83 FR 53329 - Blackstone Real Estate Income Fund, et al.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 204 (October 22, 2018)
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 204 (October 22, 2018)
| Page Range | 53329-53334 | |
| FR Document | 2018-22894 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 204 (Monday, October 22, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 53329-53334] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-22894] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Investment Company Act Release No. 33271; 812-14931] Blackstone Real Estate Income Fund, et al. October 16, 2018. AGENCY: Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission''). ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Notice of application for an order under sections 17(d) and 57(i) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the ``Act'') and rule 17d-1 under the Act to permit certain joint transactions otherwise prohibited by sections 17(d) and 57(a)(4) of the Act and rule 17d-1 under the Act. Summary of Application: Applicants request an order to permit business development companies (``BDCs'') and closed-end management investment companies to co-invest in portfolio companies with each other and with certain affiliated investment funds and accounts. Applicants: Blackstone Real Estate Income Fund (``BREIF''); Blackstone Real Estate Income Fund (``BREIF II''); Blackstone Real Estate Income Master Fund (``BREI Master Fund,'' and, together with BREIF and BREIF II, the ``BREI Regulated Funds''); Blackstone Real Estate Income Advisors L.L.C. (``BREIA''), the investment adviser to the BREI Regulated Funds; the investment advisers set forth in Schedule A to the application (together with BREIA, the ``Blackstone RE Advisers''); and the Existing Affiliated Funds set forth on Schedule A to the application.\1\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ The Existing Affiliated Funds, together with their direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries, are entities (i) whose primary investment adviser is a Blackstone RE Adviser and (ii) that either (A) would be an investment company but for section 3(c)(1), 3(c)(5)(C) or 3(c)(7) of the Act or (B) rely on the rule 3a-7 exemption thereunder from investment company status. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Filing Dates: The application was filed on July 20, 2018. Applicants have agreed to file an amendment during the notice period, the substance of which is reflected in this notice. 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 November 12, 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, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F St, NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090. Applicants: Leon Volchyok, Esq., 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Asen Parachkevov, Senior Counsel, or David J. Marcinkus, Branch Chief, at (202) 551-6821 (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 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. Applicants' Representations: 1. Each BREI Regulated Fund is a Delaware statutory trust and is structured as an externally managed, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. Each BREI Regulated Fund's investment objective is to seek long-term total return, with an emphasis on current income, by primarily investing in a broad range of real estate- related deb investments. BREIF and BREIF II are ``feeder'' funds in a ``master-feeder'' structure and pursues their respective investment objective by investing substantially all of their assets in the BREI Master Fund. Each BREI Regulated Fund has a five-member Board, of which four members are Non-Interested Trustees.\2\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \2\ ``Board'' means the board of trustees (or equivalent) of the BREI Regulated Funds and any other Regulated Fund (as defined below). ``Non-Interested Trustees'' means the Non-Interested Trustees of the BREI Regulated Funds and any other Regulated Fund who are not ``interested persons'' within the meaning of section 2(a)(19) of the Act. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Each Adviser \3\ is a subsidiary of The Blackstone Group, L.P. (``Blackstone''). Blackstone is a leading global alternative asset manager, whose alternative asset management businesses include investment vehicles focused on private equity, real estate, hedge fund solutions, non-investment grade credit, secondary private equity funds of funds and multi-asset class strategies. Blackstone's four business segments are (1) private equity, (2) real estate, (3) hedge fund solutions and (4) credit. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \3\ The term ``Adviser'' means (i) the Blackstone RE Advisers and (ii) any future investment adviser that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with a Blackstone RE Adviser and is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the ``Advisers Act'') that intends to participate in the Co-Investment Program (as defined below). The term ``Primary Adviser'' means any future investment adviser that (i) controls, is controlled by or is under common control with an Adviser, (ii) is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act, and (iii) is not an Adviser. For the avoidance of doubt, a Primary Adviser will not be treated as an Adviser under the requested Order, but will be subject to conditions 2(c)(iv) and 13 of the requested Order. A Primary Adviser will not rely on the requested Order with respect to any investment vehicles it manages other than to the extent those vehicles are sub-advised by an Adviser. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. The Blackstone RE Advisers operate as a self-contained advisory business within Blackstone's real estate. [[Page 53330]] Each Blackstone RE Adviser is under common control with BREIA, the Adviser to each of the BREI Regulated Funds, and collectively they conduct a single advisory business for purposes of the requested Order. The Blackstone RE Advisers are each either separately registered as investment advisers with the Commission, or are relying advisers that rely on the registration of another Blackstone RE Adviser. No Blackstone RE Adviser is a relying adviser of any Blackstone-affiliated investment adviser from outside of the self-contained group. 4. Applicants seek an order to permit one or more Regulated Funds \4\ to be able to participate with one or more other Regulated Funds and/or one or more Affiliated Investors \5\ in the same investment opportunities through a proposed co-investment program where such participation would otherwise be prohibited under sections 17(d) and 57(a)(4) of the Act and rule 17d-1 thereunder (the ``Co-Investment Program''). