Weiss Strategic Interval Fund and Weiss Multi-Strategy Advisers LLC, 24377-24379 [2018-11296]
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 102 / Friday, May 25, 2018 / Notices
17g–1’s requirements is two hours, one
hour each for a compliance attorney and
the board of directors as a whole. The
time spent by a compliance attorney
includes time spent filing reports with
the Commission for fidelity losses (if
any) as well as paperwork associated
with any notices to directors, and
managing any updates to the bond and
the joint agreement (if one exists). The
time spent by the board of directors as
a whole includes any time spent
initially establishing the bond, as well
as time spent on annual updates and
approvals. The Commission staff
therefore estimates the total ongoing
paperwork burden hours per year for all
funds required by rule 17g–1 to be 6,346
hours (3,173 funds × 2 hours = 6,346
hours).
These estimates of average burden
hours are made solely for the purposes
of the Paperwork Reduction Act. These
estimates are not derived from a
comprehensive or even a representative
survey or study of Commission rules.
The collection of information required
by Rule 17g–1 is mandatory and will not
be kept confidential. An agency may not
conduct or sponsor, and a person is not
required to respond to, a collection of
information unless it displays a
currently valid control number.
The public may view the background
documentation for this information
collection at the following website,
www.reginfo.gov. Comments should be
directed to: (i) Desk Officer for the
Securities and Exchange Commission,
Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Office of Management and
Budget, Room 10102, New Executive
Office Building, Washington, DC 20503,
or by sending an email to: Shagufta_
Ahmed@omb.eop.gov; and (ii) Pamela
Dyson, Director/Chief Information
Officer, Securities and Exchange
Commission, c/o Remi Pavlik-Simon,
100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549
or send an email to: PRA_Mailbox@
sec.gov. Comments must be submitted to
OMB within 30 days of this notice.
Dated: May 18, 2018.
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018–11218 Filed 5–24–18; 8:45 am]
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24377
Weiss Strategic Interval Fund and
Weiss Multi-Strategy Advisers LLC
application. The complete application
may be obtained via the Commission’s
website 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.
May 21, 2018.
Applicants’ Representations
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Investment Company Act Release No.
33101; File No. 812–14832]
Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘Commission’’).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
Notice of application for an order
under sections 6(c) and 23(c)(3) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the
‘‘Act’’) for an exemption from
rule 23c–3 under the Act.
SUMMARY OF APPLICATION: Applicants
request an order under sections 6(c) and
23(c)(3) of the Act for an exemption
from certain provisions of rule 23c–3 to
permit certain registered closed-end
investment companies to make
repurchase offers on a monthly basis.
APPLICANTS: Weiss Strategic Interval
Fund (the ‘‘Fund’’) and Weiss MultiStrategy Advisers LLC (the ‘‘Adviser’’).
FILING DATES: The application was filed
on October 11, 2017 and amended on
March 19, 2018.
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 June 15, 2018, 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: Secretary, U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street
NE, Washington, DC 20549–1090;
Applicants: Jeffrey Dillabough, Weiss
Multi-Strategy Advisers LLC, 320 Park
Avenue, New York, NY 10022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Asen Parachkevov, Senior Counsel, or
Andrea Ottomanelli Magovern, Branch
Chief, at (202) 551–6821 (Division of
Investment Management, Chief
Counsel’s Office).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
following is a summary of the
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1. The Fund is a Delaware statutory
trust that is registered under the Act as
a diversified, closed-end management
investment company that will be
operated as an interval fund. The
Adviser is a Delaware limited liability
company and is registered as an
investment adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The
Adviser serves as investment adviser to
the Fund.
2. Applicants request that any relief
granted also apply to any registered
closed-end management investment
company that operates as an interval
fund pursuant to rule 23c–3 for which
the Adviser or any entity controlling,
controlled by, or under common control
with the Adviser, or any successor in
interest to any such entity,1 acts as
investment adviser (the ‘‘Future Funds,’’
and together with the Fund, the
‘‘Funds,’’ and each, individually, a
‘‘Fund’’).2 The Fund’s common shares
are not offered or traded in the
secondary market and are not listed on
any exchange or quoted on any
quotation medium.
