80 FR 50356 - FEG Absolute Access TEI Fund LLC and FEG Investors, LLC; Notice of Application

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 160 (August 19, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 160 (Wednesday, August 19, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50356-50358]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20410]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Investment Company Act Release No. 31758; 812-14352]


FEG Absolute Access TEI Fund LLC and FEG Investors, LLC; Notice 
of Application

August 13, 2015.
AGENCY:  Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'').

ACTION:  Notice of an application under section 6(c) of the Investment 
Company Act of 1940 (the ``Act'') for an exemption from sections 18(c) 
and 18(i) of the Act and for an order pursuant to section 17(d) of the 
Act and rule 17d-1 under the Act.

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Summary of Application: Applicants request an order to permit certain 
registered closed-end management investment companies to issue multiple 
classes of limited liability company units (``Units'') with sales loads 
and/or asset-based distribution and/or service fees and contingent 
deferred sales loads (``CDSCs'').

Applicants: FEG Absolute Access TEI Fund LLC (the ``Fund''), FEG 
Absolute Access Fund LLC (the ``Master Fund''), and FEG Investors, LLC 
(the ``Adviser'').

Filing Dates: The application was filed on August 22, 2014, and amended 
on January 9, 2015, and June 26, 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 September 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. 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, 201 East Fifth 
Street, Suite 1600, Cincinnati, OH 45202.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Christine Y. Greenlees, Senior 
Counsel, at (202) 551-6879 or David P. Bartels, Branch Chief, at (202) 
551-6821 (Division of Investment Management, Chief Counsel's Office).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following is a summary of the 
application. The complete application may be obtained via the 
Commission's 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. The Fund and the Master Fund are non-diversified closed-end 
management investment companies registered under the Act and organized 
as Delaware limited liability companies.\1\ The Adviser, a Delaware 
limited liability company, is registered with the Commission as an 
investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and serves 
as investment adviser to the Master Fund. Foreside Fund Services, LLC, 
a registered broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``1934 Act''), currently acts as Distributor (as defined below) for 
the Units \2\ of the Fund. Any future placement agent or distributor/
principal underwriter of the Fund (the ``Distributor'') will be 
unaffiliated with the Adviser.
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    \1\ The Fund currently serves as the sole feeder fund in a 
master-feeder structure operating in accordance with section 
12(d)(1)(E) of the Act and invests substantially all of its assets 
in the Master Fund through a Cayman Islands limited duration company 
(the ``Offshore Fund''). Applicants state that, consistent with 
section 12(d)(1)(E) of the 1940 Act, the Fund holds no investment 
security other than the securities of the Master Fund. If the 
requested relief is granted, the Offshore Fund will be dissolved and 
the Fund will invest directly in the Master Fund in compliance with 
section 12(d)(1)(E) of the 1940 Act.
    \2\ ``Units'' includes any other equivalent designation of a 
proportionate ownership interest of the Fund (or any other 
registered closed-end management investment company relying on the 
requested order).
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    2. The Fund continuously offers Units in private placements in 
reliance on the provisions of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 
1933, as amended (``Securities Act'').\3\ Concurrent with this 
application for exemptive relief, the Fund is planning to publicly 
offer its Units. Units of the Fund will not be listed on any national 
securities exchange and do not trade on an over-the-counter system such 
as NASDAQ. Applicants do not currently expect that a substantial and 
regular secondary market for the Units will develop.
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    \3\ Units of the Fund are only sold to ``accredited investors,'' 
as defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act.
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    3. The Fund currently issues a single class of Units (the ``Initial 
Class'') at net asset value per Unit. The Initial Class is not 
currently subject to any distribution and/or service fees. Units that 
are not subject to a sales load or distribution and/or service fees 
when purchased will not subsequently be subject to a sales load or 
distribution and/or service fees. Investors who subscribe for Units and 
are admitted to the Fund become members (``Members'') of the Fund. If 
the requested relief is granted, the Fund intends to redesignate its 
Initial Class as ``Class I.'' Additionally, if the requested relief is 
granted, the Fund currently intends to continuously offer at least two 
additional classes of Units, ``Class II'' and ``Class III,'' with each 
class having its own fee and expense structure. For Class III Units, 
sales of the Units will be subject to a front-end sales load based on 
the offering price of the Units (i.e., net asset value) for the 
Distributor's services in conjunction with the sale of Units and/or the 
services provided to Members (the ``Distribution Fee''). Any waiver of, 
scheduled variation in, or elimination of a Distribution Fee will 
comply with the requirements of rule 22d-1 under the Act as if that 
rule applied to closed-end management investment companies. Each class 
may (but would not necessarily) be subject to asset-based distribution 
and/or service fees. Each

