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 90 / Tuesday, May 10, 2016 / Notices 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. For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, under delegated authority. Robert W. Errett, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016–10984 Filed 5–9–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Investment Company Act Release No. 32105; 812–14566] Franklin Templeton ETF Trust, et al.; Notice of Application May 5, 2016. Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’). ACTION: Notice of an application for an order under section 6(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the ‘‘Act’’) for an exemption from sections 2(a)(32), 5(a)(1), 22(d), and 22(e) of the Act and rule 22c–1 under the Act, under sections 6(c) and 17(b) of the Act for an exemption from sections 17(a)(1) and 17(a)(2) of the Act, and under section 12(d)(1)(J) for an exemption from sections 12(d)(1)(A) and 12(d)(1)(B) of the Act. The requested order would permit (a) index-based series of certain open-end management investment companies (‘‘Funds’’) to issue shares redeemable in large aggregations only (‘‘Creation Units’’); (b) secondary market transactions in Fund shares to occur at negotiated market prices rather than at net asset value (‘‘NAV’’); (c) certain Funds to pay redemption proceeds, under certain circumstances, more than seven days after the tender of shares for redemption; (d) certain affiliated persons of a Fund to deposit securities into, and receive securities from, the Fund in connection with the purchase and redemption of Creation Units; (e) certain registered management investment companies and unit asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES AGENCY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:33 May 09, 2016 Jkt 238001 investment trusts outside of the same group of investment companies as the Funds (‘‘Funds of Funds’’) to acquire shares of the Funds; and (f) certain Funds (‘‘Feeder Funds’’) to create and redeem Creation Units in-kind in a master-feeder structure. 28917 1. Applicants request an order that would allow Funds to operate as index exchange traded funds (‘‘ETFs’’).1 Fund shares will be purchased and redeemed at their NAV in Creation Units only. All orders to purchase Creation Units and all redemption requests will be placed by or through an ‘‘Authorized Applicants: Franklin Templeton ETF Participant’’, which will have signed a Trust (the ‘‘Trust’’), a Delaware statutory participant agreement with the trust that will register under the Act as Distributor. Shares will be listed and an open-end management investment traded individually on a national company with multiple series, Franklin securities exchange, where share prices Advisers, Inc. (the ‘‘Initial Adviser), a will be based on the current bid/offer California Corporation that is registered market. Certain Funds may operate as as an investment adviser under the Feeder Funds in a master-feeder Investment Advisers Act of 1940, and structure. Any order granting the Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc., a requested relief would be subject to the New York Corporation (together with terms and conditions stated in the any future distributor, the application. ‘‘Distributor’’). 2. Each Fund will hold investment DATES: Filing Dates: The application was positions selected to correspond filed on October 16, 2015, and amended generally to the performance of an Underlying Index. In the case of Selfon April 11, 2016. Hearing or Notification of Hearing: An Indexing Funds, an affiliated person, as defined in section 2(a)(3) of the Act order granting the requested relief will be issued unless the Commission orders (‘‘Affiliated Person’’), or an affiliated person of an Affiliated Person (‘‘Seconda hearing. Interested persons may Tier Affiliate’’), of the Trust or a Fund, request a hearing by writing to the of the Adviser, of any sub-adviser to or Commission’s Secretary and serving promoter of a Fund, or of the Distributor applicants with a copy of the request, will compile, create, sponsor or personally or by mail. Hearing requests maintain the Underlying Index.2 should be received by the Commission 3. Shares will be purchased and by 5:30 p.m. on May 27, 2016, and redeemed in Creation Units and should be accompanied by proof of generally on an in-kind basis. Except service on applicants, in the form of an where the purchase or redemption will affidavit, or for lawyers, a certificate of include cash under the limited service. Pursuant to rule 0–5 under the circumstances specified in the Act, hearing requests should state the application, purchasers will be required nature of the writer’s interest, any facts to purchase Creation Units by bearing upon the desirability of a hearing on the matter, the reason for the depositing specified instruments (‘‘Deposit Instruments’’), and request, and the issues contested. shareholders redeeming their shares Persons who wish to be notified of a will receive specified instruments hearing may request notification by (‘‘Redemption Instruments’’). The writing to the Commission’s Secretary. Deposit Instruments and the ADDRESSES: Secretary, Securities and Redemption Instruments will each Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., correspond pro rata to the positions in Washington, DC 20549–1090; the Fund’s portfolio (including cash Applicants: Franklin Templeton Investments, One Franklin Parkway, 1 Applicants request that the order apply to the San Mateo, California 94403–1906. initial series of the Trust and any additional series of the Trust, and any other existing or future openFOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: end management investment company or series Deepak T. Pai, Senior Counsel, at (202) thereof (each, included in the term ‘‘Fund’’), each 551–6876 or Mary Kay Frech, at (202) of which will operate as an ETF and will track a 551–6821 (Division of Investment specified index comprised of domestic or foreign equity and/or fixed income securities (each, an Management, Chief Counsel’s Office). ‘‘Underlying Index’’). Any Fund will (a) be advised SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The by the Initial Adviser or an entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the following is a summary of the Initial Adviser (each, an ‘‘Adviser’’) and (b) comply application. The complete application with the terms and conditions of the application. may be obtained via the Commission’s 2 Each Self-Indexing Fund will post on its Web Web site by searching for the file site the identities and quantities of the investment number, or for an applicant using the positions that will form the basis for the Fund’s calculation of its NAV at the end of the day. Company name box, at https:// Applicants believe that requiring Self-Indexing www.sec.gov/search/search.htm or by Funds to maintain full portfolio transparency will calling (202) 551–8090. help address, together with other protections, conflicts of interest with respect to such Funds. Summary of the Application PO 00000 Frm 00100 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\10MYN1.SGM 10MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 90 (Tuesday, May 10, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28915-28917]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10984]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Investment Company Act Release No. 32107; 812-14552]


