80_FR_55577 80 FR 55399 - TIAA-CREF Funds, et al.; Notice of Application

80 FR 55399 - TIAA-CREF Funds, et al.; Notice of Application

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 178 (September 15, 2015)

Page Range55399-55405
FR Document2015-23093

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 178 (Tuesday, September 15, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 178 (Tuesday, September 15, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55399-55405]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-23093]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Investment Company Act Release No. 31807; 812-13995]


TIAA-CREF Funds, et al.; Notice of Application

September 8, 2015.
AGENCY: Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'').

ACTION: Notice of application for an order under sections 6(c) and 
17(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (``Act'') for exemptions 
from section 17(a) of the Act, and under section 17(d) of the Act and 
rule 17d-1 thereunder to permit certain joint transactions.

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Summary of Application: Applicants requests an order that would permit 
certain registered management investment companies or series thereof 
that are advised by Teachers Advisors, Inc. (``Advisors'') to invest in 
a private investment vehicle established by Advisors to invest directly 
in real estate.

Applicants: TIAA-CREF Funds (the ``Trust''), Advisors, TIAA-CREF Real 
Property Fund LP (``TCLP''), TIAA-CREF Real Property Fund GP LLC 
(``TCGP''), and TIAA-CREF Real Property Fund REIT LLC (``TC REIT'').

Filing Dates: The application was filed on January 4, 2012, and amended 
on June 25, 2012, December 3, 2012, October 16, 2013, June 26, 2014, 
May 8, 2015, and September 4, 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 October 5, 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 of 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

[[Page 55400]]

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. Applicants: TIAA-CREF, Attn: Rachael 
Zufall, 8500 Andrew Carnegie Boulevard, Charlotte, NC, 28262.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark N. Zaruba, Senior Counsel, at 
(202) 551-6878, or David 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 Trust is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and is an 
open-end management investment company registered under the Act. The 
Trust currently consists of multiple Funds (as defined below).
    2. TCLP is organized as a limited partnership, and applicants state 
that it will rely on an exception from the definition of ``investment 
company'' such as Section 3(c)(1) or Section 3(c)(7) of the Act (or any 
other applicable exclusion). TCGP, the sole general partner of TCLP, is 
organized as a limited liability company and will be a direct or 
indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Teachers Insurance and Annuity 
Association of America (``TIAA''). As general partner of TCLP, TCGP 
will be responsible for the operational and administrative maintenance 
of TCLP, but it will not exercise any responsibilities for the 
management of TCLP's assets.
    3. TC REIT is organized as a limited liability company, and 
Applicants anticipate that it will be excluded from the definition of 
``investment company'' under Section 3(a)(1) of the Act by reason of 
its real estate investments. Applicants state that TC REIT will elect 
to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (``REIT'') under the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the ``Code'') and will not 
incur separate, entity level tax under the current provisions of the 
Code.
    4. Advisors, a Delaware corporation, is an investment adviser that 
is registered with the Commission under the Investment Advisers Act of 
1940, as amended (the ``Advisers Act''). Advisors is an indirect, 
wholly owned subsidiary of TIAA. Advisors will be the investment 
adviser to each of the Funds (as defined below), TCLP and TC REIT.\1\
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    \1\ Only Advisors or a successor entity will serve as investment 
adviser to TCLP or TC REIT, and any other investment adviser to TCLP 
or TC REIT will serve only as investment sub-adviser.
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    5. TIAA and Advisors believe that exposure to direct real estate 
investments is an important element of diversified retirement 
investing. Advisors seeks to provide shareholders who invest for 
retirement and other long-term purposes through the Funds (as defined 
below) with exposure to direct real estate. Applicants argue that 
direct exposure to real estate offers advantages over investment in 
conventional real estate mutual funds that invest primarily in publicly 
traded REITs. In addition, Applicants note that, while the Act does not 
preclude a registered management investment company from investing 
directly in real estate (provided that the fund is not subject to a 
fundamental policy precluding such investment and, in the case of an 
open-end fund, has sufficient liquidity to comply with applicable 
Commission and Commission staff positions), direct investment in real 
estate would be impractical due to the typical size of such investments 
and for tax reasons. Accordingly, applicants propose to allow each Fund 
(solely to the extent consistent with its investment policies, 
objectives, strategies and restrictions) to obtain exposure to real 
estate through TCLP, which will be dedicated to investing indirectly in 
real estate through TC REIT.
    6. For this reason, Applicants request an order under sections 6(c) 
and 17(b) of the Act for exemptions from section 17(a) of the Act, and 
under section 17(d) of the Act and rule 17d-1 thereunder, to permit: 
(i) One or more Funds (as defined below) to purchase, hold and redeem 
units of limited partnership interests of TCLP (``Units''); (ii) TCLP 
to sell Units to one or more Funds and redeem such Units following 
demand of such Funds; (iii) to the extent it could be deemed an element 
of a ``joint transaction,'' as defined below, TCLP to purchase, hold 
and redeem interests in TC REIT; and (iv) the Funds and Other Accounts 
(as defined below) to engage in certain purchase or sale cross 
transactions in securities, all as described and subject to the 
conditions set forth in the application.\2\
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    \2\ Applicants acknowledge that they are not seeking, and the 
Commission is not granting, relief from any disclosure requirements 
that are applicable to Applicants.
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    7. Applicants request that the relief extend to each existing or 
future registered management investment company or series thereof that 
is advised by Advisors or any successor entity or any entity 
controlling, controlled by, or under common control with Advisors 
(each, a ``Fund'').\3\ Applicants further request that the relief 
extend to any future limited partnership (``Future LP''), general 
partner thereof (``Future GP''), and underlying real estate investment 
vehicle (``Future Real Estate Fund'') in which such Future LP invests 
that has elected to be taxed as a REIT pursuant to the Code that 
operate in a manner that is identical to TCLP, TCGP and TC REIT except 
for the types of real estate investments held by a Future Real Estate 
Fund.\4\
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    \3\ Each entity that currently intends to rely on the requested 
relief has been named as an applicant. For purposes of the requested 
order, ``successor'' is limited to an entity that results from 
reorganization into another jurisdiction or a change in the type of 
business organization.
    \4\ Any entity that relies in the future on the requested relief 
will comply with the terms and conditions of the Application as they 
apply to the corresponding current party.
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    8. Applicants state that TC REIT will invest in direct real estate 
holdings and, to maintain some liquidity, may invest a portion of its 
assets in liquid investments. To finance its investments in real estate 
holdings, TC REIT plans to borrow from banks, as well as from insurance 
companies, pension/retirement systems, state and federal government 
related entities (e.g., Freddie Mac), investment banks, and other 
commercial lenders (e.g., GE Capital Corporation (or its successor), 
Ally Financial) (lenders other than banks are referred to as ``Non-bank 
Commercial Lenders''). Applicants represent that TC REIT plans to incur 
loans from Non-bank Commercial Lenders because such lenders have been 
longstanding capital resources to the commercial real estate market and 
often are able to offer more favorable lending terms to borrowers.\5\ 
TC REIT will not incur any loans that are callable at the option of the 
lender.
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    \5\ Applicants submit that, in light of the presence of a bona 
fide business purpose for TCLP and TC REIT and the difficulty a Fund 
would have in directly investing in real estate, the structure 
proposed by this Application can be distinguished from a structure 
intended primarily to evade leverage restrictions applicable to 
open-end funds.
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    9. Applicants state that TCLP will invest a substantial portion of 
its assets in TC REIT and, if deemed appropriate by Advisors, may, for 
purposes of maintaining some liquidity, invest a portion of its assets 
in liquid investments. TCLP will incur expenses relating to the 
management of any liquid investments held by TCLP, as well as for

[[Page 55401]]

the general operation and administration of the entity.\6\
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    \6\ Applicants anticipate that TCLP will be able to efficiently 
deploy assets invested by the Funds in light of the ability of TCLP 
to invest in liquid investments in addition to interests in TC REIT, 
so that any Fund assets invested in TCLP that are not currently 
invested in real estate will be effectively deployed pending 
completion of real estate investments. The performance of TCLP, the 
costs of investing in TCLP, and the related expenses, will be 
considered by the Funds' Board during the course of its oversight of 
the Funds' investments in TCLP, including its annual determinations 
as required by condition 1 below.
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    10. TCLP will conduct a non-public offering of its Units, and will 
not be publicly traded. Applicants state that TCLP is currently 
expected to be made available solely to the Funds, although it is 
possible that it will be made available in the future to: (i) 
Unaffiliated registered investment companies, pension plans, other 
institutional investors or high-net-worth individuals (``Outside 
Investors''); as well as to (ii) pension plans, or other institutional 
investors or high-net-worth individuals for which Advisors or an 
affiliate of Advisors serves as investment adviser (``Other 
Accounts'').\7\
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    \7\ No Applicant, or an affiliated person thereof, will have a 
proprietary interest in any Outside Investor or Other Account, 
except that an Applicant or an affiliated person thereof may be a 
shareholder of an Outside Investor that is a registered investment 
company.
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    11. Applicants state that the Funds (as well as any Other Accounts 
or Outside Investors) that invest in TCLP will be able to purchase and 
redeem Units on a daily basis at the next determined net asset value 
(``NAV'') per Unit. In the event that TCLP is unable to accommodate 
investment demand from the Funds, Other Accounts and/or Outside 
Investors, opportunities for investment will be allocated in accordance 
with allocation policies and procedures drafted and maintained by 
Advisors.\8\ Applicants represent that, while such allocation policies 
and procedures may be subject to revision over time, the allocation 
policies and procedures generally will allocate opportunities on a pro 
rata basis based on orders received, with normal exceptions for 
rounding and de minimis amounts, although applicants state that other 
allocation methodologies may be employed as appropriate. Any such 
methodology will be applied in a manner that is objective and 
verifiable and will be consistent with Advisors' fiduciary obligation 
to treat client accounts in a manner that is fair and provides for 
equality of opportunity over time. However, TCLP will reserve the right 
to give the Funds preferential access to opportunities to invest in 
TCLP as compared to Outside Investors and (to the extent permitted 
under the allocation policies and procedures) Other Accounts, and the 
Funds will always have opportunities to invest in TCLP that are at 
least as favorable as the opportunities to invest in TCLP made 
available to Other Accounts or Outside Investors. The policies and 
procedures will require the documentation of the basis of allocation, 
as well as the basis for any exception to the general principles set 
forth in the policies and procedures, which exception will be subject 
to review by legal or compliance personnel.
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    \8\ Applicants are not seeking any comfort and acknowledge that 
the Commission is providing no opinion on whether these allocation 
policies and procedures meet the standards applicable under either 
the Act or the Advisers Act.
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    12. Applicants anticipate that TCLP will be managed to maintain 
sufficient liquidity to satisfy the daily liquidity needs of its 
limited partners under ordinary market conditions. However, any 
investment in TCLP will be subject to terms permitting TCLP, under 
circumstances described in the application, to (a) cease offering new 
Units; (b) limit or postpone redemptions in the event that TC REIT has 
insufficient liquidity to satisfy redemption requests; or (c) utilize a 
``gate'' pursuant to which the amount of redemptions from TCLP by any 
limited partner on any business day may be limited to a percentage of 
the limited partner's investment in TCLP.\9\ Accordingly, each Fund 
that is an open-end investment company will treat its investments in 
TCLP and any Future LPs as investments that are not liquid for purposes 
of any applicable rules or guidance of the Commission or its staff 
regarding the management of liquidity. Similarly, each Fund that is a 
closed-end investment company will, at all times, limit its holdings in 
TCLP (together with any Future LPs) to no more than 15% of its net 
assets.\10\
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    \9\ TCLP expects that the ability to limit or postpone 
redemption will help to minimize transaction costs and any dilutive 
effects on non-redeeming limited partners. TCLP's ability to limit 
or postpone redemption and the circumstances under which TCLP may 
waive an established redemption gate, in whole or in part, are 
discussed in greater detail in the application.
    \10\ Applicants submit that, although closed-end Funds do not 
present the same concerns with respect to liquidity as open-end 
Funds, it is nonetheless appropriate to limit the investments of 
these Funds in TCLP (and Future LPs) to address concerns that may 
arise regarding complex structures and the use of leverage, among 
other things.
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    13. Redemption requests will be considered on a first in basis 
based upon the business day of receipt, unless a limited partner (other 
than a registered investment company or Other Account) has agreed to a 
lower priority of redemption. Except as a limited partner (other than a 
registered investment company or Other Account) has otherwise agreed, 
redemption requests of all investors will be treated equally, and TCLP 
will allocate redemption proceeds on a pro rata basis in the event that 
there are insufficient liquid assets to satisfy fully all redemption 
requests. The rules on redemption and TCLP's policy regarding the 
allocation of redemption proceeds, and any changes to either of these, 
will be disclosed to all prospective investors in TCLP. TCLP will have 
a written policy regarding the allocation of redemption proceeds that 
will be applied in a manner that is objective and verifiable and will 
be consistent with Advisors' fiduciary obligation to treat client 
accounts in a manner that is fair.
    14. Each Fund and Other Account limited partner of TCLP will have 
identical rights, duties and obligations under the limited partnership 
agreement as each other Fund and Other Account limited partner. If 
Outside Investors are permitted to invest in TCLP, the Funds and Other 
Accounts will be entitled to purchase, hold and redeem Units on terms 
that are at least as favorable, including (without limitation) the 
expenses associated with an investment in TCLP, as the terms on which 
any Outside Investor purchases, holds or redeems Units. Limited 
partners other than the Funds and Other Accounts will have 
substantially similar rights, duties and obligations as the Funds and 
Other Accounts, but Applicants currently contemplate that they may 
distinguish among Outside Investors with respect to rights, duties and 
obligations pursuant to the terms of the limited partnership agreement, 
or otherwise, with respect to the following issues (without 
limitation): (a) Utilization of redemption gates; (b) limitation of 
rights of redemption; or (c) the level of expenses charged to limited 
partners other than the Funds and Other Accounts in connection with an 
investment in TCLP, which may be higher than the level of expenses 
borne by the Funds and Other Accounts.
    15. TCLP will be able to purchase and redeem limited liability 
company interests in TC REIT on a daily basis at the next determined 
NAV. Applicants represent that TCLP will be the sole investor in TC 
REIT, other than the ninety-nine or more additional investors necessary 
or appropriate to allow TC REIT to qualify as a REIT under section 
856(a)(5) of the Code (the ``Tax Holders''). The Tax Holders' interests 
in TC REIT will be preferred to TCLP's interests in TC REIT. However, 
(a) the Tax Holders will have only limited

