80_FR_28121 80 FR 28027 - Business Development Corporation of America, et al.; Notice of Application

80 FR 28027 - Business Development Corporation of America, et al.; Notice of Application

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 94 (May 15, 2015)

Page Range28027-28031
FR Document2015-11731

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 94 (Friday, May 15, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 94 (Friday, May 15, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28027-28031]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-11731]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. IC-31598; File No. 812-14368]


Business Development Corporation of America, et al.; Notice of 
Application

May 11, 2015.
AGENCY: Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'').

ACTION: Notice of application for an order under sections 17(d) and 
57(i) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the ``Act'') and rule 17d-
1 under the Act to permit certain joint transactions otherwise 
prohibited by sections 17(d) and 57(a)(4) of the Act and rule 17d-1 
under the Act.

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Summary of Application: Applicants request an order to permit business 
development companies (``BDCs'') to co-invest in portfolio companies 
with each other and with affiliated investment funds.

Applicants: Business Development Corporation of America (``BDCA''); 
Business Development Corporation of America II (``BDCA II''); BDCA 
Venture, Inc. (``BDCA Venture,'' and BDCA Venture together with BDCA 
and BDCA II, the ``BDCA Funds''), BDCA Adviser, LLC (``BDCA Adviser''), 
on behalf of itself and its successors; \1\ BDCA Adviser II, LLC 
(``BDCA Adviser II''), on behalf of itself and its successors; BDCA 
Venture Adviser, LLC, on behalf of itself and its successors (``BDCA 
Venture Adviser''); and BDCA Funding I, LLC; BDCA 2L Funding I, LLC; 
BDCA-CB Funding, LLC; and 54th Street Equity Holdings, Inc. 
(collectively, the ``Existing BDCA Subs'').
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    \1\ The term ``successor,'' as applied to each Adviser, means an 
entity that results from a reorganization into another jurisdiction 
or change in the type of business organization.

DATES: Filing Dates: The application was filed on October 2, 2014 and 
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amended on March 13, 2015.

Hearing or Notification of Hearing: An order granting the requested 
relief will be issued unless the Commission orders a hearing. 
Interested persons may request a hearing by writing to the Commission's 
Secretary and serving applicants with a copy of the request, personally 
or by mail. Hearing requests should be received by the Commission by 
5:30 p.m. on June 8, 2015, and should be accompanied by proof of 
service on applicants, in the form of an affidavit or, for lawyers, a 
certificate of service. Hearing requests should state the nature of the 
writer's interest, the reason for the request, and the issues 
contested. Persons who wish to be notified of a hearing may request 
notification by writing to the Commission's Secretary.

ADDRESSES: Secretary, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F 
St. NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090. Applicants: James A. Tanaka, 
General Counsel, RCS Capital, 405 Park Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, 
NY, 10022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael S. Didiuk, Senior Counsel, at 
(202) 551-6839 or Holly Hunter-Ceci, Branch Chief, at (202) 551-6869 
(Chief Counsel's Office, Division of Investment Management).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following is a summary of the 
application. The complete application may be obtained via the 
Commission's Web site by searching for the file number, or for an 
applicant using the Company name box, at http://www.sec.gov/search/search.htm or by calling (202) 551-8090.

Applicants' Representations

    1. BDCA, BDCA II and BDCA Venture are Maryland corporations 
organized as closed-end management investment companies that have 
elected to be regulated as BDCs under Section 54(a) of the Act.\2\ 
BDCA's Objectives and Strategies \3\ are to generate both current 
income and to a lesser extent long-term capital appreciation through 
debt and equity investments. BDCA invests primarily in first and second 
lien senior loans and mezzanine debt issued by middle market companies. 
BDCA II's Objectives and Strategies are to generate both current income 
and, to a lesser extent, capital appreciation through its investments. 
BDCA II intends to achieve this objective by investing in a portfolio 
composed primarily of leveraged loans. BDCA Venture's Objectives and 
Strategies are to maximize total return by generating current income 
from debt investments and, to a lesser extent, capital appreciation 
from equity and equity-related investments. BDCA Venture seeks to 
accomplish its total return objective by primarily lending with 
warrants to emerging growth

[[Page 28028]]

companies that are typically backed by venture capital firms.
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    \2\ Section 2(a)(48) defines a BDC to be any closed-end 
investment company that operates for the purpose of making 
investments in securities described in sections 55(a)(1) through 
55(a)(3) of the Act and makes available significant managerial 
assistance with respect to the issuers of such securities.
    \3\ ``Objectives and Strategies'' means a Regulated Fund's 
investment objectives and strategies, as described in the Regulated 
Fund's registration statement on Form N-2, other filings the 
Regulated Fund has made with the Commission under the Securities Act 
of 1933 (the ``Securities Act''), or under the Securities Exchange 
Act of 1934 and the Regulated Fund's reports to shareholders.
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    2. The board of directors of BDCA (the ``BDCA Board'') is comprised 
of five directors, three of whom are not ``interested persons,'' within 
the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act (the ``Non-Interested 
Directors''), of BDCA. The board of directors of BDCA II (the ``BDCA II 
Board'') is comprised of five directors, three of whom are Non-
Interested Directors of BDCA II. The board of directors of BDCA Venture 
(the ``BDCA Venture Board,'' and collectively with the BDCA Board and 
the BDCA II Board, and any board of directors of a Future Regulated 
Fund, the ``Boards'' and each a ``Board,'' as applicable) consists of 
five directors, four of whom are Non-Interested Directors of BDCA 
Venture.
    3. BDCA Adviser is a Delaware limited liability company that is 
registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act 
of 1940 (the ``Advisers Act''). BDCA Adviser serves as investment 
adviser to BDCA. BDCA Adviser II is a Delaware limited liability 
company that is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers 
Act. BDCA Adviser II serves as investment adviser to BDCA II. BDCA 
Venture Adviser is a Delaware limited liability company that is 
registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act. BDCA 
Venture Adviser serves as investment adviser to BDCA Venture.
    4. Applicants seek an order (``Order'') to permit a Regulated Fund 
\4\ and one or more Regulated Funds and/or one or more Future 
Affiliated Funds \5\ to participate in the same investment 
opportunities through a proposed co-investment program (the ``Co-
Investment Program'') where such participation would otherwise be 
prohibited under section 57(a)(4) and rule 17d-1 by (a) co-investing 
with each other in securities issued by issuers in private placement 
transactions in which an Adviser negotiates terms in addition to price; 
\6\ and (b) making additional investments in securities of such 
issuers, including through the exercise of warrants, conversion 
privileges, and other rights to purchase securities of the issuers 
(``Follow-On Investments''). ``Co-Investment Transaction'' means any 
transaction in which a Regulated Fund (or its Wholly-Owned Investment 
Sub, as defined below) participated together with one or more other 
Regulated Funds and/or one or more Future Affiliated Funds in reliance 
on the requested Order. ``Potential Co-Investment Transaction'' means 
any investment opportunity in which a Regulated Fund (or its Wholly-
Owned Investment Sub, as defined below) could not participate together 
with one or more Future Affiliated Funds and/or one or more other 
Regulated Funds without obtaining and relying on the Order.\7\
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    \4\ ``Regulated Fund'' means any of the BDCA Funds and any 
Future Regulated Fund. ``Future Regulated Fund'' means any closed-
end management investment company (a) that is registered under the 
Act or has elected to be regulated as a BDC, (b) whose investment 
adviser is an Adviser, and (c) that intends to participate in the 
Co-Investment Program. The term ``Adviser'' means (a) BDCA Adviser, 
BDCA Adviser II, and BDCA Venture Adviser and (b) any future 
investment adviser that controls, is controlled by or is under 
common control with AR Capital, LLC and is registered as an 
investment adviser under the Advisers Act.
    \5\ ``Future Affiliated Fund'' means any entity (a) whose 
investment adviser is an Adviser, (b) that would be an investment 
company but for section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the Act, and (c) that 
intends to participate in the Co-Investment Program.
    \6\ The term ``private placement transactions'' means 
transactions in which the offer and sale of securities by the issuer 
are exempt from registration under the Securities Act.
    \7\ All existing entities that currently intend to rely upon the 
requested Order have been named as applicants. Any other existing or 
future entity that subsequently relies on the Order will comply with 
the terms and conditions of the application.
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    5. Applicants state that a Regulated Fund may, from time to time, 
form one or more Wholly-Owned Investment Subs.\8\ Such a subsidiary 
would be prohibited from investing in a Co-Investment Transaction with 
any Future Affiliated Fund or Regulated Fund because it would be a 
company controlled by its parent Regulated Fund for purposes of section 
57(a)(4) and rule 17d-1. Applicants request that each Wholly-Owned 
Investment Sub be permitted to participate in Co-Investment 
Transactions in lieu of its parent Regulated Fund and that the Wholly-
Owned Investment Sub's participation in any such transaction be 
treated, for purposes of the requested Order, as though the parent 
Regulated Fund were participating directly. Applicants represent that 
this treatment is justified because a Wholly-Owned Investment Sub would 
have no purpose other than serving as a holding vehicle for the 
Regulated Fund's investments and, therefore, no conflicts of interest 
could arise between the Regulated Fund and the Wholly-Owned Investment 
Sub. The Regulated Fund's Board would make all relevant determinations 
under the conditions with regard to a Wholly-Owned Investment Sub's 
participation in a Co-Investment Transaction, and the Regulated Fund's 
Board would be informed of, and take into consideration, any proposed 
use of a Wholly-Owned Investment Sub in the Regulated Fund's place. If 
the Regulated Fund proposes to participate in the same Co-Investment 
Transaction with any of its Wholly-Owned Investment Subs, the Board 
will also be informed of, and take into consideration, the relative 
participation of the Regulated Fund and the Wholly-Owned Investment 
Sub.
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    \8\ The term ``Wholly-Owned Investment Sub'' means an entity (i) 
that is wholly-owned by a Regulated Fund (with the Regulated Fund at 
all times holding, beneficially and of record, 100% of the voting 
and economic interests); (ii) whose sole business purpose is to hold 
one or more investments on behalf of the Regulated Fund; (iii) with 
respect to which the Regulated Fund's Board has the sole authority 
to make all determinations with respect to the entity's 
participation under the conditions of the Application; and (iv) that 
would be an investment company but for section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of 
the Act.
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    6. When considering Potential Co-Investment Transactions for any 
Regulated Fund, the applicable Adviser will consider only the 
Objectives and Strategies, investment policies, investment positions, 
capital available for investment, and other pertinent factors 
applicable to that Regulated Fund. The Regulated Funds' Advisers expect 
that any portfolio company that is an appropriate investment for a 
Regulated Fund should also be an appropriate investment for one or more 
other Regulated Funds and/or one or more Future Affiliated Funds, with 
certain exceptions based on available capital or diversification.\9\
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    \9\ The Regulated Funds, however, will not be obligated to 
invest, or co-invest, when investment opportunities are referred to 
them.
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    7. Other than pro rata dispositions and Follow-On Investments as 
provided in conditions 7 and 8, and after making the determinations 
required in conditions 1 and 2(a), the Adviser will present each 
Potential Co-Investment Transaction and the proposed allocation to the 
directors of the Board eligible to vote under section 57(o) of the Act 
(``Eligible Directors''), and the ``required majority,'' as defined in 
section 57(o) of the Act (``Required Majority'') \10\ will approve each 
Co-Investment Transaction prior to any investment by the participating 
Regulated Fund.
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    \10\ In the case of a Regulated Fund that is a registered 
closed-end fund, the Board members that make up the Required 
Majority will be determined as if the Regulated Fund were a BDC 
subject to Section 57(o).
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    8. With respect to the pro rata dispositions and Follow-On 
Investments provided in conditions 7 and 8, a Regulated Fund may 
participate in a pro rata disposition or Follow-On Investment without 
obtaining prior approval of the Required Majority if, among other 
things: (i) The proposed participation of each Regulated Fund and 
Future Affiliated Fund in such disposition is proportionate to its

