80_FR_8145 80 FR 8115 - Pacific Life Insurance Company, et al; Notice of Application

80 FR 8115 - Pacific Life Insurance Company, et al; Notice of Application

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 30 (February 13, 2015)

Page Range8115-8119
FR Document2015-02992

Summary of Application: Each Insurer, on behalf of itself and its Separate Account(s), seeks an order pursuant to Section 26(c) of the 1940 Act, approving the substitution of Service Shares of the Janus Aspen Balanced Portfolio, a series of Janus Aspen Series (the ``Replacement Portfolio''), for the Advisor Class shares of the PIMCO Global Multi-Asset Managed Allocation Portfolio, a series of the PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust (the ``Replaced Portfolio'') (the ``Proposed Substitution''), under certain variable annuity contracts issued by the Insurers (collectively, the ``Contracts'').

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 30 (Friday, February 13, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 30 (Friday, February 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8115-8119]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-02992]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. IC-31451; File No. 812-14359]


Pacific Life Insurance Company, et al; Notice of Application

February 9, 2015.
AGENCY: Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'').

ACTION: Notice of application for an order approving the substitution 
of certain securities pursuant to Section 26(c) of the Investment 
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the ``1940 Act'').

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

    Applicants: Pacific Life Insurance Company (``Pacific Life''), 
Pacific Life's Separate Account A (``Separate Account A''), Pacific 
Life's Pacific Select Variable Annuity Separate Account (``Select VA 
Account'' and, together with Separate Account A, the ``Pacific Life 
Separate Accounts''), Pacific Life & Annuity Company (``PL&A''), and 
PL&A's Separate Account A (``PL&A Separate Account A''). Pacific Life, 
PL&A, and the Separate Accounts are referred to collectively as the 
``Applicants.'' The Pacific Life Separate Accounts and PL&A Separate 
Account A are referred to individually as a ``Separate Account'' and 
collectively as the ``Separate Accounts.'' Pacific Life and PL&A are 
referred to herein individually as an ``Insurer'' and collectively as 
the ``Insurers.''
SUMMARY: Summary of Application: Each Insurer, on behalf of itself and 
its Separate Account(s), seeks an order pursuant to Section 26(c) of 
the 1940 Act, approving the substitution of Service Shares of the Janus 
Aspen Balanced Portfolio, a series of Janus Aspen Series (the 
``Replacement Portfolio''), for the Advisor Class shares of the PIMCO 
Global Multi-Asset Managed Allocation Portfolio, a series of the PIMCO 
Variable Insurance Trust (the ``Replaced Portfolio'') (the ``Proposed 
Substitution''), under certain variable annuity contracts issued by the 
Insurers (collectively, the ``Contracts'').

DATES: Filing Date: The application was filed on September 19, 2014, 
and amended on February 5, 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 March 4, 2015, and should be accompanied by proof of 
service on applicants, in the form of an affidavit or, for lawyers, a 
certificate of service. Pursuant to Rule 0-5 under the Act, hearing 
requests should state the nature of the writer's interest, any facts 
bearing upon the desirability of a hearing on the matter, the reason 
for the request, and the issues contested. Persons who wish to be 
notified of a hearing may request notification by writing to the 
Commission's Secretary.

ADDRESSES: Secretary, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F 
Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090; Applicants: Brandon J. Cage, CLU 
Assistant Vice President, Counsel, Pacific Life Insurance Company, 700 
Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660; Richard T. Choi, Esq., 
Carlton Fields Jorden Burt, P.A., 1025 Thomas Jefferson St. NW., Suite 
400 East, Washington, DC 20007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura L. Solomon, Senior Counsel, at 
(202) 551-6915, or Nadya Roytblat, Assistant Chief Counsel, at (202) 
551-6825 (Chief Counsel's Office, Division of Investment Management).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following is a summary of the 
application. The complete application may be obtained via the 
Commission's Web site by searching for the file number, or 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 Insurers, on their own behalf and on behalf of their 
respective Separate Accounts, propose to substitute Service Shares of 
the Replacement Portfolio for Advisor Class shares of the Replaced 
Portfolio held by the Separate Account to fund the Contracts. Each 
Separate Account is divided into subaccounts (each a ``Subaccount,'' 
collectively, the ``Subaccounts''). Each Subaccount invests in the 
securities of a single portfolio of an underlying mutual fund 
(``Portfolio''). Contract owners (each a ``Contract Owner'' and 
collectively, the ``Contract Owners'') may allocate some or all of 
their Contract value to one or more Subaccounts that are available as 
investment options under the Contracts.
    2. Pacific Life is the depositor and sponsor of the Pacific Life 
Separate Accounts. PL&A is the depositor and sponsor of PL&A Separate 
Account A.
    3. Each of the Separate Accounts is a ``separate account'' as 
defined by Section 2(a)(37) of the 1940 Act and each is registered 
under the 1940 Act as a unit investment trust for the purpose of 
funding the Contracts. Security interests under the Contracts have been

[[Page 8116]]

