M-CAM International LLC, et al., 17899-17901 [2019-08468]
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 81 / Friday, April 26, 2019 / Notices
Act,6 which provides that the MSRB’s
rules shall:
be designed to prevent fraudulent and
manipulative acts and practices, to promote
just and equitable principles of trade, to
foster cooperation and coordination with
persons engaged in regulating, clearing,
settling, processing information with respect
to, and facilitating transactions in municipal
securities and municipal financial products,
to remove impediments to and perfect the
mechanism of a free and open market in
municipal securities and municipal financial
products, and, in general, to protect
investors, municipal entities, obligated
persons, and the public interest.
The proposed rule change would
promote just and equitable principles of
trade by ensuring that existing rule
provisions are accurate and
understandable. While the proposed
rule change affects rules applicable to
brokers, dealers and municipal
securities (‘‘dealers’’), it is meant to
clarify existing MSRB rules and would
not impose additional burdens on
dealers.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
Section 15B(b)(2)(C) of the Exchange
Act requires that MSRB rules not be
designed to impose any burden on
competition not necessary or
appropriate in furtherance of the
purposes of the Exchange Act.7 The
MSRB does not believe that the
proposed rule change would impose any
burden on competition that is not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance
of the purposes of the Exchange Act
because it would apply equally to all
dealers.8
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
Written comments were neither
solicited nor received.
6 15
U.S.C. 78o–4(b)(2)(C).
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7 Id.
8 The Board’s policy on the use of economic
analysis limits its applications regarding those rules
for which the Board seeks immediate effectiveness.
The scope of the Board’s policy on the use of
economic analysis in rulemaking provides that:
‘‘[t]his Policy addresses rulemaking activities of the
MSRB that culminate, or are expected to culminate,
in a filing of a proposed rule change with the SEC
under Section 19(b) of the Exchange Act, other than
a proposed rule change that the MSRB reasonably
believes would qualify for immediate effectiveness
under Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Exchange Act if
filed as such (e.g., fee filing or facility filing) or as
otherwise provided under the exception process of
this Policy.’’ Policy on the Use of Economic
Analysis in MSRB Rulemaking. For those rule
changes which the MSRB seeks immediate
effectiveness, the MSRB usually focuses exclusively
its examination on the burden of competition on
regulated entities.
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III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
The foregoing proposed rule change
has become effective pursuant to
Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Exchange
Act 9 and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) 10 thereunder.
At any time within 60 days of the filing
of the proposed rule change, the
Commission summarily may
temporarily suspend such rule change if
it appears to the Commission that such
action is necessary or appropriate in the
public interest, for the protection of
investors, or otherwise in furtherance of
the purposes of the Act.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to
submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing,
including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act.
Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission’s internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an email to rule-comments@
sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
MSRB–2019–08 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Secretary, Securities and Exchange
Commission, 100 F Street NE,
Washington, DC 20549.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–MSRB–2019–08. 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
proposed rule change between the
Commission and any person, other than
those that may be withheld from the
public in accordance with the
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
available for website viewing and
printing in the Commission’s Public
Reference Room, 100 F Street NE,
Washington, DC 20549 on official
business days between the hours of
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the
9 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).
10 17
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filing also will be available for
inspection and copying at the principal
office of the MSRB. All comments
received will be posted without change.
Persons submitting comments are
cautioned that we do not redact or edit
personal identifying information from
comment submissions. You should
submit only information that you wish
to make available publicly. All
submissions should refer to File
Number SR–MSRB–2019–08 and should
be submitted on or before May 17, 2019.
For the Commission, pursuant to delegated
authority.11
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019–08399 Filed 4–25–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Investment Company Act Release No.
33450; 812–14995]
M–CAM International LLC, et al.
April 23, 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 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; and
(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.
11 17
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CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 81 / Friday, April 26, 2019 / Notices
M–CAM International LLC
(the ‘‘Initial Adviser’’), a Virginia
limited liability company that is
registered as an investment adviser
under the Investment Advisers Act of
1940, Listed Funds Trust (the ‘‘Trust’’),
a Delaware statutory trust registered
under the Act as an open-end
management investment company with
multiple series, and Quasar Distributors,
LLC, (the ‘‘Initial Distributor’’), a
Delaware limited liability company and
broker-dealer registered under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(‘‘Exchange Act’’).
FILING DATES: The application was filed
on January 3, 2019, and amended on
April 1, 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 May 20, 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: M–CAM International LLC,
210 Ridge McIntire Road, Suite #300,
Charlottesville, VA 22903; Listed Funds
Trust, c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services,
LLC, 615 East Michigan Street,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202; and
Quasar Distributors, LLC, 777 East
Wisconsin Avenue, 6th Floor,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Hae-Sung Lee, Senior Counsel, at (202)
551–7345, or Trace W. Rakestraw,
Branch Chief, at (202) 551–6825
(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.
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APPLICANTS:
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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. 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
new series of the Trust and any additional series of
the Trust and any other open-end management
investment company or series thereof (each,
included in the term ‘‘Fund’’), each of which will
operate as an ETF 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’’).
Each Fund will (a) be advised by the Initial Adviser
or an entity controlling, controlled by, or under
common control with the Initial Adviser (each such
entity and any successor thereto, an ‘‘Adviser’’) and
(b) comply with the terms and conditions of the
application. For purposes of the requested order,
the term ‘‘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.