[[Page 50357]]

class would be subject to minimum purchase requirements.
    4. In order to provide a limited degree of liquidity to Members, 
the Fund may from time to time offer to repurchase Units at their then 
current net asset value pursuant to rule 13e-4 under the 1934 Act 
pursuant to written tenders by Members.\4\ Repurchases will be made at 
such times, in such amounts and on such terms as may be determined by 
the Fund's board of directors (``Board''), in its sole discretion.\5\ 
The Adviser expects to ordinarily recommend that the Board authorize 
the Fund to offer to repurchase Units from Members semi-annually with 
June 30 and December 31 valuation dates.
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    \4\ Likewise, the Master Fund's repurchase offers will be 
conducted pursuant to rule 13e-4 under the 1934 Act.
    \5\ Units will be subject to an early repurchase fee at a rate 
of 2% of the aggregate net asset value of the Member's Units 
repurchased by the Fund (the ``Early Repurchase Fee'') if the 
interval between the date of purchase of the Units and the valuation 
date with respect to the repurchase of those Units is less than 
eighteen months. The Early Repurchase Fee will apply equally to all 
classes of Units of the Fund, consistent with section 18 of the Act 
and rule 18f-3 under the Act. To the extent the Fund determines to 
waive, impose scheduled variations of, or eliminate the Early 
Repurchase Fee, it will do so consistently with the requirements of 
rule 22d-1 under the Act and the Fund's waiver of, scheduled 
variation in, or elimination of, the Early Repurchase Fee will apply 
uniformly to all classes of shares of the Fund.
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    5. Applicants request that the order also apply to any other 
continuously offered registered closed-end management investment 
company existing now or in the future for which the Adviser or any 
entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the 
Adviser acts as investment adviser, and which provides periodic 
liquidity with respect to its Units pursuant to rule 13e-4 under the 
1934 Act.\6\
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    \6\ Any Fund relying on this relief will do so in a manner 
consistent with the terms and conditions of the application. 
Applicants represent that each investment company presently 
intending to rely on the order requested in the application is 
listed as an applicant.
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    6. Applicants represent that any asset-based service and/or 
distribution fees will comply with the provisions of rule 2830(d) of 
the Conduct Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, 
Inc. (``NASD Conduct Rule 2830'').\7\ Applicants also represent that 
the Fund will disclose in its prospectus the fees, expenses and other 
characteristics of each class of Units offered for sale by the 
prospectus as is required for open-end multiple class funds under Form 
N-1A. The Fund will disclose fund expenses borne by Members as if it 
were an open-end management investment company during the reporting 
period in Member reports and describe in its prospectus any 
arrangements that result in breakpoints in, or elimination of, sales 
loads with respect to each class of Units offered for sale by that 
prospectus.\8\ The Fund will also comply with any requirements that may 
be adopted by the Commission or FINRA regarding disclosure at the point 
of sale and in transaction confirmations about the costs and conflicts 
of interest arising out of the distribution of open-end investment 
company shares, and regarding prospectus disclosure of sales loads and 
revenue sharing arrangements as if those requirements applied to the 
Fund.\9\ In addition, applicants will comply with applicable enhanced 
fee disclosure requirements for fund of funds, including registered 
funds of hedge funds.\10\
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    \7\ All references to NASD Conduct Rule 2830 include any 
successor or replacement rule that may be adopted by the Financial 
Industry Regulatory Authority (``FINRA'').
    \8\ See Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure 
of Registered Management Investment Companies, Investment Company 
Act Release No. 26372 (Feb. 27, 2004) (adopting release) (requiring 
open-end investment companies to disclose fund expenses in 
shareholder reports); and Disclosure of Breakpoint Discounts by 
Mutual Funds, Investment Company Act Release No. 26464 (June 7, 
2004) (adopting release) (requiring open-end investment companies to 
provide prospectus disclosure of certain sales load information).
    \9\ See Confirmation Requirements and Point of Sale Disclosure 
Requirements for Transactions in Certain Mutual Funds and Other 
Securities, and Other Confirmation Requirement Amendments, and 
Amendments to the Registration Form for Mutual Funds, Investment 
Company Act Release No. 26341 (Jan. 29, 2004) (proposing release).
    \10\ Fund of Funds Investments, Investment Company Act Rel. Nos. 
26198 (Oct. 1, 2003) (proposing release) and 27399 (Jun. 20, 2006) 
(adopting release). See also Rules 12d1-1, et seq. of the Act.
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    7. The Fund will allocate all expenses incurred by it among the 
various classes of Units based on the net assets of the Fund 
attributable to each class, except that the net asset value and 
expenses of each class will reflect distribution fees, service fees, 
and any other incremental expenses of that class. Expenses of a Fund 
allocated to a particular class of Units will be borne on a pro rata 
basis by each outstanding Unit of that class. Applicants state that the 
Fund will comply with the provisions of rule 18f-3 under the Act as if 
it were an open-end investment company.
    8. Although the Fund does not currently intend to impose CDSCs, the 
Fund will only impose a CDSC in compliance with rule 6c-10 as if that 
rule applied to closed-end management investment companies. Applicants 
further state that, in the event it imposes CDSCs, the Fund will apply 
the CDSCs (and any waivers or scheduled variations of the CDSCs) 
uniformly to all Members of a given class and consistently with the 
requirements of rule 22d-1 under the Act.

