96-31617. Bessemer Securities LLC et al.; Notice of Application  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 241 (Friday, December 13, 1996)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 65608-65613]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-31617]
    
    
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    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
    [Release No. IC-22377; 812-10344]
    
    
    Bessemer Securities LLC et al.; Notice of Application
    
    December 6, 1996.
    AGENCY: Securities and Exchange Commission (``SEC'').
    
    ACTION: Notice of Application for Exemption under the Investment 
    Company Act of 1940 (the ``Act'').
    
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    APPLICANTS: Bessemer Securities LLC, Bessec Holdings, L.P., Bessemer 
    Securities Corporation, Bessemer Capital Partners, L.P., Bessemer 
    Ventures, Inc., Bessemer-Bradford Ventures, Inc., Bessemer Interstate 
    Corp., Bessemer Properties, Inc., Bessemer Holdings, L.P., Bessemer 
    Venture Partners L.P., Bessemer Venture Partners II L.P., Bessemer 
    Venture Partners III L.P., Bessemer Venture Partners IV L.P., Bradford 
    Venture Partners, L.P., Bradford Investors L.P.
    
    RELEVANT ACT SECTION: Order requested under section 6(c) of the Act for 
    an exemption from all provisions of the Act.
    
    SUMMARY OF APPLICATION: The Applicants, private family-controlled 
    special purpose investment vehicles whose interests are owned by the 
    family and certain other persons, seek an exemption from all provisions 
    of the
    
    [[Page 65609]]
    
    Act. The order would amend a prior order (the ``1992 Bessemer 
    Order'').\1\
    
        \1\ Bessemer Securities Corporation, Investment Company Act 
    Release Nos. 18529 (Feb. 5, 1992) (notice) and 18594 (March 3, 1992) 
    (order).
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    FILING DATE: The application was filed on September 13, 1996 and 
    amended on November 20, 1996. Applicants have agreed to file an 
    additional amendment, the substance of which is incorporated herein, 
    during the notice period.
    
    HEARING OR NOTIFICATION OF HEARING: An order granting the application 
    will be issued unless the SEC orders a hearing. Interested persons may 
    request a hearing by writing to the SEC's Secretary and serving 
    applicants with a copy of the request, personally or by mail. Hearing 
    requests should be received by the SEC by 5:30 p.m. on December 27, 
    1996, and should be accompanied by proof of service on the applicants, 
    in the form of an affidavit or, for lawyers, a certificate of service. 
    Hearing requests should state the nature of the writer's interest, 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 
    SEC's Secretary.
    
    ADDRESSES: Secretary, SEC, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 
    20549. Applicants, c/o Bessemer Securities LLC, 630 Fifth Avenue, New 
    York, NY 10111-0333.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen L. Knisely, Law Clerk, at 
    (202) 942-0517, or Alison E. Baur, Branch Chief, at (202) 942-0564 
    (Division of Investment Management, Office of Investment Company 
    Regulation).
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following is a summary of the 
    application. The complete application may be obtained for a fee at the 
    SEC's Public Reference Branch.
    
