83_FR_5175 83 FR 5151 - Gadsden ETF Trust and Gadsden, LLC

83 FR 5151 - Gadsden ETF Trust and Gadsden, LLC

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 24 (February 5, 2018)

Page Range5151-5153
FR Document2018-02170

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 24 (Monday, February 5, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 24 (Monday, February 5, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5151-5153]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02170]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Investment Company Act Release No. 32999; 812-14859]


Gadsden ETF Trust and Gadsden, LLC

January 30, 2018.
AGENCY:  Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'').

ACTION:  Notice.

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    Notice of an application for an order under section 6(c) of the 
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the ``Act'') for an exemption from 
sections 2(a)(32), 5(a)(1), 22(d), and 22(e) of the Act and rule 22c-1 
under the Act, under sections 6(c) and 17(b) of the Act for an 
exemption from sections 17(a)(1) and 17(a)(2) of the Act, and under 
section 12(d)(1)(J) for an exemption from sections 12(d)(1)(A) and 
12(d)(1)(B) of the Act. The requested order would permit (a) actively-
managed series of certain open-end management investment companies 
(``Funds'') to issue shares redeemable in large aggregations only 
(``Creation Units''); (b) secondary market transactions in Fund shares 
to occur at negotiated market prices rather than at net asset value 
(``NAV''); (c) certain Funds to pay redemption proceeds, under certain 
circumstances, more than seven days after the tender of shares for 
redemption; (d) certain affiliated persons of a Fund to deposit 
securities into, and receive securities from, the Fund in connection 
with the purchase and redemption of Creation Units; (e) certain 
registered management investment companies and unit investment trusts 
outside of the same group of investment companies as the Funds (``Funds 
of Funds'') to acquire shares of the Funds; and (f) certain Funds 
(``Feeder Funds'') to create and redeem Creation Units in-kind in a 
master-feeder structure.

Applicants: Gadsden ETF Trust (``Trust''), a Delaware statutory trust 
that will be registered under the Act as an open-end management 
investment company with multiple series, and Gadsden, LLC (``Initial 
Adviser''), a Delaware limited liability company that will be 
registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act 
of 1940.

Filing Dates: The application was filed on December 26, 2017.

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 February 23, 2018, 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, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street 
NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090; Applicants: Eight Tower Bridge, 161 
Washington Street, Suite 580, Conshohocken, PA 19428.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Bruce R. MacNeil, Senior Counsel, at 
(202) 551-6817, or David J. Marcinkus, Branch Chief, at (202) 551-6821 
(Division of Investment Management, Chief Counsel's Office).

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

Summary of the Application

    1. Applicants request an order that would allow Funds to operate as 
actively-managed exchange traded funds (``ETFs'').\1\ Fund shares will 
be

[[Page 5152]]

