80 FR 30311 - The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, et al.; Notice of Application and Temporary Order
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 101 (May 27, 2015)
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 101 (May 27, 2015)
| Page Range | 30311-30314 | |
| FR Document | 2015-12757 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 101 (Wednesday, May 27, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 30311-30314] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-12757] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. IC-31642; File No. 812-14469] The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, et al.; Notice of Application and Temporary Order May 20, 2015. AGENCY: Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission''). ACTION: Temporary order and notice of application for a permanent order under section 9(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (``Act''). ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Summary of Application: Applicants have received a temporary order (``Temporary Order'') exempting them from section 9(a) of the Act, with respect to a guilty plea entered on May 20, 2015, by the Royal Bank of Scotland plc (``RBS'' or the ``Settling Firm'') in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut (the ``District Court'') in connection with a plea agreement (``Plea Agreement'') between the Settling Firm and the United States Department of Justice (``DOJ''), until the Commission takes final action on an application for a permanent order (the ``Permanent Order,'' and with the Temporary Order, the ``Orders''). Applicants also have applied for a Permanent Order. Applicants: RBS and Citizens Investment Advisors (``Citizens IA'') (each an ``Applicant'' and together, the ``Applicants''). DATES: Filing Date: The application was filed on May 20, 2015. Hearing or Notification of Hearing: An order granting the application will be issued unless the Commission orders a hearing. Interested persons may request a hearing by writing to the Commission's Secretary and serving Applicants with a copy of the request, personally or by mail. Hearing requests should be received by the Commission by 5:30 p.m. on June 15, 2015, and should be accompanied by proof of service on Applicants, in the form of an affidavit, or for lawyers, a certificate of service. Pursuant to rule 0-5 under the Act, hearing requests should state the nature of the writer's interest, any facts bearing upon the desirability of a hearing on the matter, the reason for the request, and the issues contested. Persons who wish to be notified of a hearing may request notification by writing to the Commission's Secretary. ADDRESSES: Secretary, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090; Applicants: RBS: RBS, Gogarburn, P.O. Box 1000, Edinburgh, EH12 1HQ, Scotland; Citizens IA: c/o Citizens Bank, N.A., Mail Stop RC 03-30, One Citizens Plaza, Providence, Rhode Island 02903. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Parisa Haghshenas, Senior Counsel, Vanessa M. Meeks, Senior Counsel, or Holly Hunter-Ceci, Branch Chief, at (202) 551-6825 (Division of Investment Management, Chief Counsel's Office). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following is a temporary order and a summary of the application. The complete application may be obtained via the Commission's Web site by searching for the file number, or an applicant using the Company name box, at http://www.sec.gov/search/search.htm, or by calling (202) 551-8090. Applicants' Representations 1. RBS is a company organized under the laws of Scotland and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (``RBSG''). RBS and RBSG are international banking and financial services companies that provide a wide range of products and services to customers around the world. RBS and RBSG are both foreign banking organizations for purposes of Section 8 of the International Banking Act of 1978, as amended, and Subpart B of Regulation K, bank holding companies for purposes of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the ``BHC Act'') and financial holding companies for purposes of the BHC Act. Citizens IA is a separately identifiable department of Citizens Bank, N.A., which is an indirect subsidiary of RBSG and bank subsidiary of Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2. Citizens IA is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. Citizens IA serves as investment sub- [[Page 30312]] adviser to one management investment company registered under the Act (the ``Fund''). No existing company of which the Settling Firm is an ``affiliated person'' within the meaning of section 2(a)(3) of the Act (``Affiliated Person'') (other than Citizens IA as described above) currently serves as an investment adviser or depositor of any investment company registered under the Act (``RIC''), employees' securities company (``ESC'') or investment company that has elected to be treated as a business development company under the Act (``BDC''), or principal underwriter for any open-end registered investment company under the Act (``Open-End Fund''), unit investment trust registered under the Act (``UIT''), or face-amount certificate company registered under the Act (``FACC'') (such activities, ``Fund Service Activities''), Applicants request that any relief granted by the Commission pursuant to the application also apply to any existing company of which the Settling Firm is an Affiliated Person and to any other company of which the Settling Firm may become an Affiliated Person in the future (together with the Applicants, the ``Covered Persons'') with respect to any activity contemplated by section 9(a) of the Act.\1\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ The Applicants and other Covered Persons may, if the Orders are granted, in the future act in any of the capacities contemplated by Section 9(a) of the Act subject to the applicable conditions of the Orders. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. On May 20, 2015, the United States Department of Justice (the ``Department of Justice'') filed a one-count criminal information (the ``Information'') in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut (the ``District Court''). The Information charges that between approximately December 2007 and April 2010, the Settling Firm, through one of its euro/U.S. dollar (``EUR/USD'') traders, entered into and engaged in a conspiracy to fix, stabilize, maintain, increase or decrease the price of, and rig bids and offers for, the EUR/USD currency pair exchanged in the foreign currency exchange spot market (``FX Spot Market'') by agreeing to eliminate competition in the purchase and sale of the EUR/USD currency pair in the United States and elsewhere (the ``Conduct'') in violation of Title 15, United States Code, Section 1. The Conduct involved near daily conversations, some of which were in code, in an exclusive electronic chat room used by certain EUR/USD traders, including the EUR/USD trader employed by RBS. 4. Pursuant to the Plea Agreement, the Settling Firm entered a plea of guilty (the ``Guilty Plea'') on May 20, 2015 in the District Court to the offense charged in the Information. In the Plea Agreement, the Settling Firm, among other things, agreed to a fine of $395 million. The Applicants expect that the District Court will enter a judgment against the Settling Firm (the ``Judgment'') that will require remedies that are materially the same as set forth in the Plea Agreement. The individual at the Settling Firm who was identified by the Settling Firm, RBSG or any U.S. or non-U.S. regulatory or enforcement agencies as being responsible for the Conduct has left RBS as of April 2010. RBS and RBS Securities Inc. will also enter into a settlement with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to resolve certain findings by the Federal Reserve (the ``Federal Reserve Order''). Additionally, RBS entered into a settlement with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission on November 11, 2014 to resolve certain findings by the CFTC (the ``CFTC Order'') and with the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (``FCA'') on November 11, 2014 to resolve certain findings by the FCA (the ``FCA Order''). Applicants' Legal Analysis 1. Section 9(a)(1) of the Act provides, in pertinent part, that a person may not serve or act as an investment adviser or depositor of any registered investment company or a principal underwriter for any registered open-end investment company, registered unit investment trust, or registered face-amount certificate company, if such person within ten years has been convicted of any felony or misdemeanor, including those arising out of such person's conduct as a bank. Section 2(a)(10) of the Act defines the term ``convicted'' to include a plea of guilty. Section 9(a)(3) of the Act extends the prohibitions of section 9(a)(1) to a company any affiliated person of which has been disqualified under the provisions of section 9(a)(1). Section 2(a)(3) of the Act defines ``affiliated person'' to include, among others, any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, the other person. The Settling Firm is an Affiliated Person of Citizens IA within the meaning of section 2(a)(3) of the Act. Therefore, the Applicants state that the Guilty Plea would result in a disqualification of the Applicants for ten years under section 9(a)(3) were they to act in any of the capacities listed in section 9(a) because they would become the subject of a conviction described in section 9(a)(1). 2. Section 9(c) of the Act provides that, upon application, the Commission shall by order grant an exemption from the disqualification provisions of section 9(a) of the Act, either unconditionally or on an appropriate temporary or other conditional basis, to any person if that person establishes that: (a) The prohibitions of section 9(a), as applied to the person, are unduly or disproportionately severe or (b) the conduct of the person has been such as not to make it against the public interest or the protection of investors to grant the exemption. Applicants have filed an application pursuant to section 9(c) seeking a Temporary Order and a Permanent Order exempting the Applicants and other Covered Persons from the disqualification provisions of section 9(a) of the Act. The Applicants and other Covered Persons may, if the relief is granted, in the future act in any of the capacities contemplated by section 9(a) of the Act subject to the applicable terms and conditions of the Orders. 3. Applicants believe they meet the standards for exemption specified in section 9(c). Applicants assert that (i) the scope of the misconduct was limited and did not involve the Adviser Applicant (as defined below) or Fund Service Activities, (ii) application of the statutory bar would impose significant hardships on the Fund and its shareholders, (iii) the prohibitions of section 9(a), if applied to the Adviser Applicant and other Covered Persons, would be unduly or disproportionately severe and (iv) the Conduct did not constitute conduct that would make it against the public interest or protection of investors to grant the exemption from section 9(a). 