[[Page 55402]]

voting rights, (b) the Tax Holders' aggregate interests in TC REIT will 
be de minimis in relation to that of TCLP,\11\ and (c) TC REIT will not 
issue additional interests to the Tax Holders after the initial 
organization of TC REIT (clause (a), (b), and (c), collectively, the 
``Tax Holder Limitations'').\12\ Accordingly, it is anticipated that 
TCLP will own substantially all of the total outstanding securities of 
TC REIT at all times during the operation of TC REIT.
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    \11\ Applicants anticipate that the Tax Holders will invest, in 
aggregate, approximately $125,000 and will represent much less than 
1% of the expected aggregate net assets of TC REIT.
    \12\ The Tax Holders' interests in TC REIT and the Tax Holder 
Limitations are discussed in greater detail in the application.
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    16. Applicants represent that TC REIT will not participate in any 
joint enterprise or other joint arrangement, within the meaning of rule 
17d-1 under the Act, with the Future Real Estate Funds or other TIAA 
related accounts, and the Applicants are not asking for an order 
pursuant to rule 17d-1 with respect to any such transaction. Further, 
Applicants state that TIAA has adopted policies and procedures 
applicable to any purchasing conflicts between TC REIT and any other 
TIAA related accounts, which are designed to allocate opportunities 
consistent with Advisors' fiduciary obligations to its clients and will 
be applied in a manner that is objective and verifiable.

Applicants' Legal Analysis

Section 17(a)--Purchase and Sale of Units

    1. Section 17(a) of the Act generally prohibits an ``affiliated 
person'' as defined by section 2(a)(3) of the Act, or an affiliated 
person of an affiliated person, of a registered investment company, 
acting as principal, from purchasing securities or other property from 
the registered investment company or selling securities or other 
property to the registered investment company. Section 2(a)(3) of the 
Act defines an ``affiliated person'' of another person to include, 
among others, (a) any person directly or indirectly owning, 
controlling, or holding with power to vote, 5% or more of the 
outstanding voting securities of the other person; (b) any person 5% or 
more of whose outstanding voting securities are directly or indirectly 
owned, controlled, or held with the power to vote by the other person; 
and (c) any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, 
or under common control with the other person. Section 2(a)(9) defines 
``control'' to mean ``the power to exercise a controlling influence 
over the management or policies of a company, unless such power is 
solely the result of an official position with such company.''
    2. Section 17(b) of the Act authorizes the Commission to grant an 
order permitting a transaction otherwise prohibited by section 17(a) if 
the terms of the proposed transaction, including the consideration to 
be paid or received, are fair and reasonable and do not involve 
overreaching on the part of any person concerned, and the proposed 
transaction is consistent with the policies of each registered 
investment company involved and with the general purposes of the Act. 
Section 6(c) of the Act permits the Commission to exempt any person or 
transactions from any provisions of the Act if such exemption is 
necessary or appropriate in the public interest and consistent with the 
protection of investors and the purposes fairly intended by the policy 
and provisions of the Act.
    3. Applicants state that the sale by TCLP of its Units to a Fund or 
the repurchase by TCLP of its Units from a Fund may be deemed to be 
prohibited by section 17(a) of the Act, as TCLP and each Fund may be 
deemed to be affiliated persons, or affiliated persons of affiliated 
persons, of each other under multiple theories. For example, the Fund 
may be deemed to be an affiliated person of TCLP in the event that it 
owns 5% or more of the Units in TCLP. In addition, TCLP could be deemed 
to be an affiliated person of an affiliated person of the Fund, if it 
is deemed to be under the control of or under common control with 
Advisors.
    4. Applicants believe that the proposed transactions among the 
Funds and TCLP satisfy the requirements for relief from section 17(a) 
of the Act under both sections 17(b) and 6(c) of the Act.
    5. Applicants submit that the proposed transactions are reasonable 
and fair and would not involve overreaching on the part of any person 
concerned. Before investment by a Fund in TCLP, the Fund's board of 
trustees (the ``Board''), including a majority of the Independent 
Trustees, would have made the determinations required under condition 1 
below.\13\ The Board, including the Independent Trustees, will review 
these determinations on at least an annual basis. Applicants represent 
that, currently, the Board is made up of ten trustees, all of whom are 
Independent Trustees. Further, Applicants notes that Advisors' ability 
to allocate a Fund's assets to investments in TCLP would be limited to 
address any potential for overreaching because (a) the allocation would 
be determined either by the Fund's glide path or would be within a 
range of permissible allocations approved in advance by the Board and 
(b) the Fund's investment would be limited under condition 3 below.
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    \13\ The ``Independent Trustees'' are the trustees who are not 
interested persons of the Trust within the meaning of section 
2(a)(19) of the Act.
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    6. In addition, Applicants state that each Fund would purchase and 
sell Units on the same terms as each other Fund and any Other Account, 
and on terms that are at least as favorable as the terms on which 
Outside Investors would purchase and sell Units. TCLP also would sell 
its shares to or purchase its shares from a Fund at the next-calculated 
NAV per Unit. This value, which would be provided to the Funds on a 
daily basis, would be determined based on the valuations of the assets 
of TC REIT, which would be determined by using valuation methodologies 
that are consistent with section 2(a)(41) of the Act except that the 
TCLP Committee will, in reliance on independent appraisals obtained at 
least quarterly, make determinations that would otherwise be made by a 
board of directors.\14\
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    \14\ Applicants note that, in accordance with condition 9, TCLP 
will consolidate TC REIT for reporting purposes and the consolidated 
financial statements of TCLP will be prepared in accordance with 
Regulation S-X, will be audited by an independent auditor, and, if 
practicable, will be prepared as of the same date and for the same 
periods as the investing Funds. Applicants state that the Public 
Company Accounting Oversight Board auditing standards applicable to 
the audit of TCLP would be the same standards as those applicable to 
a registered investment company. Further, Applicants state that the 
U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and Regulation S-X 
would apply to the financial statements of both TCLP and a 
registered investment company. Thus, Applicants assert that critical 
accounting policies governing security valuation, accounting for 
investment transactions, recognition of investment income and of 
expenses, and accrual of expenses, which are often the critical 
policies applicable to investment companies, would apply in 
substantially the same manner for the financial statements of TCLP. 
Valuation of the assets of TCLP and TC REIT for which market 
quotations are not readily available will be overseen by a committee 
consisting of the employees and agents of TCLP, TIAA and/or its 
subsidiaries (the ``TCLP Committee'').
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    7. Applicants further submit that the proposed transactions would 
be consistent with the policies of each Fund. Applicants represent that 
the investment by a Fund in TCLP would be effected in accordance with 
the investment policies, objective, strategies and restrictions 
contained in the registration statement of the Fund.
    8. Finally, Applicants submit that, for these reasons, as well as 
the benefits shareholders in the Funds would

[[Page 55403]]

experience by reason of the Funds' investments in TCLP, the proposed 
transactions are appropriate in the public interest and consistent with 
the protection of investors and the purposes fairly intended by the 
policy and provisions of the Act.

Section 17(d)

    9. Section 17(d) of the Act and rule 17d-1 under the Act generally 
prohibit joint transactions involving registered investment companies 
and their affiliates unless the Commission has approved the 
transaction. In considering whether to approve a joint transaction 
under rule 17d-1, the Commission considers whether the proposed 
transaction is consistent with the provisions, policies, and purposes 
of the Act, and the extent to which the participation of the investment 
companies is on a basis different from or less advantageous than that 
of the other participants.
    10. Applicants state that the sale of Units to a Fund, the Fund's 
holding of Units, the redemption of Units held by the Fund, an Other 
Account's purchase, holding and redemption of Units alongside a Fund, 
TCLP's purchase, holding and redemptions of interest in the TC REIT, 
and Advisors' management of the Funds, Other Accounts, TCLP and TC REIT 
at the same time that the Funds are investing in TCLP (directly) and TC 
REIT (indirectly) could be deemed to constitute a joint enterprise or 
joint arrangement among the Funds, Other Accounts, TCLP, TCGP, TC REIT, 
and Advisors because the Funds may be presumed to be affiliated 
persons, or affiliated persons of affiliated persons, of Advisors, 
Other Accounts, TCLP or TC REIT.
    11. For the reasons discussed above, Applicants submit that the 
proposed transactions are consistent with the provisions, policies and 
purposes of the Act. Applicants further believe that, based on the 
terms of the proposed transactions and the conditions set forth below, 
the participation by the Funds in the proposed transactions would be on 
a basis no different from that of other Funds or Other Accounts or less 
advantageous than that of other Funds, Outside Investors or Other 
Accounts. A Fund will hold Units of TCLP only if it will at all times 
have identical rights, duties and obligations under the limited 
partnership agreement as each other Fund limited partner and Other 
Account limited partner. If Outside Investors or Other Accounts are 
permitted to invest in TCLP, the Funds will be entitled to purchase, 
hold and redeem Units on terms that are at least as favorable, 
including (without limitation) the expenses associated with an 
investment in TCLP, as the terms on which any Outside Investor 
purchases, holds or redeem Units and on terms that are the same as the 
terms on which any Other Account purchases, holds or redeems Units. 
TCLP and the Tax Holders will be the only investors in TC REIT, and the 
Tax Holders' interests will be subject to the Tax Holder Limitations. 
All transactions in Units would be priced in the same manner and would 
be redeemable under the terms discussed herein and disclosed to 
investors. In addition, any investment by a Fund in TCLP would be 
subject to oversight by the Fund's Board.