registered under the Securities Act of 1933. The application sets forth 
the registration statement file numbers for the Contracts and the 
Separate Accounts.
    4. Each Insurer, on behalf of itself and its Separate Account(s), 
proposes to replace the Advisor Class shares of the Replaced Portfolio 
that are held in Subaccounts of its Separate Account(s) with Service 
Shares of the Replacement Portfolio.
    5. The Applicants state that the Proposed Substitution involves 
moving assets attributable to the Contracts from the Replaced Portfolio 
managed by Pacific Investment Management Company, LLC (``PIMCO'') to a 
Replacement Portfolio managed by Janus Capital Management LLC (``Janus 
Capital'') (each of Janus Capital and PIMCO, an ``Investment Adviser'' 
and collectively, the ``Investment Advisers''). Each Investment Adviser 
is responsible for the day-to-day management of the assets of the 
Replaced or Replacement Portfolio, as the case may be. Neither the 
Replaced nor Replacement Portfolio employs a sub-adviser and neither 
Portfolio operates under a manager-of-managers arrangement that, among 
other things, would permit the Investment Adviser to engage a new or 
additional sub-adviser without the approval of the Portfolio's 
shareholders. The Applicants state that the Investment Advisers are not 
affiliates of the Insurers.
    6. Applicants state that under the Contracts, the Insurers reserve 
the right to substitute, for the shares of a Portfolio held in any 
Subaccount, the shares of another Portfolio, shares of another 
investment company or series of another investment company, or another 
investment vehicle. The prospectuses for the Contracts include 
appropriate disclosure of this reservation of right.
    7. The Applicants represent that the investment objectives of the 
Replaced and Replacement Portfolio are similar. The investment 
objective of the Replaced Portfolio is total return which exceeds that 
of a blend of 60% MSCI World Index/40% Barclays U.S. Aggregate Index, 
whereas that of the Replacement Portfolio is long-term capital growth, 
consistent with preservation of capital and balanced by current income. 
The investment objectives of both Portfolios include a growth component 
as well as an income component. Additionally, the Applicants state that 
the principal investment strategies of the Replaced and Replacement 
Portfolios are similar. The principal investment strategies of both 
Portfolios include investment in a combination of equity and debt 
securities. The Replaced Portfolio will typically invest 50 to 70% (20% 
minimum under normal circumstances) of its total assets in equity-
related investment securities and may invest up to 30% of its total 
assets in fixed income securities denominated in foreign securities (or 
beyond this limit in U.S. dollar-denominated securities of foreign 
issuers), 15% of its total assets in fixed income securities that are 
economically tied to emerging market countries, and up to 10% of its 
total assets in fixed income securities in high yield securities (i.e., 
``junk'' bonds). The Replacement Portfolio normally invests 35-65% of 
its assets in equity securities and the remaining assets in debt 
securities and cash equivalents, with normally 25% of its assets 
invested in fixed-income senior securities. In addition, both 
Portfolios may invest in securities of non-U.S. issuers. Investment in 
``junk'' bonds is not a principal investment strategy of the 
Replacement Portfolio though it may invest in such bonds. The principal 
investment strategies of the Replaced Portfolio include investments of 
up to 5% of its total assets in real estate investment trusts or REITS, 
whereas the same is not true for the Replacement Portfolio though it 
may invest in REITs. The principal investment strategies of the 
Replaced Portfolio include entering into forward commitments, the 
making of short sales of securities or maintaining a short position, 
none of which is a principal investment strategy of the Replacement 
Portfolio, though it may engage in short sales and invest in securities 
on a forward commitment basis. The principal investment strategies of 
the Replacement Portfolio include investments in mortgage-backed and 
mortgage-related securities. Similarly, mortgage-backed securities are 
included among the types of fixed-income securities that constitute a 
principal investment strategy of the Replaced Portfolio. A comparison 
of the investing strategies, risks, and performance of the Replaced and 
Replacement Portfolios is included in the application.
    8. The following table compares the fees and expenses of the 
Replaced Portfolio (Advisor Class shares) and the Replacement Portfolio 
(Service Shares) as of the year ended December 31, 2013. As shown 
below, the management fee of the Replacement Portfolio is lower than 
that of the Replaced Portfolio. The management fees of the Replaced 
Portfolio and the Replacement Portfolio are not subject to breakpoints. 
In addition, as shown in the table below, the 12b-1 fee of the Service 
Shares of the Replacement Portfolio is the same as the 12b-1 fee of the 
Advisor Class shares of the Replaced Portfolio. In both cases, the 12b-
1 fee is the current maximum permitted under the relevant plan. 
Furthermore, as shown in the table below, the annual operating expenses 
of the Replacement Portfolio are lower than those of the Replaced 
Portfolio.\1\
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    \1\ As of the date of filing of the amended application, 
Applicants are aware of no material change to the fee and expense 
information provided in the following table.

                                              Proposed Substitution
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   Replaced portfolio     Replacement portfolio
                                                               -------------------------------------------------
                                                                  PIMCO global multi-
                                                                     asset managed         Janus Aspen balanced
                                                                  allocation portfolio          portfolio
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advisor Class/Service Shares:
    Management Fee............................................                    0.95%                    0.55%
    12b-1 Fee.................................................                    0.25%                    0.25%
    Other Expenses............................................                    0.01%                    0.04%
    Acquired Fund Fees........................................                    0.52%                      N/A
    Total Gross Expenses......................................                    1.73%                    0.84%
    Expense Waiver/Reimbursement..............................                     0.46                     0.00
                                                               -------------------------------------------------

[[Page 8117]]

 
        Total Net Expenses....................................                    1.27%                    0.84%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    9. The Applicants state that the performance for the Replacement 
Portfolio is substantially better than that of the Replaced Portfolio 
for all periods shown.
    10. The Applicants state that the Proposed Substitution is part of 
an ongoing effort by the Insurers to make their Contracts more 
attractive to existing and prospective Contract Owners. The Applicants 
assert the Proposed Substitution will help to accomplish these goals 
for the following reasons: (1) The total annual operating expenses for 
the Replacement Portfolio (which does not include any expense waivers 
or reimbursements) are significantly lower than those of the Replaced 
Portfolio (even after taking into account fee waivers or expense 
reimbursements); (2) the historical performance of the Replacement 
Portfolio is generally much better than that of the Replaced Portfolio; 
(3) the Subaccounts that invest in the Replacement Portfolio are 
included among the currently allowable investment options under the 
optional living benefit riders offered under the Contracts; (4) 
Contract Owners will find the stable management of the Replacement 
Portfolio, whose co-portfolio managers have managed the Portfolio since 
2005, attractive, relative to the Replaced Portfolio; and (5) the 
Proposed Substitution will simplify the Subaccount offerings under the 
Contracts.
    11. The Applicants represent that the Proposed Substitution will be 
described in supplements to the applicable prospectuses for the 
Contracts filed with the Commission or in other supplemental disclosure 
documents, (collectively, ``Supplements'') and delivered to all 
affected Contract Owners at least 30 days before the date the Proposed 
Substitution is effected (the ``Substitution Date''). Each Supplement 
will give the relevant Contract Owners notice of the applicable 
Insurer's intent to take the necessary actions, including seeking the 
order requested by the application, to substitute shares of the 
Replaced Portfolio as described in the application on the Substitution 
Date. Each Supplement also will advise Contract Owners that from the 
date of the Supplement until the Substitution Date, Contract Owners are 
permitted to transfer all of or a portion of their Contract value out 
of any Subaccount investing in the Replaced Portfolio (``Replaced 
Portfolio Subaccount'') to any other available Subaccounts offered 
under their Contracts without the transfer being counted as a transfer 
for purposes of transfer limitations and fees that would otherwise be 
applicable under the terms of the Contracts. In addition, each 
Supplement will (a) instruct Contract Owners how to submit transfer 
requests in light of the Proposed Substitution; (b) advise Contract 
Owners that any Contract value remaining in the Replaced Portfolio 
Subaccount on the Substitution Date will be transferred to a Subaccount 
investing in the Replacement Portfolio (``Replacement Portfolio 
Subaccount''), and that the Proposed Substitution will take place at 
relative net asset value; (c) inform Contract Owners that for at least 
thirty (30) days following the Substitution Date, the applicable 
Insurer will permit Contract Owners to make transfers of Contract value 
out of the Replacement Portfolio Subaccount to any other available 
Subaccounts offered under their Contracts without the transfer being 
counted as a transfer for purposes of transfer limitations that would 
otherwise be applicable under the terms of the Contracts; and (d) 
inform Contract Owners that, except as described in the market timing 
limitations section of the relevant prospectus, the applicable Insurer 
will not exercise any rights reserved by it under the Contracts to 
impose additional restrictions on transfers out of the Replacement 
Portfolio Subaccount for at least thirty (30) days after the 
Substitution Date.
    12. The Proposed Substitution will be effected at the relative net 
asset values of the respective shares in conformity with Section 22(c) 
of the 1940 Act and Rule 22c-1 thereunder without the imposition of any 
transfer or similar charges by Applicants. The Proposed Substitution 
will be effected without change in the amount or value of any Contracts 
held by affected Contract Owners. Accordingly, the Applicants submit 
that the Proposed Substitution will have no negative financial impact 
on any Contract Owner.
    13. The Proposed Substitution will be effected by having the 
Replaced Portfolio Subaccount redeem its Replaced Portfolio shares in 
cash on the Substitution Date at net asset value per share and purchase 
shares of the Replacement Portfolio at net asset value per share 
calculated on the same date.
    14. The Insurers or an affiliate thereof will pay all expenses and 
transaction costs reasonably related to the Proposed Substitution, 
including all legal, accounting, and brokerage expenses relating to the 
Proposed Substitution, the above described disclosure documents, and 
the application. No costs of the Proposed Substitution will be borne 
directly or indirectly by Contract Owners. Affected Contract Owners 
will not incur any fees or charges as a result of the Proposed 
Substitution, nor will their rights or the obligations of the Insurers 
under the Contracts be altered in any way. The Proposed Substitution 
will not cause the fees and charges under the Contracts currently being 
paid by Contract Owners to be greater after the Proposed Substitution 
than before the Proposed Substitution. In addition, no transfer charges 
will apply in connection with the Proposed Substitution.
    15. The Applicants represent that they will not receive, for three 
years from the date of the Proposed Substitution, any direct or 
indirect benefits from the Replacement Portfolio, its adviser or 
underwriter (or their affiliates), in connection with assets 
attributable to contracts affected by the Proposed Substitution, at a 
higher rate than they had received from the Replaced Portfolio, its 
adviser or underwriter (or their affiliates), including without 
limitation 12b-1 fees, shareholder service, administrative, or other 
service fees, revenue sharing, or other arrangements; and the Proposed 
Substitution and the selection of the Replacement Portfolio were not 
motivated by any financial consideration paid or to be paid to the 
Insurer or its affiliates by the

