Simplify Exchange Traded Funds and Simplify Asset Management Inc., 28922-28923 [2021-11292]

Download as PDF 28922 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 102 / Friday, May 28, 2021 / Notices issuing an order approving or disapproving the proposed rule change, however, by not more than 60 days if the Commission determines that a longer period is appropriate and publishes the reasons for such determination. The proposed rule change was published for notice and comment in the Federal Register on December 1, 2020.10 May 30, 2021 is 180 days from that date, and July 29, 2021, is 240 days from that date. The Commission finds it appropriate to designate a longer period within which to issue an order approving or disapproving the proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 1, so that it has sufficient time to consider the proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment No.1. Accordingly, the Commission, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,11 designates July 29, 2021, as the date by which the Commission shall either approve or disapprove the proposed rule change (File No. SR–NYSE–2020–95) as modified by Amendment No. 1. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.12 J. Matthew DeLesDernier, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2021–11289 Filed 5–27–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Investment Company Act Release No. 34274; 812–15154] Simplify Exchange Traded Funds and Simplify Asset Management Inc. May 24, 2021. Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: Notice of an application under section 6(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (‘‘Act’’) for an exemption from section 15(a) of the Act and rule 18f–2 under the Act, as well as from certain disclosure requirements in rule 20a–1 under the Act, Item 19(a)(3) of Form N– 1A, Items 22(c)(1)(ii), 22(c)(1)(iii), 22(c)(8) and 22(c)(9) of Schedule 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Sections 6–07(2)(a), (b), and (c) of Regulation S–X (‘‘Disclosure Requirements’’). The requested exemption would permit an investment 10 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 90495 (Nov. 24, 2020), 85 FR 77304 (Dec. 1, 2020) (SR– NYSE–2020–95) (‘‘Notice’’). 11 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2). 12 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(57). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 May 27, 2021 Jkt 253001 adviser to hire and replace certain subadvisers without shareholder approval and grant relief from the Disclosure Requirements as they relate to fees paid to the sub-advisers. APPLICANTS: Simplify Exchange Traded Funds (the ‘‘Trust’’), a Delaware statutory trust registered under the Act as an open-end management investment company with multiple series, and Simplify Asset Management Inc., a New York corporation registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (‘‘Simplify’’ or the ‘‘Advisor,’’ and, collectively with the Trust, the ‘‘Applicants’’). FILING DATES: The application was filed on August 18, 2020, and amended on February 24, 2021. 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 emailing the Commission’s Secretary at SecretarysOffice@sec.gov and serving applicants with a copy of the request by email. Hearing requests should be received by the Commission by 5:30 p.m. on June 18, 2021, 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 emailing the Commission’s Secretary at SecretarysOffice@sec.gov. ADDRESSES: The Commission: Secretarys-Office@sec.gov. Applicants: c/o JoAnn M. Strasser, Thompson Hine LLP, by email: JoAnn.Strasser@ thompsonhine.com. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christine Y. Greenlees, Senior Counsel, at (202) 551–6879, or Lisa Reid Ragen, 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 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. The Advisor serves as the investment adviser to the Funds (as PO 00000 Frm 00176 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 defined below) pursuant to investment advisory agreements with the Funds (the ‘‘Advisory Agreements’’).1 The Advisor will provide the Funds with continuous and comprehensive investment management services subject to the supervision of, and policies established by, each Fund’s board of trustees (‘‘Board’’). The Advisory Agreements permit the Advisor, subject to the approval of the Board, to delegate to one or more sub-advisers (each, a ‘‘Subadvisor’’ and collectively, the ‘‘Subadvisors’’) the responsibility to provide the day-to-day portfolio investment management of each Fund (either directly or through such Fund’s direct wholly-owned subsidiary), subject to the supervision and direction of the Advisor. The primary responsibility for managing the Funds will remain vested in the Advisor. The Advisor will hire, evaluate, allocate assets to and oversee the Subadvisors, including determining whether a Subadvisor should be terminated, at all times subject to the authority of the Board. 2. Each Fund may pursue its investment strategies by investing through a direct wholly-owned subsidiary (each such subsidiary, a ‘‘Subsidiary’’). Any future Subsidiary will enter into an investment advisory agreement with the respective Advisor (the ‘‘Subsidiary Advisory Agreements’’).2 In all cases, an Advisor will be the entity providing general management services to each Fund, including overall supervisory responsibility for the general management and investment of the Fund’s assets (either directly or through such Fund’s Subsidiary, if any), and, subject to review and approval of the Board, will: (a) Set such Fund’s (including, if any, its Subsidiary’s) overall investment strategies; (b) evaluate, select and recommend Subadvisors to manage all or a portion of the Fund’s assets (directly or through the Fund’s Subsidiary, if any); (c) 1 Applicants request relief with respect to any existing or future series of the Trust and any other registered open-end management investment company or series thereof that: (a) Is advised by Simplify or any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with Simplify or its successors (each, also an ‘‘Advisor’’); (b) uses the manager of managers structure described in the application; and (c) complies with the terms and conditions of the application (any such series, a ‘‘Fund’’). For purposes of the requested order, ‘‘successor’’ is limited to any entity that results from a reorganization into another jurisdiction or a change in the type of business organization. 