Section 17(a)--Cross Transactions

    12. Applicants also propose that the Funds and Other Accounts be 
permitted to engage in certain purchase and sale cross transactions in 
securities (``Cross Transactions''). Applicants expect that these 
transactions will be between a Fund seeking to implement a portfolio 
strategy and an Other Account seeking to raise or invest cash, or vice 
versa. Applicants represent that the Funds currently are able rely on 
rule 17a-7 to engage in such Cross Transactions. However, if a Fund and 
an Other Account were deemed to be affiliated persons of an affiliated 
person of each other by virtue of their ownership or control 
affiliations with TCLP, the Funds may not be entitled to rely on rule 
17a-7 because they would no longer be affiliated solely for the reasons 
permitted by the rule. Applicants represent that Funds and Other 
Accounts will not engage in Cross Transactions involving Units, and to 
the extent any Future LPs are created, TCLP and the Future LPs (and 
their respective subsidiaries) will not engage in cross-trades with 
each other.
    13. Applicants represent that, when engaging in Cross Transactions, 
the Funds and Other Accounts will comply with the requirements set 
forth in rule 17a-(7)(a) through (g), as interpreted by the Commission 
staff. Applicants assert that the potential affiliations created by the 
TCLP structure do not affect the other protections provided by the 
rule, including the integrity of the pricing mechanism employed and 
oversight by each Fund's Board. Applicants also note that no brokerage 
commission, fee or other remuneration will be paid in connection with 
the transactions. Applicants, therefore, believe that Cross 
Transactions will be reasonable and fair, will not involve 
overreaching, and will be consistent with the purposes of the Act and 
the investment policy of each Fund.

Applicants' Conditions

    Applicants agree that any order granting the requested relief shall 
be subject to the following conditions:
    1. Advisors will not implement an initial decision to invest the 
assets of a Fund in TCLP unless prior to the Fund's initial investment 
in TCLP, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, 
has determined that: (a) Investment in TCLP (and indirectly in TC REIT) 
is an appropriate means to implement an investment decision made by 
Advisors for the Fund to seek real estate exposure; (b) investment in 
TCLP (and indirectly in TC REIT) is in the best interests of the Fund 
and its shareholders, taking into account, among other things, the 
management and administration fees of TCLP and TC REIT; (c) the 
management and administration fees to be charged by TCLP and TC REIT 
are for services in addition to, rather than duplicative of, services 
rendered to the Fund directly; and (d) the management and 
administration fees to be charged by TCLP and TC REIT are fair and 
reasonable in light of the usual and customary fees charged by others 
for services of the same nature and quality. The Board, including the 
Independent Trustees, will review these determinations on at least an 
annual basis. The basis for each of the Board's determinations required 
by this condition will be recorded in its minutes. If the Board does 
not make the determinations in clauses (c) and (d) in a review 
subsequent to the initial investment, Advisors will reimburse the Fund 
the amount of any management and administrative fee borne by the Fund 
as a direct investor in TCLP and an indirect investor in TC REIT 
charged since the most recent date on which the Board did make these 
determinations.
    2. Prior to any initial or additional investments in Units, 
Advisors will determine that each Fund's investment in TCLP will be 
consistent with the Fund's investment policies, objective, strategies 
and restrictions, and purchases of Units will be determined either by 
the Fund's glide path or be limited such that total holdings remain 
within a range of permissible allocations approved in advance by the 
Board. For purposes of determining consistency with a Fund's investment 
policies, objective, strategies and restrictions, a Fund will look 
through its investment in TCLP (and indirectly in TC REIT) and apply 
its investment policies, objective, strategies and restrictions (except 
for any restriction relevant to the direct ownership of real estate 
assets) in such a manner that the Fund will not do

[[Page 55404]]

indirectly through TCLP and TC REIT that which it cannot do directly. 
For purposes of applying its investment policies, objective, strategies 
and restrictions, a Fund will be considered as owning its pro rata 
portion of the portfolio holdings of TCLP and TC REIT.
    3. Each Fund that is an open-end investment company will treat its 
entire investments in TCLP and any Future LPs as investments that are 
not liquid for purposes of any applicable rules or guidance of the 
Commission or its staff regarding the management of liquidity. For 
example, under current guidelines, each such Fund must limit its 
aggregate holdings of illiquid assets, which for purposes of the 
requested relief include any investments in TCLP and any Future LPs, to 
15% of its net assets. In addition, each Fund, including any open- or 
closed-end investment company, will, at all times, limit its holdings 
in TCLP (together with any Future LPs) to no more than 15% of its net 
assets.\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ Although closed-end Funds do not present the same concerns 
with respect to liquidity as open-end Funds, Applicants believe that 
it is nonetheless appropriate to limit the investments of these 
Funds in TCLP (and Future LPs) to address concerns that may arise 
regarding complex structures and the use of leverage, among other 
things.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    4. At all times that any Fund or other registered investment 
company holds an interest in TCLP, each of TCLP and TC REIT: (a) Will 
determine its respective net asset value per Unit or membership 
interest, as applicable, each Business Day; and (b) will maintain and 
comply with policies and procedures for valuing its assets that are 
consistent with section 2(a)(41) of the Act except that the TCLP 
Committee will, in reliance on independent appraisals obtained at least 
quarterly, make determinations that would otherwise be made by a board 
of directors (as if TCLP and TC REIT were subject to section 2(a)(41)) 
and with applicable U.S. generally accepted accounting principles 
(``U.S. GAAP'') (or successor accounting standards). For these 
purposes, ``Business Day'' means each day on which the Funds or other 
registered investment company determine net asset value per share, as 
disclosed in the Funds' or other registered investment company's 
registration statement.
    5. A Fund will hold Units of TCLP only if it will at all times have 
identical rights, duties and obligations under the limited partnership 
agreement as each other Fund limited partner and Other Account limited 
partner. If Other Accounts or Outside Investors are permitted to invest 
in TCLP, the Funds will be entitled to purchase, hold and redeem Units 
on terms that are at least as favorable, including (without limitation) 
the expenses associated with an investment in TCLP, as the terms on 
which any Outside Investor purchases, holds or redeems Units and on 
terms that are the same as the terms on which any Other Account 
purchases, holds or redeems Units. Other than the Tax Holders' 
interests, which will be subject to the Tax Holder Limitations, TCLP 
will own at all times 100% of the voting and economic interests in TC 
REIT.
    6. TC REIT and TCLP will be managed by an investment adviser that 
is registered as an investment adviser with the Commission. Any 
investment sub-adviser to TC REIT or TCLP will be registered as an 
investment adviser with the Commission or, if not registered, will 
consent to examination by the Commission staff with respect to the 
services it would provide to TC REIT or TCLP as if it were registered 
as an investment adviser.
    7. The Funds' proposed investments in TCLP, and TCLP's investment 
in TC REIT, will not be subject to any sales load, redemption fee, 
distribution fee analogous to a 12b-1 fee, or service fee analogous to 
a FINRA Rule 2830 service fee imposed by TCLP or TC REIT.
    8. Advisors shall cause TCGP, TCLP and TC REIT to maintain books 
and records as is consistent with Internal Revenue Service guidance and 
U.S. GAAP, shall cause the books and records of TCGP, TCLP and TC REIT 
to be made available for inspection by the Commission staff as would be 
required by the Act if each of TCGP, TCLP and TC REIT was a registered 
investment company, and, if requested, shall furnish copies of the 
books and records to the Commission staff.
    9. TCLP will prepare consolidated annual and semi-annual financial 
reports and, for each quarter for which a semi-annual or annual report 
is not required to be prepared, a consolidated schedule of investments 
for TCLP. The financial statements of TCLP will be prepared in 
accordance with Regulation S-X and U.S. GAAP, will be audited by an 
independent auditor (for annual financial statements), and, if 
practicable, will be prepared as of the same date and for the same 
periods as the investing Funds. TCLP will consolidate TC REIT for 
financial reporting purposes. Any consolidated schedule of investments 
of TCLP will disclose each position that TCLP and TC REIT hold. The 
Trust, on behalf of each Fund that has invested 5% or more of its net 
assets in TCLP \16\ as of the end of a reporting period, will attach, 
as an exhibit to each of the Trust's shareholder reports with respect 
to such a Fund filed on Form N-CSR and each of the Trust's quarterly 
reports with respect to such a Fund filed on Form N-Q, TCLP's audited 
or unaudited financial statements (which will consist of financial 
statements, footnotes, thereto and a schedule of investments) or 
schedule of investments for the period most recently ended. TCLP will 
deliver such annual and semi-annual financial statements and schedules 
of investments to the Trust in time to allow the Trust to make such 
filings. The relevant Fund's shareholder reports and quarterly reports 
will cross-reference the TCLP financial statements (for annual and 
semi-annual reports) or schedule of investments (for other quarters) 
filed as an exhibit to the form. If a Fund is required to attach and 
cross-reference the financial statements of TCLP solely for purpose of 
complying with this condition 9, (a) the Fund may disclaim that (i) the 
TCLP financial statements or schedule of investments constitute part of 
the Fund's financial statements, shareholder report or quarterly 
report, and (ii) the TCLP financial statements or schedule of 
investments are incorporated therein by reference, and (b) the 
certifications for each principal executive and principal financial 
officer required by rule 30a-2(a) under the Act that accompany Form N-
CSR or Form N-Q filings with respect to such a Fund may make clear that 
the TCLP financial statements or schedule of investments that accompany 
the Form N-CSR or Form N-Q filings do not constitute part of the report 
to which the certificate relates.\17\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ Investments in any Future LPs will be aggregated with 
investments in TCLP to determine whether a Fund has invested 5% or 
more of its net assets. If the aggregate investments are 5% or more, 
then the disclosure requirements under this condition will apply 
(for that Fund) with respect to information about TCLP and each 
Future LP in which that Fund is invested.
    \17\ As noted above, the requested order does not include relief 
from any existing disclosure requirements. Accordingly, the 
disclaimer and clarification contemplated in clauses (a) and (b) 
could not be included if the Fund is required to disclose 
information regarding the financial statements of TCLP for any 
purpose other than complying with this condition 9.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    10. Neither TCLP nor TC REIT will acquire securities of any other 
investment company or company relying on section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of 
the Act in excess of the limits contained in section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 
Act, except to the extent that TCLP or TC REIT: (a) Receives securities 
of another investment company as a dividend or as a result of a plan of 
reorganization of a company (other than a plan devised for the purpose 
of evading section 12(d)(1) of the Act); or (b) acquires (or is deemed