[[Page 8118]]

Replacement Portfolio, its adviser or underwriter, or their affiliates.

Legal Analysis

    1. Applicants request that the Commission issue an order pursuant 
to Section 26(c) of the 1940 Act approving the Proposed Substitution. 
Section 26(c) of the 1940 Act makes it unlawful for any depositor or 
trustee of a registered unit investment trust holding the security of a 
single issuer to substitute another security for such security unless 
the Commission approves the substitution. Section 26(c) requires the 
Commission to issue such an order approving the substitution if the 
evidence establishes that the substitution is consistent with the 
protection of investors and the purposes fairly intended by the policy 
and provisions of the 1940 Act.
    2. The Applicants submit that the terms and conditions of the 
Proposed Substitution meet the standards set forth in Section 26(c) and 
assert that the substitution of the Replaced Portfolio with the 
Replacement Portfolio is consistent with the protection of investors 
and the purposes fairly intended by the policy and provisions of the 
l940 Act. As described in the application, the total annual operating 
expenses for the Replacement Portfolio are lower than those of the 
Replaced Portfolio. Applicants assert that the Replacement Portfolio 
has similar investment objectives and investment strategies as the 
Replaced Portfolio, and the principal risks of the Replaced Portfolio 
and the Replacement Portfolio are similar.
    3. Applicants also maintain that the Proposed Substitution is part 
of an ongoing effort by the Insurers to make their contracts more 
attractive to existing and prospective Contract Owners. The rights of 
affected Contract Owners and the obligations of the Insurers under the 
Contracts will not be altered by the Proposed Substitution. Affected 
Contract Owners will not incur any additional tax liability or any 
additional fees and expenses as a result of the Proposed Substitution.
    4. The prospectuses for the Contracts disclose that the Insurers 
reserve the right, subject to Commission approval and compliance with 
applicable law, to substitute, for the shares of a Portfolio held in 
any Subaccount, the shares of another Portfolio, shares of another 
investment company or series of another investment company, or another 
investment vehicle.
    5. Applicants also assert that the Proposed Substitution does not 
entail any of the abuses that Section 26(c) was designed to prevent. 
Applicants note that the purpose of Section 26(c) is to protect the 
expectation of investors in a unit investment trust that the trust will 
accumulate shares of a particular issuer by preventing unscrutinized 
substitutions that might, in effect, force shareholders dissatisfied 
with the substituted security to redeem their shares, possibly 
incurring either a loss of the sales load deducted from initial premium 
payments, an additional sales load upon reinvestment of the redemption 
proceeds, or both. The Proposed Substitution will offer Contract Owners 
the opportunity to transfer amounts out of the affected subaccounts 
into any of the remaining subaccounts without cost or other 
disadvantage. The Proposed Substitution, therefore, will not result in 
the type of costly forced redemptions that Section 26(c) was designed 
to prevent.

Applicants' Conditions

    Applicants agree that any order granting the requested relief will 
be subject to the following conditions:
    1. The Proposed Substitution will not be effected unless the 
Insurers determine that: (a) The Contracts allow the substitution of 
shares of registered open-end investment companies in the manner 
contemplated by the application; (b) the Proposed Substitution can be 
consummated as described in the application under applicable insurance 
laws; and (c) any regulatory requirements in each jurisdiction where 
the Contracts are qualified for sale have been complied with to the 
extent necessary to complete the Proposed Substitution.
    2. The Insurers or their affiliates will pay all expenses and 
transaction costs of the Proposed Substitution, including legal and 
accounting expenses, any applicable brokerage expenses and other fees 
and expenses. No fees or charges will be assessed to the Contract 
Owners to effect the Proposed Substitution.
    3. The Proposed Substitution will be effected at the relative net 
asset values of the respective shares in conformity with Section 22(c) 
of the 1940 Act and Rule 22c-1 thereunder without the imposition of any 
transfer or similar charges by Applicants. The Proposed Substitution 
will be effected without change in the amount or value of any Contracts 
held by affected Contract Owners.
    4. The Proposed Substitution will in no way alter the tax treatment 
of affected Contract Owners in connection with their Contracts, and no 
tax liability will arise for affected Contract Owners as a result of 
the Proposed Substitution.
    5. The rights or obligations of the Insurers under the Contracts of 
affected Contract Owners will not be altered in any way. The Proposed 
Substitution will not adversely affect any riders under the Contracts 
since the Replacement Portfolio is an allowable investment option for 
use with such riders.
    6. Affected Contract Owners will be permitted to make at least one 
transfer of Contract value from the subaccount investing in the 
Replaced Portfolio (before the Substitution Date) or the Replacement 
Portfolio (after the Substitution Date) to any other available 
investment option under the Contract without charge for a period 
beginning at least 30 days before the Substitution Date through at 
least 30 days following the Substitution Date. Except as described in 
any market timing/short-term trading provisions of the relevant 
prospectus, the Insurer will not exercise any right it may have under 
the Contract to impose restrictions on transfers between the 
subaccounts under the Contracts, including limitations on the future 
number of transfers, for a period beginning at least 30 days before the 
Substitution Date through at least 30 days following the Substitution 
Date.
    7. All affected Contract Owners will be notified, at least 30 days 
before the Substitution Date about: (a) The intended substitution of 
the Replaced Portfolio with the Replacement Portfolio; (b) the intended 
Substitution Date; and (c) information with respect to transfers as set 
forth in Condition 6 above. In addition, Insurers will deliver to all 
affected Contract Owners, at least 30 days before the Substitution 
Date, a prospectus for the Replacement Portfolio.
    8. Insurers will deliver to each affected Contract Owner within 
five (5) business days of the Substitution Date a written confirmation 
which will include: (a) A confirmation that the Proposed Substitution 
was carried out as previously notified; (b) a restatement of the 
information set forth in the Supplements; and (c) before and after 
account values.
    9. Applicants will not receive, for three years from the date of 
the Proposed Substitution, any direct or indirect benefits from the 
Replacement Portfolio, its adviser or underwriter (or their 
affiliates), in connection with assets attributable to Contracts 
affected by the Proposed Substitution, at a higher rate than they had 
received from the Replaced Portfolio, its adviser or underwriter (or 
their affiliates), including without limitation 12b-1 fees, shareholder 
service, administrative or