purchased and redeemed at their NAV in Creation Units only. All orders 
to purchase Creation Units and all redemption requests will be placed 
by or through an ``Authorized Participant,'' which will have signed a 
participant agreement with a broker-dealer registered under the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Exchange Act'') (the 
``Distributor''). Shares will be listed and traded individually on a 
national securities exchange, where share prices will be based on the 
current bid/offer market. Certain Funds may operate as Feeder Funds in 
a master-feeder structure. Any order granting the requested relief 
would be subject to the terms and conditions stated in the application.
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    \1\ Applicants request that the order apply to the Initial Fund, 
as well as to future series of the Trust, and any other open-end 
management investment companies or series thereof (each, included in 
the term ``Fund''), each of which will operate as an actively-
managed ETF. Any Fund will (a) be advised by the Initial Adviser or 
an entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with 
the Initial Adviser (each, an ``Adviser'') and (b) comply with the 
terms and conditions of the application.
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    2. Each Fund will consist of a portfolio of securities and other 
assets and investment positions (``Portfolio Instruments''). Each Fund 
will disclose on its website the identities and quantities of the 
Portfolio Instruments that will form the basis for the Fund's 
calculation of NAV at the end of the day.
    3. Shares will be purchased and redeemed in Creation Units and 
generally on an in-kind basis. Except where the purchase or redemption 
will include cash under the limited circumstances specified in the 
application, purchasers will be required to purchase Creation Units by 
depositing specified instruments (``Deposit Instruments''), and 
shareholders redeeming their shares will receive specified instruments 
(``Redemption Instruments''). The Deposit Instruments and the 
Redemption Instruments will each correspond pro rata to the positions 
in the Fund's portfolio (including cash positions) except as specified 
in the application.
    4. Because shares will not be individually redeemable, applicants 
request an exemption from section 5(a)(1) and section 2(a)(32) of the 
Act that would permit the Funds to register as open-end management 
investment companies and issue shares that are redeemable in Creation 
Units only.
    5. Applicants also request an exemption from section 22(d) of the 
Act and rule 22c-1 under the Act as secondary market trading in shares 
will take place at negotiated prices, not at a current offering price 
described in a Fund's prospectus, and not at a price based on NAV. 
Applicants state that (a) secondary market trading in shares does not 
involve a Fund as a party and will not result in dilution of an 
investment in shares, and (b) to the extent different prices exist 
during a given trading day, or from day to day, such variances occur as 
a result of third-party market forces, such as supply and demand. 
Therefore, applicants assert that secondary market transactions in 
shares will not lead to discrimination or preferential treatment among 
purchasers. Finally, applicants represent that share market prices will 
be disciplined by arbitrage opportunities, which should prevent shares 
from trading at a material discount or premium from NAV.
    6. With respect to Funds that hold non-U.S. Portfolio Instruments 
and that effect creations and redemptions of Creation Units in kind, 
applicants request relief from the requirement imposed by section 22(e) 
in order to allow such Funds to pay redemption proceeds within fifteen 
calendar days following the tender of Creation Units for redemption. 
Applicants assert that the requested relief would not be inconsistent 
with the spirit and intent of section 22(e) to prevent unreasonable, 
undisclosed or unforeseen delays in the actual payment of redemption 
proceeds.
    7. Applicants request an exemption to permit Funds of Funds to 
acquire Fund shares beyond the limits of section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 
Act; and the Funds, and any principal underwriter for the Funds, and/or 
any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act, to sell shares 
to Funds of Funds beyond the limits of section 12(d)(1)(B) of the Act. 
The application's terms and conditions are designed to, among other 
things, help prevent any potential (i) undue influence over a Fund 
through control or voting power, or in connection with certain 
services, transactions, and underwritings, (ii) excessive layering of 
fees, and (iii) overly complex fund structures, which are the concerns 
underlying the limits in sections 12(d)(1)(A) and (B) of the Act.
    8. Applicants request an exemption from sections 17(a)(1) and 
17(a)(2) of the Act to permit a person who is an affiliated person, as 
defined in section 2(a)(3) of the Act (``Affiliated Person''), or an 
affiliated person of an Affiliated Person (``Second-Tier Affiliate''), 
of the Funds, solely by virtue of certain ownership interests, to 
effectuate purchases and redemptions in-kind. The deposit procedures 
for in-kind purchases of Creation Units and the redemption procedures 
for in-kind redemptions of Creation Units will be the same for all 
purchases and redemptions and Deposit Instruments and Redemption 
Instruments will be valued in the same manner as those Portfolio 
Instruments currently held by the Funds. Applicants also seek relief 
from the prohibitions on affiliated transactions in section 17(a) to 
permit a Fund to sell its shares to and redeem its shares from a Fund 
of Funds, and to engage in the accompanying in-kind transactions with 
the Fund of Funds.\2\ The purchase of Creation Units by a Fund of Funds 
directly from a Fund will be accomplished in accordance with the 
policies of the Fund of Funds and will be based on the NAVs of the 
Funds.
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    \2\ The requested relief would apply to direct sales of shares 
in Creation Units by a Fund to a Fund of Funds and redemptions of 
those shares. Applicants, moreover, are not seeking relief from 
section 17(a) for, and the requested relief will not apply to, 
transactions where a Fund could be deemed an Affiliated Person, or a 
Second-Tier Affiliate, of a Fund of Funds because an investment 
adviser to the Funds is also an investment adviser to a Fund of 
Funds.
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    9. Applicants also request relief to permit a Feeder Fund to 
acquire shares of another registered investment company managed by the 
Adviser having substantially the same investment objectives as the 
Feeder Fund (``Master Fund'') beyond the limitations in section 
12(d)(1)(A) and permit the Master Fund, and any principal underwriter 
for the Master Fund, to sell shares of the Master Fund to the Feeder 
Fund beyond the limitations in section 12(d)(1)(B).
    10. Section 6(c) of the Act permits the Commission to exempt any 
persons or transactions from any provision of the Act if such exemption 
is necessary or appropriate in the public interest and consistent with 
the protection of investors and the purposes fairly intended by the 
policy and provisions of the Act. Section 12(d)(1)(J) of the Act 
provides that the Commission may exempt any person, security, or 
transaction, or any class or classes of persons, securities, or 
transactions, from any provision of section 12(d)(1) if the exemption 
is consistent with the public interest and the protection of investors. 
Section 17(b) of the Act authorizes the Commission to grant an order 
permitting a transaction otherwise prohibited by section 17(a) if it 
finds that (a) the terms of the proposed transaction are fair and 
reasonable and do not involve overreaching on the part of any person 
concerned; (b) the proposed transaction is consistent with the policies 
of each registered investment company involved; and (c) the proposed 
transaction is consistent with the general purposes of the Act.