[[Page 55405]]

to have acquired) securities of another investment company pursuant to 
exemptive relief from the Commission permitting TCLP or TC REIT to (i) 
acquire securities of one or more investment companies for short-term 
cash management purposes, or (ii) engage in interfund borrowing and 
lending transactions.
    11. A Fund will treat any leverage that TCLP or TC REIT incurs as 
though such leverage were incurred by the Fund for purposes of 
determining compliance with applicable restrictions under the Act 
relevant to the Fund's use of leverage. Under no circumstances will a 
Fund guarantee, or otherwise be responsible for the satisfaction of, 
any loan or obligation incurred by TCLP or TC REIT.
    12. The TCLP and TC REIT will comply with the following sections of 
the Act as if the TCLP and TC REIT each were an open-end management 
investment company registered under the Act, except as noted: Section 
9; section 12 (except that, to the extent necessary to implement the 
arrangements described herein, (i) the Funds may invest in Units issued 
by TCLP in accordance with condition 3, (ii) TCLP may issue Units to 
the investing Funds subject to the limits in condition 3, and (iii) 
TCLP may invest in TC REIT beyond the limits of sections 12(d)(1)(A) 
and (B)); section 13 (provided that section 13(a)(4) will apply as 
though it read only ``change the nature of its business''; the 
interests issued by TCLP and TC REIT will be regarded as voting 
securities under section 2(a)(42) of the Act for purposes of applying 
this condition; and the offering memoranda utilized by TCLP and TC REIT 
to offer and sell their interests will be regarded as registration 
statements for purposes of applying this condition); section 17(a) 
(except insofar as relief is provided by the order requested herein); 
section 17(d) (except insofar as relief is provided by the order 
requested herein); section 17(e); section 17(f); section 17(h); section 
18 (although (a) the interests issued by TCLP and TC REIT will be 
regarded as voting securities under section 2(a)(42) of the Act for 
purposes of applying this condition, (b) TC REIT will be permitted to 
incur loans from Non-bank Commercial Lenders, subject to the asset 
coverage limit, and (c) TC REIT will not be required to restore 300% 
asset coverage within three days, as required under section 18(f), if 
such asset coverage falls below 300% solely as a result of a decline in 
the value of TC REIT's real estate holdings); section 21; section 36; 
and sections 37-53. In addition, the TCLP and TC REIT will comply with 
the rules under section 17(f) \18\ and section 17(g) of the Act, as 
well as rule 22c-1 under the Act as if each of the TCLP and TC REIT 
were an open-end management investment company registered under the 
Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ Applicants note that they will operate TCLP and TC REIT 
such that rules under section 17(f) will not be applicable to either 
entity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Advisors will cause TCGP, TCLP and TC REIT to, and TCGP, TCLP and 
TC REIT will, adopt policies and procedures designed to ensure that 
each of TCLP and TC REIT complies with the aforementioned sections of 
the Act and rules under the Act. Advisors will cause TCGP, TCLP and TC 
REIT to, and TCGP, TCLP and TC REIT will, periodically review and 
periodically update as appropriate such policies and procedures, 
maintain books and records describing such policies and procedures, and 
maintain the records required by rules 31a-1(b)(1), 31a-1(b)(2)(ii) and 
31a-1(b)(9) under the Act. All books and records required to be made 
pursuant to this condition will be maintained and preserved for a 
period of not less than six years from the end of the fiscal year in 
which any transaction occurs, the first two years in an easily 
accessible place, and will be subject to examination by the Commission 
and its staff.
    For purposes of implementing condition 12, any action that the 
above-referenced statutory and regulatory provisions require to be 
taken or made by the directors, officers and/or employees of a 
registered investment company will be performed by TCGP with respect to 
TCLP, and by Advisors (or its successor),\19\ as managing member with 
respect to TC REIT. As noted in this Application, the TCLP Committee 
will oversee the valuation of the assets of TCLP and TC REIT for which 
market quotations are not readily available, which also will be 
relevant to the implementation of condition 12.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ See supra, note 2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    13. To engage in Cross Transactions, the Funds will comply with 
rule 17a-7 under the Act in all respects other than the requirement 
that the parties to the transaction be affiliated persons (or 
affiliated persons of affiliated persons) of each other solely by 
reason of having a common investment adviser or investment advisers 
which are affiliated persons of each other, common officers, and/or 
common directors, solely because a Fund and Other Account might become 
affiliated persons within the meaning of section 2(a)(3)(A), (B) or (C) 
of the Act because of their investments in TCLP.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, 
under delegated authority.
Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-23093 Filed 9-14-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 178 / Tuesday, September 15, 2015 / Notices                                                55399

                                                  B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                          If the Commission takes such action, the                For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                  Statement on Burden on Competition                         Commission shall institute proceedings                Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                                                                                             to determine whether the proposed rule                authority.16
                                                     The Exchange does not believe that
                                                                                                             should be approved or disapproved.                    Robert W. Errett,
                                                  the proposed rule change will impose
                                                  any burden on competition not                                                                                    Deputy Secretary.
                                                                                                             IV. Solicitation of Comments
                                                  necessary or appropriate in furtherance                                                                          [FR Doc. 2015–23094 Filed 9–14–15; 8:45 am]
                                                  of the purposes of the Act. The                              Interested persons are invited to                   BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                  Exchange’s proposal to impose the new                      submit written data, views, and
                                                  $0.15 fee on executions other than                         arguments concerning the foregoing,
                                                  Customer executions does not misalign                      including whether the proposed rule                   SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                  the fees related to Customer as                            change is consistent with the Act.                    COMMISSION
                                                  compared to Non-Customer orders.                           Comments may be submitted by any of                   [Investment Company Act Release No.
                                                  Today, Customers have lower fees                           the following methods:                                31807; 812–13995]
                                                  because Customer liquidity benefits all                    Electronic Comments
                                                  market participants by providing more                                                                            TIAA–CREF Funds, et al.; Notice of
                                                  trading opportunities, which attracts                        • Use the Commission’s Internet                     Application
                                                  Specialists and Market Makers. An                          comment form (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                                                                                                                                   September 8, 2015.
                                                  increase in the activity of these market                   rules/sro.shtml); or
                                                                                                                                                                   AGENCY:    Securities and Exchange
                                                  participants in turn facilitates tighter                     • Send an email to rule-comments@                   Commission (‘‘Commission’’).
                                                  spreads, which may cause an additional                     sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
                                                  corresponding increase in order flow                                                                             ACTION: Notice of application for an
                                                                                                             Phlx–2015–75 on the subject line.
                                                  from other market participants. The new                                                                          order under sections 6(c) and 17(b) of
                                                  fee does not impose any undue burden                       Paper Comments                                        the Investment Company Act of 1940
                                                  on competition as all market                                                                                     (‘‘Act’’) for exemptions from section
                                                                                                               • Send paper comments in triplicate                 17(a) of the Act, and under section 17(d)
                                                  participants, except Customers will be                     to Secretary, Securities and Exchange
                                                  assessed the same fee.                                                                                           of the Act and rule 17d–1 thereunder to
                                                                                                             Commission, 100 F Street NE.,                         permit certain joint transactions.
                                                     The Exchange operates in a highly                       Washington, DC 20549–1090.
                                                  competitive market, comprised of
                                                  twelve options exchanges, in which                         All submissions should refer to File                  SUMMARY OF APPLICATION:     Applicants
                                                  market participants can easily and                         Number SR–Phlx–2015–75. This file                     requests an order that would permit
                                                  readily direct order flow to competing                     number should be included on the                      certain registered management
                                                  venues if they deem fee levels at a                        subject line if email is used. To help the            investment companies or series thereof
                                                  particular venue to be excessive or                        Commission process and review your                    that are advised by Teachers Advisors,
                                                  rebates to be inadequate. Accordingly,                     comments more efficiently, please use                 Inc. (‘‘Advisors’’) to invest in a private
                                                  the fees that are assessed and the rebates                 only one method. The Commission will                  investment vehicle established by
                                                  paid by the Exchange, as described in                      post all comments on the Commission’s                 Advisors to invest directly in real estate.
                                                  the proposal, are influenced by these                      Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                APPLICANTS: TIAA–CREF Funds (the
                                                  robust market forces and therefore must                    rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                       ‘‘Trust’’), Advisors, TIAA–CREF Real
                                                  remain competitive with fees charged                       submission, all subsequent                            Property Fund LP (‘‘TCLP’’), TIAA–
                                                  and rebates paid by other venues and                       amendments, all written statements                    CREF Real Property Fund GP LLC
                                                  therefore must continue to be reasonable                   with respect to the proposed rule                     (‘‘TCGP’’), and TIAA–CREF Real
                                                  and equitably allocated to those                           change that are filed with the                        Property Fund REIT LLC (‘‘TC REIT’’).
                                                  members that opt to direct orders to the                   Commission, and all written                           FILING DATES: The application was filed
                                                  Exchange rather than competing venues.                     communications relating to the                        on January 4, 2012, and amended on
                                                                                                             proposed rule change between the                      June 25, 2012, December 3, 2012,
                                                  C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                                                                             Commission and any person, other than                 October 16, 2013, June 26, 2014, May 8,
                                                  Statement on Comments on the
                                                                                                             those that may be withheld from the                   2015, and September 4, 2015.
                                                  Proposed Rule Change Received From
                                                                                                             public in accordance with the                         HEARING OR NOTIFICATION OF HEARING: An
                                                  Members, Participants, or Others
                                                                                                             provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                   order granting the requested relief will
                                                    No written comments were either                          available for Web site viewing and
                                                  solicited or received.                                                                                           be issued unless the Commission orders
                                                                                                             printing in the Commission’s Public                   a hearing. Interested persons may
                                                  III. Date of Effectiveness of the                          Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,                     request a hearing by writing to the
                                                  Proposed Rule Change and Timing for                        Washington, DC 20549, on official                     Commission’s Secretary and serving
                                                  Commission Action                                          business days between the hours of                    Applicants with a copy of the request,
                                                                                                             10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                personally or by mail. Hearing requests
                                                     The foregoing rule change has become                    filing also will be available for
                                                  effective pursuant to Section                                                                                    should be received by the Commission
                                                                                                             inspection and copying at the principal               by 5:30 p.m. on October 5, 2015, and
                                                  19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act.15
                                                                                                             office of the Exchange. All comments                  should be accompanied by proof of
                                                     At any time within 60 days of the
                                                  filing of the proposed rule change, the                    received will be posted without change;               service on Applicants, in the form of an
                                                  Commission summarily may                                   the Commission does not edit personal                 affidavit or, for lawyers, a certificate of
                                                                                                             identifying information from
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                  temporarily suspend such rule change if                                                                          service. Pursuant to rule 0–5 of the Act,
                                                  it appears to the Commission that such                     submissions. You should submit only                   hearing requests should state the nature
                                                  action is: (i) Necessary or appropriate in                 information that you wish to make                     of the writer’s interest, any facts bearing
                                                  the public interest; (ii) for the protection               available publicly.                                   upon the desirability of a hearing on the
                                                  of investors; or (iii) otherwise in                           All submissions should refer to File               matter, the reason for the request, and
                                                  furtherance of the purposes of the Act.                    Number SR–Phlx–2015–75 and should                     the issues contested. Persons who wish
                                                                                                             be submitted on or before October 6,
                                                    15 15   U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).                         2015.                                                   16 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).