    Applicants' Representations
    
        1. Bessemer Securities Corporation (``Bessemer''), incorporated 
    under Delaware law in 1924, is a private investment company which has 
    one class of securities outstanding. All of the outstanding securities 
    of Bessemer is owned by trusts established for the benefit of 
    descendants of Henry Phipps (``Phipps Family Members'') and charitable 
    trusts or charitable foundations established by Phipps Family Members 
    (collectively, the ``Trust''). There are currently 89 trusts and one 
    charitable foundation; the number of Trusts is increasing with each 
    generation of the Phipps family, as most Trusts permit the creation of 
    subtrusts or the transfer in further trust upon the death of an income 
    beneficiary.
        2. Bessemer's shares are subject to a shareholders agreement that 
    contains restrictions on share transfers. Each shareholder is bound not 
    to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of its Bessemer shares to third 
    parties without first offering such shares to the other shareholders, 
    except that dispositions are permitted (a) to or in trust for Phipps 
    Family Members, their spouses, or charitable trusts established by 
    Phipps Family Members, and (b) to the executors or administrators of 
    the estate of a Phipps Family Member. Since 1934, substantially all of 
    Bessemer's outstanding common stock has been held by the Trusts, 
    predecessor trusts, charitable trusts or foundations established by 
    Phipps Family Members. At no time has there been a public offering of 
    Bessemer stock, nor has Bessemer stock been registered under any of the 
    Federal securities laws. In fact, other than the charitable trusts and 
    the charitable foundation, no one other than Phipps Family Members has 
    ever had a beneficial interest in Bessemer's stock.
        3. Bessemer's investments include, among other assets, private 
    investments.\2\ In general, the private investments segment of 
    Bessemer's portfolio consists of substantial illiquid majority and 
    minority interests in selected companies with growth potential, often 
    in closely held or privately held companies. These investments are 
    sometimes made directly by Bessemer, but in the majority of cases are 
    made by partnerships, of which Bessemer or a wholly-owned subsidiary of 
    Bessemer is the primary or only limited partner. Each of these 
    partnerships is a limited partnership, in which Bessemer's interest as 
    a limited partner exceeds 50%, and which is owned 90% or more by 
    Bessemer and related persons. These partnerships are described more 
    fully in paragraph 4 below.
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        \2\ See Id.
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        4. Bessemer Capital Partners, L.P. (``BCP''), Bessemer Holdings, 
    L.P., Bessemer Venture Partners L.P. (``Venture Partners''), Bessemer 
    Venture Partners II L.P. (``Venture Partners II''), Bessemer Venture 
    Partners III L.P. (``Venture Partners III''), Bessemer Venture Partners 
    IV L.P. (``Venture Partners IV''), and Bradford Investors L.P. 
    (``BILP'') are all Delaware partnerships. Bradford Venture Partners, 
    L.P. (``Bradford Partners'') is a New Jersey Partnership (collectively, 
    the ``Existing Partnerships''). The Existing Partnerships were formed 
    in 1992 to serve as vehicles for Bessemer's investment activity.
        5. Bessemer has four wholly-owned subsidiary corporations, Bessemer 
    Ventures, Inc., Bessemer-Bradford Ventures, Inc., Bessemer Interstate 
    Corp. and Bessemer Properties, Inc. (collectively, the ``Existing 
    Subsidiaries''). Each of the Existing Subsidiaries is a corporation 
    under Delaware law formed specifically to hold certain investments. The 
    first two subsidiaries listed above are limited to partners of one or 
    more of the partnerships discussed in paragraph 4 above. The latter two 
    subsidiaries own interests in real estate partnerships or direct 
    investments in real estate.
        6. In the 1992 Bessemer Order, the SEC exempted Bessemer under 
    section 6(c) from all provisions of the Act. Applicants seek an amended 
    order to permit them to duplicate the basic structure of the investment 
    vehicles exempted in the 1992 Bessemer Order, but with the top tier 
    entities (Bessemer Securities LLC (``BSLLC'') and future Family 
    Securities Companies, as defined in paragraph 15) in a form that will 
    be treated as a partnership for tax purposes. If the requested order is 
    granted, the current owners of Bessemer plan to contribute their shares 
    of Bessemer to BSLLC. That contribution has been approved by the 
    corporate trustees of the shareholder trusts (subject to receipt of the 
    exemptive order requested herein), and will require approval by the 
    individual trustee of the shareholders. When that transaction occurs, 
    Bessemer will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of BSLLC. All of the 
    outstanding interests of BSLLC will be owned by the Trusts in the same 
    proportion as the Trusts hold outstanding common stock of Bessemer.
        7. BSLLC is a Delaware limited liability company organized in 1996. 
    It is intended to qualify as a partnership for federal tax purposes. 
    All of the outstanding common membership interests in BSLLC are 
    currently owned by the Trusts. Each Trust currently owns less than 10% 
    of BSLLC's outstanding common interests and that will remain the case 
    after the contribution of Bessemer shares to BSLLC. When the current 
    owners of Bessemer contribute their shares to BSLLC, most or all of the 
    capital of each Trust will be invested in BSLLC.
        8. If the requested order is granted and the current owners of 
    Bessemer contribute their shares to BSLLC, Bessemer and BSLLC will both 
    be limited partners in the Partnership. Bessemer will have a limited 
    partnership interest in the Partnership (representing approximately 74% 
    of total equity of the Partnership) with a preferred rate of return and 
    BSLLC will
    