[[Page 8119]]

other service fees, revenue sharing, or other arrangements.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, 
under delegated authority.
Brent J. Fields,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-02992 Filed 2-12-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 30 / Friday, February 13, 2015 / Notices                                            8115

                                              amount may be adjusted to reflect                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                               affidavit or, for lawyers, a certificate of
                                              certain corporate transactions or events                COMMISSION                                            service. Pursuant to Rule 0–5 under the
                                              that affect the applicant’s stock. Grants                                                                     Act, hearing requests should state the
                                                                                                      [Release No. IC–31451; File No. 812–14359]
                                              to Non-Employee Directors are limited                                                                         nature of the writer’s interest, any facts
                                              to those described in condition 8 below.                Pacific Life Insurance Company, et al;                bearing upon the desirability of a
                                                                                                      Notice of Application                                 hearing on the matter, the reason for the
                                                 8. In each fiscal year, a Non-Employee
                                                                                                                                                            request, and the issues contested.
                                              Director will be granted 750 Restricted                 February 9, 2015.                                     Persons who wish to be notified of a
                                              Stock Units of Adams and 400                                                                                  hearing may request notification by
                                                                                                      AGENCY:   Securities and Exchange
                                              Restricted Stock Units of Petroleum, as                                                                       writing to the Commission’s Secretary.
                                                                                                      Commission (‘‘Commission’’).
                                              applicable, which amounts may be
                                                                                                      ACTION: Notice of application for an                  ADDRESSES: Secretary, U.S. Securities
                                              adjusted to reflect certain corporate
                                                                                                      order approving the substitution of                   and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street
                                              transactions. At the effective date of any                                                                    NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090;
                                                                                                      certain securities pursuant to Section
                                              Non-Employee Director’s initial election                                                                      Applicants: Brandon J. Cage, CLU
                                                                                                      26(c) of the Investment Company Act of
                                              to the Board of an Applicant, such Non-                                                                       Assistant Vice President, Counsel,
                                                                                                      1940, as amended (the ‘‘1940 Act’’).
                                              Employee Director will be granted 750                                                                         Pacific Life Insurance Company, 700
                                              Restricted Stock Units of Adams and                        Applicants: Pacific Life Insurance                 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach,
                                              400 Restricted Stock Units of Petroleum,                Company (‘‘Pacific Life’’), Pacific Life’s            CA 92660; Richard T. Choi, Esq.,
                                              as applicable, which amounts may be                     Separate Account A (‘‘Separate Account                Carlton Fields Jorden Burt, P.A., 1025
                                              adjusted to reflect certain corporate                   A’’), Pacific Life’s Pacific Select Variable          Thomas Jefferson St. NW., Suite 400
                                              transactions. Non-Employee Directors                    Annuity Separate Account (‘‘Select VA                 East, Washington, DC 20007.
                                              will also receive dividend equivalents                  Account’’ and, together with Separate                 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                              in respect of such Restricted Stock Units               Account A, the ‘‘Pacific Life Separate                Laura L. Solomon, Senior Counsel, at
                                              equal to the amount or value of any cash                Accounts’’), Pacific Life & Annuity                   (202) 551–6915, or Nadya Roytblat,
                                              or other dividends or distributions                     Company (‘‘PL&A’’), and PL&A’s                        Assistant Chief Counsel, at (202) 551–
                                              payable on an equivalent number of                      Separate Account A (‘‘PL&A Separate                   6825 (Chief Counsel’s Office, Division of
                                              shares of common stock. The Restricted                  Account A’’). Pacific Life, PL&A, and                 Investment Management).
                                              Stock Units and related dividend                        the Separate Accounts are referred to
                                                                                                                                                            SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
                                              equivalents will vest (and become non-                  collectively as the ‘‘Applicants.’’ The
                                                                                                                                                            following is a summary of the
                                              forfeitable) and be paid (in the form of                Pacific Life Separate Accounts and
                                                                                                                                                            application. The complete application
                                              shares of common stock) one year from                   PL&A Separate Account A are referred
                                                                                                                                                            may be obtained via the Commission’s
                                              the date of grant. In addition, Non-                    to individually as a ‘‘Separate Account’’
                                                                                                                                                            Web site by searching for the file
                                              Employee Directors may elect each year,                 and collectively as the ‘‘Separate
                                                                                                                                                            number, or an applicant using the
                                                                                                      Accounts.’’ Pacific Life and PL&A are
                                              not later than December 31 of the year                                                                        Company name box, at http://
                                                                                                      referred to herein individually as an
                                              preceding the year as to which the                                                                            www.sec.gov/search/search.htm or by
                                                                                                      ‘‘Insurer’’ and collectively as the
                                              annual grant of Restricted Stock Units is                                                                     calling (202) 551–8090.
                                                                                                      ‘‘Insurers.’’
                                              to be applicable, to defer to a fixed date              SUMMARY: Summary of Application:                      Applicants’ Representations
                                              or pursuant to a specified schedule                     Each Insurer, on behalf of itself and its
                                              payment of all or any portion of the                                                                             1. The Insurers, on their own behalf
                                                                                                      Separate Account(s), seeks an order                   and on behalf of their respective
                                              annual grant of Restricted Stock Units.                 pursuant to Section 26(c) of the 1940
                                              Any modification of the deferral                                                                              Separate Accounts, propose to
                                                                                                      Act, approving the substitution of                    substitute Service Shares of the
                                              election may be made only upon                          Service Shares of the Janus Aspen
                                              satisfaction of any conditions that the                                                                       Replacement Portfolio for Advisor Class
                                                                                                      Balanced Portfolio, a series of Janus                 shares of the Replaced Portfolio held by
                                              relevant Committee may impose. Non-                     Aspen Series (the ‘‘Replacement                       the Separate Account to fund the
                                              Employee Directors may also elect each                  Portfolio’’), for the Advisor Class shares            Contracts. Each Separate Account is
                                              year, not later than December 31 of the                 of the PIMCO Global Multi-Asset                       divided into subaccounts (each a
                                              year preceding the year as to which                     Managed Allocation Portfolio, a series of             ‘‘Subaccount,’’ collectively, the
                                              deferral of fees is to be applicable, to                the PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust                    ‘‘Subaccounts’’). Each Subaccount
                                              defer to a fixed date or pursuant to a                  (the ‘‘Replaced Portfolio’’) (the                     invests in the securities of a single
                                              specified schedule all or any portion of                ‘‘Proposed Substitution’’), under certain             portfolio of an underlying mutual fund
                                              the cash retainer to be paid for Board or               variable annuity contracts issued by the              (‘‘Portfolio’’). Contract owners (each a
                                              other service related to Board activities               Insurers (collectively, the ‘‘Contracts’’).           ‘‘Contract Owner’’ and collectively, the
                                              in the following calendar year through                  DATES: Filing Date: The application was               ‘‘Contract Owners’’) may allocate some
                                              the issuance of Deferred Stock Units,                   filed on September 19, 2014, and                      or all of their Contract value to one or
                                              valued at the Fair Market Value of the                  amended on February 5, 2015.                          more Subaccounts that are available as
                                              relevant Applicant’s stock on the date                     Hearing or Notification of Hearing: An             investment options under the Contracts.
                                              when each payment of such retainer                      order granting the requested relief will                 2. Pacific Life is the depositor and
                                              amount would otherwise be made in                       be issued unless the Commission orders                sponsor of the Pacific Life Separate
                                              cash.                                                   a hearing. Interested persons may                     Accounts. PL&A is the depositor and
                                                For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                                                                      request a hearing by writing to the                   sponsor of PL&A Separate Account A.
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                                              Investment Management, under delegated                  Commission’s Secretary and serving                       3. Each of the Separate Accounts is a
                                              authority.                                              applicants with a copy of the request,                ‘‘separate account’’ as defined by
                                                                                                      personally or by mail. Hearing requests               Section 2(a)(37) of the 1940 Act and
                                              Brent J. Fields,
                                                                                                      should be received by the Commission                  each is registered under the 1940 Act as
                                              Secretary.                                              by 5:30 p.m. on March 4, 2015, and                    a unit investment trust for the purpose
                                              [FR Doc. 2015–03026 Filed 2–12–15; 8:45 am]             should be accompanied by proof of                     of funding the Contracts. Security
                                              BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                  service on applicants, in the form of an              interests under the Contracts have been