                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014      19:04 Sep 14, 2015   Jkt 235001   PO 00000   Frm 00078   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\15SEN1.SGM    15SEN1


                                                  55400                     Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 178 / Tuesday, September 15, 2015 / Notices

                                                  to be notified of a hearing may request                 is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary               registered management investment
                                                  notification by writing to the                          of TIAA. Advisors will be the                         company or series thereof that is
                                                  Commission’s Secretary.                                 investment adviser to each of the Funds               advised by Advisors or any successor
                                                  ADDRESSES: Secretary, U.S. Securities                   (as defined below), TCLP and TC REIT.1                entity or any entity controlling,
                                                  and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street                      5. TIAA and Advisors believe that                  controlled by, or under common control
                                                  NE., Washington, DC 20549. Applicants:                  exposure to direct real estate                        with Advisors (each, a ‘‘Fund’’).3
                                                  TIAA–CREF, Attn: Rachael Zufall, 8500                   investments is an important element of                Applicants further request that the relief
                                                  Andrew Carnegie Boulevard, Charlotte,                   diversified retirement investing.                     extend to any future limited partnership
                                                  NC, 28262.                                              Advisors seeks to provide shareholders                (‘‘Future LP’’), general partner thereof
                                                                                                          who invest for retirement and other                   (‘‘Future GP’’), and underlying real
                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                          long-term purposes through the Funds                  estate investment vehicle (‘‘Future Real
                                                  Mark N. Zaruba, Senior Counsel, at
                                                                                                          (as defined below) with exposure to                   Estate Fund’’) in which such Future LP
                                                  (202) 551–6878, or David Bartels,
                                                                                                          direct real estate. Applicants argue that             invests that has elected to be taxed as a
                                                  Branch Chief, at (202) 551–6821
                                                                                                          direct exposure to real estate offers                 REIT pursuant to the Code that operate
                                                  (Division of Investment Management,
                                                                                                          advantages over investment in                         in a manner that is identical to TCLP,
                                                  Chief Counsel’s Office).
                                                                                                          conventional real estate mutual funds                 TCGP and TC REIT except for the types
                                                  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The                          that invest primarily in publicly traded
                                                  following is a summary of the                                                                                 of real estate investments held by a
                                                                                                          REITs. In addition, Applicants note that,             Future Real Estate Fund.4
                                                  application. The complete application                   while the Act does not preclude a
                                                  may be obtained via the Commission’s                    registered management investment                         8. Applicants state that TC REIT will
                                                  Web site by searching for the file                      company from investing directly in real               invest in direct real estate holdings and,
                                                  number, or for an applicant using the                   estate (provided that the fund is not                 to maintain some liquidity, may invest
                                                  Company name box, at http://                            subject to a fundamental policy                       a portion of its assets in liquid
                                                  www.sec.gov/search/search.htm or by                     precluding such investment and, in the                investments. To finance its investments
                                                  calling (202) 551–8090.                                 case of an open-end fund, has sufficient              in real estate holdings, TC REIT plans to
                                                  Applicants’ Representations                             liquidity to comply with applicable                   borrow from banks, as well as from
                                                                                                          Commission and Commission staff                       insurance companies, pension/
                                                     1. The Trust is organized as a                       positions), direct investment in real                 retirement systems, state and federal
                                                  Delaware statutory trust and is an open-                estate would be impractical due to the                government related entities (e.g.,
                                                  end management investment company                       typical size of such investments and for              Freddie Mac), investment banks, and
                                                  registered under the Act. The Trust                     tax reasons. Accordingly, applicants                  other commercial lenders (e.g., GE
                                                  currently consists of multiple Funds (as                propose to allow each Fund (solely to                 Capital Corporation (or its successor),
                                                  defined below).                                         the extent consistent with its investment             Ally Financial) (lenders other than
                                                     2. TCLP is organized as a limited                    policies, objectives, strategies and                  banks are referred to as ‘‘Non-bank
                                                  partnership, and applicants state that it               restrictions) to obtain exposure to real              Commercial Lenders’’). Applicants
                                                  will rely on an exception from the                      estate through TCLP, which will be                    represent that TC REIT plans to incur
                                                  definition of ‘‘investment company’’                    dedicated to investing indirectly in real             loans from Non-bank Commercial
                                                  such as Section 3(c)(1) or Section 3(c)(7)              estate through TC REIT.                               Lenders because such lenders have been
                                                  of the Act (or any other applicable                        6. For this reason, Applicants request             longstanding capital resources to the
                                                  exclusion). TCGP, the sole general                      an order under sections 6(c) and 17(b)                commercial real estate market and often
                                                  partner of TCLP, is organized as a                      of the Act for exemptions from section                are able to offer more favorable lending
                                                  limited liability company and will be a                 17(a) of the Act, and under section 17(d)             terms to borrowers.5 TC REIT will not
                                                  direct or indirect wholly owned                         of the Act and rule 17d-1 thereunder, to              incur any loans that are callable at the
                                                  subsidiary of Teachers Insurance and                    permit: (i) One or more Funds (as                     option of the lender.
                                                  Annuity Association of America                          defined below) to purchase, hold and
                                                  (‘‘TIAA’’). As general partner of TCLP,                                                                          9. Applicants state that TCLP will
                                                                                                          redeem units of limited partnership                   invest a substantial portion of its assets
                                                  TCGP will be responsible for the                        interests of TCLP (‘‘Units’’); (ii) TCLP to
                                                  operational and administrative                                                                                in TC REIT and, if deemed appropriate
                                                                                                          sell Units to one or more Funds and
                                                  maintenance of TCLP, but it will not                                                                          by Advisors, may, for purposes of
                                                                                                          redeem such Units following demand of
                                                  exercise any responsibilities for the                                                                         maintaining some liquidity, invest a
                                                                                                          such Funds; (iii) to the extent it could
                                                  management of TCLP’s assets.                                                                                  portion of its assets in liquid
                                                                                                          be deemed an element of a ‘‘joint
                                                     3. TC REIT is organized as a limited                                                                       investments. TCLP will incur expenses
                                                                                                          transaction,’’ as defined below, TCLP to
                                                  liability company, and Applicants                                                                             relating to the management of any liquid
                                                                                                          purchase, hold and redeem interests in
                                                  anticipate that it will be excluded from                                                                      investments held by TCLP, as well as for
                                                                                                          TC REIT; and (iv) the Funds and Other
                                                  the definition of ‘‘investment company’’                Accounts (as defined below) to engage
                                                  under Section 3(a)(1) of the Act by                     in certain purchase or sale cross
                                                                                                                                                                  3 Each entity that currently intends to rely on the

                                                  reason of its real estate investments.                                                                        requested relief has been named as an applicant.
                                                                                                          transactions in securities, all as                    For purposes of the requested order, ‘‘successor’’ is
                                                  Applicants state that TC REIT will elect                described and subject to the conditions               limited to an entity that results from reorganization
                                                  to be taxed as a real estate investment                 set forth in the application.2                        into another jurisdiction or a change in the type of
                                                  trust (‘‘REIT’’) under the Internal                        7. Applicants request that the relief              business organization.
                                                  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the                   extend to each existing or future
                                                                                                                                                                  4 Any entity that relies in the future on the

                                                                                                                                                                requested relief will comply with the terms and
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                  ‘‘Code’’) and will not incur separate,
                                                                                                                                                                conditions of the Application as they apply to the
                                                  entity level tax under the current                        1 Only Advisors or a successor entity will serve    corresponding current party.
                                                  provisions of the Code.                                 as investment adviser to TCLP or TC REIT, and any       5 Applicants submit that, in light of the presence

                                                     4. Advisors, a Delaware corporation,                 other investment adviser to TCLP or TC REIT will      of a bona fide business purpose for TCLP and TC
                                                  is an investment adviser that is                        serve only as investment sub-adviser.                 REIT and the difficulty a Fund would have in
                                                                                                            2 Applicants acknowledge that they are not          directly investing in real estate, the structure
                                                  registered with the Commission under                    seeking, and the Commission is not granting, relief   proposed by this Application can be distinguished
                                                  the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as                 from any disclosure requirements that are             from a structure intended primarily to evade
                                                  amended (the ‘‘Advisers Act’’). Advisors                applicable to Applicants.                             leverage restrictions applicable to open-end funds.



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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 178 / Tuesday, September 15, 2015 / Notices                                          55401

                                                  the general operation and                               over time. However, TCLP will reserve                 redemption. Except as a limited partner
                                                  administration of the entity.6                          the right to give the Funds preferential              (other than a registered investment
                                                     10. TCLP will conduct a non-public                   access to opportunities to invest in                  company or Other Account) has
                                                  offering of its Units, and will not be                  TCLP as compared to Outside Investors                 otherwise agreed, redemption requests
                                                  publicly traded. Applicants state that                  and (to the extent permitted under the                of all investors will be treated equally,
                                                  TCLP is currently expected to be made                   allocation policies and procedures)                   and TCLP will allocate redemption
                                                  available solely to the Funds, although                 Other Accounts, and the Funds will                    proceeds on a pro rata basis in the event
                                                  it is possible that it will be made                     always have opportunities to invest in                that there are insufficient liquid assets
                                                  available in the future to: (i) Unaffiliated            TCLP that are at least as favorable as the            to satisfy fully all redemption requests.
                                                  registered investment companies,                        opportunities to invest in TCLP made                  The rules on redemption and TCLP’s
                                                  pension plans, other institutional                      available to Other Accounts or Outside                policy regarding the allocation of
                                                  investors or high-net-worth individuals                 Investors. The policies and procedures                redemption proceeds, and any changes
                                                  (‘‘Outside Investors’’); as well as to (ii)             will require the documentation of the                 to either of these, will be disclosed to
                                                  pension plans, or other institutional                   basis of allocation, as well as the basis             all prospective investors in TCLP. TCLP
                                                  investors or high-net-worth individuals                 for any exception to the general                      will have a written policy regarding the
                                                  for which Advisors or an affiliate of                   principles set forth in the policies and              allocation of redemption proceeds that
                                                  Advisors serves as investment adviser                   procedures, which exception will be                   will be applied in a manner that is
                                                  (‘‘Other Accounts’’).7                                  subject to review by legal or compliance              objective and verifiable and will be
                                                     11. Applicants state that the Funds (as              personnel.                                            consistent with Advisors’ fiduciary
                                                  well as any Other Accounts or Outside                      12. Applicants anticipate that TCLP                obligation to treat client accounts in a
                                                  Investors) that invest in TCLP will be                  will be managed to maintain sufficient                manner that is fair.
                                                  able to purchase and redeem Units on                    liquidity to satisfy the daily liquidity                 14. Each Fund and Other Account
                                                  a daily basis at the next determined net                needs of its limited partners under                   limited partner of TCLP will have
                                                  asset value (‘‘NAV’’) per Unit. In the                  ordinary market conditions. However,                  identical rights, duties and obligations
                                                  event that TCLP is unable to                            any investment in TCLP will be subject                under the limited partnership agreement
                                                  accommodate investment demand from                      to terms permitting TCLP, under                       as each other Fund and Other Account
                                                  the Funds, Other Accounts and/or                        circumstances described in the                        limited partner. If Outside Investors are
                                                  Outside Investors, opportunities for                    application, to (a) cease offering new                permitted to invest in TCLP, the Funds
                                                  investment will be allocated in                         Units; (b) limit or postpone redemptions              and Other Accounts will be entitled to
                                                  accordance with allocation policies and                 in the event that TC REIT has                         purchase, hold and redeem Units on
                                                  procedures drafted and maintained by                    insufficient liquidity to satisfy                     terms that are at least as favorable,
                                                  Advisors.8 Applicants represent that,                   redemption requests; or (c) utilize a                 including (without limitation) the
                                                  while such allocation policies and                      ‘‘gate’’ pursuant to which the amount of              expenses associated with an investment
                                                  procedures may be subject to revision                   redemptions from TCLP by any limited                  in TCLP, as the terms on which any
                                                  over time, the allocation policies and                  partner on any business day may be                    Outside Investor purchases, holds or
                                                  procedures generally will allocate                      limited to a percentage of the limited                redeems Units. Limited partners other
                                                  opportunities on a pro rata basis based                 partner’s investment in TCLP.9                        than the Funds and Other Accounts will
                                                  on orders received, with normal                         Accordingly, each Fund that is an open-               have substantially similar rights, duties
                                                  exceptions for rounding and de minimis                  end investment company will treat its                 and obligations as the Funds and Other
                                                  amounts, although applicants state that                 investments in TCLP and any Future                    Accounts, but Applicants currently
                                                  other allocation methodologies may be                   LPs as investments that are not liquid                contemplate that they may distinguish
                                                  employed as appropriate. Any such                       for purposes of any applicable rules or               among Outside Investors with respect to
                                                  methodology will be applied in a                        guidance of the Commission or its staff               rights, duties and obligations pursuant
                                                  manner that is objective and verifiable                 regarding the management of liquidity.                to the terms of the limited partnership
                                                  and will be consistent with Advisors’                   Similarly, each Fund that is a closed-                agreement, or otherwise, with respect to
                                                  fiduciary obligation to treat client                    end investment company will, at all                   the following issues (without
                                                  accounts in a manner that is fair and                   times, limit its holdings in TCLP                     limitation): (a) Utilization of redemption
                                                  provides for equality of opportunity                    (together with any Future LPs) to no                  gates; (b) limitation of rights of
                                                                                                          more than 15% of its net assets.10                    redemption; or (c) the level of expenses
                                                     6 Applicants anticipate that TCLP will be able to       13. Redemption requests will be                    charged to limited partners other than
                                                  efficiently deploy assets invested by the Funds in      considered on a first in basis based                  the Funds and Other Accounts in
                                                  light of the ability of TCLP to invest in liquid        upon the business day of receipt, unless              connection with an investment in TCLP,
                                                  investments in addition to interests in TC REIT, so     a limited partner (other than a registered
                                                  that any Fund assets invested in TCLP that are not
                                                                                                                                                                which may be higher than the level of
                                                  currently invested in real estate will be effectively   investment company or Other Account)                  expenses borne by the Funds and Other
                                                  deployed pending completion of real estate              has agreed to a lower priority of                     Accounts.
                                                  investments. The performance of TCLP, the costs of                                                               15. TCLP will be able to purchase and
                                                  investing in TCLP, and the related expenses, will          9 TCLP expects that the ability to limit or        redeem limited liability company
                                                  be considered by the Funds’ Board during the            postpone redemption will help to minimize
                                                  course of its oversight of the Funds’ investments in                                                          interests in TC REIT on a daily basis at
                                                                                                          transaction costs and any dilutive effects on non-
                                                  TCLP, including its annual determinations as            redeeming limited partners. TCLP’s ability to limit   the next determined NAV. Applicants
                                                  required by condition 1 below.                          or postpone redemption and the circumstances          represent that TCLP will be the sole
                                                     7 No Applicant, or an affiliated person thereof,
                                                                                                          under which TCLP may waive an established             investor in TC REIT, other than the
                                                  will have a proprietary interest in any Outside         redemption gate, in whole or in part, are discussed
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                                                  Investor or Other Account, except that an Applicant
                                                                                                                                                                ninety-nine or more additional investors
                                                                                                          in greater detail in the application.
                                                  or an affiliated person thereof may be a shareholder       10 Applicants submit that, although closed-end
                                                                                                                                                                necessary or appropriate to allow TC
                                                  of an Outside Investor that is a registered             Funds do not present the same concerns with           REIT to qualify as a REIT under section
                                                  investment company.                                     respect to liquidity as open-end Funds, it is         856(a)(5) of the Code (the ‘‘Tax
                                                     8 Applicants are not seeking any comfort and         nonetheless appropriate to limit the investments of   Holders’’). The Tax Holders’ interests in
                                                  acknowledge that the Commission is providing no         these Funds in TCLP (and Future LPs) to address
                                                  opinion on whether these allocation policies and        concerns that may arise regarding complex
                                                                                                                                                                TC REIT will be preferred to TCLP’s
                                                  procedures meet the standards applicable under          structures and the use of leverage, among other       interests in TC REIT. However, (a) the
                                                  either the Act or the Advisers Act.                     things.                                               Tax Holders will have only limited