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \4\ ``Regulated Fund'' means any of the BREI Regulated Funds and any future closed-end management investment company (i) that has elected to be regulated as a business development company (``BDC'') or is registered under the Act, (ii) whose investment adviser is an Adviser and (iii) who intends to participate in the Co-Investment Program. Section 2(a)(48) of the Act defines a BDC to be any closed-end investment company that operates for the purpose of making investments in securities described in sections 55(a)(1) through 55(a)(3) of the Act and makes available significant managerial assistance with respect to the issuers of such securities. \5\ ``Affiliated Investor'' means (i) the Existing Affiliated Funds, (ii) any Affiliated Proprietary Account and (iii) any Future Affiliated Fund. ``Future Affiliated Fund'' means an entity (i)(A) whose investment adviser is an Adviser or (B) whose investment adviser is a Primary Adviser and whose sub-adviser is an Adviser (a ``Sub- Advised Affiliated Fund''), and (ii) that either (A) would be an investment company but for an exemption in section 3(c)(1), 3(c)(5)(C) or 3(c)(7) of the Act or (B) relies on the rule 3a-7 exemption thereunder from investment company status, and (iii) that intends to participate in the Co-Investment Program. ``Affiliated Proprietary Account'' means any account of an Adviser or its affiliates or any company that is an indirect, wholly- or majority-owned subsidiary of an Adviser or its affiliates, which, from time to time, may hold various financial assets in a principal capacity. For the avoidance of doubt, neither the Regulated Funds, the Existing Affiliated Funds nor any Future Affiliated Funds shall be deemed to be Affiliated Proprietary Accounts for purposes of the requested Order. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. For purposes of the requested Order, ``Co-Investment Transaction'' means any transaction in which one or more Regulated Funds (or one or more Wholly-Owned Investment Subsidiaries, as defined below) participates together with one or more other Regulated Funds (or one or more Wholly-Owned Investment Subsidiaries, as defined below) and/or one or more Affiliated Investors in reliance on the requested Order. ``Potential Co-Investment Transaction'' means any investment opportunity in which a Regulated Fund (or its Wholly-Owned Investment Subsidiary, as defined below) could not participate together with one or more Affiliated Investors and/or one or more other Regulated Funds without obtaining and relying on the requested Order.\6\ Funds that are advised or sub-advised by affiliates of Blackstone other than an Adviser or Primary Adviser will not participate in the Co-Investment Program. No Primary Adviser will be the source of any Potential Co- Investment Transactions under the requested Order. Potential Co- Investment Transactions will not be shared outside of the Co-Investment Program. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \6\ All existing entities that currently intend to rely upon the requested Order have been named as applicants. Any other existing or future entity that subsequently relies on the Order will comply with the terms and conditions of the application. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. Applicants state that a Regulated Fund may, from time to time, form a special purpose subsidiary (a ``Wholly-Owned Investment Subsidiary'').\7\ A Wholly-Owned Investment Subsidiary would be prohibited from investing in a Co-Investment Transaction with another Regulated Fund or any Affiliated Investor because it would be a company controlled by its parent Regulated Fund for purposes of sections 17(d) and 57(a)(4) of the Act and rule 17d-1 thereunder. Applicants request that a Wholly-Owned Investment Subsidiary be permitted to participate in Co-Investment Transactions in lieu of the applicable Regulated Fund and that the Wholly-Owned Investment Subsidiary's participation in any such transaction be treated, for purposes of the requested Order, as though the parent Regulated Fund were participating directly. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \7\ ``Wholly-Owned Investment Subsidiary'' means an (i) whose sole business purpose is to hold one or more investments on behalf of a Regulated Fund (and, in the case of an SBIC Subsidiary (as defined below), maintain a license under the SBA Act (as defined below) and issue debentures guaranteed by the SBA (as defined below)); (ii) that is wholly-owned by a Regulated Fund (with such Regulated Fund at all times holding, beneficially and of record, 100% of the voting and economic interests); (iii) with respect to which the Board of the Regulated Fund has the sole authority to make all determinations with respect to the Wholly-Owned Investment Subsidiary's participation under the conditions of the requested Order; and (iv) that is an entity that would be an investment company but for an exemption in section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the Act. The term ``SBIC Subsidiary'' means a Wholly-Owned Investment Subsidiary that is licensed by the Small Business Administration (the ``SBA'') to operate under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, as amended, (the ``SBA Act'') as a small business investment company (a ``SBIC''). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. When considering Potential Co-Investment Transactions for any Regulated Fund, an Adviser will consider only the Objectives and Strategies,\8\ Board-Established Criteria,\9\ investment policies, investment positions, capital available for investment, and other pertinent factors applicable to that Regulated Fund. The participation of a Regulated Fund in a Potential Co-Investment Transaction may only be approved by a Required Majority, as defined in section 57(o) of the Act (a ``Required Majority''), of the trustees of the Board eligible to vote on that Co-Investment Transaction under section 57(o) of the Act (the ``Eligible Trustees'').\10\ When selecting investments for the Affiliated Investors, an Adviser will select investments separately for each Affiliated Investor, considering, in each case, only the investment objective, investment policies, investment position, capital available for investment, and other pertinent factors applicable to that particular Affiliated Investor. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \8\ The term ``Objectives and Strategies'' means a Regulated Fund's investment objectives and strategies, as described in the filings made with the Commission by the Regulated Fund under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ``1933 Act'') and the Act, and the Regulated Fund's reports to shareholders. \9\ The term ``Board-Established Criteria'' means criteria that the Board of the applicable Regulated Fund may establish from time to time to describe the characteristics of Potential Co-Investment Transactions regarding which an Adviser to the Regulated Fund should be notified under condition 1 of the requested Order. The Board- Established Criteria will be consistent with the Regulated Fund's then-current Objectives and Strategies. If no Board-Established Criteria are in effect, then the Regulated Fund's Adviser will be notified of all Potential Co-Investment Transactions that fall within the Regulated Fund's then current Objectives and Strategies. Board-Established Criteria will be objective and testable, meaning that they will be based on observable information, such as industry/ sector of the issuer, minimum earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization of the issuer, asset class of the investment opportunity or required commitment size, and not on characteristics that involve discretionary assessment. The Adviser to the Regulated Fund may from time to time recommend criteria for the applicable Board's consideration, but Board-Established Criteria will only become effective if approved by a majority of the Non- Interested Trustees. The Non-Interested Trustees of a Regulated Fund may at any time rescind, suspend or qualify its approval of any Board-Established Criteria, though Applicants anticipate that, under normal circumstances, the Board would not modify these criteria more often than quarterly. \10\ The defined terms Eligible Trustees and Required Majority apply as if each Regulated Fund were a BDC subject to section 57(o) of the Act. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8. With respect to participation in a Potential Co-Investment Transaction by a Regulated Fund, the application Adviser will present each Potential Co- [[Page 53331]] Investment Transaction and the proposed allocation of each investment opportunity to the Eligible Trustees. The Required Majority of a Regulated Fund will approve each Co-Investment Transaction prior to any investment by the Regulated Fund. 9. Applicants state that the majority of the Blackstone RE Advisers' employees work on matters for Close Affiliates \11\ and information about potential investment opportunities is routinely disseminated among such Adviser's employees. Other than to satisfy compliance obligations, information regarding Potential Co-Investment Transactions will not be shared with Remote Affiliates,\12\ which would include other investment advisers that operate in other Blackstone business groups, except in unusual circumstances, as the Blackstone business groups each generally target different investment strategies or asset classes and there are information barrier policies in place between the Blackstone business groups. Applicants further note within the Blackstone RE Advisers, the personnel overlap and coordination among portfolio management teams ensures that all relevant investment opportunities will be brought to the attention of each Regulated Fund (as defined below) managed by the respective Adviser. Applicants submit that the Blackstone RE Advisers will receive all information regarding all investment opportunities that fall within the then-current Objectives and Strategies and Board-Established Criteria of each Regulated Fund managed by the respective Adviser. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \11\ The term ``Close Affiliate'' means the Advisers, the Regulated Funds, the Affiliated Investors and any other person described in section 57(b) of the Act (after giving effect to rule 57b-1 thereunder) in respect of any Regulated Fund (treating any registered investment company or series thereof as a BDC for this purpose) except for limited partners included solely by reason of the reference in section 57(b) to section 2(a)(3)(D) of the Act. \12\ The term ``Remote Affiliate'' means any person described in section 57(e) of the Act in respect of any Regulated Fund (treating any registered investment company or series thereof as a BDC for this purpose) and any limited partner holding 5% or more of the relevant limited partner interests that would be a Close Affiliate but for the exclusion in that definition. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10. Applicants submit that, in the event that a Potential Co- Investment Transaction would be within the investment objectives and strategies of the Sub-Advised Affiliated Fund, the respective Adviser shall have the primary responsibility for the investment, including making the initial investment recommendation, and day-to-day monitoring of the investment. Applicants further note that the Adviser will be responsible for complying with the conditions of the requested Order. Applicants state that if the Adviser and Primary Adviser agree that the Sub-Advised Affiliated Fund should invest in the Potential Co- Investment Transaction and at what size of investment, then the Adviser would, consistent with the conditions of the requested Order, determine an allocation for the Regulated Funds and Affiliated Investors, including such Sub-Advised Affiliated Fund. 11. Applicants acknowledge that some of the Affiliated Investors may not be funds advised by an Adviser because they are Affiliated Proprietary Accounts. Applicants do not believe the participation of these Affiliated Proprietary Accounts in Co-Investment Transactions should raise issues under the conditions of the requested Order because allocation policies and procedures of the account owners provide that investment opportunities are offered to client accounts before they are offered to Affiliated Proprietary Accounts. 12. Under condition 14, if an Adviser or its principals, or any person controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Adviser or its principals, and any Affiliated Investor (collectively, the ``Holders'') own in the aggregate more than 25 percent of the outstanding voting shares of a Regulated Fund (``Shares''), then the Holders will vote such Shares as directed by an independent third party when voting on (1) the election of directors; (2) the removal of one or more directors; or (3) all other matters under either the Act or applicable state law affecting the Board's composition, size or manner of election. 13. No Non-Interested Trustee of a Regulated Fund will have a financial interest in any Co-Investment Transaction, other than indirectly through share ownership in one of the Regulated Funds. Applicants' Legal Analysis: 1. Section 57(a)(4) of the Act prohibits certain affiliated persons of a BDC from participating in joint transactions with the BDC or a company controlled by a BDC in contravention of rules as prescribed by the Commission. Under section 57(b)(2) of the Act, any person who is directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with a BDC is subject to section 57(a)(4) of the Act. Section 57(i) of the Act provides that, until the Commission prescribes rules under section 57(a)(4) of the Act, the Commission's rules under section 17(d) of the Act applicable to registered closed-end investment companies will be deemed to apply to transactions subject to section 57(a)(4) of the Act. Because the Commission has not adopted any rules under section 57(a)(4) of the Act, rule 17d-1 thereunder applies. 2. Section 17(d) of the Act and rule 17d-1 under the Act prohibit affiliated persons of a registered investment company from participating in joint transactions with the company unless the Commission has granted an order permitting such transactions. In passing upon applications under rule 17d-1, the Commission considers whether the company's participation in the joint transaction is consistent with the provisions, policies, and purposes of the Act and the extent to which such participation is on a basis different from or less advantageous than that of other participants. 3. Applicants state that certain transactions effected as part of the Co-Investment Program may be prohibited by sections 17(d) and 57(a)(4) of the Act and rule 17d-1 thereunder without a prior exemptive order of the Commission to the extent that the Affiliated Investors fall within the category of persons described by section 17(d) or section 57(b) of the Act, as modified by rule 57b-1 thereunder with respect to a Regulated Fund. Applicants believe that the proposed terms and conditions will ensure would ensure that the conflicts of interest that section 17(d) and section 57(a)(4) of the Act were designed to prevent would be addressed and the standards for an order under rule 17d-1 under the Act are met. Applicants' Conditions: Applicants agree that any Order granting the requested relief shall be subject to the following conditions: 1. (a) Each Adviser will establish, maintain and implement policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that each Adviser is promptly notified, for each Regulated Fund the Adviser manages, of all Potential Co-Investment Transactions \13\ that (i) an Adviser considers for any other Regulated Fund or Affiliated Investor and (ii) fall within the Regulated Fund's then-current Objectives and Strategies and Board-Established Criteria. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \13\ No Primary Adviser will be the source of any Potential Co- Investment Transactions under the requested Order. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (b) When an Adviser to a Regulated Fund is notified of a Potential Co-Investment Transaction under condition 1(a), such Adviser will make an independent determination of the appropriateness of the investment for the Regulated Fund in light of the Regulated Fund's then-current circumstances. [[Page 53332]] 2. (a) If the Adviser deems a Regulated Fund's participation in any Potential Co-Investment Transaction to be appropriate for the Regulated Fund, it will then determine an appropriate level of investment for the Regulated Fund. (b) If the aggregate amount recommended by the applicable Adviser to be invested by the applicable Regulated Fund in the Potential Co- Investment Transaction, together with the amount proposed to be invested by the other participating Regulated Funds and Affiliated Investors, collectively, in the same transaction, exceeds the amount of the investment opportunity, then the investment opportunity will be allocated among them pro rata based on each participant's Available Capital up \14\ to the amount proposed to be invested by each. The applicable Adviser will provide the Eligible Trustees of each participating Regulated Fund with information concerning each participating party's Available Capital to assist the Eligible Trustees with their review of the Regulated Fund's investments for compliance with these allocation procedures. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \14\ ``Available Capital'' means (a) for each Regulated Entity, the amount of capital available for investment determined based on the amount of cash on hand, liquidity considerations, existing commitments and reserves, if any, the targeted leverage level, targeted asset mix, risk return and target-return profile, tax implications, regulatory or contractual restrictions or consequences and other investment policies and restrictions set from time to time by the Board of the applicable Regulated Entity or imposed by applicable laws, rules, regulations or interpretations, and (b) for each Affiliated Investor, the amount of capital available for investment determined based on the amount of cash on hand, liquidity considerations, existing commitments and reserves, if any, the targeted leverage level, targeted asset mix, risk return and target- return profile, tax implications, regulatory or contractual restrictions or consequences and other investment policies and restrictions set from time to time by the Affiliated Investors' directors, general partners, or adviser or imposed by applicable laws, rules, regulations or interpretations. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (c) After making the determinations required in conditions 1 and 2(a), the applicable Adviser will distribute written information concerning the Potential Co-Investment Transaction (including the amount proposed to be invested by each participating Regulated Fund and Affiliated Investor) to the Eligible Trustees of each participating Regulated Fund for their consideration. A Regulated Fund will co-invest with one or more other Regulated Funds and/or one or more Affiliated Investors only if, prior to the Regulated Fund's participation in the Potential Co-Investment Transaction, a Required Majority concludes that: (i) the terms of the Potential Co-Investment Transaction, including the consideration to be paid, are reasonable and fair to the Regulated Fund and its shareholders and do not involve overreaching in respect of the Regulated Fund or its shareholders on the part of any person concerned; (ii) the Potential Co-Investment Transaction is consistent with: (A) the interests of the shareholders of the Regulated Fund; and (B) the Regulated Fund's then-current Objectives and Strategies; (iii) the investment by any other Regulated Funds or Affiliated Investors would not disadvantage the Regulated Fund, and participation by the Regulated Fund would not be on a basis different from or less advantageous than that of other Regulated Funds or Affiliated Investors; provided that, if any other Regulated Fund or Affiliated Investor, but not the Regulated Fund itself, gains the right to nominate a director for election to a portfolio company's board of directors or the right to have a board observer or any similar right to participate in the governance or management of the portfolio company, such event shall not be interpreted to prohibit the Required Majority from reaching the conclusions required by this condition (2)(c)(iii), if: (A) the Eligible Trustees will have the right to ratify the selection of such director or board observer, if any; (B) the applicable Adviser agrees to, and does, provide periodic reports to the Regulated Fund's Board with respect to the actions of such director or the information received by such board observer or obtained through the exercise of any similar right to participate in the governance or management of the portfolio company; and (C) any fees or other compensation that any Affiliated Investor or any Regulated Fund or any affiliated person of any Affiliated Investor or any Regulated Fund receives in connection with the right of an Affiliated Investor or a Regulated Fund to nominate a director or appoint a board observer or otherwise to participate in the governance or management of the portfolio company will be shared proportionately among the participating Affiliated Investors (who each may, in turn, share its portion with its affiliated persons), and the participating Regulated Funds in accordance with the amount of each party's investment; and (iv) the proposed investment by the Regulated Fund will not benefit the Advisers, the Affiliated Investors, the other Regulated Funds or any Primary Adviser or any affiliated person of any of them (other than the parties to the Co-Investment Transaction), except (A) to the extent permitted by condition 13; (B) to the extent permitted by section 17(e) or 57(k) of the Act, as applicable; (C) indirectly, as a result of an interest in the securities issued by one of the parties to the Co-Investment Transaction; or (D) in the case of fees or other compensation described in condition 2(c)(iii)(C). 3. Each Regulated Fund has the right to decline to participate in any Potential Co-Investment Transaction or to invest less than the amount proposed. 