[[Page 28029]]

outstanding investments in the issuer immediately preceding the 
disposition or Follow-On Investment, as the case may be; and (ii) the 
Board of the Regulated Fund has approved that Regulated Fund's 
participation in pro rata dispositions and Follow-On Investments as 
being in the best interests of the Regulated Fund. If the Board does 
not so approve, any such disposition or Follow-On Investment will be 
submitted to the Regulated Fund's Eligible Directors. The Board of any 
Regulated Fund may at any time rescind, suspend or qualify its approval 
of pro rata dispositions and Follow-On Investments with the result that 
all dispositions and/or Follow-On Investments must be submitted to the 
Eligible Directors.
    9. No Non-Interested Director of a Regulated Fund will have a 
financial interest in any Co-Investment Transaction, other than through 
share ownership in one of the Regulated Funds.

Applicants' Legal Analysis

    1. Section 57(a)(4) of the Act prohibits certain affiliated persons 
of a BDC from participating in joint transactions with the BDC or a 
company controlled by a BDC in contravention of rules as prescribed by 
the Commission. Under section 57(b)(2) of the Act, any person who is 
directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common 
control with a BDC is subject to section 57(a)(4). Applicants submit 
that each of the Regulated Funds and Future Affiliated Funds be deemed 
to be a person related to each Regulated Fund in a manner described by 
section 57(b) by virtue of being under common control. Section 57(i) of 
the Act provides that, until the Commission prescribes rules under 
section 57(a)(4), the Commission's rules under section 17(d) of the Act 
applicable to registered closed-end investment companies will be deemed 
to apply to transactions subject to section 57(a)(4). Because the 
Commission has not adopted any rules under section 57(a)(4), rule 17d-1 
also applies to joint transactions with Regulated Funds that are BDCs. 
Section 17(d) of the Act and rule 17d-1 under the Act are applicable to 
Regulated Funds that are registered closed-end investment companies.
    2. Section 17(d) of the Act and rule 17d-1 under the Act prohibit 
affiliated persons of a registered investment company from 
participating in joint transactions with the company unless the 
Commission has granted an order permitting such transactions. In 
passing upon applications under rule 17d-1, the Commission considers 
whether the company's participation in the joint transaction is 
consistent with the provisions, policies, and purposes of the Act and 
the extent to which such participation is on a basis different from or 
less advantageous than that of other participants.
    3. Applicants state that in the absence of the requested relief, 
the Regulated Funds would be, in some circumstances, limited in their 
ability to participate in attractive and appropriate investment 
opportunities. Applicants believe that the proposed terms and 
conditions will ensure that the Co-Investment Transactions are 
consistent with the protection of each Regulated Fund's shareholders 
and with the purposes intended by the policies and provisions of the 
Act. Applicants state that the Regulated Funds' participation in the 
Co-Investment Transactions will be consistent with the provisions, 
policies, and purposes of the Act and on a basis that is not different 
from or less advantageous than that of other participants.
    4. Under condition 14, if the Advisers, the Principals, any person 
controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Advisers 
or the Principals, and the Affiliated Funds (collectively, the 
``Holders'') own in the aggregate more than 25% of the outstanding 
voting securities of a Regulated Fund (``Shares''), then the Holders 
will vote such Shares as directed by an independent third party when 
voting on matters specified in the condition. Applicants believe that 
this condition will ensure that the Non-Interested Directors will act 
independently in evaluating the Co-Investment Program, because the 
ability of the Advisers or the Principals to influence the Non-
Interested Directors by a suggestion, explicit or implied, that the 
Non-Interested Directors can be removed will be limited significantly. 
Applicants represent that the Non-Interested Directors will evaluate 
and approve any such voting trust or proxy adviser, taking into 
accounts its qualifications, reputation for independence, cost to the 
shareholders, and other factors that they deem relevant.

Applicants' Conditions

    Applicants agree that the Order will be subject to the following 
conditions:
    1. Each time an Adviser considers a Potential Co-Investment 
Transaction for a Future Affiliated Fund or another Regulated Fund that 
falls within a Regulated Fund's then-current Objectives and Strategies, 
the Regulated Fund's Adviser will make an independent determination of 
the appropriateness of the investment for such Regulated Fund in light 
of the Regulated Fund's then-current circumstances.
    2. (a) If the Adviser deems a Regulated Fund's participation in any 
Potential Co-Investment Transaction to be appropriate for the Regulated 
Fund, it will then determine an appropriate level of investment for the 
Regulated Fund.
    (b) If the aggregate amount recommended by the applicable Adviser 
to be invested by the applicable Regulated Fund in the Potential Co-
Investment Transaction, together with the amount proposed to be 
invested by the other participating Regulated Funds and Future 
Affiliated Funds, collectively, in the same transaction, exceeds the 
amount of the investment opportunity, the investment opportunity will 
be allocated among them pro rata based on each participating party's 
capital available for investment in the asset class being allocated, up 
to the amount proposed to be invested by each. The applicable Adviser 
will provide the Eligible Directors of each participating Regulated 
Fund with information concerning each participating party's available 
capital to assist the Eligible Directors with their review of the 
Regulated Fund's investments for compliance with these allocation 
procedures.
    (c) After making the determinations required in conditions 1 and 
2(a), the applicable Adviser will distribute written information 
concerning the Potential Co-Investment Transaction (including the 
amount proposed to be invested by each participating Regulated Fund and 
Future Affiliated Fund) to the Eligible Directors of each participating 
Regulated Fund for their consideration. A Regulated Fund will co-invest 
with one or more other Regulated Funds and/or one or more Future 
Affiliated Funds only if, prior to the Regulated Fund's participation 
in the Potential Co-Investment Transaction, a Required Majority 
concludes that:
    (i) The terms of the Potential Co-Investment Transaction, including 
the consideration to be paid, are reasonable and fair to the Regulated 
Fund and its shareholders and do not involve overreaching in respect of 
the Regulated Fund or its shareholders on the part of any person 
concerned;
    (ii) the Potential Co-Investment Transaction is consistent with:
    (A) The interests of the shareholders of the Regulated Fund; and
    (B) the Regulated Fund's then-current Objectives and Strategies;
    (iii) the investment by any other Regulated Funds or Future 
Affiliated Funds would not disadvantage the Regulated Fund, and 
participation by