4. Applicants represent that the Conduct did not involve the Adviser Applicant nor did it involve any of the Applicants acting in the capacity of investment adviser, sub-adviser or depositor to any RIC, or in the capacity of principal underwriter for any Open-End Fund, UIT or FACC. Applicants represent that the Conduct similarly did not involve any RIC, Open-End Fund, UIT or FACC with respect to which the Applicants engaged in Fund Service Activities. Instead, a single employee, who was not employed by the Adviser Applicant or engaged in Fund Service Activities, was identified as being responsible for the Conduct. That employee is no longer employed, and will not be employed in the future, by the Applicants or any other Covered Person. Applicants assert that, in light of the limited scope of the Conduct, it would be unduly and disproportionately severe to impose a section 9(a) disqualification on the Applicants. Applicants further represent that depriving the Fund of the Adviser [[Page 30313]] Applicant as its sub-adviser because of the activities of the Settling Firm would be an unduly severe result, both for the Adviser Applicant's financial position and for the shareholders of the Fund, who would be deprived of the knowledge and expertise of a key service provider. Applicants assert that the conduct of the Applicants has not been such to make it against the public interest or the protection of investors to grant the exemption from section 9(a). 5. Applicants assert that the inability of the Applicant, i.e., Citizens IA, that serves as investment sub-adviser to the Fund (the ``Adviser Applicant'') to continue providing such services to the Fund would result in the Fund and its shareholders facing potential hardship, as outlined in the application. Applicants assert that neither the protection of investors nor the public interest would be served by permitting the section 9(a) disqualifications to apply to the Adviser Applicant because those disqualifications would deprive the Fund of the sub-advisory services that shareholders expected the Fund would receive when they decided to invest in the Fund. Applicants also assert that the prohibitions of section 9(a) could operate to the financial detriment of the Fund and its shareholders, which would be an unduly and disproportionately severe consequence given that the Adviser Applicant was not involved in the Conduct and that the Conduct did not involve Fund Service Activities. 6. Applicants assert that if the Adviser Applicant were barred under section 9(a) from providing investment advisory services to the Fund and were unable to obtain the requested exemption, the effect on its business and employees would be unduly and disproportionately severe. Applicants state that the Adviser Applicant has committed substantial capital and other resources to establishing expertise in sub-advising RICs. Applicants further state that prohibiting the Adviser Applicant from engaging in Fund Service Activities would not only adversely affect its business, but would also adversely affect its employees who are involved in these activities. Many of these employees could experience significant difficulties in finding alternative, fund- related employment. In addition, Applicants assert that if the Applicants or Covered Persons are unable to expand their businesses in the future because of the imposition of the section 9(a) disqualification, it could also have an adverse impact on their businesses. 7. Applicants represent that: (i) None of the current or former directors, officers or employees of Citizens IA had any knowledge of, or had any involvement in, the Conduct; (ii) no current or former employee of the Settling Firm or of any other Covered Person who previously has been or who subsequently may be identified by the Settling Firm, or any U.S. or non-U.S. regulatory or enforcement agencies as having been responsible for the Conduct will have any involvement in providing Fund Service Activities on behalf of any Covered Person or will be an officer, director, or employee of any Applicants or of any other Covered Person; (iii) no employee of the Settling Firm or of any other Covered Person who was involved in the Conduct had any, or will have any future, involvement in the Covered Persons' activities in any capacity described in section 9(a) of the Act; and (iv) because the personnel of Citizens IA did not have any involvement in the Conduct, shareholders of the Fund were not affected any differently than if the Fund had received services from any other non-affiliated investment adviser or principal underwriter. 8. Applicants have agreed that neither they nor any of the other Covered Persons will employ any of the current or former employees of Settling Firm or any Covered Person who previously have been or who subsequently may be identified by the Settling Firm, RBSG or any U.S. or non-U.S. regulatory or enforcement agency as having been responsible for the Conduct without first making a further application to the Commission pursuant to section 9(c). 9. Applicants have also agreed that each Applicant (and any Covered Person) will adopt and implement policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the Orders granted under section 9(c). 10. In addition, the Settling Firm has agreed to comply in all material respects with the material terms and conditions of the Plea Agreement, the CFTC Order, the Federal Reserve Order, the FCA Order, or any other orders issued by regulatory or enforcement agencies addressing the Conduct. Applicants further state that RBS and its affiliates have undertaken certain remedial measures, as described in greater detail in the application. These include certain remedial measures as required by the Plea Agreement, the CFTC Order, the Federal Reserve Order, and the FCA Order, including improvements to the oversight, internal controls, compliance, risk management and audit programs for FX trading. Specifically, Applicants represent that RBSG and RBS have taken a number of steps to enhance its internal controls, policies and procedures relating to its FX activities. These changes, include, but are not limited to the following: Restricting participation by traders in multi-bank chat rooms; prohibiting mobile communication devices on dealing floors; strengthening surveillance of electronic, audio and trade communications at FX desks; mandating regular training for all FX employees concerning appropriate trading behavior; enhancing policies, procedures and guidance related to market color, client orders and FX fix orders; and improving customer disclosures relating to and enhancing controls around FX fix orders. 