Columbia ETF Trust I, et al.; Notice of Application

May 5, 2016.
AGENCY: Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'').

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice of an application for an order under section 6(c) of 
the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the ``Act'') for an exemption from 
sections 2(a)(32), 5(a)(1), 22(d), and 22(e) of the Act and rule 22c-1 
under the Act, under sections 6(c) and 17(b) of the Act for an 
exemption from sections 17(a)(1) and 17(a)(2) of the Act, and under 
section 12(d)(1)(J) for an exemption from sections 12(d)(1)(A) and 
12(d)(1)(B) of the Act. The requested order would permit (a) index-
based series of certain open-end management investment companies 
(``Funds'') to issue shares redeemable in large aggregations only 
(``Creation Units''); (b) secondary market transactions in Fund shares 
to occur at negotiated market prices rather than at net asset value 
(``NAV''); (c) certain Funds to pay redemption proceeds, under certain 
circumstances, more than seven days after the tender of shares for 
redemption; (d) certain affiliated persons of a Fund to deposit 
securities into, and receive securities from, the Fund in connection 
with the purchase and redemption of Creation Units; (e) certain 
registered management investment companies and unit investment trusts 
outside of the same group of investment companies as the Funds (``Funds 
of Funds'') to acquire shares of the Funds; and (f) certain Funds 
(``Feeder Funds'') to create and redeem Creation Units in-kind in a 
master-feeder structure.

Applicants:  Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the 
``Initial Adviser''), a Minnesota limited liability company registered 
as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, 
Columbia ETF Trust I (the ``Trust''), a Massachusetts business trust 
registered under the Act as an open-end management investment company 
with multiple series, and Columbia Management Investment Distributors, 
Inc. (the ``Distributor''), a Delaware corporation and broker-dealer 
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Exchange 
Act'').

DATES: Filing Dates:  The application was filed on September 28, 2015, 
and amended on January 19, 2016, April 15, 2016, April 27, 2016, and 
May 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 May 27, 2016, and should be accompanied by proof of 
service on 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: Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street 
NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090; Applicants: Columbia ETF Trust I and 
Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., 225 Franklin Street, 
Boston, Massachusetts 02110; Columbia Management Investment Advisers, 
LLC, 100 Park Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, New York 10017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jill Ehrlich, Senior Counsel at (202) 
551-6819, or David J. Marcinkus, 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

[[Page 28916]]