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                                                  55402                     Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 178 / Tuesday, September 15, 2015 / Notices

                                                  voting rights, (b) the Tax Holders’                     management or policies of a company,                  to allocate a Fund’s assets to
                                                  aggregate interests in TC REIT will be de               unless such power is solely the result of             investments in TCLP would be limited
                                                  minimis in relation to that of TCLP,11                  an official position with such                        to address any potential for
                                                  and (c) TC REIT will not issue                          company.’’                                            overreaching because (a) the allocation
                                                  additional interests to the Tax Holders                    2. Section 17(b) of the Act authorizes             would be determined either by the
                                                  after the initial organization of TC REIT               the Commission to grant an order                      Fund’s glide path or would be within a
                                                  (clause (a), (b), and (c), collectively, the            permitting a transaction otherwise                    range of permissible allocations
                                                  ‘‘Tax Holder Limitations’’).12                          prohibited by section 17(a) if the terms              approved in advance by the Board and
                                                  Accordingly, it is anticipated that TCLP                of the proposed transaction, including                (b) the Fund’s investment would be
                                                  will own substantially all of the total                 the consideration to be paid or received,             limited under condition 3 below.
                                                  outstanding securities of TC REIT at all                are fair and reasonable and do not                       6. In addition, Applicants state that
                                                  times during the operation of TC REIT.                  involve overreaching on the part of any               each Fund would purchase and sell
                                                     16. Applicants represent that TC REIT                person concerned, and the proposed                    Units on the same terms as each other
                                                  will not participate in any joint                       transaction is consistent with the                    Fund and any Other Account, and on
                                                  enterprise or other joint arrangement,                  policies of each registered investment                terms that are at least as favorable as the
                                                  within the meaning of rule 17d–1 under                  company involved and with the general                 terms on which Outside Investors
                                                  the Act, with the Future Real Estate                    purposes of the Act. Section 6(c) of the              would purchase and sell Units. TCLP
                                                  Funds or other TIAA related accounts,                   Act permits the Commission to exempt                  also would sell its shares to or purchase
                                                  and the Applicants are not asking for an                any person or transactions from any                   its shares from a Fund at the next-
                                                  order pursuant to rule 17d–1 with                       provisions of the Act if such exemption               calculated NAV per Unit. This value,
                                                  respect to any such transaction. Further,               is necessary or appropriate in the public             which would be provided to the Funds
                                                  Applicants state that TIAA has adopted                  interest and consistent with the                      on a daily basis, would be determined
                                                  policies and procedures applicable to                   protection of investors and the purposes              based on the valuations of the assets of
                                                  any purchasing conflicts between TC                     fairly intended by the policy and                     TC REIT, which would be determined
                                                  REIT and any other TIAA related                         provisions of the Act.                                by using valuation methodologies that
                                                  accounts, which are designed to allocate                   3. Applicants state that the sale by               are consistent with section 2(a)(41) of
                                                  opportunities consistent with Advisors’                 TCLP of its Units to a Fund or the                    the Act except that the TCLP Committee
                                                  fiduciary obligations to its clients and                repurchase by TCLP of its Units from a                will, in reliance on independent
                                                  will be applied in a manner that is                     Fund may be deemed to be prohibited                   appraisals obtained at least quarterly,
                                                  objective and verifiable.                               by section 17(a) of the Act, as TCLP and              make determinations that would
                                                                                                          each Fund may be deemed to be                         otherwise be made by a board of
                                                  Applicants’ Legal Analysis                              affiliated persons, or affiliated persons             directors.14
                                                  Section 17(a)—Purchase and Sale of                      of affiliated persons, of each other under               7. Applicants further submit that the
                                                  Units                                                   multiple theories. For example, the                   proposed transactions would be
                                                                                                          Fund may be deemed to be an affiliated                consistent with the policies of each
                                                     1. Section 17(a) of the Act generally                person of TCLP in the event that it owns              Fund. Applicants represent that the
                                                  prohibits an ‘‘affiliated person’’ as                   5% or more of the Units in TCLP. In                   investment by a Fund in TCLP would be
                                                  defined by section 2(a)(3) of the Act, or               addition, TCLP could be deemed to be                  effected in accordance with the
                                                  an affiliated person of an affiliated                   an affiliated person of an affiliated                 investment policies, objective, strategies
                                                  person, of a registered investment                      person of the Fund, if it is deemed to                and restrictions contained in the
                                                  company, acting as principal, from                      be under the control of or under                      registration statement of the Fund.
                                                  purchasing securities or other property                 common control with Advisors.                            8. Finally, Applicants submit that, for
                                                  from the registered investment company                     4. Applicants believe that the                     these reasons, as well as the benefits
                                                  or selling securities or other property to              proposed transactions among the Funds                 shareholders in the Funds would
                                                  the registered investment company.                      and TCLP satisfy the requirements for
                                                  Section 2(a)(3) of the Act defines an                   relief from section 17(a) of the Act                    14 Applicants note that, in accordance with
                                                  ‘‘affiliated person’’ of another person to              under both sections 17(b) and 6(c) of the             condition 9, TCLP will consolidate TC REIT for
                                                  include, among others, (a) any person                   Act.                                                  reporting purposes and the consolidated financial
                                                  directly or indirectly owning,                                                                                statements of TCLP will be prepared in accordance
                                                                                                             5. Applicants submit that the                      with Regulation S–X, will be audited by an
                                                  controlling, or holding with power to                   proposed transactions are reasonable                  independent auditor, and, if practicable, will be
                                                  vote, 5% or more of the outstanding                     and fair and would not involve                        prepared as of the same date and for the same
                                                  voting securities of the other person; (b)              overreaching on the part of any person                periods as the investing Funds. Applicants state
                                                  any person 5% or more of whose                                                                                that the Public Company Accounting Oversight
                                                                                                          concerned. Before investment by a Fund                Board auditing standards applicable to the audit of
                                                  outstanding voting securities are                       in TCLP, the Fund’s board of trustees                 TCLP would be the same standards as those
                                                  directly or indirectly owned, controlled,               (the ‘‘Board’’), including a majority of              applicable to a registered investment company.
                                                  or held with the power to vote by the                   the Independent Trustees, would have                  Further, Applicants state that the U.S. Generally
                                                  other person; and (c) any person directly                                                                     Accepted Accounting Principles and Regulation S–
                                                                                                          made the determinations required under                X would apply to the financial statements of both
                                                  or indirectly controlling, controlled by,               condition 1 below.13 The Board,                       TCLP and a registered investment company. Thus,
                                                  or under common control with the other                  including the Independent Trustees,                   Applicants assert that critical accounting policies
                                                  person. Section 2(a)(9) defines ‘‘control’’             will review these determinations on at                governing security valuation, accounting for
                                                  to mean ‘‘the power to exercise a                                                                             investment transactions, recognition of investment
                                                                                                          least an annual basis. Applicants                     income and of expenses, and accrual of expenses,
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                                                  controlling influence over the                          represent that, currently, the Board is               which are often the critical policies applicable to
                                                                                                          made up of ten trustees, all of whom are              investment companies, would apply in
                                                    11 Applicants anticipate that the Tax Holders will
                                                                                                          Independent Trustees. Further,                        substantially the same manner for the financial
                                                  invest, in aggregate, approximately $125,000 and                                                              statements of TCLP. Valuation of the assets of TCLP
                                                  will represent much less than 1% of the expected        Applicants notes that Advisors’ ability               and TC REIT for which market quotations are not
                                                  aggregate net assets of TC REIT.                                                                              readily available will be overseen by a committee
                                                    12 The Tax Holders’ interests in TC REIT and the        13 The ‘‘Independent Trustees’’ are the trustees    consisting of the employees and agents of TCLP,
                                                  Tax Holder Limitations are discussed in greater         who are not interested persons of the Trust within    TIAA and/or its subsidiaries (the ‘‘TCLP
                                                  detail in the application.                              the meaning of section 2(a)(19) of the Act.           Committee’’).