3. Applicants request an order to
permit each Fund to offer to repurchase
a portion of its common shares at onemonth intervals, rather than the three,
six, or twelve-month intervals specified
by rule 23c–3.
4. Each Fund will disclose in its
prospectus and annual reports its
fundamental policy to make monthly
offers to repurchase a portion of its
common shares at net asset value, less
deduction of a repurchase fee, if any, as
permitted by rule 23c–3(b)(1). The
fundamental policy will be changeable
only by a majority vote of the holders
of such Fund’s outstanding voting
securities. Under the fundamental
policy, the repurchase offer amount will
be determined by the board of trustees
of the applicable Fund (‘‘Board’’) prior
to each repurchase offer. Each Fund will
comply with rule 23c–3(b)(8)’s
requirements with respect to its trustees
1 A successor in interest is limited to an entity
that results from a reorganization into another
jurisdiction or a change in the type of business
organization.
2 All entities currently intending to rely on the
requested relief have been named as applicants.
Any entity that relies on the requested order in the
future will do so only in accordance with the terms
and conditions of the application.
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who are not interested persons of such
Fund, within the meaning of section
2(a)(19) of the Act (‘‘Disinterested
Trustees’’) and their legal counsel. Each
Fund will make monthly offers to
repurchase not less than 5% of its
outstanding shares at the time of the
repurchase request deadline. The
repurchase offer amounts for the thencurrent monthly period, plus the
repurchase offer amounts for the two
monthly periods immediately preceding
the then-current monthly period, will
not exceed 25% of the outstanding
common shares of the applicable Fund.
5. Each Fund’s fundamental policies
will specify the means to determine the
repurchase request deadline and the
maximum number of days between each
repurchase request deadline and the
repurchase pricing date. Each Fund’s
repurchase pricing date normally will
be the same date as the repurchase
request deadline and pricing will be
determined after close of business on
that date.
6. Pursuant to rule 23c–3(b)(1), each
Fund will repurchase shares for cash on
or before the repurchase payment
deadline, which will be no later than
seven calendar days after the repurchase
pricing date. The Fund (and any Future
Fund) currently intends to make
payment by the fifth business day or
seventh calendar day (whichever period
is shorter) following the repurchase
pricing date. Each Fund will make
payment for shares repurchased in the
previous month’s repurchase offer at
least five business days before sending
notification of the next repurchase offer.
The Fund intends to, and a Future Fund
may, deduct a repurchase fee in an
amount not to exceed 2% from the
repurchase proceeds payable to
tendering shareholders, in compliance
with rule 23c–3(b)(1).
7. Each Fund will provide common
shareholders with notification of each
repurchase offer no less than seven days
and no more than fourteen days prior to
the repurchase request deadline. The
notification will include all information
required by rule 23c–3(b)(4)(i). Each
Fund will file the notification and the
Form N–23c–3 with the Commission
within three business days after sending
the notification to its respective
common shareholders.
8. The Funds will not suspend or
postpone a repurchase offer except
pursuant to the vote of a majority of its
Trustees, including a majority of its
Disinterested Trustees, and only under
the limited circumstances specified in
rule 23c–3(b)(3)(i). The Funds will not
condition a repurchase offer upon
tender of any minimum amount of
shares. In addition, each Fund will
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comply with the pro ration and other
allocation requirements of rule 23c–
3(b)(5) if common shareholders tender
more than the repurchase offer amount.
Further, each Fund will permit tenders
to be withdrawn or modified at any time
until the repurchase request deadline,
but will not permit tenders to be
withdrawn or modified thereafter.