2 Any future Subsidiary Advisory Agreement will be approved by the Board, including a majority of the trustees who are not ‘‘interested persons’’ (as defined in section 2(a)(19) of the Act) of the Fund or the Advisor, and the Fund’s shareholders. E:\FR\FM\28MYN1.SGM 28MYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 102 / Friday, May 28, 2021 / Notices allocate and, when appropriate, reallocate the Fund’s assets among one or more Subadvisors (including by allocating and reallocating assets between and among the Fund and, if any, its Subsidiary); (d) monitor and evaluate the performance of Subadvisors; and (e) implement procedures reasonably designed to ensure that the Subadvisors comply with the investment objective, policies and restrictions of the Fund and the Subsidiary, if any. 3. Applicants request an order exempting Applicants from section 15(a) of the Act and rule 18f–2 thereunder to permit the Trust, on behalf of a Fund, and/or its Advisor, subject to the approval of the Board, to enter into and materially amend investment subadvisory agreements with Subadvisors (‘‘Subadvisory Agreements’’) without obtaining shareholder approval.3 Applicants also seek an exemption from the Disclosure Requirements to permit a Fund to disclose (as both a dollar amount and a percentage of the Fund’s net assets): (a) The aggregate fees paid to the Advisor and any Excluded Subadvisor; and (b) the aggregate fees paid to Subadvisors other than Excluded Subadvisors (collectively, ‘‘Aggregate Fee Disclosure’’). For any Fund that employs an Excluded Subadvisor, the Fund will provide separate disclosure of any fees paid to the Excluded Subadvisor. 4. Applicants agree that any order granting the requested relief will be subject to the terms and conditions stated in the application. Such terms and conditions provide for, among other safeguards, appropriate disclosure to Fund shareholders and notification about sub-advisory changes and enhanced Board oversight to protect the interests of the Funds’ shareholders. 5. 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 provisions of the Act, or any rule thereunder, if such relief is necessary or appropriate in the public interest and consistent with the protection of investors and purposes fairly intended by the policy and provisions of the Act. Applicants believe that the requested relief meets this standard because, as further explained in the application, the Advisory Agreements will remain 3 The requested relief will not extend to any subadviser who is an affiliated person, as defined in section 2(a)(3) of the Act, of a Fund or an Advisor other than by reason of serving as a sub-adviser to one or more Funds (or any Subsidiary) (‘‘Excluded Subadvisors’’). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 May 27, 2021 Jkt 253001 subject to shareholder approval, while the role of the Subadvisors is substantially similar to that of individual portfolio managers, so that requiring shareholder approval of Subadvisory Agreements would impose unnecessary delays and expenses on the Funds. Applicants believe that the requested relief from the Disclosure Requirements meets this standard because it will improve the Advisor’s ability to negotiate fees paid to the Subadvisors that are more advantageous for the Funds. For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, under delegated authority. J. Matthew DeLesDernier, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2021–11292 Filed 5–27–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P 28923 Directorate, 1515 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22209–2425. A copy of the comments should be sent to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Desk Officer, Selective Service System, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Room 3235, Washington, DC 20503. Thomas T. Devine, Deputy Associate Director for Operations. [FR Doc. 2021–11322 Filed 5–27–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8015–01–P DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice 11431] 30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Foreign Service Officer Test Registration Form Notice of request for public comment and submission to OMB of proposed collection of information. ACTION: SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM Form Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for Extension of Clearance Selective Service System. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: The following form has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for extension of clearance without change in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35): SSS Form 1 Title: The Selective Service System Registration Form. Purpose: Is used to register men and establish a data base for use in identifying manpower to the military services during a national emergency. Respondents: All 18-year-old males who are United States citizens and those male immigrants residing in the United States at the time of their 18th birthday are required to register with the Selective Service System. Frequency: Registration with the Selective Service System is a one-time occurrence. Burden: A burden of two minutes or less on the individual respondent. Copies of the above identified form can be obtained upon written request to the Selective Service System, Operations Directorate, 1515 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22209– 2425. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed extension of clearance with change of the form should be sent within 60 days of the publication of this notice to the Selective Service System, Operations PO 00000 Frm 00177 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 The Department of State has submitted the information collection described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 we are requesting comments on this collection from all interested individuals and organizations. The purpose of this Notice is to allow 30 days for public comment. DATES: Submit comments up to June 28, 2021. ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/ PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting ‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or by using the search function. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct requests for additional information regarding the collection listed in this notice, including requests for copies of the proposed collection instrument and supporting documents to Board of Examiners for the Foreign Service, Department of State SA–1, H– 518. 2401 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20522. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: • Title of Information Collection: Registration for the Foreign Service Officer Test. • OMB Control Number: 1405–0008. • Type of Request: Extension of a Currently Approved Collection. • Originating Office: Bureau of Human Resources, Board of Examiners. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\28MYN1.SGM 28MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 102 (Friday, May 28, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28922-28923]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-11292]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Investment Company Act Release No. 34274; 812-15154]