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                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 178 / Tuesday, September 15, 2015 / Notices                                           55403

                                                  experience by reason of the Funds’                      limitation) the expenses associated with              Applicants’ Conditions
                                                  investments in TCLP, the proposed                       an investment in TCLP, as the terms on                   Applicants agree that any order
                                                  transactions are appropriate in the                     which any Outside Investor purchases,                 granting the requested relief shall be
                                                  public interest and consistent with the                 holds or redeem Units and on terms that               subject to the following conditions:
                                                  protection of investors and the purposes                are the same as the terms on which any                   1. Advisors will not implement an
                                                  fairly intended by the policy and                       Other Account purchases, holds or                     initial decision to invest the assets of a
                                                  provisions of the Act.                                  redeems Units. TCLP and the Tax                       Fund in TCLP unless prior to the Fund’s
                                                  Section 17(d)                                           Holders will be the only investors in TC              initial investment in TCLP, the Board,
                                                                                                          REIT, and the Tax Holders’ interests                  including a majority of the Independent
                                                     9. Section 17(d) of the Act and rule                 will be subject to the Tax Holder                     Trustees, has determined that: (a)
                                                  17d–1 under the Act generally prohibit                  Limitations. All transactions in Units                Investment in TCLP (and indirectly in
                                                  joint transactions involving registered                 would be priced in the same manner                    TC REIT) is an appropriate means to
                                                  investment companies and their                          and would be redeemable under the
                                                  affiliates unless the Commission has                                                                          implement an investment decision
                                                                                                          terms discussed herein and disclosed to               made by Advisors for the Fund to seek
                                                  approved the transaction. In considering                investors. In addition, any investment
                                                  whether to approve a joint transaction                                                                        real estate exposure; (b) investment in
                                                                                                          by a Fund in TCLP would be subject to                 TCLP (and indirectly in TC REIT) is in
                                                  under rule 17d–1, the Commission                        oversight by the Fund’s Board.
                                                  considers whether the proposed                                                                                the best interests of the Fund and its
                                                  transaction is consistent with the                      Section 17(a)—Cross Transactions                      shareholders, taking into account,
                                                  provisions, policies, and purposes of the                                                                     among other things, the management
                                                                                                             12. Applicants also propose that the               and administration fees of TCLP and TC
                                                  Act, and the extent to which the                        Funds and Other Accounts be permitted
                                                  participation of the investment                                                                               REIT; (c) the management and
                                                                                                          to engage in certain purchase and sale                administration fees to be charged by
                                                  companies is on a basis different from                  cross transactions in securities (‘‘Cross
                                                  or less advantageous than that of the                                                                         TCLP and TC REIT are for services in
                                                                                                          Transactions’’). Applicants expect that               addition to, rather than duplicative of,
                                                  other participants.
                                                                                                          these transactions will be between a                  services rendered to the Fund directly;
                                                     10. Applicants state that the sale of
                                                                                                          Fund seeking to implement a portfolio                 and (d) the management and
                                                  Units to a Fund, the Fund’s holding of
                                                  Units, the redemption of Units held by                  strategy and an Other Account seeking                 administration fees to be charged by
                                                  the Fund, an Other Account’s purchase,                  to raise or invest cash, or vice versa.               TCLP and TC REIT are fair and
                                                  holding and redemption of Units                         Applicants represent that the Funds                   reasonable in light of the usual and
                                                  alongside a Fund, TCLP’s purchase,                      currently are able rely on rule 17a–7 to              customary fees charged by others for
                                                  holding and redemptions of interest in                  engage in such Cross Transactions.                    services of the same nature and quality.
                                                  the TC REIT, and Advisors’ management                   However, if a Fund and an Other                       The Board, including the Independent
                                                  of the Funds, Other Accounts, TCLP and                  Account were deemed to be affiliated                  Trustees, will review these
                                                  TC REIT at the same time that the Funds                 persons of an affiliated person of each               determinations on at least an annual
                                                  are investing in TCLP (directly) and TC                 other by virtue of their ownership or                 basis. The basis for each of the Board’s
                                                  REIT (indirectly) could be deemed to                    control affiliations with TCLP, the                   determinations required by this
                                                  constitute a joint enterprise or joint                  Funds may not be entitled to rely on                  condition will be recorded in its
                                                  arrangement among the Funds, Other                      rule 17a–7 because they would no                      minutes. If the Board does not make the
                                                  Accounts, TCLP, TCGP, TC REIT, and                      longer be affiliated solely for the reasons           determinations in clauses (c) and (d) in
                                                  Advisors because the Funds may be                       permitted by the rule. Applicants                     a review subsequent to the initial
                                                  presumed to be affiliated persons, or                   represent that Funds and Other                        investment, Advisors will reimburse the
                                                  affiliated persons of affiliated persons,               Accounts will not engage in Cross                     Fund the amount of any management
                                                  of Advisors, Other Accounts, TCLP or                    Transactions involving Units, and to the              and administrative fee borne by the
                                                  TC REIT.                                                extent any Future LPs are created, TCLP               Fund as a direct investor in TCLP and
                                                     11. For the reasons discussed above,                 and the Future LPs (and their respective              an indirect investor in TC REIT charged
                                                  Applicants submit that the proposed                     subsidiaries) will not engage in cross-               since the most recent date on which the
                                                  transactions are consistent with the                    trades with each other.                               Board did make these determinations.
                                                  provisions, policies and purposes of the                   13. Applicants represent that, when                   2. Prior to any initial or additional
                                                  Act. Applicants further believe that,                   engaging in Cross Transactions, the                   investments in Units, Advisors will
                                                  based on the terms of the proposed                      Funds and Other Accounts will comply                  determine that each Fund’s investment
                                                  transactions and the conditions set forth               with the requirements set forth in rule               in TCLP will be consistent with the
                                                  below, the participation by the Funds in                17a–(7)(a) through (g), as interpreted by             Fund’s investment policies, objective,
                                                  the proposed transactions would be on                   the Commission staff. Applicants assert               strategies and restrictions, and
                                                  a basis no different from that of other                 that the potential affiliations created by            purchases of Units will be determined
                                                  Funds or Other Accounts or less                         the TCLP structure do not affect the                  either by the Fund’s glide path or be
                                                  advantageous than that of other Funds,                  other protections provided by the rule,               limited such that total holdings remain
                                                  Outside Investors or Other Accounts. A                  including the integrity of the pricing                within a range of permissible allocations
                                                  Fund will hold Units of TCLP only if it                 mechanism employed and oversight by                   approved in advance by the Board. For
                                                  will at all times have identical rights,                each Fund’s Board. Applicants also note               purposes of determining consistency
                                                  duties and obligations under the limited                that no brokerage commission, fee or                  with a Fund’s investment policies,
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                                                  partnership agreement as each other                     other remuneration will be paid in                    objective, strategies and restrictions, a
                                                  Fund limited partner and Other                          connection with the transactions.                     Fund will look through its investment
                                                  Account limited partner. If Outside                     Applicants, therefore, believe that Cross             in TCLP (and indirectly in TC REIT) and
                                                  Investors or Other Accounts are                         Transactions will be reasonable and fair,             apply its investment policies, objective,
                                                  permitted to invest in TCLP, the Funds                  will not involve overreaching, and will               strategies and restrictions (except for
                                                  will be entitled to purchase, hold and                  be consistent with the purposes of the                any restriction relevant to the direct
                                                  redeem Units on terms that are at least                 Act and the investment policy of each                 ownership of real estate assets) in such
                                                  as favorable, including (without                        Fund.                                                 a manner that the Fund will not do


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                                                  55404                     Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 178 / Tuesday, September 15, 2015 / Notices

                                                  indirectly through TCLP and TC REIT                     redeem Units on terms that are at least               as of the end of a reporting period, will
                                                  that which it cannot do directly. For                   as favorable, including (without                      attach, as an exhibit to each of the
                                                  purposes of applying its investment                     limitation) the expenses associated with              Trust’s shareholder reports with respect
                                                  policies, objective, strategies and                     an investment in TCLP, as the terms on                to such a Fund filed on Form N–CSR
                                                  restrictions, a Fund will be considered                 which any Outside Investor purchases,                 and each of the Trust’s quarterly reports
                                                  as owning its pro rata portion of the                   holds or redeems Units and on terms                   with respect to such a Fund filed on
                                                  portfolio holdings of TCLP and TC                       that are the same as the terms on which               Form N–Q, TCLP’s audited or unaudited
                                                  REIT.                                                   any Other Account purchases, holds or                 financial statements (which will consist
                                                     3. Each Fund that is an open-end                     redeems Units. Other than the Tax                     of financial statements, footnotes,
                                                  investment company will treat its entire                Holders’ interests, which will be subject             thereto and a schedule of investments)
                                                  investments in TCLP and any Future                      to the Tax Holder Limitations, TCLP                   or schedule of investments for the
                                                  LPs as investments that are not liquid                  will own at all times 100% of the voting              period most recently ended. TCLP will
                                                  for purposes of any applicable rules or                 and economic interests in TC REIT.                    deliver such annual and semi-annual
                                                  guidance of the Commission or its staff                    6. TC REIT and TCLP will be managed                financial statements and schedules of
                                                  regarding the management of liquidity.                  by an investment adviser that is                      investments to the Trust in time to
                                                  For example, under current guidelines,                  registered as an investment adviser with              allow the Trust to make such filings.
                                                  each such Fund must limit its aggregate                 the Commission. Any investment sub-                   The relevant Fund’s shareholder reports
                                                  holdings of illiquid assets, which for                  adviser to TC REIT or TCLP will be                    and quarterly reports will cross-
                                                  purposes of the requested relief include                registered as an investment adviser with              reference the TCLP financial statements
                                                  any investments in TCLP and any                         the Commission or, if not registered,                 (for annual and semi-annual reports) or
                                                  Future LPs, to 15% of its net assets. In                will consent to examination by the                    schedule of investments (for other
                                                  addition, each Fund, including any                      Commission staff with respect to the                  quarters) filed as an exhibit to the form.
                                                  open- or closed-end investment                          services it would provide to TC REIT or               If a Fund is required to attach and cross-
                                                  company, will, at all times, limit its                  TCLP as if it were registered as an                   reference the financial statements of
                                                  holdings in TCLP (together with any                     investment adviser.                                   TCLP solely for purpose of complying
                                                  Future LPs) to no more than 15% of its                     7. The Funds’ proposed investments                 with this condition 9, (a) the Fund may
                                                  net assets.15                                           in TCLP, and TCLP’s investment in TC                  disclaim that (i) the TCLP financial
                                                     4. At all times that any Fund or other               REIT, will not be subject to any sales                statements or schedule of investments
                                                  registered investment company holds an                  load, redemption fee, distribution fee                constitute part of the Fund’s financial
                                                  interest in TCLP, each of TCLP and TC                   analogous to a 12b–1 fee, or service fee              statements, shareholder report or
                                                  REIT: (a) Will determine its respective                 analogous to a FINRA Rule 2830 service                quarterly report, and (ii) the TCLP
                                                  net asset value per Unit or membership                  fee imposed by TCLP or TC REIT.                       financial statements or schedule of
                                                  interest, as applicable, each Business                     8. Advisors shall cause TCGP, TCLP                 investments are incorporated therein by
                                                  Day; and (b) will maintain and comply                   and TC REIT to maintain books and                     reference, and (b) the certifications for
                                                  with policies and procedures for valuing                records as is consistent with Internal                each principal executive and principal
                                                  its assets that are consistent with section             Revenue Service guidance and U.S.                     financial officer required by rule 30a-
                                                  2(a)(41) of the Act except that the TCLP                GAAP, shall cause the books and                       2(a) under the Act that accompany Form
                                                  Committee will, in reliance on                          records of TCGP, TCLP and TC REIT to                  N–CSR or Form N–Q filings with
                                                  independent appraisals obtained at least                be made available for inspection by the               respect to such a Fund may make clear
                                                  quarterly, make determinations that                     Commission staff as would be required                 that the TCLP financial statements or
                                                  would otherwise be made by a board of                   by the Act if each of TCGP, TCLP and                  schedule of investments that accompany
                                                  directors (as if TCLP and TC REIT were                  TC REIT was a registered investment                   the Form N–CSR or Form N–Q filings do
                                                  subject to section 2(a)(41)) and with                   company, and, if requested, shall                     not constitute part of the report to
                                                  applicable U.S. generally accepted                      furnish copies of the books and records               which the certificate relates.17
                                                  accounting principles (‘‘U.S. GAAP’’)                   to the Commission staff.                                 10. Neither TCLP nor TC REIT will
                                                  (or successor accounting standards). For                   9. TCLP will prepare consolidated                  acquire securities of any other
                                                  these purposes, ‘‘Business Day’’ means                  annual and semi-annual financial                      investment company or company
                                                  each day on which the Funds or other                    reports and, for each quarter for which               relying on section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of
                                                  registered investment company                           a semi-annual or annual report is not                 the Act in excess of the limits contained
                                                  determine net asset value per share, as                 required to be prepared, a consolidated               in section 12(d)(1)(A) of the Act, except
                                                  disclosed in the Funds’ or other                        schedule of investments for TCLP. The                 to the extent that TCLP or TC REIT: (a)
                                                  registered investment company’s                         financial statements of TCLP will be                  Receives securities of another
                                                  registration statement.                                 prepared in accordance with Regulation                investment company as a dividend or as
                                                     5. A Fund will hold Units of TCLP                    S–X and U.S. GAAP, will be audited by                 a result of a plan of reorganization of a
                                                  only if it will at all times have identical             an independent auditor (for annual                    company (other than a plan devised for
                                                  rights, duties and obligations under the                financial statements), and, if practicable,           the purpose of evading section 12(d)(1)
                                                  limited partnership agreement as each                   will be prepared as of the same date and              of the Act); or (b) acquires (or is deemed
                                                  other Fund limited partner and Other                    for the same periods as the investing
                                                  Account limited partner. If Other                       Funds. TCLP will consolidate TC REIT                  assets. If the aggregate investments are 5% or more,
                                                  Accounts or Outside Investors are                                                                             then the disclosure requirements under this
                                                                                                          for financial reporting purposes. Any                 condition will apply (for that Fund) with respect to
                                                  permitted to invest in TCLP, the Funds                  consolidated schedule of investments of               information about TCLP and each Future LP in
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                                                  will be entitled to purchase, hold and                  TCLP will disclose each position that                 which that Fund is invested.
                                                                                                          TCLP and TC REIT hold. The Trust, on                    17 As noted above, the requested order does not
                                                    15 Although closed-end Funds do not present the                                                             include relief from any existing disclosure
                                                                                                          behalf of each Fund that has invested
                                                  same concerns with respect to liquidity as open-end                                                           requirements. Accordingly, the disclaimer and
                                                  Funds, Applicants believe that it is nonetheless        5% or more of its net assets in TCLP 16               clarification contemplated in clauses (a) and (b)
                                                  appropriate to limit the investments of these Funds                                                           could not be included if the Fund is required to
                                                  in TCLP (and Future LPs) to address concerns that         16 Investments in any Future LPs will be            disclose information regarding the financial
                                                  may arise regarding complex structures and the use      aggregated with investments in TCLP to determine      statements of TCLP for any purpose other than
                                                  of leverage, among other things.                        whether a Fund has invested 5% or more of its net     complying with this condition 9.