4. The applicable Adviser will present to the Board of each Regulated Fund, on a quarterly basis, a record of all investments in Potential Co-Investment Transactions made by any of the other Regulated Funds or Affiliated Investors during the preceding quarter that fell within the Regulated Fund's then-current Objectives and Strategies and Board Established Criteria that were not made available to the Regulated Fund, and an explanation of why the investment opportunities were not offered to the Regulated Fund. All information presented to the Board pursuant to this condition will be kept for the life of the Regulated Fund and at least two years thereafter, and will be subject to examination by the Commission and its staff. 5. Except for Follow-On Investments made in accordance with Condition 8,\15\ a Regulated Fund will not invest in reliance on the Order in any issuer in which a Related Party \16\ has an investment. The Adviser will maintain books and records that demonstrate compliance with this condition for each Regulated Fund. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \15\ This exception applies only to Follow-On Investments by a Regulated Fund in issuers in which that Regulated Fund already holds investments. \16\ The term ``Related Party'' means (i) any Close Affiliate and (ii) in respect of matters as to which any Adviser has knowledge, any Remote Affiliate. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. A Regulated Fund will not participate in any Potential Co- Investment Transaction unless the terms, conditions, price, class of securities to be purchased, settlement date, and registration rights will be the same for each participating Regulated Fund and Affiliated Investor. The grant to an Affiliated Investor or another Regulated Fund, but not the Regulated Fund, of the right to nominate a director for election to a portfolio company's board of directors, the right to have an observer on the board of directors or similar rights to participate in the governance or management of the portfolio company will not be interpreted so as to violate this [[Page 53333]] condition 6, if conditions 2(c)(iii)(A), (B) and (C) are met. 7. (a) If any Affiliated Investor or any Regulated Fund elects to sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of an interest in a security that was acquired in a Co-Investment Transaction, the applicable Adviser will \17\: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \17\ Any Affiliated Proprietary Account that is not advised by an Adviser is itself deemed to be an Adviser for purposes of Conditions 7(a)(i) and 8(a)(i). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (i) notify each Regulated Fund that participated in the Co- Investment Transaction of the proposed disposition at the earliest practical time; and (ii) formulate a recommendation as to participation by each Regulated Fund in the disposition. (b) Each Regulated Fund will have the right to participate in such disposition on a proportionate basis, at the same price and on the same terms and conditions as those applicable to the participating Affiliated Investors and Regulated Funds. (c) A Regulated Fund may participate in such disposition without obtaining prior approval of the Required Majority if: (i) the proposed participation of each Regulated Fund and each Affiliated Investor in such disposition is proportionate to its outstanding investments in the issuer immediately preceding the disposition; (ii) the Board of the Regulated Fund has approved as being in the best interests of the Regulated Fund the ability to participate in such dispositions on a pro rata basis (as described in greater detail in the application); and (iii) the Board of the Regulated Fund is provided on a quarterly basis with a list of all dispositions made in accordance with this condition. In all other cases, the Adviser will provide its written recommendation as to the Regulated Fund's participation to the Eligible Trustees, and the Regulated Fund will participate in such disposition solely to the extent that a Required Majority determines that it is in the Regulated Fund's best interests. (d) Each Affiliated Investor and each Regulated Fund will bear its own expenses in connection with any such disposition. 8. (a) If any Affiliated Investor or any Regulated Fund desires to make a Follow-On Investment in a portfolio company whose securities were acquired in a Co-Investment Transaction, the applicable Advisers will: (i) notify each Regulated Fund that participated in the Co- Investment Transaction of the proposed transaction at the earliest practicable time; and (ii) formulate a recommendation as to the proposed participation, including the amount of the proposed Follow-On Investment, by each Regulated Fund. (b) A Regulated Fund may participate in such Follow-On Investment without obtaining prior approval of the Required Majority if: (i) the proposed participation of each Regulated Fund and each Affiliated Investor in such investment is proportionate to its outstanding investments in the issuer immediately preceding the Follow-On Investment; and (ii) the Board of the Regulated Fund has approved as being in the best interests of the Regulated Fund the ability to participate in Follow-On Investments on a pro rata basis (as described in greater detail in the application). In all other cases, the Adviser will provide its written recommendation as to the Regulated Fund's participation to the Eligible Trustees, and the Regulated Fund will participate in such Follow-On Investment solely to the extent that a Required Majority determines that it is in the Regulated Fund's best interests. (c) If, with respect to any Follow-On Investment: (i) the amount of the opportunity is not based on the Regulated Funds' and the Affiliated Investors' outstanding investments immediately preceding the Follow-On Investment; and (ii) the aggregate amount recommended by the applicable Adviser to be invested by the applicable Regulated Fund in the Follow-On Investment, together with the amount proposed to be invested by the other participating Regulated Funds and Affiliated Investors, collectively, in the same transaction, exceeds the amount of the investment opportunity; then the amount invested by each such party will be allocated among them pro rata based on each party's Available Capital, up to the amount proposed to be invested by each. (d) The acquisition of Follow-On Investments as permitted by this condition will be considered a Co-Investment Transaction for all purposes and subject to the other conditions set forth in the application. 9. The Non-Interested Trustees of each Regulated Fund will be provided quarterly for review all information concerning Potential Co- Investment Transactions that fell within the Regulated Fund's then- current Objectives and Strategies and Board-Established Criteria, including investments in Potential Co-Investment Transactions made by other Regulated Funds or Affiliated Investors that the Regulated Fund considered but declined to participate in, and concerning Co-Investment Transactions in which the Regulated Fund participated, so that the Non- Interested Trustees may determine whether all Potential Co-Investment Transactions and Co-Investment Transactions during the preceding quarter, including those Potential Co-Investment Transactions which the Regulated Fund considered but declined to participate in, comply with the conditions of the Order. In addition, the Non-Interested Trustees will consider at least annually: (a) the continued appropriateness for the Regulated Fund of participating in new and existing Co-Investment Transactions, and (b) the continued appropriateness of any Board- Established Criteria. 