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 that would allow Funds to operate as 
index exchange traded funds (``ETFs'').\1\ Fund shares will be 
purchased and redeemed at their NAV in Creation Units only. All orders 
to purchase Creation Units and all redemption requests will be placed 
by or through an ``Authorized Participant'', which will have signed a 
participant agreement with the Distributor. Shares will be listed and 
traded individually on a national securities exchange, where share 
prices will be based on the current bid/offer market. Certain Funds may 
operate as Feeder Funds in a master-feeder structure. Any order 
granting the requested relief would be subject to the terms and 
conditions stated in the application.
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    \1\ Applicants request that the order apply to the initial funds 
and any additional series of the Trust, and any other open-end 
management investment company or series thereof, that may be created 
in the future (each, included in the term ``Fund''), each of which 
will operate as an ETF and will track a specified index comprised of 
domestic or foreign equity and/or fixed income securities (each, an 
``Underlying Index''). Any Fund will (a) be advised by the Initial 
Adviser or an entity controlling, controlled by, or under common 
control with the Initial Adviser (each, an ``Adviser'') and (b) 
comply with the terms and conditions of the application.
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    2. Each Fund will hold investment positions selected to correspond 
generally to the performance of an Underlying Index. In the case of 
Self-Indexing Funds, an affiliated person, as defined in section 
2(a)(3) of the Act (``Affiliated Person''), or an affiliated person of 
an Affiliated Person (``Second-Tier Affiliate''), of the Trust or a 
Fund, of the Adviser, of any sub-adviser to or promoter of a Fund, or 
of the Distributor will compile, create, sponsor or maintain the 
Underlying Index.\2\
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    \2\ Each Self-Indexing Fund will post on its Web site the 
identities and quantities of the investment positions that will form 
the basis for the Fund's calculation of its NAV at the end of the 
day. Applicants believe that requiring Self-Indexing Funds to 
maintain full portfolio transparency will help address, together 
with other protections, conflicts of interest with respect to such 
Funds.
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    3. Shares will be purchased and redeemed in Creation Units and 
generally on an in-kind basis. Except where the purchase or redemption 
will include cash under the limited circumstances specified in the 
application, purchasers will be required to purchase Creation Units by 
depositing specified instruments (``Deposit Instruments''), and 
shareholders redeeming their shares will receive specified instruments 
(``Redemption Instruments''). The Deposit Instruments and the 
Redemption Instruments will each correspond pro rata to the positions 
in the Fund's portfolio (including cash positions) except as specified 
in the application.
    4. Because shares will not be individually redeemable, applicants 
request an exemption from section 5(a)(1) and section 2(a)(32) of the 
Act that would permit the Funds to register as open-end management 
investment companies and issue shares that are redeemable in Creation 
Units only.
    5. Applicants also request an exemption from section 22(d) of the 
Act and rule 22c-1 under the Act as secondary market trading in shares 
will take place at negotiated prices, not at a current offering price 
described in a Fund's prospectus, and not at a price based on NAV. 
Applicants state that (a) secondary market trading in shares does not 
involve a Fund as a party and will not result in dilution of an 
investment in shares, and (b) to the extent different prices exist 
during a given trading day, or from day to day, such variances occur as 
a result of third-party market forces, such as supply and demand. 
Therefore, applicants assert that secondary market transactions in 
shares will not lead to discrimination or preferential treatment among 
purchasers. Finally, applicants represent that share market prices will 
be disciplined by arbitrage opportunities, which should prevent shares 
from trading at a material discount or premium from NAV.
    6. With respect to Funds that effect creations and redemptions of 
Creation Units in kind and that are based on certain Underlying Indexes 
that include foreign securities, applicants request relief from the 
requirement imposed by section 22(e) in order to allow such Funds to 
pay redemption proceeds within fourteen calendar days following the 
tender of Creation Units for redemption. Applicants assert that the 
requested relief would not be inconsistent with the spirit and intent 
of section 22(e) to prevent unreasonable, undisclosed or unforeseen 
delays in the actual payment of redemption proceeds.
    7. Applicants request an exemption to permit Funds of Funds to 
acquire Fund shares beyond the limits of section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 
Act; and the Funds, and any principal underwriter for the Funds, and/or 
any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act, to sell shares 
to Funds of Funds beyond the limits of section 12(d)(1)(B) of the Act. 
The application's terms and conditions are designed to, among other 
things, help prevent any potential (i) undue influence over a Fund 
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) and (B) of the Act.
    8. Applicants request an exemption from sections 17(a)(1) and 
17(a)(2) of the Act to permit persons that are Affiliated Persons, or 
Second Tier Affiliates, of the Funds, solely by virtue of certain 
ownership interests, to effectuate purchases and redemptions in-kind. 
The deposit procedures for in-kind purchases of Creation Units and the 
redemption procedures for in-kind redemptions of Creation Units will be 
the same for all purchases and redemptions and Deposit Instrument and 
Redemption Instruments will be valued in the same manner as those 
investment positions currently held by the Funds. Applicants also seek 
relief from the prohibitions on affiliated transactions in section 
17(a) to permit a Fund to sell its shares to and redeem its shares from 
a Fund of Funds, and to engage in the accompanying in-kind transactions 
with the Fund of Funds.\3\ The purchase of Creation Units by a Fund of 
Funds directly from a Fund will be accomplished in accordance with the 
policies of the Fund of Funds and will be based on the NAVs of the 
Funds.
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    \3\ The requested relief would apply to direct sales of shares 
in Creation Units by a Fund to a Fund of Funds and redemptions of 
those shares. Applicants, moreover, are not seeking relief from 
section 17(a) for, and the requested relief will not apply to, 
transactions where a Fund could be deemed an Affiliated Person, or a 
Second-Tier Affiliate, of a Fund of Funds because an Adviser or an 
entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with an 
Adviser provides investment advisory services to that Fund of Funds.
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    9. Applicants also request relief to permit a Feeder Fund to 
acquire shares of another registered investment company managed by the 
Adviser having substantially the same investment objectives as the 
Feeder Fund (``Master Fund'') beyond the limitations in section 
12(d)(1)(A) and permit the Master Fund, and any principal underwriter 
for the Master Fund, to sell shares of the Master Fund to the Feeder 
Fund beyond the limitations in section 12(d)(1)(B).
    10. 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. Section 12(d)(1)(J) of the Act 
provides that the Commission may exempt any person, security, or

[[Page 28917]]

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.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, 
under delegated authority.
Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-10984 Filed 5-9-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
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