11. As a result, Applicants submit that granting an exemption as requested in the application would be consistent with the public interest and the protection of investors. 12. To provide further assurance that the exemptive relief being requested herein would be consistent with the public interest and the protection of the investors, the Applicants agree that they will, as soon as reasonably practical, distribute to the board of trustees (``Board'') of the Fund written materials describing the circumstances that led to the Guilty Plea, any impact on the Fund and the application. The written materials will include an offer to discuss the materials at an in-person meeting with the Board of the Fund, including the directors who are not ``interested persons'' of the Fund as defined in section 2(a)(19) of the Act and their independent legal counsel as defined in rule 0-1(a)(6) under the Act. The Applicants undertake to provide the Fund's Board with all information concerning the Plea Agreement and the application necessary for the Fund to fulfill its disclosure and other obligations under the federal securities laws and will provide it a copy of the Judgment as entered by the District Court. 13. Applicants state that certain of the Applicants and their affiliates have previously received an order under section 9(c) of the Act, as the result of conduct that triggered section 9(a), as described in greater detail in the application. Applicants' Conditions Applicants agree that any order granted by the Commission pursuant to the application will be subject to the following conditions: 1. Any temporary exemption granted pursuant to the application shall be without prejudice to, and shall not limit the Commission's rights in any manner with respect to, any Commission investigation of, or administrative [[Page 30314]] proceedings involving or against, Covered Persons, including, without limitation, the consideration by the Commission of a permanent exemption from section 9(a) of the Act requested pursuant to the application or the revocation or removal of any temporary exemptions granted under the Act in connection with the application. 2. Neither the Applicants nor any of the other Covered Persons will employ any of the current or former employees of the Settling Firm or any Covered Person who previously has been or who subsequently may be identified by the Settling Firm, RBSG or any U.S. or non-U.S. regulatory or enforcement agency as having been responsible for the Conduct, without first making a further application to the Commission pursuant to section 9(c). 3. Each Applicant and Covered Person will adopt and implement policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that it will comply with the terms and conditions of the Orders within 60 days of the date of the Permanent Order or, with respect to condition 4, such date as may be contemplated by the Plea Agreement, or the CFTC Order, the Federal Reserve Order, the FCA Order, or any other orders issued by regulatory or enforcement agencies addressing the Conduct. 4. The Settling Firm will comply in all material respects with the material terms and conditions of the Plea Agreement, with the material terms of the CFTC Order, the Federal Reserve Order, the FCA Order or any other orders issued by regulatory or enforcement agencies addressing the Conduct. 5. Applicants will provide written notification to the Chief Counsel of the Commission's Division of Investment Management with a copy to the Chief Counsel of the Commission's Division of Enforcement of a material violation of the terms and conditions of any of the Orders within 30 days of discovery of the material violation. Temporary Order The Commission has considered the matter and finds that Applicants have made the necessary showing to justify granting a temporary exemption. Accordingly, It is hereby ordered, pursuant to section 9(c) of the Act, that the Applicants and any other Covered Persons are granted a temporary exemption from the provisions of section 9(a), solely with respect to the guilty plea entered into pursuant to the Plea Agreement, subject to the representations and conditions in the application, from May 20, 2015 until the Commission takes final action on their application for a permanent order. By the Commission. Jill M. Peterson, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2015-12757 Filed 5-26-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 101 / Wednesday, May 27, 2015 / Notices 30311
2015.5 On February 20, 2015, the matters raised in the comment letters to Applicants with a copy of the request,
Commission issued an order instituting the proposed rule change. personally or by mail. Hearing requests
proceedings pursuant to Section Accordingly, the Commission, should be received by the Commission
19(b)(2)(B) of the Act 6 to determine pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the by 5:30 p.m. on June 15, 2015, and
whether to approve or disapprove the Act,12 designates July 22, 2015 as the should be accompanied by proof of
proposal. The order was published for date by which the Commission shall service on Applicants, in the form of an
comment in the Federal Register on either approve or disapprove the affidavit, or for lawyers, a certificate of
February 26, 2015.7 The Commission proposed rule change (File No. SR– service. Pursuant to rule 0–5 under the
received a further four comments FINRA–2014–048). Act, hearing requests should state the
regarding the proceedings or in response For the Commission, by the Division of nature of the writer’s interest, any facts
to Amendment No. 1,8 to which FINRA Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated bearing upon the desirability of a
responded via letter on May 5, 2015.9 authority.13 hearing on the matter, the reason for the
Section 19(b)(2) of the Act 10 provides Robert W. Errett, request, and the issues contested.