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                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 178 / Tuesday, September 15, 2015 / Notices                                                  55405

                                                  to have acquired) securities of another                 comply with the rules under section                      For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                  investment company pursuant to                          17(f) 18 and section 17(g) of the Act, as              Investment Management, under delegated
                                                  exemptive relief from the Commission                    well as rule 22c-1 under the Act as if                 authority.
                                                  permitting TCLP or TC REIT to (i)                       each of the TCLP and TC REIT were an                   Robert W. Errett,
                                                  acquire securities of one or more                       open-end management investment                         Deputy Secretary.
                                                  investment companies for short-term                     company registered under the Act.                      [FR Doc. 2015–23093 Filed 9–14–15; 8:45 am]
                                                  cash management purposes, or (ii)                          Advisors will cause TCGP, TCLP and                  BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                  engage in interfund borrowing and                       TC REIT to, and TCGP, TCLP and TC
                                                  lending transactions.                                   REIT will, adopt policies and
                                                     11. A Fund will treat any leverage that              procedures designed to ensure that each
                                                  TCLP or TC REIT incurs as though such                                                                          SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                                                                          of TCLP and TC REIT complies with the                  COMMISSION
                                                  leverage were incurred by the Fund for                  aforementioned sections of the Act and
                                                  purposes of determining compliance                      rules under the Act. Advisors will cause               Sunshine Act Meeting
                                                  with applicable restrictions under the                  TCGP, TCLP and TC REIT to, and TCGP,
                                                  Act relevant to the Fund’s use of                       TCLP and TC REIT will, periodically                       Notice is hereby given, pursuant to
                                                  leverage. Under no circumstances will a                 review and periodically update as                      the provisions of the Government in the
                                                  Fund guarantee, or otherwise be                         appropriate such policies and                          Sunshine Act, Public Law 94–409, that
                                                  responsible for the satisfaction of, any                procedures, maintain books and records                 the Securities and Exchange
                                                  loan or obligation incurred by TCLP or                  describing such policies and                           Commission will hold a Closed Meeting
                                                  TC REIT.
                                                                                                          procedures, and maintain the records                   on Thursday, September 17, 2015 at 2
                                                     12. The TCLP and TC REIT will
                                                                                                          required by rules 31a-1(b)(1), 31a-                    p.m.
                                                  comply with the following sections of
                                                  the Act as if the TCLP and TC REIT each                 1(b)(2)(ii) and 31a-1(b)(9) under the Act.                Commissioners, Counsel to the
                                                  were an open-end management                             All books and records required to be                   Commissioners, the Secretary to the
                                                  investment company registered under                     made pursuant to this condition will be                Commission, and recording secretaries
                                                  the Act, except as noted: Section 9;                    maintained and preserved for a period                  will attend the Closed Meeting. Certain
                                                  section 12 (except that, to the extent                  of not less than six years from the end                staff members who have an interest in
                                                  necessary to implement the                              of the fiscal year in which any
                                                                                                                                                                 the matters also may be present.
                                                  arrangements described herein, (i) the                  transaction occurs, the first two years in
                                                                                                          an easily accessible place, and will be                   The General Counsel of the
                                                  Funds may invest in Units issued by                                                                            Commission, or her designee, has
                                                  TCLP in accordance with condition 3,                    subject to examination by the
                                                                                                          Commission and its staff.                              certified that, in her opinion, one or
                                                  (ii) TCLP may issue Units to the                                                                               more of the exemptions set forth in 5
                                                  investing Funds subject to the limits in                   For purposes of implementing
                                                                                                          condition 12, any action that the above-               U.S.C. 552b(c)(3), (5), (7), 9(B) and (10)
                                                  condition 3, and (iii) TCLP may invest                                                                         and 17 CFR 200.402(a)(3), (5), (7), 9(ii)
                                                  in TC REIT beyond the limits of sections                referenced statutory and regulatory
                                                                                                          provisions require to be taken or made                 and (10), permit consideration of the
                                                  12(d)(1)(A) and (B)); section 13
                                                                                                          by the directors, officers and/or                      scheduled matter at the Closed Meeting.
                                                  (provided that section 13(a)(4) will
                                                  apply as though it read only ‘‘change the               employees of a registered investment                      Commissioner Aguilar, as duty
                                                  nature of its business’’; the interests                 company will be performed by TCGP                      officer, voted to consider the items
                                                  issued by TCLP and TC REIT will be                      with respect to TCLP, and by Advisors                  listed for the Closed Meeting in closed
                                                  regarded as voting securities under                     (or its successor),19 as managing                      session.
                                                  section 2(a)(42) of the Act for purposes                member with respect to TC REIT. As                        The subject matter of the Closed
                                                  of applying this condition; and the                     noted in this Application, the TCLP                    Meeting will be:
                                                  offering memoranda utilized by TCLP                     Committee will oversee the valuation of
                                                                                                                                                                    Institution and settlement of
                                                  and TC REIT to offer and sell their                     the assets of TCLP and TC REIT for
                                                                                                                                                                 injunctive actions;
                                                  interests will be regarded as registration              which market quotations are not readily
                                                  statements for purposes of applying this                available, which also will be relevant to                 Institution and settlement of
                                                  condition); section 17(a) (except insofar               the implementation of condition 12.                    administrative proceedings;
                                                  as relief is provided by the order                         13. To engage in Cross Transactions,                   Opinion;
                                                  requested herein); section 17(d) (except                the Funds will comply with rule 17a-7                     Post-Argument Discussion;
                                                  insofar as relief is provided by the order              under the Act in all respects other than
                                                  requested herein); section 17(e); section               the requirement that the parties to the                   Resolution of litigation claims; and
                                                  17(f); section 17(h); section 18 (although              transaction be affiliated persons (or                     Other matters relating to enforcement
                                                  (a) the interests issued by TCLP and TC                 affiliated persons of affiliated persons)              proceedings.
                                                  REIT will be regarded as voting                         of each other solely by reason of having                  At times, changes in Commission
                                                  securities under section 2(a)(42) of the                a common investment adviser or
                                                  Act for purposes of applying this                                                                              priorities require alterations in the
                                                                                                          investment advisers which are affiliated               scheduling of meeting items.
                                                  condition, (b) TC REIT will be permitted                persons of each other, common officers,
                                                  to incur loans from Non-bank                            and/or common directors, solely                           For further information and to
                                                  Commercial Lenders, subject to the asset                because a Fund and Other Account                       ascertain what, if any, matters have been
                                                  coverage limit, and (c) TC REIT will not                might become affiliated persons within                 added, deleted or postponed, please
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                                                  be required to restore 300% asset                       the meaning of section 2(a)(3)(A), (B) or              contact the Office of the Secretary at
                                                  coverage within three days, as required                 (C) of the Act because of their                        (202) 551–5400.
                                                  under section 18(f), if such asset                      investments in TCLP.                                     Dated: September 10, 2015.
                                                  coverage falls below 300% solely as a
                                                                                                                                                                 Brent J. Fields,
                                                  result of a decline in the value of TC                    18 Applicants note that they will operate TCLP
                                                  REIT’s real estate holdings); section 21;                                                                      Secretary.
                                                                                                          and TC REIT such that rules under section 17(f) will
                                                  section 36; and sections 37–53. In                      not be applicable to either entity.                    [FR Doc. 2015–23221 Filed 9–11–15; 11:15 am]
                                                  addition, the TCLP and TC REIT will                       19 See supra, note 2.                                BILLING CODE 8011–01–P




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Document Created: 2015-12-15 10:09:22
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 10:09:22
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 6(c) and 17(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (``Act'') for exemptions from section 17(a) of the Act, and under section 17(d) of the Act and rule 17d-1 thereunder to permit certain joint transactions.
DatesThe application was filed on January 4, 2012, and amended on June 25, 2012, December 3, 2012, October 16, 2013, June 26, 2014, May 8, 2015, and September 4, 2015.
ContactMark N. Zaruba, Senior Counsel, at (202) 551-6878, or David Bartels, Branch Chief, at (202) 551-6821 (Division of Investment Management, Chief Counsel's Office).
FR Citation80 FR 55399 

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