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                                              8116                                   Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 30 / Friday, February 13, 2015 / Notices

                                              registered under the Securities Act of                                     7. The Applicants represent that the                             Portfolio include investments of up to
                                              1933. The application sets forth the                                    investment objectives of the Replaced                               5% of its total assets in real estate
                                              registration statement file numbers for                                 and Replacement Portfolio are similar.                              investment trusts or REITS, whereas the
                                              the Contracts and the Separate                                          The investment objective of the                                     same is not true for the Replacement
                                              Accounts.                                                               Replaced Portfolio is total return which                            Portfolio though it may invest in REITs.
                                                 4. Each Insurer, on behalf of itself and                             exceeds that of a blend of 60% MSCI                                 The principal investment strategies of
                                              its Separate Account(s), proposes to                                    World Index/40% Barclays U.S.                                       the Replaced Portfolio include entering
                                              replace the Advisor Class shares of the                                 Aggregate Index, whereas that of the                                into forward commitments, the making
                                              Replaced Portfolio that are held in                                     Replacement Portfolio is long-term                                  of short sales of securities or
                                              Subaccounts of its Separate Account(s)                                  capital growth, consistent with                                     maintaining a short position, none of
                                              with Service Shares of the Replacement                                  preservation of capital and balanced by                             which is a principal investment strategy
                                              Portfolio.                                                              current income. The investment                                      of the Replacement Portfolio, though it
                                                                                                                      objectives of both Portfolios include a                             may engage in short sales and invest in
                                                 5. The Applicants state that the                                     growth component as well as an income                               securities on a forward commitment
                                              Proposed Substitution involves moving                                   component. Additionally, the                                        basis. The principal investment
                                              assets attributable to the Contracts from                               Applicants state that the principal                                 strategies of the Replacement Portfolio
                                              the Replaced Portfolio managed by                                       investment strategies of the Replaced                               include investments in mortgage-backed
                                              Pacific Investment Management                                           and Replacement Portfolios are similar.                             and mortgage-related securities.
                                              Company, LLC (‘‘PIMCO’’) to a                                           The principal investment strategies of                              Similarly, mortgage-backed securities
                                              Replacement Portfolio managed by                                        both Portfolios include investment in a                             are included among the types of fixed-
                                              Janus Capital Management LLC (‘‘Janus                                   combination of equity and debt                                      income securities that constitute a
                                              Capital’’) (each of Janus Capital and                                   securities. The Replaced Portfolio will                             principal investment strategy of the
                                              PIMCO, an ‘‘Investment Adviser’’ and                                    typically invest 50 to 70% (20%                                     Replaced Portfolio. A comparison of the
                                              collectively, the ‘‘Investment                                          minimum under normal circumstances)                                 investing strategies, risks, and
                                              Advisers’’). Each Investment Adviser is                                 of its total assets in equity-related                               performance of the Replaced and
                                              responsible for the day-to-day                                          investment securities and may invest up                             Replacement Portfolios is included in
                                              management of the assets of the                                         to 30% of its total assets in fixed income                          the application.
                                              Replaced or Replacement Portfolio, as                                   securities denominated in foreign                                      8. The following table compares the
                                              the case may be. Neither the Replaced                                   securities (or beyond this limit in U.S.                            fees and expenses of the Replaced
                                              nor Replacement Portfolio employs a                                     dollar-denominated securities of foreign                            Portfolio (Advisor Class shares) and the
                                              sub-adviser and neither Portfolio                                       issuers), 15% of its total assets in fixed                          Replacement Portfolio (Service Shares)
                                              operates under a manager-of-managers                                    income securities that are economically                             as of the year ended December 31, 2013.
                                              arrangement that, among other things,                                   tied to emerging market countries, and                              As shown below, the management fee of
                                              would permit the Investment Adviser to                                  up to 10% of its total assets in fixed                              the Replacement Portfolio is lower than
                                              engage a new or additional sub-adviser                                  income securities in high yield                                     that of the Replaced Portfolio. The
                                              without the approval of the Portfolio’s                                 securities (i.e., ‘‘junk’’ bonds). The                              management fees of the Replaced
                                              shareholders. The Applicants state that                                 Replacement Portfolio normally invests                              Portfolio and the Replacement Portfolio
                                              the Investment Advisers are not                                         35–65% of its assets in equity securities                           are not subject to breakpoints. In
                                              affiliates of the Insurers.                                             and the remaining assets in debt                                    addition, as shown in the table below,
                                                 6. Applicants state that under the                                   securities and cash equivalents, with                               the 12b–1 fee of the Service Shares of
                                              Contracts, the Insurers reserve the right                               normally 25% of its assets invested in                              the Replacement Portfolio is the same as
                                              to substitute, for the shares of a Portfolio                            fixed-income senior securities. In                                  the 12b–1 fee of the Advisor Class
                                              held in any Subaccount, the shares of                                   addition, both Portfolios may invest in                             shares of the Replaced Portfolio. In both
                                              another Portfolio, shares of another                                    securities of non-U.S. issuers.                                     cases, the 12b–1 fee is the current
                                              investment company or series of another                                 Investment in ‘‘junk’’ bonds is not a                               maximum permitted under the relevant
                                              investment company, or another                                          principal investment strategy of the                                plan. Furthermore, as shown in the table
                                              investment vehicle. The prospectuses                                    Replacement Portfolio though it may                                 below, the annual operating expenses of
                                              for the Contracts include appropriate                                   invest in such bonds. The principal                                 the Replacement Portfolio are lower
                                              disclosure of this reservation of right.                                investment strategies of the Replaced                               than those of the Replaced Portfolio.1

                                                                                                                                  PROPOSED SUBSTITUTION
                                                                                                                                                                                        Replaced portfolio    Replacement portfolio

                                                                                                                                                                                          PIMCO global
                                                                                                                                                                                       multi-asset managed    Janus Aspen balanced
                                                                                                                                                                                             allocation              portfolio
                                                                                                                                                                                              portfolio

                                              Advisor Class/Service Shares:
                                                  Management Fee .............................................................................................................                        0.95%                   0.55%
                                                  12b–1 Fee ........................................................................................................................                  0.25%                   0.25%
                                                  Other Expenses ................................................................................................................                     0.01%                   0.04%
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                                                  Acquired Fund Fees .........................................................................................................                        0.52%                      N/A
                                                  Total Gross Expenses ......................................................................................................                         1.73%                   0.84%
                                                  Expense Waiver/Reimbursement .....................................................................................                                  0.46                    0.00


                                                1 As of the date of filing of the amended                             change to the fee and expense information provided
                                              application, Applicants are aware of no material                        in the following table.