that, after initiating approval or Deputy Secretary. Persons who wish to be notified of a
disapproval proceedings, the hearing may request notification by
[FR Doc. 2015–12690 Filed 5–26–15; 8:45 am]
Commission shall issue an order writing to the Commission’s Secretary.
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
approving or disapproving the proposed ADDRESSES: Secretary, U.S. Securities
rule change not later than 180 days after and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street
the date of publication of notice of filing SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090;
of the proposed rule change. The COMMISSION Applicants: RBS: RBS, Gogarburn, P.O.
Commission may extend the period for Box 1000, Edinburgh, EH12 1HQ,
issuing an order approving or [Release No. IC–31642; File No. 812–14469]
Scotland; Citizens IA: c/o Citizens Bank,
disapproving the proposed rule change, N.A., Mail Stop RC 03–30, One Citizens
however, by not more than 60 days if The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, et al.;
Notice of Application and Temporary Plaza, Providence, Rhode Island 02903.
the Commission determines that a
Order FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
longer period is appropriate and
publishes the reasons for such Parisa Haghshenas, Senior Counsel,
May 20, 2015. Vanessa M. Meeks, Senior Counsel, or
determination. The proposal was AGENCY: Securities and Exchange
published for comment in the Federal Holly Hunter-Ceci, Branch Chief, at
Commission (‘‘Commission’’). (202) 551–6825 (Division of Investment
Register on November 24, 2014.11 The
ACTION: Temporary order and notice of Management, Chief Counsel’s Office).
180th day after publication of the notice
application for a permanent order under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
of the filing of the proposed rule change
section 9(c) of the Investment Company following is a temporary order and a
in the Federal Register is May 23, 2015
Act of 1940 (‘‘Act’’). summary of the application. The
and the 240th day after publication of
the notice of the filing of the proposed complete application may be obtained
SUMMARY OF APPLICATION: Applicants via the Commission’s Web site by
rule change in the Federal Register is have received a temporary order
July 22, 2015. searching for the file number, or an
(‘‘Temporary Order’’) exempting them applicant using the Company name box,
The Commission finds it appropriate
from section 9(a) of the Act, with at http://www.sec.gov/search/
to designate a longer period within
respect to a guilty plea entered on May search.htm, or by calling (202) 551–
which to issue an order approving or
20, 2015, by the Royal Bank of Scotland 8090.
disapproving the proposed rule change
plc (‘‘RBS’’ or the ‘‘Settling Firm’’) in
so that it has sufficient time to consider
the United States District Court for the Applicants’ Representations
the proposed rule change, including the
District of Connecticut (the ‘‘District 1. RBS is a company organized under
5 Exchange Act Release No. 74490 (Mar. 12, Court’’) in connection with a plea the laws of Scotland and is a wholly-
2015); 80 FR 14198 (Mar. 18, 2015). agreement (‘‘Plea Agreement’’) between owned subsidiary of The Royal Bank of
6 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B). the Settling Firm and the United States Scotland Group plc (‘‘RBSG’’). RBS and
7 Exchange Act Release No. 74340 (Feb. 20, 2015); Department of Justice (‘‘DOJ’’), until the RBSG are international banking and
80 FR 10538 (Feb. 26, 2015). Specifically, the Commission takes final action on an
Commission instituted proceedings to allow for financial services companies that
additional analysis of the proposed rule change’s
application for a permanent order (the provide a wide range of products and
consistency with Section 15A(b)(9) of the Act, ‘‘Permanent Order,’’ and with the services to customers around the world.