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    have a limited partnership interest in the Partnership (representing 
    approximately 25% of total equity of the Partnership) subordinate to 
    the return on Bessemer's limited partnership interest.
        9. Approximately 70.6% of BSLLC's common membership interests is 
    held by Trusts of which the trustees are Bessemer Trust Company 
    (``BTC''), a New Jersey chartered bank, and one or more Phipps Family 
    Members, and approximately 22.0% is held by Trusts of which BTC is the 
    sole trustee. Approximately 7.4% is held by Trusts of which the 
    trustees are Bessemer Trust Company, N.A. (``BTNA''), a national bank, 
    and one or more Phipps Family Members. BTC and BTNA are wholly owned 
    subsidiaries of The Bessemer Group, Inc. (``Bessemer Group''), a 
    Delaware corporation registered under the Federal Bank Holding Company 
    Act. All of the outstanding stock of Bessemer Group (except for 
    director's qualifying shares) is owned by Phipps Family Members or by 
    the Trusts, substantially all of the trustees of which are also BTC, 
    BTNA and Phipps Family Members.
        10. The initial officers and members of the board of managers of 
    BSLLC are identical to the officers and board of directors of Bessemer, 
    although that may change from time to time in the future. The common 
    members of BSLLC have voting rights similar to the shareholders of a 
    Delaware corporation (such as Bessemer), and could (if they chose to do 
    so) elect a board of managers with members different than the members 
    of the board of directors of Bessemer.
        11. At no time has there been a public offering of BSLLC's shares, 
    nor has BSLLC's shares been registered under any of the federal 
    securities laws. Pursuant to the terms of BSLLC's limited liability 
    company agreement (the ``LLC Agreement''), transfers of common 
    interests in BSLLC are restricted. The LLC Agreement permits transfers 
    to descendants of the same child of Henry Phipps as the transferor, or 
    a trust the beneficial ownership of which is limited to descendants of 
    the same child of Henry Phipps as the transferor and/or a qualifying 
    charity, and transfers with the approval of 80% or more of the common 
    interests. All other transfers require prior notice to BSLLC and other 
    common members. That notice triggers a right to purchase the securities 
    by related entities.
        12. Bessec Holdings, L.P. (the ``Partnership'') is a newly formed 
    Delaware limited partnership. Its purpose is to serve as a vehicle 
    through which BSLLC and Bessemer will make private equity investments. 
    The Partnership's portfolio will consist of illiquid interests in 
    selected companies with growth potential, generally in closely held or 
    privately held companies. The Partnership may co-invest in issuers with 
    Bessemer Holdings, L.P., or other private investment vehicles formed by 
    Bessemer, BSLLC or the Family Securities Companies. BSLLC and Bessemer 
    will be the sole limited partners in the Partnership, and their 
    interests will represent approximately 99% of its initial equity 
    capital. The Partnership's sole general partner is Kylix Holdings, 
    L.L.C. (``Kylix'').
        13. Kylix is a New York limited liability company that is 
    controlled directly by the president of Bessemer and BSLLC and two 
    other persons who are involved directly in the management of the 
    investments of partnerships formed by Bessemer and BSLLC. Kylix is also 
    indirectly owned by each of these three persons and family trusts and 
    family partnerships established by each of them (the interests in which 
    are owned exclusively by or for the benefit of such person, his wife 
    and direct lineal descendants and spouses of such descendants) and four 
    other senior employees of Bessemer Partners & Co. involved in the 
    management of the assets of the partnerships.
        14. Kylix (or its affiliate Bessemer Partners & Co, a general 
    partnership under common control with Kylix) will identify and analyze 
    potential investments, request funding from BSLLC and Bessemer for 
    investments, and manage investments made by the Partnership.
        15. Under the Partnership's partnership agreement, Kylix may not 
    dispose of its partnership interest without BSLLC's consent, nor may 
    BSLLC or Bessemer dispose of their partnership interests without 
    Kylix's consent, except that BSLLC may transfer its interest in 
    connection with a merger, reorganization, sale or similar transaction 
    without obtaining such consent. No additional general partners may be 
    admitted without the approval of a majority in interest of the limited 
    partners. The admission of new limited partners must be consented to by 
    BSLLC.
        16. It is possible that in the future other entities substantially 
    similar to BSLLC (``Family Securities Companies'') and the Partnership 
    (``Family Investment Vehicles'') (although possibly in corporate 
    partnership, business trust, or limited liability company form) will be 
    formed as vehicles for investment by the Phipps Family Members and the 
    Trusts (i) for making investments in the manner in which BSLLC or the 
    Partnership makes investments, (ii) making specifically identified new 
    investments, (iii) to make other types of investments, or (iv) to 
    succeed to BSLLC or the Partnership. The structure of each Family 
    Securities Company will be similar to BSLLC and the structure of each 
    Family Investment Vehicle will be similar to the Partnership in terms 
    of its management and method of operation.
    