9. From the time a Fund sends its
notification to shareholders of the
repurchase offer until the repurchase
pricing date, a percentage of such
Fund’s assets equal to at least 100% of
the repurchase offer amount will consist
of: (a) Assets that can be sold or
disposed of in the ordinary course of
business at approximately the price at
which such Fund has valued such
investment within a period equal to the
period between the repurchase request
deadline and the repurchase payment
deadline; or (b) Assets that mature by
the next repurchase payment deadline.
In the event the assets of a Fund fail to
comply with this requirement, the
Board will cause such Fund to take such
action as it deems appropriate to ensure
compliance.
10. In compliance with the asset
coverage requirements of section 18 of
the Act, any senior security issued by,
or other indebtedness of, a Fund will
either mature by the next repurchase
pricing date or provide for such Fund’s
ability to call, repay or redeem such
senior security or other indebtedness by
the next repurchase pricing date, either
in whole or in part, without penalty or
premium, as necessary to permit that
Fund to complete the repurchase offer
in such amounts determined by its
Board.
11. The Board of each Fund will
adopt written procedures to ensure that
such Fund’s portfolio assets are
sufficiently liquid so that it can comply
with its fundamental policy on
repurchases and the liquidity
requirements of rule 23c–3(b)(10)(i). The
Board of each Fund will review the
overall composition of the portfolio and
make and approve such changes to the
procedures as it deems necessary.
Applicants’ Legal Analysis
1. Section 6(c) 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 the
Act or rule thereunder, if and to the
extent that 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.
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2. Section 23(c) of the Act provides in
relevant part that no registered closedend investment company shall purchase
any securities of any class of which it
is the issuer except: (a) On a securities
exchange or other open market; (b)
pursuant to tenders, after reasonable
opportunity to submit tenders given to
all holders of securities of the class to
be purchased; or (c) under such other
circumstances as the Commission may
permit by rules and regulations or
orders for the protection of investors.
3. Rule 23c–3 under the Act permits
a registered closed-end investment
company to make repurchase offers for
its common stock at net asset value at
periodic intervals pursuant to a
fundamental policy of the investment
company. ‘‘Periodic interval’’ is defined
in rule 23c–3(a)(1) as an interval of
three, six, or twelve months. Rule 23c–
3(b)(4) requires that notification of each
repurchase offer be sent to shareholders
no less than 21 calendar days and no
more than 42 calendar days before the
repurchase request deadline.
4. Applicants request an order
pursuant to sections 6(c) and 23(c) of
the Act exempting them from rule 23c–
3(a)(1) to the extent necessary to permit
the Funds to make monthly repurchase
offers. Applicants also request an
exemption from the notice provisions of
rule 23c–3(b)(4) to the extent necessary
to permit each Fund to send notification
of an upcoming repurchase offer to
shareholders at least seven days but no
more than fourteen calendar days in
advance of the repurchase request
deadline.
5. Applicants contend that monthly
repurchase offers are in the public
interest and in the common
shareholders’ interests and consistent
with the policies underlying rule 23c–
3. Applicants assert that monthly
repurchase offers will provide investors
with more liquidity than quarterly
repurchase offers. Applicants assert that
shareholders will be better able to
manage their investments and plan
transactions, because if they decide to
forego a repurchase offer, they will only
need to wait one month for the next
offer. Applicants also contend that the
portfolio of each Fund will be managed
to provide ample liquidity for monthly
repurchase offers.
6. Applicants propose to send
notification to shareholders at least
seven days, but no more than fourteen
calendar days, in advance of a
repurchase request deadline. Applicants
assert that, because the Fund (and any
Future Fund) currently intends to make
payment on the fifth business day or
seventh calendar day (whichever period
is shorter) following the repurchase
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 102 / Friday, May 25, 2018 / Notices
pricing date, the entire procedure will
be completed before the next
notification is sent out to shareholders,
thus avoiding any overlap. Applicants
believe that these procedures will
eliminate any possibility of investor
confusion. Applicants also state that
monthly repurchase offers will be a
fundamental feature of the Funds, and
their prospectuses will provide a clear
explanation of the repurchase program.
