Infusive US Trust, et al.; Notice of Application, 8345-8347 [2019-04078]

Download as PDF amozie on DSK9F9SC42PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 45 / Thursday, March 7, 2019 / Notices Management and Budget (OMB) clearance of this collection for no longer than 3 years. DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by May 6, 2019 to be assured consideration. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable. Send comments to address below. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite W18200, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone (703) 292–7556; or send email to splimpto@nsf.gov. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1– 800–877–8339, which is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year (including Federal holidays). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title of Collection: Antarctic emergency response plan and environmental protection information. OMB Approval Number: 3145–0180. Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 2019. Abstract: The NSF, pursuant to the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2401 et seq.) (‘‘ACA’’) regulates certain non-governmental activities in Antarctica. The ACA was amended in 1996 by the Antarctic Science, Tourism, and Conservation Act. On September 7, 2001, NSF published a final rule in the Federal Register (66 FR 46739) implementing certain of these statutory amendments. The rule requires nongovernmental Antarctic expeditions using non-U.S. flagged vessels to ensure that the vessel owner has an emergency response plan. The rule also requires persons organizing a non-governmental expedition to provide expedition members with information on their environmental protection obligations under the Antarctic Conservation Act. Expected Respondents. Respondents may include non-profit organizations and small and large businesses. The majority of respondents are anticipated to be U.S. tour operators, currently estimated to number fifteen. Burden on the Public. The Foundation estimates that a one-time paperwork and recordkeeping burden of 40 hours or less, at a cost of $500 to $1400 per respondent, will result from the emergency response plan requirement contained in the rule. Presently, all respondents have been providing expedition members with a copy of the Guidance for Visitors to the Antarctic (prepared and adopted at the Eighteenth Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting as Recommendation XVIII–1). Because VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:13 Mar 06, 2019 Jkt 247001 this Antarctic Treaty System document satisfies the environmental protection information requirements of the rule, no additional burden shall result from the environmental information requirements in the proposed rule. Dated: March 4, 2019. Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation. [FR Doc. 2019–04116 Filed 3–6–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7555–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Investment Company Act Release No. 33385; 812–14938] Infusive US Trust, et al.; Notice of Application March 1, 2019. 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 (‘‘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: Infusive US Trust (the ‘‘Trust’’), a Delaware statutory trust, which is registered under the Act as an open-end management investment PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 8345 company, and Infusive Asset Management, Inc. (the ‘‘Initial Adviser’’), a Delaware Corporation registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Filing Dates: The application was filed on August 7, 2018, and amended on December 18, 2018 and February 13, 2019. 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 26, 2019, 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: Infusive US Trust and Infusive Asset Management, Inc., 750 Lexington Avenue, 26th Floor, New York, New York 10022. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thankam A. Varghese, AttorneyAdviser, at (202) 551–6446, or Parisa Haghshenas, Branch Chief, at (202) 551– 6723 (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. Summary of the Application 1. Applicants request an order that would allow Funds to operate as index exchange traded funds (‘‘ETFs’’).1 Fund 1 Applicants request that the order apply to the Initial Fund and any additional series of the Trust, and any other existing or future open-end management investment company or existing or future series thereof (each, included in the term ‘‘Fund’’), each of which will operate as an ETF, and their respective existing or future master funds, and will track a specified index comprised of domestic and/or foreign equity securities and/or domestic E:\FR\FM\07MRN1.SGM Continued 07MRN1 8346 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 45 / Thursday, March 7, 2019 / Notices amozie on DSK9F9SC42PROD with NOTICES 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 closely 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 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 and/or foreign 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 of the foregoing and any successor thereto, an ‘‘Adviser’’) and (b) comply with the terms and conditions of the application. For purposes of the requested order, a ‘‘successor’’ is limited to an entity or entities that result from a reorganization into another jurisdiction or a change in the type of business organization. 2 Each Self-Indexing Fund will post on its website 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 17:13 Mar 06, 2019 Jkt 247001 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 fifteen 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 PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 Instruments 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 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 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\07MRN1.SGM 07MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 45 / Thursday, March 7, 2019 / Notices 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. Eduardo A. Aleman, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2019–04078 Filed 3–6–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–85229; File No. 4–546] Joint Industry Plan; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Amendment to the Options Order Protection and Locked/Crossed Market Plan To Add MIAX Emerald, LLC, as a Participant March 1, 2019. Pursuant to Section 11A(a)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 608 thereunder,2 notice is hereby given that on February 14, 2019, MIAX Emerald, LLC (‘‘MIAX Emerald’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) an amendment to the Options Order Protection and Locked/ Crossed Market Plan (‘‘Plan’’).3 The amendment adds MIAX Emerald as a 1 15 U.S.C. 78k–1(a)(3). CFR 242.608. 