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                                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 30 / Friday, February 13, 2015 / Notices                                                               8117

                                                                                                                 PROPOSED SUBSTITUTION—Continued
                                                                                                                                                                                 Replaced portfolio     Replacement portfolio

                                                                                                                                                                                   PIMCO global
                                                                                                                                                                                multi-asset managed     Janus Aspen balanced
                                                                                                                                                                                      allocation               portfolio
                                                                                                                                                                                       portfolio

                                                       Total Net Expenses ...................................................................................................                   1.27%                   0.84%



                                                 9. The Applicants state that the                                Supplement also will advise Contract                              Owners. Accordingly, the Applicants
                                              performance for the Replacement                                    Owners that from the date of the                                  submit that the Proposed Substitution
                                              Portfolio is substantially better than that                        Supplement until the Substitution Date,                           will have no negative financial impact
                                              of the Replaced Portfolio for all periods                          Contract Owners are permitted to                                  on any Contract Owner.
                                              shown.                                                             transfer all of or a portion of their                                13. The Proposed Substitution will be
                                                 10. The Applicants state that the                               Contract value out of any Subaccount                              effected by having the Replaced
                                              Proposed Substitution is part of an                                investing in the Replaced Portfolio                               Portfolio Subaccount redeem its
                                              ongoing effort by the Insurers to make                             (‘‘Replaced Portfolio Subaccount’’) to                            Replaced Portfolio shares in cash on the
                                              their Contracts more attractive to                                 any other available Subaccounts offered                           Substitution Date at net asset value per
                                              existing and prospective Contract                                  under their Contracts without the                                 share and purchase shares of the
                                              Owners. The Applicants assert the                                  transfer being counted as a transfer for                          Replacement Portfolio at net asset value
                                              Proposed Substitution will help to                                 purposes of transfer limitations and fees                         per share calculated on the same date.
                                              accomplish these goals for the following                           that would otherwise be applicable                                   14. The Insurers or an affiliate thereof
                                              reasons: (1) The total annual operating                            under the terms of the Contracts. In                              will pay all expenses and transaction
                                              expenses for the Replacement Portfolio                             addition, each Supplement will (a)                                costs reasonably related to the Proposed
                                              (which does not include any expense                                instruct Contract Owners how to submit                            Substitution, including all legal,
                                              waivers or reimbursements) are                                     transfer requests in light of the Proposed                        accounting, and brokerage expenses
                                              significantly lower than those of the                              Substitution; (b) advise Contract Owners                          relating to the Proposed Substitution,
                                              Replaced Portfolio (even after taking                              that any Contract value remaining in the                          the above described disclosure
                                              into account fee waivers or expense                                Replaced Portfolio Subaccount on the                              documents, and the application. No
                                              reimbursements); (2) the historical                                Substitution Date will be transferred to                          costs of the Proposed Substitution will
                                              performance of the Replacement                                     a Subaccount investing in the                                     be borne directly or indirectly by
                                              Portfolio is generally much better than                            Replacement Portfolio (‘‘Replacement                              Contract Owners. Affected Contract
                                              that of the Replaced Portfolio; (3) the                            Portfolio Subaccount’’), and that the                             Owners will not incur any fees or
                                              Subaccounts that invest in the                                     Proposed Substitution will take place at                          charges as a result of the Proposed
                                              Replacement Portfolio are included                                 relative net asset value; (c) inform                              Substitution, nor will their rights or the
                                              among the currently allowable                                      Contract Owners that for at least thirty                          obligations of the Insurers under the
                                              investment options under the optional                              (30) days following the Substitution                              Contracts be altered in any way. The
                                              living benefit riders offered under the                            Date, the applicable Insurer will permit                          Proposed Substitution will not cause the
                                              Contracts; (4) Contract Owners will find                           Contract Owners to make transfers of                              fees and charges under the Contracts
                                              the stable management of the                                       Contract value out of the Replacement                             currently being paid by Contract
                                              Replacement Portfolio, whose co-                                   Portfolio Subaccount to any other                                 Owners to be greater after the Proposed
                                              portfolio managers have managed the                                available Subaccounts offered under                               Substitution than before the Proposed
                                              Portfolio since 2005, attractive, relative                         their Contracts without the transfer                              Substitution. In addition, no transfer
                                              to the Replaced Portfolio; and (5) the                             being counted as a transfer for purposes                          charges will apply in connection with
                                              Proposed Substitution will simplify the                            of transfer limitations that would                                the Proposed Substitution.
                                              Subaccount offerings under the                                     otherwise be applicable under the terms                              15. The Applicants represent that they
                                              Contracts.                                                         of the Contracts; and (d) inform Contract                         will not receive, for three years from the
                                                 11. The Applicants represent that the                           Owners that, except as described in the                           date of the Proposed Substitution, any
                                              Proposed Substitution will be described                            market timing limitations section of the                          direct or indirect benefits from the
                                              in supplements to the applicable                                   relevant prospectus, the applicable                               Replacement Portfolio, its adviser or
                                              prospectuses for the Contracts filed with                          Insurer will not exercise any rights                              underwriter (or their affiliates), in
                                              the Commission or in other                                         reserved by it under the Contracts to                             connection with assets attributable to
                                              supplemental disclosure documents,                                 impose additional restrictions on                                 contracts affected by the Proposed
                                              (collectively, ‘‘Supplements’’) and                                transfers out of the Replacement                                  Substitution, at a higher rate than they
                                              delivered to all affected Contract                                 Portfolio Subaccount for at least thirty                          had received from the Replaced
                                              Owners at least 30 days before the date                            (30) days after the Substitution Date.                            Portfolio, its adviser or underwriter (or
                                              the Proposed Substitution is effected                                 12. The Proposed Substitution will be                          their affiliates), including without
                                              (the ‘‘Substitution Date’’). Each                                  effected at the relative net asset values                         limitation 12b–1 fees, shareholder
                                              Supplement will give the relevant                                  of the respective shares in conformity                            service, administrative, or other service
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                                              Contract Owners notice of the                                      with Section 22(c) of the 1940 Act and                            fees, revenue sharing, or other
                                              applicable Insurer’s intent to take the                            Rule 22c–1 thereunder without the                                 arrangements; and the Proposed
                                              necessary actions, including seeking the                           imposition of any transfer or similar                             Substitution and the selection of the
                                              order requested by the application, to                             charges by Applicants. The Proposed                               Replacement Portfolio were not
                                              substitute shares of the Replaced                                  Substitution will be effected without                             motivated by any financial
                                              Portfolio as described in the application                          change in the amount or value of any                              consideration paid or to be paid to the
                                              on the Substitution Date. Each                                     Contracts held by affected Contract                               Insurer or its affiliates by the