7. Applicants submit that for the
reasons given above the requested relief
is appropriate in the public interest and
is consistent with the protection of
investors and the purposes fairly
intended by the policy and provisions of
the Act.
Applicants’ Conditions
Applicants agree that any order
granting the requested relief shall be
subject to the following conditions:
1. The Fund (and any Future Fund
relying on this relief) will make a
repurchase offer pursuant to rule 23c–
3(b) for a repurchase offer amount of not
less than 5% in any one-month period.
In addition, the repurchase offer amount
for the then-current monthly period,
plus the repurchase offer amounts for
the two monthly periods immediately
preceding the then-current monthly
period, will not exceed 25% of the
Fund’s (or Future Fund’s, as applicable)
outstanding common shares. The Fund
(and any Future Fund relying on this
relief) may repurchase additional
tendered shares pursuant to rule 23c–
3(b)(5) only to the extent the percentage
of additional shares so repurchased does
not exceed 2% in any three-month
period.
2. Payment for repurchased shares
will occur at least five business days
before notification of the next
repurchase offer is sent to shareholders
of the Fund (or Future Fund relying on
this relief).
For the Commission, by the Division of
Investment Management, under delegated
authority.
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018–11296 Filed 5–24–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Proposed Collection; Comment
Request
Upon Written Request, Copies Available
From: Securities and Exchange
Commission, Office of FOIA Services,
100 F Street NE, Washington, DC
20549–2736
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Jkt 241001
Extension:
Rule 206(4)–3, SEC File No. 270–218, OMB
Control No. 3235–0242
Notice is hereby given that, pursuant
to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities
and Exchange Commission
(‘‘Commission’’) is soliciting comments
on the collection of information
summarized below. The Commission
plans to submit this existing collection
of information to the Office of
Management and Budget for extension
and approval.
Rule 206(4)–3 (17 CFR 275.206(4)–3)
under the Investment Advisers Act of
1940, which is entitled ‘‘Cash Payments
for Client Solicitations,’’ provides
restrictions on cash payments for client
solicitations. The rule requires that an
adviser pay all solicitors’ fees pursuant
to a written agreement. When an adviser
will provide only impersonal advisory
services to the prospective client, the
rule imposes no disclosure
requirements. When the solicitor is
affiliated with the adviser and the
adviser will provide individualized
advisory services to the prospective
client, the solicitor must, at the time of
the solicitation or referral, indicate to
the prospective client that he is
affiliated with the adviser. When the
solicitor is not affiliated with the
adviser and the adviser will provide
individualized advisory services to the
prospective client, the solicitor must, at
the time of the solicitation or referral,
provide the prospective client with a
copy of the adviser’s brochure and a
disclosure document containing
information specified in rule 206(4)–3.
Amendments to rule 206(4)–3, adopted
in 2010 in connection with rule 206(4)–
5, specify that solicitation activities
involving a government entity, as
defined in rule 206(4)–5, are subject to
the additional limitations of rule
206(4)–5. The information rule 206(4)–
3 requires is necessary to inform
advisory clients about the nature of the
solicitor’s financial interest in the
recommendation so the prospective
clients may consider the solicitor’s
potential bias, and to protect clients
against solicitation activities being
carried out in a manner inconsistent
with the adviser’s fiduciary duty to
clients. Rule 206(4)–3 is applicable to
all Commission-registered investment
advisers. The Commission believes that
approximately 4,395 of these advisers
have cash referral fee arrangements. The
rule requires approximately 7.04 burden
hours per year per adviser and results in
a total of approximately 30,941 total
burden hours (7.04 × 4,395) for all
advisers.
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24379
Please direct your written comments
to Pamela Dyson, Director/Chief
Information Officer, Securities and
Exchange Commission, C/O Remi
Pavlik-Simon, 100 F Street NE,
Washington, DC 20549; or send an email
to: PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov.
Dated: May 18, 2018.