    Applicants' Legal Analysis
    
        1. Section 3(c)(1) of the Act excepts from the definition of 
    ``investment company'' any issuer whose outstanding securities are 
    beneficially owned by not more than 100 persons and which is not 
    making, and does not presently propose to make, a public offering of 
    its securities.
        2. BSLLC and the Partnership are currently exempt from registration 
    as an investment company under section 3(c)(1) the Act. Each of the 
    applicants is also exempt from registration under the Act because they 
    are currently operating within the terms of the 1992 Bessemer Order. 
    One of the conditions to the 1992 Bessemer Order, however, is that 
    Bessemer own at least 50% of the equity of the Phipps family investment 
    vehicle. Because BSLLC will not be owned by Bessemer, applicants seek 
    an amended order.
        3. Applicants argue that section 3(c)(1) was intended to exclude 
    ``private'' investment companies from the purview of the Act and that 
    the SEC has authority under section 6(c) to exempt private companies 
    that have more than 100 beneficial owners. Maritime Corporation, 9 SEC 
    906 (1941). Applicants cite a series of orders where the Commission has 
    granted exemptions in a number of circumstances in which the applicant 
    was a family-related private investment vehicle, notwithstanding the 
    fact that in each instance it had more than 100 shareholders. Each of 
    the orders was conditioned upon undertakings by the applicant designed 
    to ensure that the investment vehicle would remain family controlled 
    and private. See, e.g., Heber J. Grant & Company, Investment Company 
    Act Release Nos. 20040 (January 27, 1994) (notice) and 20091 (February 
    23, 1994) (order); Pitcairn Group L.P., Investment Company Act Release 
    Nos. 21525 (November 20, 1995) (notice) and 21616 (December 20, 1995) 
    (order); and THC Partners, Investment Company Act Release Nos. 21980 
    (May 23, 1996) and 22023 (June 18, 1996) (order).
        4. Applicants submit that each of the applicants is, and the Family 
    Securities Companies and the Family Investment
    
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    Vehicles will be, privately owned and family-controlled special purpose 
    entities to which the Act was not intended to apply. Each of the 
    applicants possesses the characteristics of a private company shared by 
    the applicants in the previous exemptive orders. Applicants' investors 
    share a close relationship to the Phipps family. BSLLC is being 
    established by the Trusts that own Bessemer to pursue new investments. 
    Bessemer itself is, and has been since 1924, owned entirely by Phipps 
    Family Members and Trusts. Applicants argue that unlike the investment 
    companies the Act was designed to regulate, BSLLC, the Partnership, the 
    Family Securities Companies, and the Family Investment Vehicles will be 
    operated as a private family enterprise.
        5. Applicants state that all or a substantial percentage of each 
    applicant is owned, directly or indirectly, by or for the benefit of 
    Phipps Family Members and Trusts, except such portions owned by persons 
    related to Bessemer who are managing the assets. They further state 
    that no effort has been made to sell participations in the Partnership 
    to persons other than BSLLC and Bessemer. The only investor in the 
    Partnership (other than BSLLC and Bessemer) is Kylix. There is no 
    public market for interests in the applicants, and there have been no 
    transfers of such interests. Applicants state they have not sought and 
    will not seek other investors in the applicants, the Family Securities 
    Companies or the Family Investment Vehicles (other than Bessemer 
    Investors, as defined below), either public or private. There has been 
    no market for interests in applicants, Family Securities Companies and 
    the Family Investment Vehicles, and there will not be any such market.
        6. Applicants submit that the requested 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 
    provision of the 1940 Act, within the meaning of section 6(c) of the 
    1940 Act
    