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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
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 81 / Friday, April 26, 2019 / Notices
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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.
9. 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
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
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
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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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. 2019–08468 Filed 4–25–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
Upon Written Request, Copies Available
From: Securities and Exchange
Commission, Office of FOIA Services,
100 F Street NE, Washington, DC
20549–2736
Extension:
Rule 19h–1, SEC File No. 270–247, OMB
Control No. 3235–0259
Notice is hereby given that pursuant
to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(‘‘PRA’’) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) the
Securities and Exchange Commission
(‘‘Commission’’) has submitted to the
Office of Management and Budget
(‘‘OMB’’) a request for approval of
extension of the previously approved
collection of information provided for in
Rule 19h–1 (17 CFR 240.19h–1), under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15
U.S.C. 78a et seq.).
Rule 19h–1 prescribes the form and
content of notices and applications by
self-regulatory organizations (‘‘SROs’’)
regarding proposed admissions to, or
continuances in, membership,
participation or association with a
member of any person subject to a
statutory disqualification.
The Commission uses the information
provided in the submissions filed
pursuant to Rule 19h–1 to review
decisions by SROs to permit the entry
into or continuance in the securities
business of persons who have
committed serious misconduct. The
filings submitted pursuant to the Rule
also permit inclusion of an application
to the Commission for consent to
associate with a member of an SRO
notwithstanding a Commission order
barring such association.
The Commission reviews filings made
pursuant to the Rule to ascertain
whether it is in the public interest to
permit the employment in the securities
business of persons subject to statutory
disqualification. The filings contain
information that is essential to the staff’s
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17901
review and ultimate determination on
whether an association or employment
is in the public interest and consistent
with investor protection.
It is estimated that approximately 20
respondents will make submissions
pursuant to this Rule annually. With
respect to submissions for Rule 19h–1(a)
notices, and based upon past
submissions, the staff estimates that
respondents will make a total of 11
submissions per year. The staff
estimates that the average number of
hours necessary to complete a
submission pursuant to Rule 19h–1(a)
notices is 80 hours (for a total annual
burden for all respondents in the
amount of 17,600 hours). With respect
to submissions for Rule 19h–1(a)(4)
notifications, and based upon past
submissions, the staff estimates that
respondents will make a total of 9
submissions per year. The staff
estimates that the average number of
hours necessary to complete a
submission pursuant to Rule 19h–1(a)(4)
notifications is 80 hours (for a total
annual burden for all respondents in the
amount of 14,400 hours). With respect
to submissions for Rule 19h–1(b), and
based upon past submissions, the staff
estimates that respondents will make a
total of 28 submissions per year. The
staff estimates that the average number
of hours necessary to complete a
submission pursuant to Rule 19h–1(b) is
13 hours (for a total annual burden for
all respondents in the amount of 7,280
hours). With respect to submissions for
Rule 19h–1(d), and based upon past
submissions, the staff estimates that
respondents will make a total of 5
submissions per year. The staff
estimates that the average number of
hours necessary to complete a
submission pursuant to Rule 19h–1(d) is
80 hours (for a total annual burden for
all respondents in the amount of 8,000
hours). The aggregate annual burden for
all respondents is thus 47,280 hours
(17,600 + 14,400 + 7,280 + 8,000).
An agency may not conduct or
sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to, a collection of information
under the PRA unless it displays a
currently valid OMB control number.
The public may view 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:
Lindsay.M.Abate@omb.eop.gov; and (ii)
Charles Riddle, Acting Director/Chief
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 81 (Friday, April 26, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17899-17901]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-08468]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Investment Company Act Release No. 33450; 812-14995]
M-CAM International LLC, et al.
April 23, 2019.
AGENCY: Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'').
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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; and (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.
[[Page 17900]]
Applicants: M-CAM International LLC (the ``Initial Adviser''), a
Virginia limited liability company that is registered as an investment
adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Listed Funds Trust
(the ``Trust''), a Delaware statutory trust registered under the Act as
an open-end management investment company with multiple series, and
Quasar Distributors, LLC, (the ``Initial Distributor''), a Delaware
limited liability company and broker-dealer registered under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Exchange Act'').
Filing Dates: The application was filed on January 3, 2019, and
amended on April 1, 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 May 20, 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: M-CAM International LLC, 210
Ridge McIntire Road, Suite #300, Charlottesville, VA 22903; Listed
Funds Trust, c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, 615 East Michigan
Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202; and Quasar Distributors, LLC, 777
East Wisconsin Avenue, 6th Floor, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hae-Sung Lee, Senior Counsel, at
(202) 551-7345, or Trace W. Rakestraw, Branch Chief, at (202) 551-6825
(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 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. Any order
granting the requested relief would be subject to the terms and
conditions stated in the application.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Applicants request that the order apply to the new series of
the Trust and any additional series of the Trust and any other open-
end management investment company or series thereof (each, included
in the term ``Fund''), each of which will operate as an ETF 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''). Each Fund will (a) be advised by
the Initial Adviser or an entity controlling, controlled by, or
under common control with the Initial Adviser (each such entity and
any successor thereto, an ``Adviser'') and (b) comply with the terms
and conditions of the application. For purposes of the requested
order, the term ``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 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 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
[[Page 17901]]
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 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. 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 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. 2019-08468 Filed 4-25-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