[[Page 28030]]

the Regulated Fund would not be on a basis different from or less 
advantageous than that of other Regulated Funds or Future Affiliated 
Funds; provided that, if any other Regulated Fund or Future Affiliated 
Fund, but not the Regulated Fund itself, gains the right to nominate a 
director for election to a portfolio company's board of directors or 
the right to have a board observer or any similar right to participate 
in the governance or management of the portfolio company, such event 
shall not be interpreted to prohibit the Required Majority from 
reaching the conclusions required by this condition 2(c)(iii), if:
    (A) The Eligible Directors will have the right to ratify the 
selection of such director or board observer, if any;
    (B) the applicable Adviser agrees to, and does, provide periodic 
reports to the Regulated Fund's Board with respect to the actions of 
such director or the information received by such board observer or 
obtained through the exercise of any similar right to participate in 
the governance or management of the portfolio company; and
    (C) any fees or other compensation that any Future Affiliated Fund 
or any Regulated Fund or any affiliated person of any Future Affiliated 
Fund or any Regulated Fund receives in connection with the right of an 
Future Affiliated Fund or a Regulated Fund to nominate a director or 
appoint a board observer or otherwise to participate in the governance 
or management of the portfolio company will be shared proportionately 
among the participating Future Affiliated Funds (who each may, in turn, 
share its portion with its affiliated persons) and the participating 
Regulated Funds in accordance with the amount of each party's 
investment; and
    (iv) the proposed investment by the Regulated Fund will not benefit 
the Advisers, the Future Affiliated Funds or the other Regulated Funds 
or any affiliated person of any of them (other than the parties to the 
Co-Investment Transaction), except (A) to the extent permitted by 
condition 13, (B) to the extent permitted by sections 17(e) or 57(k) of 
the Act, as applicable, (C) indirectly, as a result of an interest in 
the securities issued by one of the parties to the Co-Investment 
Transaction, or (D) in the case of fees or other compensation described 
in condition 2(c)(iii)(C).
    3. Each Regulated Fund has the right to decline to participate in 
any Potential Co-Investment Transaction or to invest less than the 
amount proposed.
    4. The applicable Adviser will present to the Board of each 
Regulated Fund, on a quarterly basis, a record of all investments in 
Potential Co-Investment Transactions made by any of the other Regulated 
Funds or Future Affiliated Funds during the preceding quarter that fell 
within the Regulated Fund's then-current Objectives and Strategies that 
were not made available to the Regulated Fund, and an explanation of 
why the investment opportunities were not offered to the Regulated 
Fund. All information presented to the Board pursuant to this condition 
will be kept for the life of the Regulated Fund and at least two years 
thereafter, and will be subject to examination by the Commission and 
its staff.
    5. Except for Follow-On Investments made in accordance with 
condition 8,\11\ a Regulated Fund will not invest in reliance on the 
Order in any issuer in which another Regulated Fund, Future Affiliated 
Fund, or any affiliated person of another Regulated Fund or Future 
Affiliated Fund is an existing investor.
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    \11\ This exception applies only to Follow-On Investments by a 
Regulated Fund in issuers in which that Regulated Fund already holds 
investments.
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    6. A Regulated Fund will not participate in any Potential Co-
Investment Transaction unless the terms, conditions, price, class of 
securities to be purchased, settlement date, and registration rights 
will be the same for each participating Regulated Fund and Future 
Affiliated Fund. The grant to a Future Affiliated Fund or another 
Regulated Fund, but not the Regulated Fund, of the right to nominate a 
director for election to a portfolio company's board of directors, the 
right to have an observer on the board of directors or similar rights 
to participate in the governance or management of the portfolio company 
will not be interpreted so as to violate this condition 6, if 
conditions 2(c)(iii)(A), (B) and (C) are met.
    7. (a) If any Future Affiliated Fund or any Regulated Fund elects 
to sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of an interest in a security 
that was acquired in a Co-Investment Transaction, the applicable 
Advisers will:
    (i) Notify each Regulated Fund that participated in the Co-
Investment Transaction of the proposed disposition at the earliest 
practical time; and
    (ii) formulate a recommendation as to participation by each 
Regulated Fund in the disposition.
    (b) Each Regulated Fund will have the right to participate in such 
disposition on a proportionate basis, at the same price and on the same 
terms and conditions as those applicable to the participating Future 
Affiliated Funds and Regulated Funds.
    (c) A Regulated Fund may participate in such disposition without 
obtaining prior approval of the Required Majority if: (i) The proposed 
participation of each Regulated Fund and each Future Affiliated Fund in 
such disposition is proportionate to its outstanding investments in the 
issuer immediately preceding the disposition; (ii) the Board of the 
Regulated Fund has approved as being in the best interests of the 
Regulated Fund the ability to participate in such dispositions on a pro 
rata basis (as described in greater detail in the application); and 
(iii) the Board of the Regulated Fund is provided on a quarterly basis 
with a list of all dispositions made in accordance with this condition. 
In all other cases, the Adviser will provide its written recommendation 
as to the Regulated Fund's participation to the Eligible Directors, and 
the Regulated Fund will participate in such disposition solely to the 
extent that a Required Majority determines that it is in the Regulated 
Fund's best interests.
    (d) Each Future Affiliated Fund and each Regulated Fund will bear 
its own expenses in connection with any such disposition.
    8. (a) If any Future Affiliated Fund or any Regulated Fund desires 
to make a Follow-On Investment in a portfolio company whose securities 
were acquired in a Co-Investment Transaction, the applicable Advisers 
will:
    (i) Notify each Regulated Fund that participated in the Co-
Investment Transaction of the proposed transaction at the earliest 
practical time; and
    (ii) formulate a recommendation as to the proposed participation, 
including the amount of the proposed Follow-On Investment, by each 
Regulated Fund.
    (b) A Regulated Fund may participate in such Follow-On Investment 
without obtaining prior approval of the Required Majority if: (i) The 
proposed participation of each Regulated Fund and each Future 
Affiliated Fund in such investment is proportionate to its outstanding 
investments in the issuer immediately preceding the Follow-On 
Investment; and (ii) the Board of the Regulated Fund has approved as 
being in the best interests of the Regulated Fund the ability to 
participate in Follow-On Investments on a pro rata basis (as described 
in greater detail in the application). In all other cases, the Adviser 
will provide its written recommendation as to the Regulated Fund's 
participation to the Eligible Directors, and the Regulated Fund will 
participate in such Follow-On Investment solely to the extent that a

[[Page 28031]]