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                                              8118                          Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 30 / Friday, February 13, 2015 / Notices

                                              Replacement Portfolio, its adviser or                   that the purpose of Section 26(c) is to                  5. The rights or obligations of the
                                              underwriter, or their affiliates.                       protect the expectation of investors in a             Insurers under the Contracts of affected
                                                                                                      unit investment trust that the trust will             Contract Owners will not be altered in
                                              Legal Analysis
                                                                                                      accumulate shares of a particular issuer              any way. The Proposed Substitution
                                                 1. Applicants request that the                       by preventing unscrutinized                           will not adversely affect any riders
                                              Commission issue an order pursuant to                   substitutions that might, in effect, force            under the Contracts since the
                                              Section 26(c) of the 1940 Act approving                 shareholders dissatisfied with the                    Replacement Portfolio is an allowable
                                              the Proposed Substitution. Section 26(c)                substituted security to redeem their                  investment option for use with such
                                              of the 1940 Act makes it unlawful for                   shares, possibly incurring either a loss              riders.
                                              any depositor or trustee of a registered                of the sales load deducted from initial                  6. Affected Contract Owners will be
                                              unit investment trust holding the                       premium payments, an additional sales                 permitted to make at least one transfer
                                              security of a single issuer to substitute               load upon reinvestment of the                         of Contract value from the subaccount
                                              another security for such security unless               redemption proceeds, or both. The                     investing in the Replaced Portfolio
                                              the Commission approves the                             Proposed Substitution will offer                      (before the Substitution Date) or the
                                              substitution. Section 26(c) requires the                Contract Owners the opportunity to                    Replacement Portfolio (after the
                                              Commission to issue such an order                       transfer amounts out of the affected                  Substitution Date) to any other available
                                              approving the substitution if the                       subaccounts into any of the remaining                 investment option under the Contract
                                              evidence establishes that the                           subaccounts without cost or other                     without charge for a period beginning at
                                              substitution is consistent with the                     disadvantage. The Proposed                            least 30 days before the Substitution
                                              protection of investors and the purposes                Substitution, therefore, will not result in           Date through at least 30 days following
                                              fairly intended by the policy and                       the type of costly forced redemptions                 the Substitution Date. Except as
                                              provisions of the 1940 Act.                             that Section 26(c) was designed to                    described in any market timing/short-
                                                 2. The Applicants submit that the
                                                                                                      prevent.                                              term trading provisions of the relevant
                                              terms and conditions of the Proposed
                                                                                                                                                            prospectus, the Insurer will not exercise
                                              Substitution meet the standards set forth               Applicants’ Conditions
                                                                                                                                                            any right it may have under the Contract
                                              in Section 26(c) and assert that the                       Applicants agree that any order                    to impose restrictions on transfers
                                              substitution of the Replaced Portfolio
                                                                                                      granting the requested relief will be                 between the subaccounts under the
                                              with the Replacement Portfolio is
                                                                                                      subject to the following conditions:                  Contracts, including limitations on the
                                              consistent with the protection of
                                                                                                         1. The Proposed Substitution will not              future number of transfers, for a period
                                              investors and the purposes fairly
                                              intended by the policy and provisions of                be effected unless the Insurers                       beginning at least 30 days before the
                                              the l940 Act. As described in the                       determine that: (a) The Contracts allow               Substitution Date through at least 30
                                              application, the total annual operating                 the substitution of shares of registered              days following the Substitution Date.
                                              expenses for the Replacement Portfolio                  open-end investment companies in the                     7. All affected Contract Owners will
                                              are lower than those of the Replaced                    manner contemplated by the                            be notified, at least 30 days before the
                                              Portfolio. Applicants assert that the                   application; (b) the Proposed                         Substitution Date about: (a) The
                                              Replacement Portfolio has similar                       Substitution can be consummated as                    intended substitution of the Replaced
                                              investment objectives and investment                    described in the application under                    Portfolio with the Replacement
                                              strategies as the Replaced Portfolio, and               applicable insurance laws; and (c) any                Portfolio; (b) the intended Substitution
                                              the principal risks of the Replaced                     regulatory requirements in each                       Date; and (c) information with respect to
                                              Portfolio and the Replacement Portfolio                 jurisdiction where the Contracts are                  transfers as set forth in Condition 6
                                              are similar.                                            qualified for sale have been complied                 above. In addition, Insurers will deliver
                                                 3. Applicants also maintain that the                 with to the extent necessary to complete              to all affected Contract Owners, at least
                                              Proposed Substitution is part of an                     the Proposed Substitution.                            30 days before the Substitution Date, a
                                              ongoing effort by the Insurers to make                     2. The Insurers or their affiliates will           prospectus for the Replacement
                                              their contracts more attractive to                      pay all expenses and transaction costs of             Portfolio.
                                              existing and prospective Contract                       the Proposed Substitution, including                     8. Insurers will deliver to each
                                              Owners. The rights of affected Contract                 legal and accounting expenses, any                    affected Contract Owner within five (5)
                                              Owners and the obligations of the                       applicable brokerage expenses and other               business days of the Substitution Date a
                                              Insurers under the Contracts will not be                fees and expenses. No fees or charges                 written confirmation which will
                                              altered by the Proposed Substitution.                   will be assessed to the Contract Owners               include: (a) A confirmation that the
                                              Affected Contract Owners will not incur                 to effect the Proposed Substitution.                  Proposed Substitution was carried out
                                              any additional tax liability or any                        3. The Proposed Substitution will be               as previously notified; (b) a restatement
                                              additional fees and expenses as a result                effected at the relative net asset values             of the information set forth in the
                                              of the Proposed Substitution.                           of the respective shares in conformity                Supplements; and (c) before and after
                                                 4. The prospectuses for the Contracts                with Section 22(c) of the 1940 Act and                account values.
                                              disclose that the Insurers reserve the                  Rule 22c–1 thereunder without the                        9. Applicants will not receive, for
                                              right, subject to Commission approval                   imposition of any transfer or similar                 three years from the date of the
                                              and compliance with applicable law, to                  charges by Applicants. The Proposed                   Proposed Substitution, any direct or
                                              substitute, for the shares of a Portfolio               Substitution will be effected without                 indirect benefits from the Replacement
                                              held in any Subaccount, the shares of                   change in the amount or value of any                  Portfolio, its adviser or underwriter (or
                                              another Portfolio, shares of another                    Contracts held by affected Contract                   their affiliates), in connection with
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                                              investment company or series of another                 Owners.                                               assets attributable to Contracts affected
                                              investment company, or another                             4. The Proposed Substitution will in               by the Proposed Substitution, at a
                                              investment vehicle.                                     no way alter the tax treatment of                     higher rate than they had received from
                                                 5. Applicants also assert that the                   affected Contract Owners in connection                the Replaced Portfolio, its adviser or
                                              Proposed Substitution does not entail                   with their Contracts, and no tax liability            underwriter (or their affiliates),
                                              any of the abuses that Section 26(c) was                will arise for affected Contract Owners               including without limitation 12b–1 fees,
                                              designed to prevent. Applicants note                    as a result of the Proposed Substitution.             shareholder service, administrative or


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                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 30 / Friday, February 13, 2015 / Notices                                                   8119