[[Page 5153]]


    For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, 
under delegated authority.
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-02170 Filed 2-2-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 24 / Monday, February 5, 2018 / Notices                                                         5151

                                                of each transaction in reliance on this                   such documentation in an easily                      open-end management investment
                                                Order, the Applicant informed the                         accessible place for a period of not less            company with multiple series, and
                                                relevant advisory client of the capacity                  than five years, the first two years in an           Gadsden, LLC (‘‘Initial Adviser’’), a
                                                in which the Applicant may act with                       appropriate office of the Applicant, and             Delaware limited liability company that
                                                respect to the transaction and that it                    be available for inspection by the staff             will be registered as an investment
                                                received the advisory client’s consent (if                of the Commission.                                   adviser under the Investment Advisers
                                                the Applicant informs the client orally                     For the Commission, by the Division of             Act of 1940.
                                                of the capacity in which it may act with                  Investment Management, under delegated               FILING DATES: The application was filed
                                                respect to such transaction or obtains                    authority.                                           on December 26, 2017.
                                                oral consent, such records may, for                       Eduardo A. Aleman,                                   HEARING OR NOTIFICATION OF HEARING: An
                                                example, include recordings of                            Assistant Secretary.
                                                telephone conversations or                                                                                     order granting the requested relief will
                                                contemporaneous written notations);
                                                                                                          [FR Doc. 2018–02168 Filed 2–2–18; 8:45 am]           be issued unless the Commission orders
                                                and (c) documentation sufficient to                       BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                               a hearing. Interested persons may
                                                enable assessment of compliance by the                                                                         request a hearing by writing to the
                                                Applicant with sections 206(1) and (2)                                                                         Commission’s Secretary and serving
                                                                                                          SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                              applicants with a copy of the request,
                                                of the Advisers Act in connection with
                                                                                                          COMMISSION                                           personally or by mail. Hearing requests
                                                its reliance on this Order.3 In each case,
                                                such records will be maintained and                       [Investment Company Act Release No.                  should be received by the Commission
                                                preserved in an easily accessible place                   32999; 812–14859]                                    by 5:30 p.m. on February 23, 2018, and
                                                for a period of not less than five years,                                                                      should be accompanied by proof of
                                                the first two years in an appropriate                     Gadsden ETF Trust and Gadsden, LLC                   service on applicants, in the form of an
                                                office of the Applicant, and be available                                                                      affidavit, or for lawyers, a certificate of
                                                                                                          January 30, 2018.
                                                for inspection by the staff of the                                                                             service. Pursuant to rule 0–5 under the
                                                                                                          AGENCY: Securities and Exchange                      Act, hearing requests should state the
                                                Commission.                                               Commission (‘‘Commission’’).
                                                   11. The Applicant will adopt written                                                                        nature of the writer’s interest, any facts
                                                compliance policies and procedures                        ACTION: Notice.                                      bearing upon the desirability of a
                                                reasonably designed to ensure, and the                                                                         hearing on the matter, the reason for the
                                                                                                             Notice of an application for an order
                                                Applicant’s chief compliance officer                                                                           request, and the issues contested.
                                                                                                          under section 6(c) of the Investment
                                                will monitor, the Applicant’s                                                                                  Persons who wish to be notified of a
                                                                                                          Company Act of 1940 (the ‘‘Act’’) for an
                                                compliance with the conditions of this                                                                         hearing may request notification by
                                                                                                          exemption from sections 2(a)(32),
                                                Order. The Applicant’s chief                                                                                   writing to the Commission’s Secretary.
                                                                                                          5(a)(1), 22(d), and 22(e) of the Act and
                                                compliance officer will, on at least a                    rule 22c–1 under the Act, under                      ADDRESSES: Secretary, Securities and
                                                quarterly basis, conduct testing                          sections 6(c) and 17(b) of the Act for an            Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE,
                                                reasonably sufficient to verify such                      exemption from sections 17(a)(1) and                 Washington, DC 20549–1090;
                                                compliance. Such written policies and                     17(a)(2) of the Act, and under section               Applicants: Eight Tower Bridge, 161