    Applicants' Conditions
    
        Applicants agree that the Order granting the requested relief shall 
    be subject to the following conditions:
        1. The requested exemption with respect to BSLLC shall be 
    conditioned on the observance by it of the following conditions:
        a. BSLLC will hold annual meetings of its members for the purpose 
    of electing the members of the Board of Managers, ratifying the 
    appointment of the independent accountants engaged by BSLLC, and 
    transacting such other business as may properly come before such 
    meetings.
        b. BSLLC will furnish annually to its members its financial 
    statements audited by an accounting firm of recognized national 
    standing.
        c. BSLLC will be at least 80% owned directly or indirectly by or 
    for the benefit of Phipps Family Members and their spouses, and Trusts; 
    and any part of BSLLC that is not owned directly or indirectly by or 
    for the benefit of such persons will be beneficially owned (as the term 
    is used in section 3(c)(1) of the Act) by not more than 35 persons and 
    will not have been publicly offered.
        d. BSLLC will not knowingly make available to any broker or dealer 
    registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 any financial 
    information concerning BSLLC for the purpose of knowingly enabling that 
    broker or dealer to initiate any regular trading market for BSLLC's 
    membership interests.
        2. The requested exemption with respect to the Partnership shall be 
    conditioned on the observance by the Partnership of the following 
    conditions:
        a. The Partnership will furnish annually to each partner its 
    financial statements audited by an accounting firm of recognized 
    national standing.
        b. The Partnership will neither admit as a new partner, nor permit 
    the assignment or transfer of any interest in the Partnership to, any 
    individual or entity if that admission, assignment or transfer would 
    cause the Partnership to fail to have the following characteristics: 
    (1) The Partnership will be at least 90% owned directly or indirectly 
    by or for the benefit of the following persons (``Bessemer 
    Investors''): (i) BSLLC or one or more of its subsidiaries, (ii) 
    Bessemer or one or more of its subsidiaries, (iii) Existing 
    Partnerships; (iv) Family Securities Companies, (v) Family Investment 
    Vehicles, (vi) Phipps Family members and their spouses, (vii) Trusts, 
    (viii) natural persons who, at the time of their admission to the 
    Partnership, are directors, managers or retired former directors or 
    managers of BSLLC, Bessemer, a Family Securities Company, or an 
    affiliate of BSLLC, Bessemer or a Family Securities Company, or are 
    employees or retired former employees of BSLLC, Bessemer, a Family 
    Securities Company or an affiliate of BSLLC, Bessemer, or a Family 
    Securities Company who have (or had, in the case of retired former 
    employees) a high level of executive, investment management, investment 
    analysis or administrative responsibility, and any family trust, family 
    partnership or comparable family entity established by such a natural 
    person the interests in which are owned exclusively by or for the 
    benefit of such natural person, his or her spouse and direct lineal 
    descendants and spouses of such descendants, and charitable 
    organizations, and (ix) natural persons who, although not employees of 
    BSLLC or any affiliate of BSLLC, directly or indirectly actually manage 
    the Partnership's, and Existing Partnership's or a Family Investment 
    Vehicle's investments, and any family trust, family partnership or 
    comparable family entity established by such a natural person the 
    interests in which are owned exclusively by or for the benefit of such 
    natural person, his or her spouse and direct lineal descendants and 
    spouses of such descendants, and charitable organizations; (2) it will 
    be at least 50% owned directly or indirectly by or for the benefit of 
    Bessemer, BSLLC or a Family Securities Company; and (3) any part of the 
    Partnership that is not held directly or indirectly by or for the 
    benefit of Bessemer Investors will be beneficially owned (as the term 
    is used in section 3(c)(1) of the Act) by not more than 35 persons and 
    will not have been publicly offered.
        c. The Partnership will not (1) admit any new general partner 
    without the approval of the owners of majority in interest in the 
    Partnership, or (2) have as an investment adviser to that vehicle any 
    investment adviser to that vehicle other than (i) Bessemer, BSLLC, a 
    Family Securities Company or one of their affiliates, (ii) one or more 
    employees of Bessemer, BSLLC, a Family Securities Company, or one of 
    their affiliates, (iii) an investment manager or a general partner (or 
    one or more of its affiliates or employees) approved by the owners of a 
    majority in interest of the Partnership, or (iv) a bank or trust 
    company subsidiary of Bessemer Group.
        d. The Partnership will not knowingly make available to any broker 
    or dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 any 
    financial information concerning the Partnership for the purpose of 
    knowingly enabling that broker or dealer to initiate any regular 
    trading market in any partnership interest in the Partnership.
        3. The requested exemption with respect to Bessemer shall be 
    conditioned on the observance by it of the following conditions:
        a. Bessemer will hold annual meetings of its shareholder or 
    shareholders for the purpose of electing the members of the Board of 
    Directors, ratifying the appointment of the independent accountants 
    engaged by Bessemer, and transacting such other
    