3 On July 30, 2009, the Commission approved the Plan, which was proposed by Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (‘‘CBOE’’), International Securities Exchange, LLC (‘‘ISE’’), The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (‘‘Nasdaq’’), NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. (‘‘BX’’), NASDAQ OMX PHLX, Inc. (‘‘Phlx’’), NYSE Amex, LLC (‘‘NYSE Amex’’), and NYSE Arca, Inc. (‘‘NYSE Arca’’). See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 60405 (July 30, 2009), 74 FR 39362 (August 6, 2009). See also Securities Exchange Act Release No. 61546 (February 19, 2010), 75 FR 8762 (February 25, 2010)(adding BATS Exchange, Inc. (‘‘BATS’’) as a Participant; 63119 (October 15, 2010), 75 FR 65536 (October 25, 2010)(adding C2 Options Exchange, Incorporated (‘‘C2’’) as a Participant); 66969 (May 12, 2015), 77 FR 29396 (May 17, 2012)(adding BOX Options Exchange LLC (‘‘BOX Options’’ as a Participant); 70763 (October 28, 2013), 78 FR 65734 (November, 2013)(adding Topaz Exchange, LLC (‘‘Topaz’’) as a Participant; 70762 (October 28, 2013), 78 FR 65733 (November 1, 2013)(adding MIAX International Securities Exchange, LLC (‘‘MIAX’’) as a Participant); 76823 (January 5, 2016), 81 FR 1260 (January 11, 2016) (adding EDGX Exchange, Inc. (‘‘EDGX’’) as a Participant); 77324 (March 8, 2016), 81 FR 13425 (March 14, 2016)(adding ISE MERCURY, LLC (‘‘ISE Mercury’’) as a Participant); 79896 (January 30, 2017), 82 FR 9264 (February 3, 2017)(adding MIAX Pearl ‘‘Pearl’’) as a Participant). amozie on DSK9F9SC42PROD with NOTICES 2 17 VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:13 Mar 06, 2019 Jkt 247001 8347 Participant 4 to the Plan. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the amendment from interested persons. approved by the Commission or otherwise becomes effective pursuant to Section 11A of the Act and Rule 608 thereunder. I. Description and Purpose of the Amendment The Plan requires the options exchanges to establish a framework for providing order protection and addressing locked and crossed markets in eligible options classes. The amendment to the Plan adds MIAX Emerald as a Participant. The other Plan Participants are BATS, BOX, BX, C2, CBOE, EDGX, ISE, ISE Gemini, ISE Mercury, MIAX, Nasdaq, Pearl, Phlx, NYSE MKT, and NYSE Arca. MIAX Emerald has submitted an executed copy of the Plan to the Commission in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Plan regarding new Participants. Section 3(c) of the Plan provides for the entry of new Participants to the Plan. Specifically, Section 3(c) of the Plan provides that an Eligible Exchange 5 may become a Participant in the Plan by: (i) Executing a copy of the Plan, as then in effect; (ii) providing each current Participant with a copy of such executed Plan; and (iii) effecting an amendment to the Plan, as specified in Section 4(b) of the Plan.6 Section 4(b) of the Plan sets forth the process by which an Eligible Exchange may effect an amendment to the Plan. Specifically, an Eligible Exchange must: (a) Execute a copy of the Plan with the only change being the addition of the new Participant’s name in Section 3(a) of the Plan; and (b) submit the executed Plan to the Commission. The Plan then provides that such an amendment will be effective when the amendment is II. Effectiveness of the Proposed Linkage Plan Amendment The foregoing Plan amendment has become effective pursuant to Rule 608(b)(3)(iii) 7 because it has been designated by the sponsors as involving solely technical or ministerial matters. At any time within sixty days of the filing of this amendment, the Commission may summarily abrogate the amendment and require that it be refiled pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 608,8 if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or the maintenance of fair and orderly markets, to remove impediments to, and perfect the mechanisms of, a national market system or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. 4 The term ‘‘Participant’’ is defined as an Eligible Exchange whose participation in the Plan has become effective pursuant to Section 3(c) of the Plan. 5 Section 2(6) of the Plan defines an ‘‘Eligible Exchange’’ as a national securities exchange registered with the Commission pursuant to Section 6(a) of the Act, 15 U.S.C. 78f(a), that: (a) Is a ‘‘Participant Exchange’’ in the Options Clearing Corporation (‘‘OCC’’) (as defined in OCC By-laws, Section VII); (b) is a party to the Options Price Reporting Authority (‘‘OPRA’’) Plan (as defined in the OPRA Plan, Section 1); and (c) if the national securities exchange chooses not to become part to this Plan, is a participant in another plan approved by the Commission providing for comparable Trade-Through and Locked and Crossed Market protection. MIAX Emerald has represented that it has met the requirements for being considered an Eligible Exchange. See letter from Barbara Comly, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, MIAX Emerald, to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Commission, dated February 13, 2019 (‘‘Amendment’’). 6 MIAX Emerald has represented that it has executed a copy of the current Plan, amended to include MIAX Emerald as a Participant and has sent each current Participant a copy of the executed Plan. See Amendment, supra note 5. PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 III. Solicitation of Comments Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the amendment is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: 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 4– 546 on the subject line. 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 4–546. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. 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 website (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 7 17 8 17 CFR 242.608(b)(3)(iii). CFR 242.608(a)(1). E:\FR\FM\07MRN1.SGM 07MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 45 (Thursday, March 7, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8345-8347]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-04078]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Investment Company Act Release No. 33385; 812-14938]