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018–11219 Filed 5–24–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–83294; File No. SR–
NASDAQ–2018–008]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; The
Nasdaq Stock Market LLC; Order
Instituting Proceedings To Determine
Whether To Approve or Disapprove a
Proposed Rule Change To Modify the
Listing Requirements Contained in
Listing Rule 5635(d) To Change the
Definition of Market Value for
Purposes of the Shareholder Approval
Rule and Eliminate the Requirement
for Shareholder Approval of Issuances
at a Price Less Than Book Value but
Greater Than Market Value
May 21, 2018.
I. Introduction
On January 30, 2018, The Nasdaq
Stock Market LLC (‘‘Nasdaq’’ or the
‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission
(‘‘Commission’’), pursuant to Section
19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4
thereunder,2 a proposed rule change to
modify the listing requirements
contained in Nasdaq Rule 5635(d) to (1)
change the definition of market value
for purposes of shareholder approval
under Nasdaq Rule 5635(d); (2)
eliminate the requirement for
shareholder approval of issuances at a
price less than book value but greater
than market value; and (3) make other
conforming changes. The proposed rule
change was published for comment in
the Federal Register on February 20,
2018.3 On April 4, 2018, pursuant to
Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,4 the
Commission designated a longer period
within which to either approve the
proposed rule change, disapprove the
proposed rule change, or institute
1 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
CFR 240.19b–4.
3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82702
(February 13, 2018), 83 FR 7269 (February 20, 2018)
(‘‘Notice’’).
4 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
2 17
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 102 (Friday, May 25, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24377-24379]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11296]
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Investment Company Act Release No. 33101; File No. 812-14832]
Weiss Strategic Interval Fund and Weiss Multi-Strategy Advisers
LLC
May 21, 2018.
AGENCY: Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'').
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of application for an order under sections 6(c) and 23(c)(3)
of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the ``Act'') for an exemption
from rule 23c-3 under the Act.
Summary of Application: Applicants request an order under sections
6(c) and 23(c)(3) of the Act for an exemption from certain provisions
of rule 23c-3 to permit certain registered closed-end investment
companies to make repurchase offers on a monthly basis.
Applicants: Weiss Strategic Interval Fund (the ``Fund'') and Weiss
Multi-Strategy Advisers LLC (the ``Adviser'').
Filing Dates: The application was filed on October 11, 2017 and
amended on March 19, 2018.
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 June 15, 2018, 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: Secretary, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F
Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090; Applicants: Jeffrey Dillabough,
Weiss Multi-Strategy Advisers LLC, 320 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Asen Parachkevov, Senior Counsel, or
Andrea Ottomanelli Magovern, 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 website by searching for the file number, or for an
applicant using the Company name box, at https://www.sec.gov/search/search.htm or by calling (202) 551-8090.
Applicants' Representations
1. The Fund is a Delaware statutory trust that is registered under
the Act as a diversified, closed-end management investment company that
will be operated as an interval fund. The Adviser is a Delaware limited
liability company and is registered as an investment adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The Adviser serves as investment
adviser to the Fund.
2. Applicants request that any relief granted also apply to any
registered closed-end management investment company that operates as an
interval fund pursuant to rule 23c-3 for which the Adviser or any
entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the
Adviser, or any successor in interest to any such entity,\1\ acts as
investment adviser (the ``Future Funds,'' and together with the Fund,
the ``Funds,'' and each, individually, a ``Fund'').\2\ The Fund's
common shares are not offered or traded in the secondary market and are
not listed on any exchange or quoted on any quotation medium.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ A successor in interest is limited to an entity that results
from a reorganization into another jurisdiction or a change in the
type of business organization.
\2\ All entities currently intending to rely on the requested
relief have been named as applicants. Any entity that relies on the
requested order in the future will do so only in accordance with the
terms and conditions of the application.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Applicants request an order to permit each Fund to offer to
repurchase a portion of its common shares at one-month intervals,
rather than the three, six, or twelve-month intervals specified by rule
23c-3.