Required Majority determines that it is in the Regulated Fund's best 
interests.
    (c) If, with respect to any Follow-On Investment:
    (i) The amount of the opportunity is not based on the Regulated 
Funds' and the Future Affiliated Funds' outstanding investments 
immediately preceding the Follow-On Investment; and
    (ii) the aggregate amount recommended by the Adviser to be invested 
by each Regulated Fund in the Follow-On Investment, together with the 
amount proposed to be invested by the participating Future Affiliated 
Funds in the same transaction, exceeds the amount of the opportunity; 
then the amount invested by each such party will be allocated among 
them pro rata based on each participating party's capital available for 
investment in the asset class being allocated, up to the amount 
proposed to be invested by each.
    (d) The acquisition of Follow-On Investments as permitted by this 
condition will be considered a Co-Investment Transaction for all 
purposes and subject to the other conditions set forth in the 
application.
    9. The Non-Interested Directors of each Regulated Fund will be 
provided quarterly for review all information concerning Potential Co-
Investment Transactions and Co-Investment Transactions, including 
investments made by other Regulated Funds or Future Affiliated Funds 
that the Regulated Fund considered but declined to participate in, so 
that the Non-Interested Directors may determine whether all investments 
made during the preceding quarter, including those investments that the 
Regulated Fund considered but declined to participate in, comply with 
the conditions of the Order. In addition, the Non-Interested Directors 
will consider at least annually the continued appropriateness for the 
Regulated Fund of participating in new and existing Co-Investment 
Transactions.
    10. Each Regulated Fund will maintain the records required by 
section 57(f)(3) of the Act as if each of the Regulated Funds were a 
BDC and each of the investments permitted under these conditions were 
approved by the Required Majority under section 57(f) of the Act.
    11. No Non-Interested Director of a Regulated Fund will also be a 
director, general partner, managing member or principal, or otherwise 
an ``affiliated person'' (as defined in the Act), of a Future 
Affiliated Fund.
    12. The expenses, if any, associated with acquiring, holding or 
disposing of any securities acquired in a Co-Investment Transaction 
(including, without limitation, the expenses of the distribution of any 
such securities registered for sale under the Securities Act) will, to 
the extent not payable by the Advisers under their respective 
investment advisory agreements with Future Affiliated Funds and the 
Regulated Funds, be shared by the Regulated Funds and the Future 
Affiliated Funds in proportion to the relative amounts of the 
securities held or to be acquired or disposed of, as the case may be.
    13. Any transaction fee \12\ (including break-up or commitment fees 
but excluding broker's fees contemplated by section 17(e) or 57(k) of 
the Act, as applicable) received in connection with a Co-Investment 
Transaction will be distributed to the participating Regulated Funds 
and Future Affiliated Funds on a pro rata basis based on the amounts 
they invested or committed, as the case may be, in such Co-Investment 
Transaction. If any transaction fee is to be held by an Adviser pending 
consummation of the transaction, the fee will be deposited into an 
account maintained by such Adviser at a bank or banks having the 
qualifications prescribed in section 26(a)(1) of the Act, and the 
account will earn a competitive rate of interest that will also be 
divided pro rata among the participating Regulated Funds and Future 
Affiliated Funds based on the amounts they invest in such Co-Investment 
Transaction. None of the Future Affiliated Funds, the Advisers, the 
other Regulated Funds or any affiliated person of the Regulated Funds 
or Future Affiliated Funds will receive additional compensation or 
remuneration of any kind as a result of or in connection with a Co-
Investment Transaction (other than (a) in the case of the Regulated 
Funds and the Future Affiliated Funds, the pro rata transaction fees 
described above and fees or other compensation described in condition 
2(c)(iii)(C); and (b) in the case of an Adviser, investment advisory 
fees paid in accordance with the agreement between the Adviser and the 
Regulated Fund or Future Affiliated Fund.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ Applicants are not requesting and the staff is not 
providing any relief for transaction fees received in connection 
with any Co-Investment Transaction.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    14. If the Holders own in the aggregate more than 25% of the 
outstanding Shares, then the Holders will vote such Shares as directed 
by an independent third party (such as the trustee of a voting trust or 
a proxy adviser) when voting on (1) the election of directors; (2) the 
removal of one or more directors; or (3) any matters requiring approval 
by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities, as 
defined in Section 2(a)(42) of the Act.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, 
under delegated authority.
Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-11731 Filed 5-14-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                                     Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 94 / Friday, May 15, 2015 / Notices                                                      28027

                                                  change is consistent with the Act.                        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                               notified of a hearing may request
                                                  Comments may be submitted by any of                       COMMISSION                                            notification by writing to the
                                                  the following methods:                                                                                          Commission’s Secretary.
                                                                                                            [Release No. IC–31598; File No. 812–14368]
                                                  Electronic Comments                                                                                             ADDRESSES: Secretary, U.S. Securities
                                                                                                            Business Development Corporation of                   and Exchange Commission, 100 F St.
                                                    • Use the Commission’s Internet                         America, et al.; Notice of Application                NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090.
                                                  comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                                                                               Applicants: James A. Tanaka, General
                                                  rules/sro.shtml); or                                      May 11, 2015.                                         Counsel, RCS Capital, 405 Park Avenue,
                                                                                                            AGENCY:  Securities and Exchange                      14th Floor, New York, NY, 10022.
                                                    • Send an email to rule-comments@                       Commission (‘‘Commission’’).
                                                  sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                                                                         FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                            ACTION: Notice of application for an                  Michael S. Didiuk, Senior Counsel, at
                                                  CBOE–2015–030 on the subject line.
                                                                                                            order under sections 17(d) and 57(i) of               (202) 551–6839 or Holly Hunter-Ceci,
                                                  Paper Comments                                            the Investment Company Act of 1940                    Branch Chief, at (202) 551–6869 (Chief
                                                                                                            (the ‘‘Act’’) and rule 17d–1 under the                Counsel’s Office, Division of Investment
                                                    • Send paper comments in triplicate                     Act to permit certain joint transactions              Management).
                                                  to Secretary, Securities and Exchange                     otherwise prohibited by sections 17(d)
                                                  Commission, 100 F Street NE.,                                                                                   SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
                                                                                                            and 57(a)(4) of the Act and rule 17d–1
                                                  Washington, DC 20549–1090.                                                                                      following is a summary of the
                                                                                                            under the Act.
                                                                                                                                                                  application. The complete application
                                                  All submissions should refer to File                                                                            may be obtained via the Commission’s
                                                  Number SR–CBOE–2015–030. This file                        SUMMARY OF APPLICATION:      Applicants
                                                                                                            request an order to permit business                   Web site by searching for the file
                                                  number should be included on the                                                                                number, or for an applicant using the
                                                  subject line if email is used. To help the                development companies (‘‘BDCs’’) to co-
                                                                                                            invest in portfolio companies with each               Company name box, at http://
                                                  Commission process and review your                                                                              www.sec.gov/search/search.htm or by
                                                                                                            other and with affiliated investment
                                                  comments more efficiently, please use                                                                           calling (202) 551–8090.
                                                                                                            funds.
                                                  only one method. The Commission will
                                                  post all comments on the Commission’s                     APPLICANTS: Business Development                      Applicants’ Representations
                                                  Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                    Corporation of America (‘‘BDCA’’);                      1. BDCA, BDCA II and BDCA Venture
                                                  rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                           Business Development Corporation of                   are Maryland corporations organized as
                                                  submission, all subsequent                                America II (‘‘BDCA II’’); BDCA Venture,               closed-end management investment
                                                  amendments, all written statements                        Inc. (‘‘BDCA Venture,’’ and BDCA                      companies that have elected to be
                                                  with respect to the proposed rule                         Venture together with BDCA and BDCA                   regulated as BDCs under Section 54(a)
                                                  change that are filed with the                            II, the ‘‘BDCA Funds’’), BDCA Adviser,                of the Act.2 BDCA’s Objectives and
                                                  Commission, and all written                               LLC (‘‘BDCA Adviser’’), on behalf of                  Strategies 3 are to generate both current
                                                  communications relating to the                            itself and its successors; 1 BDCA Adviser             income and to a lesser extent long-term
                                                  proposed rule change between the                          II, LLC (‘‘BDCA Adviser II’’), on behalf              capital appreciation through debt and
                                                                                                            of itself and its successors; BDCA                    equity investments. BDCA invests
                                                  Commission and any person, other than
                                                                                                            Venture Adviser, LLC, on behalf of itself             primarily in first and second lien senior
                                                  those that may be withheld from the
                                                                                                            and its successors (‘‘BDCA Venture                    loans and mezzanine debt issued by
                                                  public in accordance with the
                                                                                                            Adviser’’); and BDCA Funding I, LLC;                  middle market companies. BDCA II’s
                                                  provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
                                                                                                            BDCA 2L Funding I, LLC; BDCA–CB                       Objectives and Strategies are to generate
                                                  available for Web site viewing and
                                                                                                            Funding, LLC; and 54th Street Equity                  both current income and, to a lesser
                                                  printing in the Commission’s Public
                                                                                                            Holdings, Inc. (collectively, the                     extent, capital appreciation through its
                                                  Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,
                                                                                                            ‘‘Existing BDCA Subs’’).                              investments. BDCA II intends to achieve
                                                  Washington, DC 20549 on official
                                                  business days between the hours of                        DATES: Filing Dates: The application was              this objective by investing in a portfolio
                                                  10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such                   filed on October 2, 2014 and amended                  composed primarily of leveraged loans.
                                                  filing also will be available for                         on March 13, 2015.                                    BDCA Venture’s Objectives and
                                                  inspection and copying at the principal                   HEARING OR NOTIFICATION OF HEARING: An                Strategies are to maximize total return
                                                  offices of the Exchange. All comments                     order granting the requested relief will              by generating current income from debt
                                                  received will be posted without change;                   be issued unless the Commission orders                investments and, to a lesser extent,
                                                  the Commission does not edit personal                     a hearing. Interested persons may                     capital appreciation from equity and
                                                  identifying information from                              request a hearing by writing to the                   equity-related investments. BDCA
                                                  submissions. You should submit only                       Commission’s Secretary and serving                    Venture seeks to accomplish its total
                                                  information that you wish to make                         applicants with a copy of the request,                return objective by primarily lending
                                                  available publicly. All submissions                       personally or by mail. Hearing requests               with warrants to emerging growth
                                                  should refer to File Number SR–CBOE–                      should be received by the Commission
                                                  2015–030, and should be submitted on                      by 5:30 p.m. on June 8, 2015, and                       2 Section 2(a)(48) defines a BDC to be any closed-