                                                procedures, monitoring and testing will                   12(d)(1)(J) for an exemption from                    Washington Street, Suite 580,
                                                address, without limitation: (a)                                                                               Conshohocken, PA 19428.
                                                                                                          sections 12(d)(1)(A) and 12(d)(1)(B) of
                                                Compliance by the Applicant with its                                                                           FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                          the Act. The requested order would
                                                disclosure and consent requirements                                                                            Bruce R. MacNeil, Senior Counsel, at
                                                                                                          permit (a) actively-managed series of
                                                under this Order; (b) the integrity and                                                                        (202) 551–6817, or David J. Marcinkus,
                                                                                                          certain open-end management
                                                operation of electronic systems                                                                                Branch Chief, at (202) 551–6821
                                                                                                          investment companies (‘‘Funds’’) to
                                                employed by the Applicant in                                                                                   (Division of Investment Management,
                                                                                                          issue shares redeemable in large
                                                connection with its reliance on this                                                                           Chief Counsel’s Office).
                                                                                                          aggregations only (‘‘Creation Units’’); (b)
                                                Order; (c) compliance by the Applicant
                                                                                                          secondary market transactions in Fund                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
                                                with its recordkeeping obligations under
                                                                                                          shares to occur at negotiated market                 following is a summary of the
                                                this Order; and (d) whether there is any
                                                evidence of the Applicant engaging in                     prices rather than at net asset value                application. The complete application
                                                ‘‘dumping’’ in connection with its                        (‘‘NAV’’); (c) certain Funds to pay                  may be obtained via the Commission’s
                                                reliance on this Order.4 The Applicant’s                  redemption proceeds, under certain                   website by searching for the file
                                                chief compliance officer will document                    circumstances, more than seven days                  number, or for an applicant using the
                                                the frequency and results of such                         after the tender of shares for                       Company name box, at http://
                                                monitoring and testing, and the                           redemption; (d) certain affiliated                   www.sec.gov/search/search.htm or by
                                                Applicant will maintain and preserve                      persons of a Fund to deposit securities              calling (202) 551–8090.
                                                                                                          into, and receive securities from, the
                                                                                                          Fund in connection with the purchase                 Summary of the Application
                                                  3 For  example, under sections 206(1) and (2), an
                                                investment adviser may not engage in any                  and redemption of Creation Units; (e)                  1. Applicants request an order that
                                                transaction on a principal basis with a client that       certain registered management                        would allow Funds to operate as
                                                is not consistent with the best interests of the client   investment companies and unit
                                                or that subrogates the client’s interests to the
                                                                                                                                                               actively-managed exchange traded
                                                interests of the investment adviser. Cf. Investment       investment trusts outside of the same                funds (‘‘ETFs’’).1 Fund shares will be
                                                Advisers Act Release No. 2106 (Jan. 31, 2003)             group of investment companies as the
                                                (adopting Rule 206(4)–6).                                 Funds (‘‘Funds of Funds’’) to acquire                  1 Applicants request that the order apply to the
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                                                   4 See Report of the Securities and Exchange                                                                 Initial Fund, as well as to future series of the Trust,
                                                                                                          shares of the Funds; and (f) certain
                                                Commission, Investment Trusts and Investment                                                                   and any other open-end management investment
                                                Companies, H.R. Doc. No. 279, 76th Cong., 2d Sess.,
                                                                                                          Funds (‘‘Feeder Funds’’) to create and               companies or series thereof (each, included in the
                                                pt. 3, at 2581, 2589 (1939); Hearings on S. 3580          redeem Creation Units in-kind in a                   term ‘‘Fund’’), each of which will operate as an
                                                Before a Subcommittee of the Commission on                master-feeder structure.                             actively-managed ETF. Any Fund will (a) be
                                                Banking and Currency, 76th Cong., 3d Sess. 209,                                                                advised by the Initial Adviser or an entity
                                                                                                          APPLICANTS: Gadsden ETF Trust
                                                212–23 (1940); Hearings on S. 3580 Before the                                                                  controlling, controlled by, or under common
                                                Subcomm. of the Comm. on Banking and Currency,            (‘‘Trust’’), a Delaware statutory trust that         control with the Initial Adviser (each, an
                                                76th Cong., 3d Sess. 322 (1940).                          will be registered under the Act as an                                                             Continued