Simplify Exchange Traded Funds and Simplify Asset Management Inc.

May 24, 2021.
AGENCY:  Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'').

ACTION: Notice.

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

    Notice of an application under section 6(c) of the Investment 
Company Act of 1940 (``Act'') for an exemption from section 15(a) of 
the Act and rule 18f-2 under the Act, as well as from certain 
disclosure requirements in rule 20a-1 under the Act, Item 19(a)(3) of 
Form N-1A, Items 22(c)(1)(ii), 22(c)(1)(iii), 22(c)(8) and 22(c)(9) of 
Schedule 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Sections 6-
07(2)(a), (b), and (c) of Regulation S-X (``Disclosure Requirements''). 
The requested exemption would permit an investment adviser to hire and 
replace certain sub-advisers without shareholder approval and grant 
relief from the Disclosure Requirements as they relate to fees paid to 
the sub-advisers.

APPLICANTS:  Simplify Exchange Traded Funds (the ``Trust''), a Delaware 
statutory trust registered under the Act as an open-end management 
investment company with multiple series, and Simplify Asset Management 
Inc., a New York corporation registered as an investment adviser under 
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (``Simplify'' or the ``Advisor,'' 
and, collectively with the Trust, the ``Applicants'').

FILING DATES:  The application was filed on August 18, 2020, and 
amended on February 24, 2021.

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 emailing the Commission's 
Secretary at [email protected] and serving applicants with a 
copy of the request by email. Hearing requests should be received by 
the Commission by 5:30 p.m. on June 18, 2021, 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 emailing the 
Commission's Secretary at [email protected].