                                                                                                            should be accompanied by proof of                     end investment company that operates for the
                                                  or before June 5, 2015.                                                                                         purpose of making investments in securities
                                                                                                            service on applicants, in the form of an              described in sections 55(a)(1) through 55(a)(3) of the
                                                    For the Commission, by the Division of                  affidavit or, for lawyers, a certificate of           Act and makes available significant managerial
                                                  Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated                service. Hearing requests should state                assistance with respect to the issuers of such
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                  authority.30                                              the nature of the writer’s interest, the              securities.
                                                  Robert W. Errett,                                         reason for the request, and the issues                  3 ‘‘Objectives and Strategies’’ means a Regulated

                                                                                                                                                                  Fund’s investment objectives and strategies, as
                                                  Deputy Secretary.                                         contested. Persons who wish to be                     described in the Regulated Fund’s registration
                                                  [FR Doc. 2015–11716 Filed 5–14–15; 8:45 am]                                                                     statement on Form N–2, other filings the Regulated
                                                                                                              1 The term ‘‘successor,’’ as applied to each        Fund has made with the Commission under the
                                                  BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                                                                            Adviser, means an entity that results from a          Securities Act of 1933 (the ‘‘Securities Act’’), or
                                                                                                            reorganization into another jurisdiction or change    under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the
                                                    30 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                            in the type of business organization.                 Regulated Fund’s reports to shareholders.



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                                                  28028                             Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 94 / Friday, May 15, 2015 / Notices

                                                  companies that are typically backed by                   to price; 6 and (b) making additional                     The Regulated Fund’s Board would
                                                  venture capital firms.                                   investments in securities of such                         make all relevant determinations under
                                                     2. The board of directors of BDCA (the                issuers, including through the exercise                   the conditions with regard to a Wholly-
                                                  ‘‘BDCA Board’’) is comprised of five                     of warrants, conversion privileges, and                   Owned Investment Sub’s participation
                                                  directors, three of whom are not                         other rights to purchase securities of the                in a Co-Investment Transaction, and the
                                                  ‘‘interested persons,’’ within the                       issuers (‘‘Follow-On Investments’’). ‘‘Co-                Regulated Fund’s Board would be
                                                  meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940                  Investment Transaction’’ means any                        informed of, and take into
                                                  Act (the ‘‘Non-Interested Directors’’), of               transaction in which a Regulated Fund                     consideration, any proposed use of a
                                                  BDCA. The board of directors of BDCA                     (or its Wholly-Owned Investment Sub,                      Wholly-Owned Investment Sub in the
                                                  II (the ‘‘BDCA II Board’’) is comprised                  as defined below) participated together                   Regulated Fund’s place. If the Regulated
                                                  of five directors, three of whom are Non-                with one or more other Regulated Funds                    Fund proposes to participate in the
                                                  Interested Directors of BDCA II. The                     and/or one or more Future Affiliated                      same Co-Investment Transaction with
                                                  board of directors of BDCA Venture (the                  Funds in reliance on the requested                        any of its Wholly-Owned Investment
                                                  ‘‘BDCA Venture Board,’’ and                              Order. ‘‘Potential Co-Investment                          Subs, the Board will also be informed
                                                  collectively with the BDCA Board and                     Transaction’’ means any investment                        of, and take into consideration, the
                                                  the BDCA II Board, and any board of                      opportunity in which a Regulated Fund                     relative participation of the Regulated
                                                  directors of a Future Regulated Fund,                    (or its Wholly-Owned Investment Sub,                      Fund and the Wholly-Owned
                                                  the ‘‘Boards’’ and each a ‘‘Board,’’ as                  as defined below) could not participate                   Investment Sub.
                                                  applicable) consists of five directors,                  together with one or more Future                             6. When considering Potential Co-
                                                  four of whom are Non-Interested                          Affiliated Funds and/or one or more                       Investment Transactions for any
                                                  Directors of BDCA Venture.                               other Regulated Funds without                             Regulated Fund, the applicable Adviser
                                                     3. BDCA Adviser is a Delaware                         obtaining and relying on the Order.7                      will consider only the Objectives and
                                                  limited liability company that is                           5. Applicants state that a Regulated                   Strategies, investment policies,
                                                  registered as an investment adviser                      Fund may, from time to time, form one                     investment positions, capital available
                                                  under the Investment Advisers Act of                     or more Wholly-Owned Investment                           for investment, and other pertinent
                                                  1940 (the ‘‘Advisers Act’’). BDCA                        Subs.8 Such a subsidiary would be                         factors applicable to that Regulated
                                                  Adviser serves as investment adviser to                  prohibited from investing in a Co-                        Fund. The Regulated Funds’ Advisers
                                                  BDCA. BDCA Adviser II is a Delaware                      Investment Transaction with any Future                    expect that any portfolio company that
                                                  limited liability company that is                        Affiliated Fund or Regulated Fund                         is an appropriate investment for a
                                                  registered as an investment adviser                      because it would be a company                             Regulated Fund should also be an
                                                  under the Advisers Act. BDCA Adviser                     controlled by its parent Regulated Fund                   appropriate investment for one or more
                                                  II serves as investment adviser to BDCA                  for purposes of section 57(a)(4) and rule                 other Regulated Funds and/or one or
                                                  II. BDCA Venture Adviser is a Delaware                   17d–1. Applicants request that each                       more Future Affiliated Funds, with
                                                  limited liability company that is                        Wholly-Owned Investment Sub be                            certain exceptions based on available
                                                  registered as an investment adviser                      permitted to participate in Co-                           capital or diversification.9
                                                  under the Advisers Act. BDCA Venture                     Investment Transactions in lieu of its                       7. Other than pro rata dispositions
                                                  Adviser serves as investment adviser to                  parent Regulated Fund and that the                        and Follow-On Investments as provided
                                                  BDCA Venture.                                            Wholly-Owned Investment Sub’s                             in conditions 7 and 8, and after making
                                                     4. Applicants seek an order (‘‘Order’’)               participation in any such transaction be                  the determinations required in
                                                  to permit a Regulated Fund 4 and one or                  treated, for purposes of the requested                    conditions 1 and 2(a), the Adviser will
                                                  more Regulated Funds and/or one or                       Order, as though the parent Regulated                     present each Potential Co-Investment
                                                  more Future Affiliated Funds 5 to                        Fund were participating directly.                         Transaction and the proposed allocation
                                                  participate in the same investment                       Applicants represent that this treatment                  to the directors of the Board eligible to
                                                  opportunities through a proposed co-                     is justified because a Wholly-Owned                       vote under section 57(o) of the Act
                                                  investment program (the ‘‘Co-                            Investment Sub would have no purpose                      (‘‘Eligible Directors’’), and the ‘‘required
                                                  Investment Program’’) where such                         other than serving as a holding vehicle                   majority,’’ as defined in section 57(o) of
                                                  participation would otherwise be                         for the Regulated Fund’s investments                      the Act (‘‘Required Majority’’) 10 will
                                                  prohibited under section 57(a)(4) and                    and, therefore, no conflicts of interest                  approve each Co-Investment
                                                  rule 17d–1 by (a) co-investing with each                 could arise between the Regulated Fund                    Transaction prior to any investment by
                                                  other in securities issued by issuers in                 and the Wholly-Owned Investment Sub.                      the participating Regulated Fund.
                                                  private placement transactions in which                                                                               8. With respect to the pro rata
                                                                                                             6 The term ‘‘private placement transactions’’
                                                  an Adviser negotiates terms in addition                                                                            dispositions and Follow-On Investments
                                                                                                           means transactions in which the offer and sale of
                                                                                                           securities by the issuer are exempt from registration
                                                                                                                                                                     provided in conditions 7 and 8, a
                                                     4 ‘‘Regulated Fund’’ means any of the BDCA
                                                                                                           under the Securities Act.                                 Regulated Fund may participate in a pro
                                                  Funds and any Future Regulated Fund. ‘‘Future              7 All existing entities that currently intend to rely   rata disposition or Follow-On
                                                  Regulated Fund’’ means any closed-end                    upon the requested Order have been named as               Investment without obtaining prior
                                                  management investment company (a) that is                applicants. Any other existing or future entity that
                                                  registered under the Act or has elected to be                                                                      approval of the Required Majority if,
                                                                                                           subsequently relies on the Order will comply with
                                                  regulated as a BDC, (b) whose investment adviser         the terms and conditions of the application.              among other things: (i) The proposed
                                                  is an Adviser, and (c) that intends to participate in      8 The term ‘‘Wholly-Owned Investment Sub’’              participation of each Regulated Fund
                                                  the Co-Investment Program. The term ‘‘Adviser’’          means an entity (i) that is wholly-owned by a             and Future Affiliated Fund in such
                                                  means (a) BDCA Adviser, BDCA Adviser II, and             Regulated Fund (with the Regulated Fund at all
                                                  BDCA Venture Adviser and (b) any future                                                                            disposition is proportionate to its
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                                                                                                           times holding, beneficially and of record, 100% of
                                                  investment adviser that controls, is controlled by or    the voting and economic interests); (ii) whose sole
                                                  is under common control with AR Capital, LLC and                                                                     9 The Regulated Funds, however, will not be
                                                                                                           business purpose is to hold one or more
                                                  is registered as an investment adviser under the         investments on behalf of the Regulated Fund; (iii)        obligated to invest, or co-invest, when investment
                                                  Advisers Act.                                            with respect to which the Regulated Fund’s Board          opportunities are referred to them.
                                                     5 ‘‘Future Affiliated Fund’’ means any entity (a)     has the sole authority to make all determinations           10 In the case of a Regulated Fund that is a