Infusive US Trust, et al.; Notice of Application

March 1, 2019.
AGENCY: Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'').

ACTION: Notice.

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    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 
(``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: Infusive US Trust (the ``Trust''), a Delaware statutory 
trust, which is registered under the Act as an open-end management 
investment company, and Infusive Asset Management, Inc. (the ``Initial 
Adviser''), a Delaware Corporation registered as an investment adviser 
under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
    Filing Dates: The application was filed on August 7, 2018, and 
amended on December 18, 2018 and February 13, 2019.
    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 26, 2019, 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: Infusive US Trust and 
Infusive Asset Management, Inc., 750 Lexington Avenue, 26th Floor, New 
York, New York 10022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thankam A. Varghese, Attorney-Adviser, 
at (202) 551-6446, or Parisa Haghshenas, Branch Chief, at (202) 551-
6723 (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.

Summary of the Application

    1. Applicants request an order that would allow Funds to operate as 
index exchange traded funds (``ETFs'').\1\ Fund

[[Page 8346]]

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 Fund 
and any additional series of the Trust, and any other existing or 
future open-end management investment company or existing or future 
series thereof (each, included in the term ``Fund''), each of which 
will operate as an ETF, and their respective existing or future 
master funds, and will track a specified index comprised of domestic 
and/or foreign equity securities and/or domestic and/or foreign 
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 of the foregoing and any successor thereto, an ``Adviser'') 
and (b) comply with the terms and conditions of the application. For 
purposes of the requested order, a ``successor'' is limited to an 
entity or entities that result from a reorganization into another 
jurisdiction or a change in the type of business organization.
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    2. Each Fund will hold investment positions selected to correspond 
closely 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 website 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 fifteen 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 Instruments 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 
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

[[Page 8347]]

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.
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-04078 Filed 3-6-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
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