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    business as may properly come before such meetings.
        b. Bessemer will furnish annually to its shareholder or 
    shareholders its financial statements which may be part of the 
    consolidated financial statements of BSLLC, audited by an accounting 
    firm of recognized national standing.
        c. Bessemer will be at least 80% owned directly or indirectly by or 
    for the benefit of BSLLC, a Family Securities Company, Phipps Family 
    Members and their spouses, and Trusts; and any part of Bessemer that is 
    not owned directly or indirectly by or for the benefit of such persons 
    will be beneficially owned (as the term is used in section 3(c)(1) of 
    the Act) by not more than 35 persons and will not have been publicly 
    offered.
        d. Bessemer will not knowingly make available to any broker or 
    dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 any 
    financial information concerning Bessemer for the purpose of knowingly 
    enabling that broker or dealer to initiate any regular trading market 
    for Bessemer's common stock.
        4. The requested exemption with respect to each Existing 
    Partnership shall be conditioned on the observance by that Existing 
    Partnership of the following conditions:
        a. The Existing Partnership will furnish annually to each partner 
    its financial statements audited by an accounting firm of recognized 
    national standing.
        b. The Existing Partnership will neither admit as a new partner, 
    nor permit the assignment or transfer of any interest in the Existing 
    Partnership to, any individual or entity if that admission, assignment 
    or transfer would cause the Existing Partnership to fail to have the 
    following characteristics: (1) the Existing Partnership will be at 
    least 90% owned directly or indirectly by or for the benefit of 
    Bessemer, BSLLC or a Family Securities Company; and (2) any part of the 
    Existing Partnership that is not held directly or indirectly by or for 
    the benefit of Bessemer Investors will be beneficially owned (as the 
    term is used in section 3(c)(1) of the Act) by not more than 35 persons 
    and will not have been publicly offered.
        c. The Existing Partnership will not (1) admit any new general 
    partner without the approval of the owners of majority in interest in 
    the Existing Partnership, or (2) have as an investment adviser to that 
    vehicle any investment adviser other than (i) Bessemer, BSLLC, a Family 
    Securities Company or one of their affiliates, (ii) one or more 
    employees of Bessemer, BSLLC, a Family Securities Company, or one of 
    their affiliates, (iii) an investment manager or a general partner (or 
    one or more of its affiliates or employees) approved by the owners of a 
    majority in interest of the Existing Partnership, or (iv) a bank or 
    trust company subsidiary of Bessemer Group.
        d. The Existing Partnership will not knowingly make available to 
    any broker or dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 
    1934 any financial information concerning the Existing Partnership for 
    the purpose of knowingly enabling that broker or dealer to initiate any 
    regular trading market in any partnership interest in the Existing 
    Partnership.
        5. The requested exemption with respect to each of Bessemer 
    Ventures, Inc., Bessemer-Bradford Ventures, Inc., Bessemer Interstate 
    Corp. and Bessemer Properties, Inc. (the ``Existing Subsidiaries'') 
    shall be conditioned on the observance by that Existing Subsidiary of 
    the following conditions:
        a. All of the securities of the Existing Subsidiary will be owned 
    directly or indirectly by or for the benefit of Bessemer, BSLLC or a 
    Family Securities Company.
        b. the Existing Subsidiary will not knowingly make available to any 
    broker or dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
    any financial information concerning the Existing Subsidiary for the 
    purpose of knowingly enabling that broker or dealer to initiate any 
    regular trading market in any partnership interest in the Existing 
    Subsidiary.
        6. The requested exemption with respect to each Family Securities 
    Company shall be conditioned on the observance by that Family 
    Securities Company of the following conditions:
        a. The Family Securities Company will hold annual meetings of its 
    members for the purpose of electing the members of its board of 
    managers, board of directors or persons serving a similar function, 