                                                  whose investment adviser is an Adviser, (b) that         with respect to the entity’s participation under the      registered closed-end fund, the Board members that
                                                  would be an investment company but for section           conditions of the Application; and (iv) that would        make up the Required Majority will be determined
                                                  3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the Act, and (c) that intends to   be an investment company but for section 3(c)(1) or       as if the Regulated Fund were a BDC subject to
                                                  participate in the Co-Investment Program.                3(c)(7) of the Act.                                       Section 57(o).



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                                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 94 / Friday, May 15, 2015 / Notices                                            28029

                                                  outstanding investments in the issuer                   company’s participation in the joint                  such Regulated Fund in light of the
                                                  immediately preceding the disposition                   transaction is consistent with the                    Regulated Fund’s then-current
                                                  or Follow-On Investment, as the case                    provisions, policies, and purposes of the             circumstances.
                                                  may be; and (ii) the Board of the                       Act and the extent to which such                         2. (a) If the Adviser deems a Regulated
                                                  Regulated Fund has approved that                        participation is on a basis different from            Fund’s participation in any Potential
                                                  Regulated Fund’s participation in pro                   or less advantageous than that of other               Co-Investment Transaction to be
                                                  rata dispositions and Follow-On                         participants.                                         appropriate for the Regulated Fund, it
                                                  Investments as being in the best                           3. Applicants state that in the absence            will then determine an appropriate level
                                                  interests of the Regulated Fund. If the                 of the requested relief, the Regulated                of investment for the Regulated Fund.
                                                  Board does not so approve, any such                     Funds would be, in some                                  (b) If the aggregate amount
                                                  disposition or Follow-On Investment                     circumstances, limited in their ability to            recommended by the applicable Adviser
                                                  will be submitted to the Regulated                      participate in attractive and appropriate             to be invested by the applicable
                                                  Fund’s Eligible Directors. The Board of                 investment opportunities. Applicants                  Regulated Fund in the Potential Co-
                                                  any Regulated Fund may at any time                      believe that the proposed terms and                   Investment Transaction, together with
                                                  rescind, suspend or qualify its approval                conditions will ensure that the Co-                   the amount proposed to be invested by
                                                  of pro rata dispositions and Follow-On                  Investment Transactions are consistent                the other participating Regulated Funds
                                                  Investments with the result that all                    with the protection of each Regulated                 and Future Affiliated Funds,
                                                  dispositions and/or Follow-On                           Fund’s shareholders and with the                      collectively, in the same transaction,
                                                  Investments must be submitted to the                    purposes intended by the policies and                 exceeds the amount of the investment
                                                  Eligible Directors.                                     provisions of the Act. Applicants state               opportunity, the investment opportunity
                                                    9. No Non-Interested Director of a                    that the Regulated Funds’ participation               will be allocated among them pro rata
                                                  Regulated Fund will have a financial                    in the Co-Investment Transactions will                based on each participating party’s
                                                  interest in any Co-Investment                           be consistent with the provisions,                    capital available for investment in the
                                                  Transaction, other than through share                   policies, and purposes of the Act and on              asset class being allocated, up to the
                                                  ownership in one of the Regulated                       a basis that is not different from or less            amount proposed to be invested by
                                                  Funds.                                                  advantageous than that of other                       each. The applicable Adviser will
                                                                                                          participants.                                         provide the Eligible Directors of each
                                                  Applicants’ Legal Analysis                                 4. Under condition 14, if the Advisers,            participating Regulated Fund with
                                                     1. Section 57(a)(4) of the Act prohibits             the Principals, any person controlling,               information concerning each
                                                  certain affiliated persons of a BDC from                controlled by, or under common control                participating party’s available capital to
                                                  participating in joint transactions with                with the Advisers or the Principals, and              assist the Eligible Directors with their
                                                  the BDC or a company controlled by a                    the Affiliated Funds (collectively, the               review of the Regulated Fund’s
                                                  BDC in contravention of rules as                        ‘‘Holders’’) own in the aggregate more                investments for compliance with these
                                                  prescribed by the Commission. Under                     than 25% of the outstanding voting                    allocation procedures.
                                                  section 57(b)(2) of the Act, any person                 securities of a Regulated Fund                           (c) After making the determinations
                                                  who is directly or indirectly controlling,              (‘‘Shares’’), then the Holders will vote              required in conditions 1 and 2(a), the
                                                  controlled by, or under common control                  such Shares as directed by an                         applicable Adviser will distribute
                                                  with a BDC is subject to section 57(a)(4).              independent third party when voting on                written information concerning the
                                                  Applicants submit that each of the                      matters specified in the condition.                   Potential Co-Investment Transaction
                                                  Regulated Funds and Future Affiliated                   Applicants believe that this condition                (including the amount proposed to be
                                                  Funds be deemed to be a person related                  will ensure that the Non-Interested                   invested by each participating Regulated
                                                  to each Regulated Fund in a manner                      Directors will act independently in                   Fund and Future Affiliated Fund) to the
                                                  described by section 57(b) by virtue of                 evaluating the Co-Investment Program,                 Eligible Directors of each participating
                                                  being under common control. Section                     because the ability of the Advisers or                Regulated Fund for their consideration.
                                                  57(i) of the Act provides that, until the               the Principals to influence the Non-                  A Regulated Fund will co-invest with
                                                  Commission prescribes rules under                       Interested Directors by a suggestion,                 one or more other Regulated Funds and/
                                                  section 57(a)(4), the Commission’s rules                explicit or implied, that the Non-                    or one or more Future Affiliated Funds
                                                  under section 17(d) of the Act                          Interested Directors can be removed will              only if, prior to the Regulated Fund’s
                                                  applicable to registered closed-end                     be limited significantly. Applicants                  participation in the Potential Co-
                                                  investment companies will be deemed                     represent that the Non-Interested                     Investment Transaction, a Required
                                                  to apply to transactions subject to                     Directors will evaluate and approve any               Majority concludes that:
                                                  section 57(a)(4). Because the                           such voting trust or proxy adviser,                      (i) The terms of the Potential Co-
                                                  Commission has not adopted any rules                    taking into accounts its qualifications,              Investment Transaction, including the
                                                  under section 57(a)(4), rule 17d–1 also                 reputation for independence, cost to the              consideration to be paid, are reasonable
                                                  applies to joint transactions with                      shareholders, and other factors that they             and fair to the Regulated Fund and its
                                                  Regulated Funds that are BDCs. Section                  deem relevant.                                        shareholders and do not involve
                                                  17(d) of the Act and rule 17d–1 under                                                                         overreaching in respect of the Regulated
                                                  the Act are applicable to Regulated                     Applicants’ Conditions
                                                                                                                                                                Fund or its shareholders on the part of
                                                  Funds that are registered closed-end                      Applicants agree that the Order will                any person concerned;
                                                  investment companies.                                   be subject to the following conditions:                  (ii) the Potential Co-Investment
                                                     2. Section 17(d) of the Act and rule                   1. Each time an Adviser considers a                 Transaction is consistent with:
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                                                  17d–1 under the Act prohibit affiliated                 Potential Co-Investment Transaction for                  (A) The interests of the shareholders
                                                  persons of a registered investment                      a Future Affiliated Fund or another                   of the Regulated Fund; and
                                                  company from participating in joint                     Regulated Fund that falls within a                       (B) the Regulated Fund’s then-current
                                                  transactions with the company unless                    Regulated Fund’s then-current                         Objectives and Strategies;
                                                  the Commission has granted an order                     Objectives and Strategies, the Regulated                 (iii) the investment by any other
                                                  permitting such transactions. In passing                Fund’s Adviser will make an                           Regulated Funds or Future Affiliated
                                                  upon applications under rule 17d–1, the                 independent determination of the                      Funds would not disadvantage the
                                                  Commission considers whether the                        appropriateness of the investment for                 Regulated Fund, and participation by