4. Each Fund will disclose in its prospectus and annual reports its
fundamental policy to make monthly offers to repurchase a portion of
its common shares at net asset value, less deduction of a repurchase
fee, if any, as permitted by rule 23c-3(b)(1). The fundamental policy
will be changeable only by a majority vote of the holders of such
Fund's outstanding voting securities. Under the fundamental policy, the
repurchase offer amount will be determined by the board of trustees of
the applicable Fund (``Board'') prior to each repurchase offer. Each
Fund will comply with rule 23c-3(b)(8)'s requirements with respect to
its trustees
[[Page 24378]]
who are not interested persons of such Fund, within the meaning of
section 2(a)(19) of the Act (``Disinterested Trustees'') and their
legal counsel. Each Fund will make monthly offers to repurchase not
less than 5% of its outstanding shares at the time of the repurchase
request deadline. The repurchase offer amounts for the then-current
monthly period, plus the repurchase offer amounts for the two monthly
periods immediately preceding the then-current monthly period, will not
exceed 25% of the outstanding common shares of the applicable Fund.
5. Each Fund's fundamental policies will specify the means to
determine the repurchase request deadline and the maximum number of
days between each repurchase request deadline and the repurchase
pricing date. Each Fund's repurchase pricing date normally will be the
same date as the repurchase request deadline and pricing will be
determined after close of business on that date.
6. Pursuant to rule 23c-3(b)(1), each Fund will repurchase shares
for cash on or before the repurchase payment deadline, which will be no
later than seven calendar days after the repurchase pricing date. The
Fund (and any Future Fund) currently intends to make payment by the
fifth business day or seventh calendar day (whichever period is
shorter) following the repurchase pricing date. Each Fund will make
payment for shares repurchased in the previous month's repurchase offer
at least five business days before sending notification of the next
repurchase offer. The Fund intends to, and a Future Fund may, deduct a
repurchase fee in an amount not to exceed 2% from the repurchase
proceeds payable to tendering shareholders, in compliance with rule
23c-3(b)(1).
7. Each Fund will provide common shareholders with notification of
each repurchase offer no less than seven days and no more than fourteen
days prior to the repurchase request deadline. The notification will
include all information required by rule 23c-3(b)(4)(i). Each Fund will
file the notification and the Form N-23c-3 with the Commission within
three business days after sending the notification to its respective
common shareholders.
8. The Funds will not suspend or postpone a repurchase offer except
pursuant to the vote of a majority of its Trustees, including a
majority of its Disinterested Trustees, and only under the limited
circumstances specified in rule 23c-3(b)(3)(i). The Funds will not
condition a repurchase offer upon tender of any minimum amount of
shares. In addition, each Fund will comply with the pro ration and
other allocation requirements of rule 23c-3(b)(5) if common
shareholders tender more than the repurchase offer amount. Further,
each Fund will permit tenders to be withdrawn or modified at any time
until the repurchase request deadline, but will not permit tenders to
be withdrawn or modified thereafter.
9. From the time a Fund sends its notification to shareholders of
the repurchase offer until the repurchase pricing date, a percentage of
such Fund's assets equal to at least 100% of the repurchase offer
amount will consist of: (a) Assets that can be sold or disposed of in
the ordinary course of business at approximately the price at which
such Fund has valued such investment within a period equal to the
period between the repurchase request deadline and the repurchase
payment deadline; or (b) Assets that mature by the next repurchase
payment deadline. In the event the assets of a Fund fail to comply with
this requirement, the Board will cause such Fund to take such action as
it deems appropriate to ensure compliance.
10. In compliance with the asset coverage requirements of section
18 of the Act, any senior security issued by, or other indebtedness of,
a Fund will either mature by the next repurchase pricing date or
provide for such Fund's ability to call, repay or redeem such senior
security or other indebtedness by the next repurchase pricing date,
either in whole or in part, without penalty or premium, as necessary to
permit that Fund to complete the repurchase offer in such amounts
determined by its Board.