which requires that FINRA’s rules be designed to, Temporary Order, the ‘‘Orders’’). RBS and RBSG are both foreign banking
among other things, promote just and equitable Applicants also have applied for a
principles of trade, remove impediments to and organizations for purposes of Section 8
perfect the mechanism of a free and open market
Permanent Order. of the International Banking Act of
and a national market system, and, in general, to APPLICANTS: RBS and Citizens 1978, as amended, and Subpart B of
protect investors and the public interest. See id. Investment Advisors (‘‘Citizens IA’’) Regulation K, bank holding companies
8 Letter from Stephanie R. Nicholas, WilmerHale,
(each an ‘‘Applicant’’ and together, the for purposes of the Bank Holding
dated Apr. 6, 2015, Letter from Kurt N. Schacht,
Managing Director, Standards and Financial Market
‘‘Applicants’’). Company Act of 1956, as amended (the
Integrity, and Linda L. Rittenhouse, Director, DATES: Filing Date: The application was ‘‘BHC Act’’) and financial holding
Capital Markets Policy, CFA Institute, to Brent J. filed on May 20, 2015. companies for purposes of the BHC Act.
Fields, Secretary, SEC, dated April 7, 2015, an
anonymous comment dated Apr. 8, 2015, and Letter HEARING OR NOTIFICATION OF HEARING: An Citizens IA is a separately identifiable
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
from William Beatty, President and Washington order granting the application will be department of Citizens Bank, N.A.,
(State) Securities Administrator, North American issued unless the Commission orders a which is an indirect subsidiary of RBSG
Securities Administrators Association, Inc., dated hearing. Interested persons may request and bank subsidiary of Citizens
Apr. 17, 2015.
9 Letter from Philip Shaikun, Vice President and
a hearing by writing to the Financial Group, Inc.
Associate General Counsel, FINRA, dated May 5, Commission’s Secretary and serving 2. Citizens IA is an investment adviser
2015. registered under the Investment
10 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2). 12 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2). Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.
11 See supra note 3 and accompanying text. 13 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(57). Citizens IA serves as investment sub-
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![30314 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 101 / Wednesday, May 27, 2015 / Notices
proceedings involving or against, application, from May 20, 2015 until the of offer the fund is making.1 The fund
Covered Persons, including, without Commission takes final action on their must describe in its annual report to
limitation, the consideration by the application for a permanent order. shareholders the fund’s policy
Commission of a permanent exemption By the Commission. concerning repurchase offers and the
from section 9(a) of the Act requested Jill M. Peterson,
results of any repurchase offers made
pursuant to the application or the during the reporting period. The fund’s
Assistant Secretary.
revocation or removal of any temporary board of directors must adopt written
exemptions granted under the Act in [FR Doc. 2015–12757 Filed 5–26–15; 8:45 am] procedures designed to ensure that the
connection with the application. BILLING CODE P fund’s investment portfolio is
2. Neither the Applicants nor any of sufficiently liquid to meet its repurchase
the other Covered Persons will employ obligations and other obligations under
any of the current or former employees SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE the rule. The board periodically must
of the Settling Firm or any Covered COMMISSION review the composition of the fund’s
Person who previously has been or who portfolio and change the liquidity
Proposed Collection; Comment
subsequently may be identified by the procedures as necessary. The fund also
Request
Settling Firm, RBSG or any U.S. or non- must file copies of advertisements and
U.S. regulatory or enforcement agency Upon Written Request, Copies Available other sales literature with the
as having been responsible for the From: Securities and Exchange Commission as if it were an open-end
Conduct, without first making a further Commission, Office of FOIA Services, investment company subject to section
application to the Commission pursuant 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 24 of the Investment Company Act (15
to section 9(c). 20549–2736 U.S.C. 80a–24) and the rules that
3. Each Applicant and Covered Person implement section 24. Rule 24b–3 under
will adopt and implement policies and Extension: the Investment Company Act (17 CFR
procedures reasonably designed to Rule 23c–3 and Form N–23c–3, OMB
270.24b–3), however, exempts the fund
Control No. 3235–0422, SEC File No.