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                                                  28030                            Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 94 / Friday, May 15, 2015 / Notices

                                                  the Regulated Fund would not be on a                    investments in Potential Co-Investment                   (c) A Regulated Fund may participate
                                                  basis different from or less advantageous               Transactions made by any of the other                 in such disposition without obtaining
                                                  than that of other Regulated Funds or                   Regulated Funds or Future Affiliated                  prior approval of the Required Majority
                                                  Future Affiliated Funds; provided that,                 Funds during the preceding quarter that               if: (i) The proposed participation of each
                                                  if any other Regulated Fund or Future                   fell within the Regulated Fund’s then-                Regulated Fund and each Future
                                                  Affiliated Fund, but not the Regulated                  current Objectives and Strategies that                Affiliated Fund in such disposition is
                                                  Fund itself, gains the right to nominate                were not made available to the                        proportionate to its outstanding
                                                  a director for election to a portfolio                  Regulated Fund, and an explanation of                 investments in the issuer immediately
                                                  company’s board of directors or the                     why the investment opportunities were                 preceding the disposition; (ii) the Board
                                                  right to have a board observer or any                   not offered to the Regulated Fund. All                of the Regulated Fund has approved as
                                                  similar right to participate in the                     information presented to the Board                    being in the best interests of the
                                                  governance or management of the                         pursuant to this condition will be kept               Regulated Fund the ability to participate
                                                  portfolio company, such event shall not                 for the life of the Regulated Fund and                in such dispositions on a pro rata basis
                                                  be interpreted to prohibit the Required                 at least two years thereafter, and will be            (as described in greater detail in the
                                                  Majority from reaching the conclusions                  subject to examination by the                         application); and (iii) the Board of the
                                                  required by this condition 2(c)(iii), if:               Commission and its staff.                             Regulated Fund is provided on a
                                                     (A) The Eligible Directors will have                    5. Except for Follow-On Investments                quarterly basis with a list of all
                                                  the right to ratify the selection of such               made in accordance with condition 8,11                dispositions made in accordance with
                                                  director or board observer, if any;                     a Regulated Fund will not invest in                   this condition. In all other cases, the
                                                     (B) the applicable Adviser agrees to,                reliance on the Order in any issuer in                Adviser will provide its written
                                                  and does, provide periodic reports to                   which another Regulated Fund, Future                  recommendation as to the Regulated
                                                  the Regulated Fund’s Board with respect                 Affiliated Fund, or any affiliated person             Fund’s participation to the Eligible
                                                  to the actions of such director or the                  of another Regulated Fund or Future                   Directors, and the Regulated Fund will
                                                  information received by such board                      Affiliated Fund is an existing investor.              participate in such disposition solely to
                                                  observer or obtained through the                           6. A Regulated Fund will not                       the extent that a Required Majority
                                                  exercise of any similar right to                        participate in any Potential Co-                      determines that it is in the Regulated
                                                  participate in the governance or                        Investment Transaction unless the                     Fund’s best interests.
                                                  management of the portfolio company;                    terms, conditions, price, class of                       (d) Each Future Affiliated Fund and
                                                  and                                                     securities to be purchased, settlement                each Regulated Fund will bear its own
                                                     (C) any fees or other compensation                   date, and registration rights will be the             expenses in connection with any such
                                                  that any Future Affiliated Fund or any                  same for each participating Regulated
                                                  Regulated Fund or any affiliated person                                                                       disposition.
                                                                                                          Fund and Future Affiliated Fund. The                     8. (a) If any Future Affiliated Fund or
                                                  of any Future Affiliated Fund or any
                                                                                                          grant to a Future Affiliated Fund or                  any Regulated Fund desires to make a
                                                  Regulated Fund receives in connection
                                                                                                          another Regulated Fund, but not the                   Follow-On Investment in a portfolio
                                                  with the right of an Future Affiliated
                                                                                                          Regulated Fund, of the right to nominate              company whose securities were
                                                  Fund or a Regulated Fund to nominate
                                                                                                          a director for election to a portfolio                acquired in a Co-Investment
                                                  a director or appoint a board observer or
                                                                                                          company’s board of directors, the right               Transaction, the applicable Advisers
                                                  otherwise to participate in the
                                                                                                          to have an observer on the board of                   will:
                                                  governance or management of the
                                                                                                          directors or similar rights to participate               (i) Notify each Regulated Fund that
                                                  portfolio company will be shared
                                                                                                          in the governance or management of the                participated in the Co-Investment
                                                  proportionately among the participating
                                                                                                          portfolio company will not be                         Transaction of the proposed transaction
                                                  Future Affiliated Funds (who each may,
                                                                                                          interpreted so as to violate this                     at the earliest practical time; and
                                                  in turn, share its portion with its
                                                                                                          condition 6, if conditions 2(c)(iii)(A), (B)             (ii) formulate a recommendation as to
                                                  affiliated persons) and the participating
                                                                                                          and (C) are met.                                      the proposed participation, including
                                                  Regulated Funds in accordance with the
                                                                                                             7. (a) If any Future Affiliated Fund or            the amount of the proposed Follow-On
                                                  amount of each party’s investment; and
                                                                                                          any Regulated Fund elects to sell,                    Investment, by each Regulated Fund.
                                                     (iv) the proposed investment by the
                                                                                                          exchange or otherwise dispose of an                      (b) A Regulated Fund may participate
                                                  Regulated Fund will not benefit the
                                                                                                          interest in a security that was acquired              in such Follow-On Investment without
                                                  Advisers, the Future Affiliated Funds or
                                                                                                          in a Co-Investment Transaction, the                   obtaining prior approval of the Required
                                                  the other Regulated Funds or any
                                                                                                          applicable Advisers will:                             Majority if: (i) The proposed
                                                  affiliated person of any of them (other
                                                                                                             (i) Notify each Regulated Fund that                participation of each Regulated Fund
                                                  than the parties to the Co-Investment
                                                                                                          participated in the Co-Investment                     and each Future Affiliated Fund in such
                                                  Transaction), except (A) to the extent
                                                                                                          Transaction of the proposed disposition               investment is proportionate to its
                                                  permitted by condition 13, (B) to the
                                                                                                          at the earliest practical time; and                   outstanding investments in the issuer
                                                  extent permitted by sections 17(e) or
                                                                                                             (ii) formulate a recommendation as to              immediately preceding the Follow-On
                                                  57(k) of the Act, as applicable, (C)
                                                                                                          participation by each Regulated Fund in               Investment; and (ii) the Board of the
                                                  indirectly, as a result of an interest in
                                                                                                          the disposition.                                      Regulated Fund has approved as being
                                                  the securities issued by one of the
                                                                                                             (b) Each Regulated Fund will have the              in the best interests of the Regulated
                                                  parties to the Co-Investment
                                                                                                          right to participate in such disposition              Fund the ability to participate in
                                                  Transaction, or (D) in the case of fees or
                                                                                                          on a proportionate basis, at the same                 Follow-On Investments on a pro rata
                                                  other compensation described in
                                                                                                          price and on the same terms and
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                                                  condition 2(c)(iii)(C).                                                                                       basis (as described in greater detail in
                                                     3. Each Regulated Fund has the right                 conditions as those applicable to the                 the application). In all other cases, the
                                                  to decline to participate in any Potential              participating Future Affiliated Funds                 Adviser will provide its written
                                                  Co-Investment Transaction or to invest                  and Regulated Funds.                                  recommendation as to the Regulated
                                                  less than the amount proposed.                            11 This exception applies only to Follow-On
                                                                                                                                                                Fund’s participation to the Eligible
                                                     4. The applicable Adviser will present               Investments by a Regulated Fund in issuers in
                                                                                                                                                                Directors, and the Regulated Fund will
                                                  to the Board of each Regulated Fund, on                 which that Regulated Fund already holds               participate in such Follow-On
                                                  a quarterly basis, a record of all                      investments.                                          Investment solely to the extent that a


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                                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 94 / Friday, May 15, 2015 / Notices                                                     28031