11. The Board of each Fund will adopt written procedures to ensure
that such Fund's portfolio assets are sufficiently liquid so that it
can comply with its fundamental policy on repurchases and the liquidity
requirements of rule 23c-3(b)(10)(i). The Board of each Fund will
review the overall composition of the portfolio and make and approve
such changes to the procedures as it deems necessary.
Applicants' Legal Analysis
1. Section 6(c) 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 the Act or
rule thereunder, if and to the extent that 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.
2. Section 23(c) of the Act provides in relevant part that no
registered closed-end investment company shall purchase any securities
of any class of which it is the issuer except: (a) On a securities
exchange or other open market; (b) pursuant to tenders, after
reasonable opportunity to submit tenders given to all holders of
securities of the class to be purchased; or (c) under such other
circumstances as the Commission may permit by rules and regulations or
orders for the protection of investors.
3. Rule 23c-3 under the Act permits a registered closed-end
investment company to make repurchase offers for its common stock at
net asset value at periodic intervals pursuant to a fundamental policy
of the investment company. ``Periodic interval'' is defined in rule
23c-3(a)(1) as an interval of three, six, or twelve months. Rule 23c-
3(b)(4) requires that notification of each repurchase offer be sent to
shareholders no less than 21 calendar days and no more than 42 calendar
days before the repurchase request deadline.
4. Applicants request an order pursuant to sections 6(c) and 23(c)
of the Act exempting them from rule 23c-3(a)(1) to the extent necessary
to permit the Funds to make monthly repurchase offers. Applicants also
request an exemption from the notice provisions of rule 23c-3(b)(4) to
the extent necessary to permit each Fund to send notification of an
upcoming repurchase offer to shareholders at least seven days but no
more than fourteen calendar days in advance of the repurchase request
deadline.
5. Applicants contend that monthly repurchase offers are in the
public interest and in the common shareholders' interests and
consistent with the policies underlying rule 23c-3. Applicants assert
that monthly repurchase offers will provide investors with more
liquidity than quarterly repurchase offers. Applicants assert that
shareholders will be better able to manage their investments and plan
transactions, because if they decide to forego a repurchase offer, they
will only need to wait one month for the next offer. Applicants also
contend that the portfolio of each Fund will be managed to provide
ample liquidity for monthly repurchase offers.
6. Applicants propose to send notification to shareholders at least
seven days, but no more than fourteen calendar days, in advance of a
repurchase request deadline. Applicants assert that, because the Fund
(and any Future Fund) currently intends to make payment on the fifth
business day or seventh calendar day (whichever period is shorter)
following the repurchase
[[Page 24379]]
pricing date, the entire procedure will be completed before the next
notification is sent out to shareholders, thus avoiding any overlap.
Applicants believe that these procedures will eliminate any possibility
of investor confusion. Applicants also state that monthly repurchase
offers will be a fundamental feature of the Funds, and their
prospectuses will provide a clear explanation of the repurchase
program.
7. Applicants submit that for the reasons given above the requested
relief is appropriate in the public interest and is consistent with the
protection of investors and the purposes fairly intended by the policy
and provisions of the Act.
Applicants' Conditions
Applicants agree that any order granting the requested relief shall
be subject to the following conditions:
1. The Fund (and any Future Fund relying on this relief) will make
a repurchase offer pursuant to rule 23c-3(b) for a repurchase offer
amount of not less than 5% in any one-month period. In addition, the
repurchase offer amount for the then-current monthly period, plus the
repurchase offer amounts for the two monthly periods immediately
preceding the then-current monthly period, will not exceed 25% of the
Fund's (or Future Fund's, as applicable) outstanding common shares. The
Fund (and any Future Fund relying on this relief) may repurchase
additional tendered shares pursuant to rule 23c-3(b)(5) only to the
extent the percentage of additional shares so repurchased does not
exceed 2% in any three-month period.
2. Payment for repurchased shares will occur at least five business
days before notification of the next repurchase offer is sent to
shareholders of the Fund (or Future Fund relying on this relief).
For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management,
under delegated authority.
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-11296 Filed 5-24-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P