10. Each Regulated Fund will maintain the records required by section 57(f)(3) of the Act as if each of the Regulated Funds were a BDC and each of the investments permitted under these conditions were approved by the Required Majority under section 57(f) of the Act. 11. No Non-Interested Trustee of a Regulated Fund will also be a director, general partner, managing member or principal, or otherwise an ``affiliated person'' (as defined in the Act) of any of the Affiliated Investors. 12. The expenses, if any, associated with acquiring, holding or disposing of any securities acquired in a Co-Investment Transaction (including, without limitation, the expenses of the distribution of any such securities registered for sale under the 1933 Act) will, to the extent not payable by the Advisers under their respective investment advisory agreements with Affiliated Investors and the Regulated Funds, be shared by the Regulated Funds and the Affiliated Investors in proportion to the relative amounts of the securities held or to be acquired or disposed of, as the case may be. 13. Any transaction fee \18\ (including break-up, structuring, monitoring or commitment fees but excluding broker's fees contemplated by section 17(e) or 57(k) of the Act, as applicable), received in connection with a Co-Investment Transaction will be distributed to the participating Regulated Funds and Affiliated Investors on a pro rata basis based on the amounts they invested or committed, as the case may be, in such Co-Investment Transaction. If any transaction fee is to be held by an Adviser pending consummation of the transaction, the fee will be deposited into an account maintained by the [[Page 53334]] Adviser at a bank or banks having the qualifications prescribed in section 26(a)(1) of the Act, and the account will earn a competitive rate of interest that will also be divided pro rata among the participating Regulated Funds and Affiliated Investors based on the amount they invest in such Co-Investment Transaction. None of the Advisers, the Primary Advisers, the Affiliated Investors, the other Regulated Funds nor any affiliated person of the Regulated Funds or Affiliated Investors will receive additional compensation or remuneration of any kind as a result of or in connection with a Co- Investment Transaction (other than (a) in the case of the Regulated Funds and the Affiliated Investors, the pro rata transaction fees described above and fees or other compensation described in condition 2(c)(iii)(C), and (b) in the case of an Adviser or Primary Adviser, investment advisory fees paid in accordance with their respective agreements between the Advisers and the Regulated Fund or Affiliated Investor). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \18\ Applicants are not requesting and the staff is not providing any relief for transaction fees received in connection with any Co-Investment Transaction. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14. If the Holders own in the aggregate more than 25% of the Shares, then the Holders will vote such Shares as directed by an independent third party when voting on (1) the election of trustees; (2) the removal of one or more trustees; or (3) all other matters under either the Act or applicable state law affecting the Board's composition, size or manner of election. 15. Each Regulated Fund's chief compliance officer, as defined in rule 38a-1(a)(4) under the Act, will prepare an annual report for its Board each year that evaluates (and documents the basis of that evaluation) the Regulated Fund's compliance with the terms and conditions of the application and the procedures established to achieve such compliance. 16. The Affiliated Proprietary Accounts will not be permitted to invest in a Potential Co-Investment Transaction except to the extent the aggregate demand from the Regulated Funds and the other Affiliated Investors is less than the total investment opportunity. For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, under delegated authority. Eduardo A. Aleman, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2018-22894 Filed 10-19-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 204 / Monday, October 22, 2018 / Notices 53329
Accordingly, it is ordered, pursuant to development companies (‘‘BDCs’’) and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Section 36 of the Exchange Act, that closed-end management investment following is a summary of the
independent certified public companies to co-invest in portfolio application. The complete application
accountants engaged to provide audit companies with each other and with may be obtained via the Commission’s
services to registrants and other persons certain affiliated investment funds and website by searching for the file
required to comply with the accounts. number, or for an applicant using the
independence requirements of the Applicants: Blackstone Real Estate Company name box, at http://
federal securities laws and the Income Fund (‘‘BREIF’’); Blackstone www.sec.gov/search/search.htm or by
Commission’s rules and regulations Real Estate Income Fund (‘‘BREIF II’’); calling (202) 551–8090.
thereunder are exempt from the Blackstone Real Estate Income Master Applicants’ Representations:
requirements of Section 10A(g)(1) of the Fund (‘‘BREI Master Fund,’’ and, 1. Each BREI Regulated Fund is a
Exchange Act and Rule 2–01(c)(4)(i) of together with BREIF and BREIF II, the Delaware statutory trust and is
Regulation S–X, where the conditions ‘‘BREI Regulated Funds’’); Blackstone structured as an externally managed,
below are satisfied. Real Estate Income Advisors L.L.C. non-diversified, closed-end
(‘‘BREIA’’), the investment adviser to management investment company. Each
Conditions the BREI Regulated Funds; the BREI Regulated Fund’s investment
(a) Services provided by the auditor investment advisers set forth in objective is to seek long-term total
are limited to reconstruction of Schedule A to the application (together return, with an emphasis on current
previously existing accounting records with BREIA, the ‘‘Blackstone RE income, by primarily investing in a
that were lost or destroyed as a result of Advisers’’); and the Existing Affiliated broad range of real estate-related deb
Hurricane Michael and such services Funds set forth on Schedule A to the investments. BREIF and BREIF II are
cease as soon as the audit client’s lost application.1 ‘‘feeder’’ funds in a ‘‘master-feeder’’
or destroyed records are reconstructed, Filing Dates: The application was structure and pursues their respective
its financial systems are fully filed on July 20, 2018. investment objective by investing
operational and the client can effect an Applicants have agreed to file an substantially all of their assets in the
orderly and efficient transition to amendment during the notice period, BREI Master Fund. Each BREI Regulated
management or other service provider; the substance of which is reflected in Fund has a five-member Board, of
and this notice. which four members are Non-Interested
(b) Services provided by the auditor to Hearing or Notification of Hearing: An Trustees.2
its audit client pursuant to this Order order granting the requested relief will 2. Each Adviser 3 is a subsidiary of
are subject to pre-approval by the audit be issued unless the Commission orders The Blackstone Group, L.P.