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                                                5152                         Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 24 / Monday, February 5, 2018 / Notices

                                                purchased and redeemed at their NAV                     in shares, and (b) to the extent different            the Funds. Applicants also seek relief
                                                in Creation Units only. All orders to                   prices exist during a given trading day,              from the prohibitions on affiliated
                                                purchase Creation Units and all                         or from day to day, such variances occur              transactions in section 17(a) to permit a
                                                redemption requests will be placed by                   as a result of third-party market forces,             Fund to sell its shares to and redeem its
                                                or through an ‘‘Authorized Participant,’’               such as supply and demand. Therefore,                 shares from a Fund of Funds, and to
                                                which will have signed a participant                    applicants assert that secondary market               engage in the accompanying in-kind
                                                agreement with a broker-dealer                          transactions in shares will not lead to               transactions with the Fund of Funds.2
                                                registered under the Securities                         discrimination or preferential treatment              The purchase of Creation Units by a
                                                Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Exchange Act’’)                 among purchasers. Finally, applicants                 Fund of Funds directly from a Fund will
                                                (the ‘‘Distributor’’). Shares will be listed            represent that share market prices will
                                                                                                                                                              be accomplished in accordance with the
                                                and traded individually on a national                   be disciplined by arbitrage
                                                                                                                                                              policies of the Fund of Funds and will
                                                securities exchange, where share prices                 opportunities, which should prevent
                                                will be based on the current bid/offer                  shares from trading at a material                     be based on the NAVs of the Funds.
                                                market. Certain Funds may operate as                    discount or premium from NAV.                            9. Applicants also request relief to
                                                Feeder Funds in a master-feeder                            6. With respect to Funds that hold                 permit a Feeder Fund to acquire shares
                                                structure. Any order granting the                       non-U.S. Portfolio Instruments and that               of another registered investment
                                                requested relief would be subject to the                effect creations and redemptions of                   company managed by the Adviser
                                                terms and conditions stated in the                      Creation Units in kind, applicants                    having substantially the same
                                                application.                                            request relief from the requirement                   investment objectives as the Feeder
                                                   2. Each Fund will consist of a                       imposed by section 22(e) in order to                  Fund (‘‘Master Fund’’) beyond the
                                                portfolio of securities and other assets                allow such Funds to pay redemption                    limitations in section 12(d)(1)(A) and
                                                and investment positions (‘‘Portfolio                   proceeds within fifteen calendar days                 permit the Master Fund, and any
                                                Instruments’’). Each Fund will disclose                 following the tender of Creation Units                principal underwriter for the Master
                                                on its website the identities and                       for redemption. Applicants assert that
                                                                                                                                                              Fund, to sell shares of the Master Fund
                                                quantities of the Portfolio Instruments                 the requested relief would not be
                                                                                                                                                              to the Feeder Fund beyond the
                                                that will form the basis for the Fund’s                 inconsistent with the spirit and intent of
                                                calculation of NAV at the end of the                    section 22(e) to prevent unreasonable,                limitations in section 12(d)(1)(B).
                                                day.                                                    undisclosed or unforeseen delays in the                  10. Section 6(c) of the Act permits the
                                                   3. Shares will be purchased and                      actual payment of redemption proceeds.                Commission to exempt any persons or
                                                redeemed in Creation Units and                             7. Applicants request an exemption to              transactions from any provision of the
                                                generally on an in-kind basis. Except                   permit Funds of Funds to acquire Fund                 Act if such exemption is necessary or
                                                where the purchase or redemption will                   shares beyond the limits of section                   appropriate in the public interest and
                                                include cash under the limited                          12(d)(1)(A) of the Act; and the Funds,                consistent with the protection of
                                                circumstances specified in the                          and any principal underwriter for the                 investors and the purposes fairly
                                                application, purchasers will be required                Funds, and/or any broker or dealer                    intended by the policy and provisions of
                                                to purchase Creation Units by                           registered under the Exchange Act, to                 the Act. Section 12(d)(1)(J) of the Act