                                                  Required Majority determines that it is                 without limitation, the expenses of the               voting securities, as defined in Section
                                                  in the Regulated Fund’s best interests.                 distribution of any such securities                   2(a)(42) of the Act.
                                                    (c) If, with respect to any Follow-On                 registered for sale under the Securities                For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                  Investment:                                             Act) will, to the extent not payable by               Investment Management, under delegated
                                                    (i) The amount of the opportunity is                  the Advisers under their respective                   authority.
                                                  not based on the Regulated Funds’ and                   investment advisory agreements with                   Robert W. Errett,
                                                  the Future Affiliated Funds’ outstanding                Future Affiliated Funds and the                       Deputy Secretary.
                                                  investments immediately preceding the                   Regulated Funds, be shared by the                     [FR Doc. 2015–11731 Filed 5–14–15; 8:45 am]
                                                  Follow-On Investment; and                               Regulated Funds and the Future
                                                    (ii) the aggregate amount                             Affiliated Funds in proportion to the
                                                                                                                                                                BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                  recommended by the Adviser to be                        relative amounts of the securities held
                                                  invested by each Regulated Fund in the                  or to be acquired or disposed of, as the
                                                  Follow-On Investment, together with                                                                           SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                                                                          case may be.                                          COMMISSION
                                                  the amount proposed to be invested by                      13. Any transaction fee 12 (including
                                                  the participating Future Affiliated                     break-up or commitment fees but                       [Investment Company Act Release No.
                                                  Funds in the same transaction, exceeds                  excluding broker’s fees contemplated by               31597; File No. 812–14360]
                                                  the amount of the opportunity; then the                 section 17(e) or 57(k) of the Act, as
                                                  amount invested by each such party will                 applicable) received in connection with               The MainStay Funds, et al.; Notice of
                                                  be allocated among them pro rata based                  a Co-Investment Transaction will be                   Application
                                                  on each participating party’s capital                   distributed to the participating                      May 11, 2015.
                                                  available for investment in the asset                   Regulated Funds and Future Affiliated
                                                  class being allocated, up to the amount                                                                       AGENCY:  Securities and Exchange
                                                                                                          Funds on a pro rata basis based on the                Commission (‘‘Commission’’).
                                                  proposed to be invested by each.                        amounts they invested or committed, as
                                                    (d) The acquisition of Follow-On                                                                            ACTION: Notice of an application under
                                                                                                          the case may be, in such Co-Investment
                                                  Investments as permitted by this                                                                              section 6(c) of the Investment Company
                                                                                                          Transaction. If any transaction fee is to
                                                  condition will be considered a Co-                                                                            Act of 1940 (‘‘Act’’) for an exemption
                                                                                                          be held by an Adviser pending
                                                  Investment Transaction for all purposes                                                                       from section 15(a) of the Act and rule
                                                                                                          consummation of the transaction, the
                                                  and subject to the other conditions set                                                                       18f–2 under the Act, as well as from
                                                                                                          fee will be deposited into an account
                                                  forth in the application.                                                                                     certain disclosure requirements.
                                                                                                          maintained by such Adviser at a bank or
                                                    9. The Non-Interested Directors of
                                                                                                          banks having the qualifications                       SUMMARY OF APPLICATION:     Applicants
                                                  each Regulated Fund will be provided
                                                                                                          prescribed in section 26(a)(1) of the Act,            request an order that would permit them
                                                  quarterly for review all information
                                                                                                          and the account will earn a competitive               to enter into and materially amend
                                                  concerning Potential Co-Investment
                                                                                                          rate of interest that will also be divided            subadvisory agreements with Wholly-
                                                  Transactions and Co-Investment
                                                                                                          pro rata among the participating                      Owned Subadvisers (as defined below)
                                                  Transactions, including investments
                                                                                                          Regulated Funds and Future Affiliated                 and Non-Affiliated Subadvisers (as
                                                  made by other Regulated Funds or
                                                                                                          Funds based on the amounts they invest                defined below) without shareholder
                                                  Future Affiliated Funds that the
                                                                                                          in such Co-Investment Transaction.                    approval and would grant relief from
                                                  Regulated Fund considered but declined
                                                                                                          None of the Future Affiliated Funds, the              certain disclosure requirements. The
                                                  to participate in, so that the Non-
                                                                                                          Advisers, the other Regulated Funds or                requested order would supersede a prior
                                                  Interested Directors may determine
                                                                                                          any affiliated person of the Regulated                order that granted relief solely with
                                                  whether all investments made during
                                                                                                          Funds or Future Affiliated Funds will                 respect to Non-Affiliated Subadvisers.1
                                                  the preceding quarter, including those
                                                                                                          receive additional compensation or
                                                  investments that the Regulated Fund                                                                           APPLICANTS: The MainStay Funds,
                                                                                                          remuneration of any kind as a result of
                                                  considered but declined to participate                                                                        MainStay Funds Trust and MainStay VP
                                                                                                          or in connection with a Co-Investment
                                                  in, comply with the conditions of the                                                                         Funds Trust (each, a ‘‘Trust’’) and New
                                                                                                          Transaction (other than (a) in the case
                                                  Order. In addition, the Non-Interested                                                                        York Life Investment Management LLC
                                                                                                          of the Regulated Funds and the Future
                                                  Directors will consider at least annually                                                                     (the ‘‘Adviser’’ or ‘‘New York Life
                                                                                                          Affiliated Funds, the pro rata
                                                  the continued appropriateness for the                                                                         Investments’’).
                                                                                                          transaction fees described above and
                                                  Regulated Fund of participating in new                                                                        FILING DATES: The application was filed
                                                                                                          fees or other compensation described in
                                                  and existing Co-Investment                                                                                    on September 19, 2014, and amended
                                                                                                          condition 2(c)(iii)(C); and (b) in the case
                                                  Transactions.                                                                                                 on February 3, 2015, and April 3, 2015.
                                                    10. Each Regulated Fund will                          of an Adviser, investment advisory fees
                                                                                                          paid in accordance with the agreement                 HEARING OR NOTIFICATION OF HEARING: An
                                                  maintain the records required by section                                                                      order granting the application will be
                                                  57(f)(3) of the Act as if each of the                   between the Adviser and the Regulated
                                                                                                          Fund or Future Affiliated Fund.                       issued unless the Commission orders a
                                                  Regulated Funds were a BDC and each                                                                           hearing. Interested persons may request
                                                                                                             14. If the Holders own in the aggregate
                                                  of the investments permitted under                                                                            a hearing by writing to the
                                                                                                          more than 25% of the outstanding
                                                  these conditions were approved by the                                                                         Commission’s Secretary and serving
                                                                                                          Shares, then the Holders will vote such
                                                  Required Majority under section 57(f) of                                                                      applicants with a copy of the request,
                                                                                                          Shares as directed by an independent
                                                  the Act.                                                                                                      personally or by mail. Hearing requests
                                                    11. No Non-Interested Director of a                   third party (such as the trustee of a
                                                                                                          voting trust or a proxy adviser) when                 should be received by the Commission
                                                  Regulated Fund will also be a director,                                                                       by 5:30 p.m. on June 5, 2015, and
                                                                                                          voting on (1) the election of directors;
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                                                  general partner, managing member or                                                                           should be accompanied by proof of
                                                  principal, or otherwise an ‘‘affiliated                 (2) the removal of one or more directors;
                                                                                                          or (3) any matters requiring approval by              service on applicants, in the form of an
                                                  person’’ (as defined in the Act), of a                                                                        affidavit or, for lawyers, a certificate of
                                                  Future Affiliated Fund.                                 the vote of a majority of the outstanding
                                                                                                                                                                service. Hearing requests should state
                                                    12. The expenses, if any, associated                    12 Applicants are not requesting and the staff is
                                                  with acquiring, holding or disposing of                 not providing any relief for transaction fees           1 The MainStay Funds, et al., Investment
                                                  any securities acquired in a Co-                        received in connection with any Co-Investment         Company Act Release Nos. 27595 (December 11,
                                                  Investment Transaction (including,                      Transaction.                                          2006) (notice) and 27656 (January 8, 2007) (order).



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Document Created: 2018-02-21 10:27:58
Document Modified: 2018-02-21 10:27:58
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of application for an order under sections 17(d) and 57(i) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the ``Act'') and rule 17d- 1 under the Act to permit certain joint transactions otherwise prohibited by sections 17(d) and 57(a)(4) of the Act and rule 17d-1 under the Act.
DatesFiling Dates: The application was filed on October 2, 2014 and
ContactMichael S. Didiuk, Senior Counsel, at (202) 551-6839 or Holly Hunter-Ceci, Branch Chief, at (202) 551-6869 (Chief Counsel's Office, Division of Investment Management).
FR Citation80 FR 28027 

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