client’s audit committee as required by a hearing. Interested persons may (‘‘Blackstone’’). Blackstone is a leading
Rule 2–01(c)(7) of Regulation S–X. request a hearing by writing to the global alternative asset manager, whose
Auditors or audit clients who are in Commission’s Secretary and serving alternative asset management businesses
need of additional assistance or have applicants with a copy of the request, include investment vehicles focused on
other questions relating to auditor personally or by mail. Hearing requests private equity, real estate, hedge fund
independence, should contact the Office should be received by the Commission solutions, non-investment grade credit,
of the Chief Accountant at (202) 551– by 5:30 p.m. on November 12, 2018, and secondary private equity funds of funds
5300 or OCARequest@sec.gov. should be accompanied by proof of and multi-asset class strategies.
By the Commission. service on applicants, in the form of an Blackstone’s four business segments are
Brent J. Fields,
affidavit or, for lawyers, a certificate of (1) private equity, (2) real estate, (3)
service. Pursuant to rule 0–5 under the hedge fund solutions and (4) credit.
Secretary.
Act, hearing requests should state the 3. The Blackstone RE Advisers
[FR Doc. 2018–22931 Filed 10–19–18; 8:45 am] nature of the writer’s interest, any facts operate as a self-contained advisory
BILLING CODE P bearing upon the desirability of a business within Blackstone’s real estate.
hearing on the matter, the reason for the
request, and the issues contested. 2 ‘‘Board’’ means the board of trustees (or
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE Persons who wish to be notified of a equivalent) of the BREI Regulated Funds and any
COMMISSION hearing may request notification by other Regulated Fund (as defined below).
‘‘Non-Interested Trustees’’ means the Non-
[Investment Company Act Release No. writing to the Commission’s Secretary. Interested Trustees of the BREI Regulated Funds
33271; 812–14931] ADDRESSES: Secretary, U.S. Securities and any other Regulated Fund who are not
and Exchange Commission, 100 F St, ‘‘interested persons’’ within the meaning of section
Blackstone Real Estate Income Fund, NE, Washington, DC 20549–1090. 2(a)(19) of the Act.
et al. Applicants: Leon Volchyok, Esq., 345
3 The term ‘‘Adviser’’ means (i) the Blackstone RE
Advisers and (ii) any future investment adviser that
October 16, 2018. Park Avenue, New York, New York controls, is controlled by or is under common
AGENCY: Securities and Exchange 10154. control with a Blackstone RE Adviser and is
registered as an investment adviser under the
Commission (‘‘Commission’’). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the ‘‘Advisers
ACTION: Notice. Asen Parachkevov, Senior Counsel, or Act’’) that intends to participate in the Co-
David J. Marcinkus, Branch Chief, at Investment Program (as defined below).
Notice of application for an order (202) 551–6821 (Chief Counsel’s Office, The term ‘‘Primary Adviser’’ means any future
under sections 17(d) and 57(i) of the Division of Investment Management).
investment adviser that (i) controls, is controlled by
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the or is under common control with an Adviser, (ii)
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
is registered as an investment adviser under the
‘‘Act’’) and rule 17d–1 under the Act to 1 The Existing Affiliated Funds, together with Advisers Act, and (iii) is not an Adviser. For the
permit certain joint transactions their direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries, avoidance of doubt, a Primary Adviser will not be
otherwise prohibited by sections 17(d) are entities (i) whose primary investment adviser is treated as an Adviser under the requested Order,
and 57(a)(4) of the Act and rule 17d–1 a Blackstone RE Adviser and (ii) that either (A) but will be subject to conditions 2(c)(iv) and 13 of
would be an investment company but for section the requested Order. A Primary Adviser will not
under the Act. 3(c)(1), 3(c)(5)(C) or 3(c)(7) of the Act or (B) rely on rely on the requested Order with respect to any
Summary of Application: Applicants the rule 3a–7 exemption thereunder from investment vehicles it manages other than to the
request an order to permit business investment company status. extent those vehicles are sub-advised by an Adviser.
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![53334 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 204 / Monday, October 22, 2018 / Notices
Adviser at a bank or banks having the SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE be issued unless the Commission orders
qualifications prescribed in section COMMISSION a hearing. Interested persons may
26(a)(1) of the Act, and the account will request a hearing by writing to the
[Investment Company Act Release No.
earn a competitive rate of interest that 33274; 812–14771]
Commission’s Secretary and serving
will also be divided pro rata among the applicants with a copy of the request,
participating Regulated Funds and Procure ETF Trust I, et al. personally or by mail. Hearing requests
Affiliated Investors based on the amount should be received by the Commission
October 17, 2018. by 5:30 p.m. on November 6, 2018 and
they invest in such Co-Investment
AGENCY: Securities and Exchange should be accompanied by proof of
Transaction. None of the Advisers, the
Commission (‘‘Commission’’). service on applicants, in the form of an
Primary Advisers, the Affiliated
ACTION: Notice. affidavit, or for lawyers, a certificate of
Investors, the other Regulated Funds nor
service. Pursuant to rule 0–5 under the
any affiliated person of the Regulated Notice of an application for an order Act, hearing requests should state the
Funds or Affiliated Investors will under section 6(c) of the Investment nature of the writer’s interest, any facts
receive additional compensation or Company Act of 1940 (the ‘‘Act’’) for an bearing upon the desirability of a
remuneration of any kind as a result of exemption from sections 2(a)(32), hearing on the matter, the reason for the
or in connection with a Co-Investment 5(a)(1), 22(d), and 22(e) of the Act and request, and the issues contested.