                                                depositing specified instruments                        sell shares to Funds of Funds beyond                  provides that the Commission may
                                                (‘‘Deposit Instruments’’), and                          the limits of section 12(d)(1)(B) of the
                                                                                                                                                              exempt any person, security, or
                                                shareholders redeeming their shares                     Act. The application’s terms and
                                                                                                                                                              transaction, or any class or classes of
                                                will receive specified instruments                      conditions are designed to, among other
                                                                                                        things, help prevent any potential (i)                persons, securities, or transactions, from
                                                (‘‘Redemption Instruments’’). The
                                                                                                        undue influence over a Fund through                   any provision of section 12(d)(1) if the
                                                Deposit Instruments and the
                                                                                                        control or voting power, or in                        exemption is consistent with the public
                                                Redemption Instruments will each
                                                correspond pro rata to the positions in                 connection with certain services,                     interest and the protection of investors.
                                                the Fund’s portfolio (including cash                    transactions, and underwritings, (ii)                 Section 17(b) of the Act authorizes the
                                                positions) except as specified in the                   excessive layering of fees, and (iii)                 Commission to grant an order
                                                application.                                            overly complex fund structures, which                 permitting a transaction otherwise
                                                   4. Because shares will not be                        are the concerns underlying the limits                prohibited by section 17(a) if it finds
                                                individually redeemable, applicants                     in sections 12(d)(1)(A) and (B) of the                that (a) the terms of the proposed
                                                request an exemption from section                       Act.                                                  transaction are fair and reasonable and
                                                5(a)(1) and section 2(a)(32) of the Act                    8. Applicants request an exemption                 do not involve overreaching on the part
                                                that would permit the Funds to register                 from sections 17(a)(1) and 17(a)(2) of the            of any person concerned; (b) the
                                                as open-end management investment                       Act to permit a person who is an                      proposed transaction is consistent with
                                                companies and issue shares that are                     affiliated person, as defined in section              the policies of each registered
                                                redeemable in Creation Units only.                      2(a)(3) of the Act (‘‘Affiliated Person’’),           investment company involved; and (c)
                                                   5. Applicants also request an                        or an affiliated person of an Affiliated              the proposed transaction is consistent
                                                exemption from section 22(d) of the Act                 Person (‘‘Second-Tier Affiliate’’), of the
                                                                                                                                                              with the general purposes of the Act.
                                                and rule 22c–1 under the Act as                         Funds, solely by virtue of certain
                                                secondary market trading in shares will                 ownership interests, to effectuate
                                                take place at negotiated prices, not at a               purchases and redemptions in-kind. The
                                                current offering price described in a                   deposit procedures for in-kind                           2 The requested relief would apply to direct sales

                                                                                                        purchases of Creation Units and the
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                                                Fund’s prospectus, and not at a price                                                                         of shares in Creation Units by a Fund to a Fund of
                                                                                                        redemption procedures for in-kind                     Funds and redemptions of those shares. Applicants,
                                                based on NAV. Applicants state that (a)
                                                                                                        redemptions of Creation Units will be                 moreover, are not seeking relief from section 17(a)
                                                secondary market trading in shares does                                                                       for, and the requested relief will not apply to,
                                                not involve a Fund as a party and will                  the same for all purchases and
                                                                                                                                                              transactions where a Fund could be deemed an
                                                not result in dilution of an investment                 redemptions and Deposit Instruments                   Affiliated Person, or a Second-Tier Affiliate, of a
                                                                                                        and Redemption Instruments will be                    Fund of Funds because an investment adviser to the
                                                ‘‘Adviser’’) and (b) comply with the terms and          valued in the same manner as those                    Funds is also an investment adviser to a Fund of
                                                conditions of the application.                          Portfolio Instruments currently held by               Funds.