ensure that it will comply with the 270–373. from that requirement if the materials
terms and conditions of the Orders are filed instead with the Financial
within 60 days of the date of the Notice is hereby given that, pursuant Industry Regulatory Authority
Permanent Order or, with respect to to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (‘‘FINRA’’).
condition 4, such date as may be (44 U.S.C. 3501 et. seq.), the Securities The requirement that the fund send a
contemplated by the Plea Agreement, or and Exchange Commission (the notification to shareholders of each offer
the CFTC Order, the Federal Reserve ‘‘Commission’’) is soliciting comments is intended to ensure that a fund
Order, the FCA Order, or any other on the collection of information provides material information to
orders issued by regulatory or summarized below. The Commission shareholders about the terms of each
enforcement agencies addressing the plans to submit this existing collection offer. The requirement that copies be
Conduct. of information to the Office of sent to the Commission is intended to
4. The Settling Firm will comply in Management and Budget (‘‘OMB’’) for enable the Commission to monitor the
all material respects with the material extension and approval. fund’s compliance with the notification
terms and conditions of the Plea Rule 23c–3 (17 CFR 270.23c–3) under requirement. The requirement that the
Agreement, with the material terms of the Investment Company Act of 1940 shareholder notification be attached to
the CFTC Order, the Federal Reserve Form N–23c–3 is intended to ensure
(15 U.S.C. 80a–1 et seq.) permits a
Order, the FCA Order or any other that the fund provides basic information
registered closed-end investment
orders issued by regulatory or necessary for the Commission to process
company (‘‘closed-end fund’’ or ‘‘fund’’)
enforcement agencies addressing the the notification and to monitor the
that meets certain requirements to
Conduct. fund’s use of repurchase offers. The
repurchase common stock of which it is
5. Applicants will provide written requirement that the fund describe its
the issuer from shareholders at periodic
notification to the Chief Counsel of the current policy on repurchase offers and
intervals, pursuant to repurchase offers
Commission’s Division of Investment the results of recent offers in the annual
made to all holders of the stock. The
Management with a copy to the Chief shareholder report is intended to
rule enables these funds to offer their
Counsel of the Commission’s Division of provide shareholders current
shareholders a limited ability to resell information about the fund’s repurchase
Enforcement of a material violation of their shares in a manner that previously
the terms and conditions of any of the policies and its recent experience. The
was available only to open-end requirement that the board approves
Orders within 30 days of discovery of investment company shareholders. To
the material violation. and review written procedures designed
protect shareholders, a closed-end fund to maintain portfolio liquidity is
Temporary Order that relies on rule 23c–3 must send intended to ensure that the fund has
The Commission has considered the shareholders a notification that contains enough cash or liquid securities to meet
matter and finds that Applicants have specified information each time the its repurchase obligations, and that
made the necessary showing to justify fund makes a repurchase offer (on a written procedures are available for
granting a temporary exemption. quarterly, semi-annual, or annual basis, review by shareholders and examination
Accordingly, or, for certain funds, on a discretionary by the Commission. The requirement
It is hereby ordered, pursuant to basis not more often than every two that the fund file advertisements and
years). The fund also must file copies of
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
section 9(c) of the Act, that the sales literature as if it were an open-end
Applicants and any other Covered the shareholder notification with the fund is intended to facilitate the review
Persons are granted a temporary Commission (electronically through the
exemption from the provisions of Commission’s Electronic Data 1 Form N–23c–3, entitled ‘‘Notification of
section 9(a), solely with respect to the Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval Repurchase Offer Pursuant to Rule 23c–3,’’ requires
System (‘‘EDGAR’’)) on Form N–23c–3, the fund to state its registration number, its full
guilty plea entered into pursuant to the name and address, the date of the accompanying
Plea Agreement, subject to the a filing that provides certain shareholder notification, and the type of offer being
representations and conditions in the information about the fund and the type made (periodic, discretionary, or both).
VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:45 May 26, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00109 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\27MYN1.SGM 27MYN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_30412/page/4.svg)
Document Created: 2015-12-15 15:35:29
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 15:35:29
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Temporary order and notice of application for a permanent order under section 9(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (``Act''). | |
| Contact | Parisa Haghshenas, Senior Counsel, Vanessa M. Meeks, Senior Counsel, or Holly Hunter-Ceci, Branch Chief, at (202) 551-6825 (Division of Investment Management, Chief Counsel's Office). | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 30311 |
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