ADDRESSES:  The Commission: [email protected]. Applicants: c/o 
JoAnn M. Strasser, Thompson Hine LLP, by email: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Christine Y. Greenlees, Senior 
Counsel, at (202) 551-6879, or Lisa Reid Ragen, 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 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. The Advisor serves as the investment adviser to the Funds (as 
defined below) pursuant to investment advisory agreements with the 
Funds (the ``Advisory Agreements'').\1\ The Advisor will provide the 
Funds with continuous and comprehensive investment management services 
subject to the supervision of, and policies established by, each Fund's 
board of trustees (``Board''). The Advisory Agreements permit the 
Advisor, subject to the approval of the Board, to delegate to one or 
more sub-advisers (each, a ``Subadvisor'' and collectively, the 
``Subadvisors'') the responsibility to provide the day-to-day portfolio 
investment management of each Fund (either directly or through such 
Fund's direct wholly-owned subsidiary), subject to the supervision and 
direction of the Advisor. The primary responsibility for managing the 
Funds will remain vested in the Advisor. The Advisor will hire, 
evaluate, allocate assets to and oversee the Subadvisors, including 
determining whether a Subadvisor should be terminated, at all times 
subject to the authority of the Board.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Applicants request relief with respect to any existing or 
future series of the Trust and any other registered open-end 
management investment company or series thereof that: (a) Is advised 
by Simplify or any entity controlling, controlled by or under common 
control with Simplify or its successors (each, also an ``Advisor''); 
(b) uses the manager of managers structure described in the 
application; and (c) complies with the terms and conditions of the 
application (any such series, a ``Fund''). For purposes of the 
requested order, ``successor'' is limited to any entity that results 
from a reorganization into another jurisdiction or a change in the 
type of business organization.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Each Fund may pursue its investment strategies by investing 
through a direct wholly-owned subsidiary (each such subsidiary, a 
``Subsidiary''). Any future Subsidiary will enter into an investment 
advisory agreement with the respective Advisor (the ``Subsidiary 
Advisory Agreements'').\2\ In all cases, an Advisor will be the entity 
providing general management services to each Fund, including overall 
supervisory responsibility for the general management and investment of 
the Fund's assets (either directly or through such Fund's Subsidiary, 
if any), and, subject to review and approval of the Board, will: (a) 
Set such Fund's (including, if any, its Subsidiary's) overall 
investment strategies; (b) evaluate, select and recommend Subadvisors 
to manage all or a portion of the Fund's assets (directly or through 
the Fund's Subsidiary, if any); (c)

[[Page 28923]]

allocate and, when appropriate, reallocate the Fund's assets among one 
or more Subadvisors (including by allocating and reallocating assets 
between and among the Fund and, if any, its Subsidiary); (d) monitor 
and evaluate the performance of Subadvisors; and (e) implement 
procedures reasonably designed to ensure that the Subadvisors comply 
with the investment objective, policies and restrictions of the Fund 
and the Subsidiary, if any.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Any future Subsidiary Advisory Agreement will be approved by 
the Board, including a majority of the trustees who are not 
``interested persons'' (as defined in section 2(a)(19) of the Act) 
of the Fund or the Advisor, and the Fund's shareholders.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. Applicants request an order exempting Applicants from section 
15(a) of the Act and rule 18f-2 thereunder to permit the Trust, on 
behalf of a Fund, and/or its Advisor, subject to the approval of the 
Board, to enter into and materially amend investment subadvisory 
agreements with Subadvisors (``Subadvisory Agreements'') without 
obtaining shareholder approval.\3\ Applicants also seek an exemption 
from the Disclosure Requirements to permit a Fund to disclose (as both 
a dollar amount and a percentage of the Fund's net assets): (a) The 
aggregate fees paid to the Advisor and any Excluded Subadvisor; and (b) 
the aggregate fees paid to Subadvisors other than Excluded Subadvisors 
(collectively, ``Aggregate Fee Disclosure''). For any Fund that employs 
an Excluded Subadvisor, the Fund will provide separate disclosure of 
any fees paid to the Excluded Subadvisor.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The requested relief will not extend to any sub-adviser who 
is an affiliated person, as defined in section 2(a)(3) of the Act, 
of a Fund or an Advisor other than by reason of serving as a sub-
adviser to one or more Funds (or any Subsidiary) (``Excluded 
Subadvisors'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    4. Applicants agree that any order granting the requested relief 
will be subject to the terms and conditions stated in the application. 
Such terms and conditions provide for, among other safeguards, 
appropriate disclosure to Fund shareholders and notification about sub-
advisory changes and enhanced Board oversight to protect the interests 
of the Funds' shareholders.
    5. 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 provisions of the Act, or 
any rule thereunder, if such relief is necessary or appropriate in the 
public interest and consistent with the protection of investors and 
purposes fairly intended by the policy and provisions of the Act. 
Applicants believe that the requested relief meets this standard 
because, as further explained in the application, the Advisory 
Agreements will remain subject to shareholder approval, while the role 
of the Subadvisors is substantially similar to that of individual 
portfolio managers, so that requiring shareholder approval of 
Subadvisory Agreements would impose unnecessary delays and expenses on 
the Funds. Applicants believe that the requested relief from the 
Disclosure Requirements meets this standard because it will improve the 
Advisor's ability to negotiate fees paid to the Subadvisors that are 
more advantageous for the Funds.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, 
under delegated authority.
J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-11292 Filed 5-27-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P


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