[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 122 (Wednesday, June 25, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34331-34332]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-16633]
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Investment Company Act Release No. 22720; 811-5412]
State Bond Tax-Free Income Funds, Inc.; Notice of Application
June 19, 1997.
AGENCY: Securities and Exchange Commission (``SEC'').
ACTION: Notice of application for deregistration under the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (the ``Act'').
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APPLICANT: State Bond Tax-Free Income Funds, Inc.
RELEVANT ACT SECTION: Order requested pursuant to section 8(f).
SUMMARY OF APPLICATION: Applicant requests an order declaring that it
has ceased to be an investment company.
FILING DATES: The application was filed on February 20, 1997, and
amended on May 29, 1997.
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
applicant with a copy of the request, personally or by mail. Hearing
requests should be received by the SEC by 5:30 p.m. on July 14, 1997,
and should be accompanied by proof of service on applicant, 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 may request
notification of a hearing by writing to the SEC's Secretary.
ADDRESSES: Secretary, SEC, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20549. Applicant: Stated Bond Tax-Free Income Funds, Inc., 100 North
Minnesota Street, P.O. Box 69, New Ulm, Minnesota 56073-0069.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John K. Forst, Staff Attorney, at
(202) 942-0569, or Elizabeth G. Osterman, Assistant Director, 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 from
the SEC's Public Reference Branch.
Applicant's Representations
Applicant is a registered open-end management investment company,
organized as a Maryland corporation. SEC records indicate applicant
filed its notification of registration on Form N-8A under the Act and
filed a registration statement on Form N-1A under the Act and under the
Securities Act of 1933 on December 7, 1987. On January 28, 1988,
applicant commenced its initial public offering. Applicant is advised
by ARM Capital Advisors, Inc. (``ARM'').
2. On August 16, 1996, applicant's board of directors considered an
Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the ``Reorganization Agreement'')
between applicant and Federated Municipal Opportunities Fund, Inc. (the
``Federated Fund''). The Federated Fund is advised by Federated
Advisers, a subsidiary of Federated Investors (together ``Federated'').
Pursuant to the Reorganization Agreement, applicant would transfer all
of its net assets to the Federated Fund in exchange for Class A shares
of the Federated Fund. The directors considered several factors and
identified certain potential benefits likely to result from the
reorganization, including, (a) operating efficiencies as a result of
the larger combined size of applicant and the Federated Fund, (b)
although the Federated Fund, unlike applicant, invests in municipal
bonds which are generally not exempt from the Minnesota personal income
tax, the tax-
[[Page 34332]]
equivalent yield produced by the Federated Fund historically has
exceeded the tax-equivalent yield produced by applicant, (c) applicant
and the Federated Fund have investment objectives that are similar in
many respects, (d) applicant's maximum front end sales charge is the
same as that of the Federated Fund, (e) expenses of the reorganization
will be borne by ARM and/or Federated, and (f) the anticipated tax free
nature of the reorganization. The directors concluded that the
reorganization presents no significant risks or costs that would
outweigh the benefits discussed above. Applicant's board of directors
unanimously approved the reorganization at a meeting of the board on
August 26, 1996.
3. On October 15, 1996, Federated Fund filed a registration
statement and proxy materials on Form N-14 soliciting approval of the
reorganization by applicant's shareholders. The registration statement
was declared effective on October 25, 1996. Shareholders approved the
reorganization at a special meeting held on December 9, 1996.
4. On December 13, 1996, the date of the reorganization, applicant
had 1,733,290.919 shares of common stock outstanding. Applicant's net
asset value was $10.59 per share and its aggregate net asset value was
$18,351,963.27. Applicant transferred assets valued at $18,351.963.27,
and received in exchange 1,756,180.300 Class A shares of the Federated
Fund, representing an aggregate net asset value equal to the aggregate
net asset value of applicant's transferred shares. Such shares were
then distributed to the shareholders of applicant, on that date, in
proportion to each shareholder's interest in applicant based on net
asset value.
5. All costs involved in the reorganization will be paid by ARM
and/or Federated.
6. Applicant has no securityholders and no remaining assets, debts,
or liabilities as of the date of the application.
7. Applicant is not a party to any litigation or administrative
proceeding. Applicant is not now engaged, and does not propose to
engage, in any business activities other than those necessary for the
winding up of its affairs.
8. Applicant intends to file articles of dissolution with the
Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation following
deregistration.
For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management,
pursuant to delegated authority.
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-16633 Filed 6-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-M