                                              other service fees, revenue sharing, or                 Commission’s Public Reference Room,                    referral to the Office of Federal Contract
                                              other arrangements.                                     100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549                 Compliance Programs of the Department
                                                For the Commission, by the Division of                on official business days between the                  of Labor, or take other appropriate
                                              Investment Management, under delegated                  hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. All                  action.
                                              authority.                                              comments received will be posted                          Under section 342(c)(3)(A) of the
                                              Brent J. Fields,                                        without change; we do not edit personal                Dodd-Frank Act, the OMWI Director is
                                              Secretary.                                              identifying information from                           required to determine whether a
                                                                                                      submissions. You should submit only                    contractor or subcontractor has made
                                              [FR Doc. 2015–02992 Filed 2–12–15; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                      information that you wish to make                      good faith efforts to include minorities
                                              BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                                                                      available publicly.                                    and women in its workforce. The
                                                                                                      FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                       proposed Contract Standard would
                                                                                                      Pamela A. Gibbs, Director, Office of                   require that a Commission contractor,
                                              SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                                                                      Minority and Women Inclusion, or                       upon request from the OMWI Director,
                                              COMMISSION
                                                                                                      Audrey B. Little, Senior Counsel, Office               provide documentation of the actions
                                              [Release No. 34–74239; File No. S7–02–15]               of Minority and Women Inclusion at                     undertaken (and as applicable, the
                                                                                                      (202) 551–6046, Securities and                         actions each covered subcontractor
                                              Contract Standard for Contractor                                                                               under the contract has undertaken) that
                                              Workforce Inclusion and Request for                     Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE.,
                                                                                                      Washington, DC 20549.                                  demonstrate its good faith efforts to
                                              Public Comment                                                                                                 ensure the fair inclusion of minorities
                                                                                                      SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section
                                              AGENCY:  Securities and Exchange                                                                               and women in its workforce. The
                                                                                                      342(a)(1)(A) of the Dodd-Frank Act                     documentation requested may include,
                                              Commission.                                             provides for certain agencies, including               but is not limited to: (1) The total
                                              ACTION: Notice of proposed contract                     the Securities and Exchange                            number of employees in the contractor’s
                                              standard; notice of proposed                            Commission, to establish an Office of                  workforce, and the number of
                                              information collection; and request for                 Minority and Women Inclusion                           employees by race, ethnicity, gender,
                                              public comment.                                         (‘‘OMWI’’).1 Section 342(c)(1) provides                and job title or EEO–1 job category (e.g.,
                                                                                                      that the OMWI Director shall develop                   EEO–1 Report(s)); (2) a list of covered
                                              SUMMARY:   To implement section 342 of                  and implement standards and
                                              the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and                                                                          subcontract awards under the contract
                                                                                                      procedures to ensure the fair inclusion                that includes the dollar amount of each
                                              Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the                    and utilization of minorities, women,
                                              ‘‘Dodd-Frank Act’’ or ‘‘the Act’’), the                                                                        subcontract, date of award, and the
                                                                                                      and minority-owned and women-owned                     subcontractor’s race, ethnicity, and/or
                                              Securities and Exchange Commission                      businesses in all business and activities
                                              (the ‘‘Commission’’) is proposing to                                                                           gender ownership status; (3) the
                                                                                                      of the agency, including in                            contractor’s plan to ensure the fair
                                              include in its service contracts a                      procurement, insurance, and all types of
                                              standard concerning workforce                                                                                  inclusion of minorities and women in
                                                                                                      contracts. Section 342(c)(2) requires that             its workforce, including outreach
                                              inclusion of minorities and women.                      the OMWI Director include in the                       efforts; and (4) for each covered
                                              DATES: Comments should be received on                   procedures for evaluating contract                     subcontractor, the information
                                              or before: April 14, 2015.                              proposals and hiring service providers a               requested in items 1 and 3 above. The
                                              ADDRESSES: Comments may be                              component that gives consideration to                  OMWI Director will consider the
                                              submitted by any of the following                       the diversity of an applicant, to the                  information submitted in evaluating
                                              methods:                                                extent consistent with applicable laws.                whether the contractor or subcontractor
                                                                                                      In addition, section 342(c)(2) requires                has complied with its contractual
                                              Electronic Comments                                     that such procedures include a written                 obligation to make good faith efforts to
                                                • Use the Commission’s Internet                       statement, in the form and content                     ensure the fair inclusion of minorities
                                              comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                       prescribed by the OMWI Director, that                  and women in its workforce.
                                              rules/other.shtml);                                     a contractor shall ensure, to the                         The Commission’s proposes to satisfy
                                                • Send an email to rule-                              maximum extent possible, the fair                      section 342(c)(2) through the inclusion
                                              comments@sec.gov. Please include File                   inclusion of women and minorities in                   of a contract standard concerning
                                              No. S7–02–15 on the subject line; or                    the workforce of the contractor and, as                workforce inclusion of minorities and
                                                • Use the Federal eRulemaking Portal                  applicable, subcontractors.                            women (the ‘‘Contract Standard’’) in
                                              (http://www.regulations.gov). Follow                       Further, section 342(c)(3)(A) requires              solicitations and resulting contracts for
                                              instructions for submitting comments.                   the OMWI Director to establish                         services with a dollar value of $100,000
                                              Paper Comments                                          standards and procedures for                           or more. The proposed Contract
                                                                                                      determining whether an agency                          Standard is similar to the contract
                                                • Send paper comments to Brent J.                     contractor or subcontractor ‘‘has failed               clauses adopted by OMWIs of other
                                              Fields, Secretary, Securities and                       to make a good faith effort to include                 federal financial regulatory agencies.2
                                              Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE.,                  minorities and women’’ in its                          The Contract Standard requires the
                                              Washington, DC 20549–1090.                              workforce. Section 342(c)(3)(B)(i)                     service contractor, upon entering into a
                                              All submissions should refer to File No.                provides that if the OMWI Director                     contract with the Commission, to
                                              S7–02–15. This file number should be                    determines that a contractor has failed                confirm that it will ensure, to the
                                              included on the subject line if email is                to make good faith efforts, the Director               maximum extent possible and
                                              used. To help us process and review                     shall recommend to the agency                          consistent with applicable law, the fair
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                              your comments more efficiently, please                  administrator that the contract be                     inclusion of minorities and women in
                                              use only one method. The Commission                     terminated. Upon receipt of such a                     its workforce. In addition, the proposed
                                              will post all comments on the                           recommendation, section 342(c)(3)(B)(ii)
                                              Commission’s Internet Web site (http://                 provides that the agency administrator                   2 See Department of the Treasury Acquisition

                                              www.sec.gov/rules/other.shtml).                                                                                Regulations; Contract Clause on Minority and
                                                                                                      may terminate the contract, make a                     Women Inclusion in Contractor Workforce, 79 FR
                                              Comments will also be available for                                                                            15551, at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-
                                              Web site viewing and printing in the                      1 12   U.S.C. 5452.                                  03-20/pdf/2014-05846.pdf.



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Document Created: 2015-12-18 13:18:13
Document Modified: 2015-12-18 13:18:13
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 approving the substitution of certain securities pursuant to Section 26(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the ``1940 Act'').
ContactLaura L. Solomon, Senior Counsel, at (202) 551-6915, or Nadya Roytblat, Assistant Chief Counsel, at (202) 551-6825 (Chief Counsel's Office, Division of Investment Management).
FR Citation80 FR 8115 

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