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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 24 / Monday, February 5, 2018 / Notices                                                         5153

                                                  For the Commission, by the Division of                 HEARING OR NOTIFICATION OF HEARING:                      the facility for leverage purposes and
                                                Investment Management, under delegated                   An order granting the requested relief                   the loans’ duration will be no more than
                                                authority.                                               will be issued unless the Commission                     7 days.3
                                                Eduardo A. Aleman,                                       orders a hearing. Interested persons may                    2. Applicants anticipate that the
                                                Assistant Secretary.                                     request a hearing by writing to the                      proposed facility would provide a
                                                [FR Doc. 2018–02170 Filed 2–2–18; 8:45 am]               Commission’s Secretary and serving                       borrowing Fund with a source of
                                                BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                   applicants with a copy of the request,                   liquidity at a rate lower than the bank
                                                                                                         personally or by mail. Hearing requests                  borrowing rate at times when the cash
                                                                                                         should be received by the Commission                     position of the Fund is insufficient to
                                                SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                  by 5:30 p.m. on February 26, 2018 and                    meet temporary cash requirements. In
                                                COMMISSION                                               should be accompanied by proof of                        addition, Funds making short-term cash
                                                                                                         service on the applicants, in the form of                loans directly to other Funds would
                                                [Investment Company Act Release No.                      an affidavit, or, for lawyers, a certificate             earn interest at a rate higher than they
                                                32998; File No. 812–14842]                               of service. Pursuant to Rule 0–5 under                   otherwise could obtain from investing
                                                                                                         the Act, hearing requests should state                   their cash in repurchase agreements or
                                                Columbia Funds Series Trust, et al.
                                                                                                         the nature of the writer’s interest, any                 certain other short term money market
                                                January 30, 2018.                                        facts bearing upon the desirability of a                 instruments. Thus, applicants assert that
                                                AGENCY: Securities and Exchange                          hearing on the matter, the reason for the                the facility would benefit both
                                                Commission (‘‘Commission’’).                             request, and the issues contested.                       borrowing and lending Funds.
                                                ACTION: Notice.
                                                                                                         Persons who wish to be notified of a                        3. Applicants agree that any order
                                                                                                         hearing may request notification by                      granting the requested relief will be
                                                   Notice of an application for an order                 writing to the Commission’s Secretary.                   subject to the terms and conditions
                                                pursuant to: (a) Section 6(c) of the                     ADDRESSES: Secretary, U.S. Securities                    stated in the Application. Among
                                                Investment Company Act of 1940                           and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street                    others, the Adviser, through a
                                                (‘‘Act’’) granting an exemption from                     NE, Washington, DC 20549–1090;                           designated committee, would
                                                sections 18(f) and 21(b) of the Act; (b)                 Applicants: c/o Brian D. McCabe, Esq.                    administer the facility as a disinterested
                                                section 12(d)(1)(J) of the Act granting an               and Nathan D. Somogie, Esq., Rope &                      fiduciary as part of its duties under the
                                                exemption from section 12(d)(1) of the                   Gray LLP, Prudential Tower, 800                          investment management and
                                                Act; (c) sections 6(c) and 17(b) of the                  Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199.                       administrative agreements with the
                                                Act granting an exemption from sections                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hae-                    Funds and would receive no additional
                                                17(a)(1), 17(a)(2) and 17(a)(3) of the Act;              Sung Lee, Attorney-Adviser, at (202)                     fee as compensation for its services in
                                                and (d) section 17(d) of the Act and rule                551–7345 or Robert H. Shapiro, Branch                    connection with the administration of
                                                17d–1 under the Act to permit certain                    Chief, at (202) 551–6821 (Division of                    the facility. The facility would be
                                                joint arrangements and transactions.                     Investment Management, Chief                             subject to oversight and certain
                                                Applicants request an order that would                   Counsel’s Office).                                       approvals by the Funds’ Board,
                                                permit certain registered open-end                       SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The                           including, among others, approval of the
                                                management investment companies to                       following is a summary of the                            interest rate formula and of the method