Transaction (other than (a) in the case rule 22c–1 under the Act, under Persons who wish to be notified of a
of the Regulated Funds and the sections 6(c) and 17(b) of the Act for an hearing may request notification by
Affiliated Investors, the pro rata exemption from sections 17(a)(1) and writing to the Commission’s Secretary.
transaction fees described above and 17(a)(2) of the Act, and under section
ADDRESSES: Secretary, Securities and
fees or other compensation described in 12(d)(1)(J) for an exemption from
Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE,
condition 2(c)(iii)(C), and (b) in the case sections 12(d)(1)(A) and 12(d)(1)(B) of
Washington, DC 20549–1090;
of an Adviser or Primary Adviser, the Act. The requested order would
Applicants: Robert Tull, ProcureAM,
permit (a) index-based series of certain
investment advisory fees paid in LLC, 16 Firebush Road, Levittown, PA
open-end management investment 19056.
accordance with their respective
companies (‘‘Funds’’) to issue shares
agreements between the Advisers and redeemable in large aggregations FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
the Regulated Fund or Affiliated (‘‘Creation Units’’); (b) secondary market Deepak T. Pai, Senior Counsel, at (202)
Investor). 551–6876, or Andrea Ottomanelli
transactions in Fund shares to occur at
14. If the Holders own in the aggregate Magovern, Branch Chief, at (202) 551–
negotiated market prices rather than at
6821 (Division of Investment
more than 25% of the Shares, then the net asset value (‘‘NAV’’); (c) certain
Management, Chief Counsel’s Office).
Holders will vote such Shares as Funds to pay redemption proceeds,
under certain circumstances, more than SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
directed by an independent third party
seven days after the tender of shares for following is a summary of the
when voting on (1) the election of
redemption; (d) certain affiliated application. The complete application
trustees; (2) the removal of one or more may be obtained via the Commission’s
trustees; or (3) all other matters under persons of a Fund to deposit securities
into, and receive securities from, the website by searching for the file
either the Act or applicable state law number, or for an applicant using the
affecting the Board’s composition, size Fund in connection with the purchase
and redemption of Creation Units; (e) Company name box, at http://
or manner of election. www.sec.gov/search/search.htm or by
certain registered management
15. Each Regulated Fund’s chief investment companies and unit calling (202) 551–8090.
compliance officer, as defined in rule investment trusts outside of the same Summary of the Application
38a–1(a)(4) under the Act, will prepare group of investment companies as the
an annual report for its Board each year 1. Applicants request an order that
Funds (‘‘Funds of Funds’’) to acquire would allow Funds to operate as index
that evaluates (and documents the basis shares of the Funds; and (f) certain
of that evaluation) the Regulated Fund’s exchange traded funds (‘‘ETFs’’).1 Fund
Funds (‘‘Feeder Funds’’) to create and shares will be purchased and redeemed
compliance with the terms and redeem Creation Units in-kind in a at their NAV in Creation Units, as
conditions of the application and the master-feeder structure. described in the application. All orders
procedures established to achieve such Applicants: Procure ETF Trust I (the
to purchase Creation Units and all
compliance. ‘‘Trust’’), a Delaware statutory trust,
redemption requests will be placed by
16. The Affiliated Proprietary which will register under the Act as an
or through an ‘‘Authorized Participant,’’
open-end management investment
Accounts will not be permitted to invest which will have signed a participant
company with multiple series,
in a Potential Co-Investment agreement with the Distributor. Shares
ProcureAM, LLC (the ‘‘Initial Adviser’’),
Transaction except to the extent the will be listed and traded individually on
a Delaware limited liability company
aggregate demand from the Regulated a national securities exchange, where
that will be registered as an investment
Funds and the other Affiliated Investors adviser under the Investment Advisers 1 Applicants request that the order apply to the
is less than the total investment Act of 1940, and Quasar Distributors initial fund and any additional series of the Trust,
opportunity. LLC (the ‘‘Distributor’’), a Delaware and any other existing or future open-end
For the Commission, by the Division of limited liability company and broker- management investment company or existing or
future series thereof (each, included in the term
Investment Management, under delegated dealer registered under the Securities
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
‘‘Fund’’), each of which will operate as an ETF and
authority. Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Exchange Act’’). will track a specified index comprised of domestic
Eduardo A. Aleman, Filing Dates: The application was and/or foreign equity securities and/or domestic
filed on May 9, 2017 and amended on and/or foreign fixed income securities (each, an
Assistant Secretary. ‘‘Underlying Index’’). Any Fund will (a) be advised
February 15, 2018, May 29, 2018,
[FR Doc. 2018–22894 Filed 10–19–18; 8:45 am] by the Initial Adviser or an entity controlling,
August 2, 2018, and October 15, 2018. controlled by, or under common control with the
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P Hearing or Notification of Hearing: An Initial Adviser (each, an ‘‘Adviser’’) and (b) comply
order granting the requested relief will with the terms and conditions of the application.
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Document Created: 2018-10-20 01:49:27
Document Modified: 2018-10-20 01:49:27
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice. | |
| Dates | The application was filed on July 20, 2018. | |
| Contact | Asen Parachkevov, Senior Counsel, or David J. Marcinkus, Branch Chief, at (202) 551-6821 (Chief Counsel's Office, Division of Investment Management). | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 53329 |
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