    ratifying the appointment of the independent accountants engaged by the 
    Family Securities Company, and transacting such other business as may 
    properly come before such meetings.
        b. The Family Securities Company will furnish annually to its 
    members its financial statements audited by an accounting firm of 
    recognized national standing.
        c. The Family Securities Company will be at least 80% owned 
    directly or indirectly by or for the benefit of Bessemer, Phipps Family 
    Members and their spouses, and Trusts; and any part of the Family 
    Securities Company that is not owned directly or indirectly by or for 
    the benefit of such persons will be beneficially owned (as the term is 
    used in section 3(c)(1) of the Act) by not more than 35 persons and 
    will not have been publicly offered.
        d. The Family Securities Company will not knowingly make available 
    to any broker or dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 
    1934 any financial information concerning the Family Securities Company 
    for the purpose of knowingly enabling that broker or dealer to initiate 
    any regular trading market for securities issued by the Family 
    Securities Company.
        7. The requested exemption with respect to each Family Investment 
    Vehicle may be conditioned on the observance by that Family Investment 
    Vehicle of the following conditions:
        a. The Family Investment Vehicle will furnish annually to each 
    member, shareholder, partner or investor its financial statements 
    audited by an accounting firm of recognized national standing.
        b. The Family Investment Vehicle will neither admit as a new 
    investor, nor permit the assignment or transfer of any interest in that 
    Family Investment Vehicle to, any individual or entity if that 
    admission, assignment or transfer would cause that Family Investment 
    Vehicle to fail to have the following characteristics: (1) that Family 
    Investment Vehicle will be at least 90% owned directly or indirectly by 
    or for the benefit of Bessemer Investors; (2) it will be at least 50% 
    owned directly or indirectly by or for the benefit of Bessemer, BSLLC 
    or a Family Securities Company; and (3) any part of that Family 
    Investment Vehicle that is not held directly or indirectly by or for 
    the benefit of Bessemer Investors will be beneficially owned (as the 
    term is used in section 3(c)(1) of the Act) by not more than 35 persons 
    and will not have been publicly offered.
        c. The Family Investment Vehicle will not (1) admit any new general 
    partner (in the case of a limited partnership) or manager without the 
    approval of the owners of a majority in interest of it, or (2) have as 
    an investment adviser to that vehicle any investment adviser other than 
    (i) Bessemer, BSLLC, a Family Securities Company or one or more of 
    their affiliates, (ii) one or more employees of Bessemer, BSLLC, a 
    Family Securities Company, or one of their affiliates, (iii) an 
    investment manager or a general partner (or one or more of its 
    affiliates or employees) approved by the owners of a majority in 
    interest of the Family Investment Vehicle, or (iv) a bank or trust 
    company subsidiary of the Bessemer Group.
        d. The Family Investment Vehicle will not knowingly make available 
    to any broker or dealer registered under
    
    [[Page 65613]]
    
    the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 any financial information 
    concerning that Family Investment Vehicle for the purpose of knowingly 
    enabling that broker or dealer to initiate any regular trading market 
    in any interest in that Family Investment Vehicle.
    
        For the SEC, by the Division of Investment Management, pursuant 
    to delegated authority.
    Margaret H. McFarland,
    Deputy Secretary.
    [FR Doc. 96-31617 Filed 12-12-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 8010-01-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
12/13/1996
Department:
Securities and Exchange Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice of Application for Exemption under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the ``Act'').
Document Number:
96-31617
Dates:
The application was filed on September 13, 1996 and amended on November 20, 1996. Applicants have agreed to file an additional amendment, the substance of which is incorporated herein, during the notice period.
Pages:
65608-65613 (6 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Release No. IC-22377, 812-10344
PDF File:
96-31617.pdf