Applicants' Legal Analysis

Multiple Classes of Shares

    1. Section 18(c) of the Act provides, in relevant part, that a 
closed-end investment company may not issue or sell any senior security 
if, immediately thereafter, the company has outstanding more than one 
class of senior security. Applicants state that the creation of 
multiple classes of Units of the Fund may be prohibited by section 
18(c).
    2. Section 18(i) of the Act provides that each share of stock 
issued by a registered management investment company will be a voting 
stock and have equal voting rights with every other outstanding voting 
stock. Applicants state that permitting multiple classes of Units of 
the Fund may violate section 18(i) of the Act because each class would 
be entitled to exclusive voting rights with respect to matters solely 
related to that class.
    3. Section 6(c) of the Act provides that the Commission may exempt 
any person, security or transaction or any class or classes of persons, 
securities or transactions from any provision of the Act, or from any 
rule under the Act, if and to the extent such exemption is necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest and consistent with the protection 
of investors and the purposes fairly intended by the policy and 
provisions of the Act. Applicants request an exemption under section 
6(c) from sections 18(c) and 18(i) to permit the Fund to issue multiple 
classes of Units.
    4. Applicants believe that the proposed allocation of expenses 
relating to distribution and voting rights is equitable and will not 
discriminate against any group or class of Members. Applicants submit 
that the proposed arrangements would permit the Fund to facilitate the 
distribution of its Units and provide investors with a broader choice 
of Member options. Applicants assert that the proposed closed-end 
investment company multiple class structure does not raise the concerns 
underlying section 18 of the Act to any greater degree than open-end 
investment companies' multiple class structures that are permitted by 
rule 18f-3 under the Act. Applicants state that the Fund will comply 
with the provisions of rule 18f-3 as if it were an open-end investment 
company.

[[Page 50358]]

CDSCs
    1. Rule 6c-10 under the Act permits open-end investment companies 
to impose CDSCs, subject to certain conditions. Applicants state that 
although the Fund does not currently intend to impose CDSCs, the Fund 
will only impose a CDSC in compliance with rule 6c-10 as if that rule 
applied to closed-end management investment companies. The Fund would 
also make required disclosures in accordance with the requirements of 
Form N-1A concerning CDSCs as if the Fund were an open-end investment 
company. Applicants further state that, in the event it imposes CDSCs, 
the Fund will apply the CDSCs (and any waivers or scheduled variations 
of the CDSCs) uniformly to all Members of a given class and 
consistently with the requirements of rule 22d-1 under the Act.

Early Repurchase Fees

    1. To the extent the Fund determines to waive, impose scheduled 
variations of, or eliminate the Early Repurchase Fee, it will do so 
consistently with the requirements of Rule 22d-1 under the Act and the 
Fund's waiver of, scheduled variation in, or elimination of, the Early 
Repurchase Fee will apply uniformly to all classes of Units of the 
Fund.

Asset-Based Service and/or Distribution Fees

    1. Section 17(d) of the Act and rule 17d-1 under the Act prohibit 
an affiliated person of a registered investment company or an 
affiliated person of such person, acting as principal, from 
participating in or effecting any transaction in connection with any 
joint enterprise or joint arrangement in which the investment company 
participates unless the Commission issues an order permitting the 
transaction. In reviewing applications submitted under section 17(d) 
and rule 17d-1, the Commission considers whether the participation of 
the investment company in a joint enterprise or joint arrangement is 
consistent with the provisions, policies and purposes of the Act, and 
the extent to which the participation is on a basis different from or 
less advantageous than that of other participants.
    2. Rule 17d-3 under the Act provides an exemption from section 
17(d) and rule 17d-1 to permit open-end investment companies to enter 
into distribution arrangements pursuant to rule 12b-1 under the Act. 
Applicants request an order under section 17(d) and rule 17d-1 under 
the Act to permit the Fund to impose asset-based service and/or 
distribution fees. Applicants have agreed to comply with rules 12b-1 
and 17d-3 as if those rules applied to closed-end investment companies.
    For the reasons stated above, applicants submit that the exemptions 
requested under section 6(c) are necessary and appropriate in the 
public interest and are consistent with the protection of investors and 
the purposes fairly intended by the policy and provisions of the Act. 
Applicants also believe that the requested relief meets the standards 
for relief in section 17(d) of the Act and rule 17d-1 thereunder.

Applicants' Condition

    Applicants agree that any order granting the requested relief will 
be subject to the following condition:
    Each Fund relying on the order will comply with the provisions of 
rules 6c-10, 12b-1, 17d-3, 18f-3 and 22d-1 under the Act, as amended 
from time to time or replaced, as if those rules applied to closed-end 
management investment companies, and will comply with the NASD Conduct 
Rule 2830, as amended from time to time, as if that rule applied to all 
closed-end management investment companies.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, 
under delegated authority.
Brent J. Fields,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-20410 Filed 8-18-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P