                                                participate in a joint lending and                       application. The complete application                    for allocating loans across Funds, as
                                                borrowing facility.1                                     may be obtained via the Commission’s                     well as review of the process in place to
                                                APPLICANTS: Columbia Funds Series                        website by searching for the file                        evaluate the liquidity implications for
                                                Trust, Columbia Funds Series Trust I,                    number, or an applicant using the                        the Funds. A Fund’s aggregate
                                                Columbia Funds Series Trust II,                          Company name box, at http://                             outstanding interfund loans will not
                                                Columbia Funds Variable Insurance                        www.sec.gov/search/search.htm or by                      exceed 15% of its net assets, and the
                                                Trust, Columbia Funds Variable Series                    calling (202) 551–8090.                                  Fund’s loans to any one Fund will not
                                                Trust II, Columbia ETF Trust I and                                                                                exceed 5% of the lending Fund’s net
                                                                                                         Summary of the Application                               assets.4
                                                Columbia ETF Trust II (each a ‘‘Trust’’
                                                and collectively, the ‘‘Trusts’’), each                     1. Applicants request an order that                      4. Applicants assert that the facility
                                                registered under the Act as open-end                     would permit the applicants to                           does not raise the concerns underlying
                                                management investment companies                          participate in an interfund lending                      section 12(d)(1) of the Act given that the
                                                with one or more series, and Columbia                    facility where each Fund could lend                      Funds are part of the same group of
                                                Management Investment Advisers, LLC                      money directly to and borrow money                       investment companies and there will be
                                                (‘‘Columbia Management’’), registered as                 directly from other Funds to cover                       no duplicative costs or fees to the
                                                an investment adviser under the                          unanticipated cash shortfalls, such as                   Funds.5 Applicants also assert that the
                                                Investment Advisers Act of 1940.                         unanticipated redemptions or trade                       proposed transactions do not raise the
                                                                                                         fails.2 The Funds will not borrow under                  concerns underlying sections 17(a)(1),
                                                FILING DATE: The application was filed
                                                                                                                                                                  17(a)(3), 17(d) and 21(b) of the Act as
                                                on November 9, 2017.                                        2 Applicants request that the order apply to the      the Funds would not engage in lending
                                                                                                         applicants and to any existing or future series of the   transactions that unfairly benefit
                                                   1 The requested order would supersede an              Trusts and to any other registered open-end or
                                                exemptive order issued by the Commission on              closed-end management investment company or its
                                                October 24, 2006, with the result that no person         series for which Columbia Management and each            companies will not participate as borrowers in the
                                                will continue to rely on the prior order if the order    successor thereto or a person controlling, controlled    interfund lending facility.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                                                                                    3 Any Fund, however, will be able to call a loan
                                                is granted. RiverSource Diversified Income Series,       by, or under common control with Columbia
                                                Inc., et al., Investment Company Act Release Nos.        Management serves as investment adviser (each            on one business day’s notice.
                                                                                                                                                                    4 Under certain circumstances, a borrowing Fund
                                                27506 (September 28, 2006) (notice) and 27525            such investment adviser may be referred to as an
                                                (October 24, 2016) (order). All existing entities that   ‘‘Adviser’’ and collectively, the ‘‘Advisers’’). For     will be required to pledge collateral to secure the
                                                currently intend to rely on the order have been          purposes of the requested order, ‘‘successor’’ is        loan.
                                                named as applicants. Any other existing or future        limited to any entity that results from a                  5 Applicants state that the obligation to repay an

                                                entity that relies on the order in the future will       reorganization into another jurisdiction or a change     interfund loan could be deemed to constitute a
                                                comply with the terms and conditions of the              in the type of a business organization. The Funds        security for the purposes of sections 17(a)(1) and
                                                application.                                             that are closed-end management investment                12(d)(1) of the Act.



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Document Created: 2018-02-03 01:24:52
Document Modified: 2018-02-03 01:24:52
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.
DatesThe application was filed on December 26, 2017.
ContactBruce R. MacNeil, Senior Counsel, at (202) 551-6817, or David J. Marcinkus, Branch Chief, at (202) 551-6821 (Division of Investment Management, Chief Counsel's Office).
FR Citation83 FR 5151 

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