94-15714. New York Venture Fund, Inc., et al.; Notice of Application  

  • [Federal Register Volume 59, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 29, 1994)]
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    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 94-15714]
    
    
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    [Federal Register: June 29, 1994]
    
    
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    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
    [Rel. No. IC-20371; 812-8938]
    
     
    
    New York Venture Fund, Inc., et al.; Notice of Application
    
    June 23, 1994.
    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: New York Venture Fund, Inc., Venture Income (+) Plus, Inc., 
    Venture Muni (+) Plus, Inc., and Retirement Planning Funds of America, 
    Inc. (collectively, the ``Companies''), on behalf of themselves and any 
    existing or future services thereof (collectively, the ``Applicant 
    Funds''); and Selected/Venture Advisers, L.P. (the ``Adviser''). 
    Applicants also seek relief on behalf of any existing or future 
    registered open-end management investment company or series thereof 
    (collectively, with the Applicant Funds, the ``Funds'') for which the 
    Adviser, or any person controlling, controlled by, or under common 
    control with the Adviser, now or hereafter serves as investment adviser 
    or principal underwriter1
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        \1\Existing investment companies which presently do not intend 
    to rely on the requested relief are not signatories to the 
    application, but may rely on any exemption granted pursuant to the 
    application if they create multiple classes of shares or impose a 
    contingent deferred sales charge consistent with the representations 
    and conditions in the application.
    
    RELEVANT ACT SECTIONS: Exemption requested under section 6(c) from 
    sections 2(a)(32), 2(a)(35), 18(f), 18(g), 18(i), 22(c), and 22(d) of 
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    the Act, and rule 22c-1 thereunder.
    
    SUMMARY OF APPLICATION: Applicants seek a conditional order to permit 
    the Funds to create multiple classes of shares and to assess and, under 
    certain circumstances, waive a contingent deferred sales charge 
    (``CDSC'') upon the redemption of certain shares.
    
    FILING DATES: The application was filed on April 12, 1994, and amended 
    on June 1, 1994. By supplemental letter dated June 22, 1994, counsel to 
    applicants agreed to file an amendment during the notice period to make 
    certain changes to its application. This notice reflects the changes to 
    be made to the application by such further amendment.
    
    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 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 July 19, 1994, and should 
    be accompanied by proof of service on 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 5th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 
    20549. Applicants, 124 East Marcy Street, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    James J. Dwyer, Staff Attorney, at (202) 942-0581, or C. David Messman, 
    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. The Companies are Maryland corporations registered under the Act 
    as open-end management investment companies. New York Venture Fund, 
    Venture Income Plus, and Venture Muni Plus are single series Funds, and 
    Retirement Planning Funds currently has six series: Growth Fund, Bond 
    Fund, Government Money Market Fund, Global Value Fund, Convertible 
    Securities Fund, and Real Estate Securities Fund. The board of 
    directors of each Company may create additional series from time to 
    time.
        2. The Adviser, an investment adviser registered under the 
    Investment Advisers of 1940 and a broker/dealer registered under the 
    Securities Exchange Act of 1934, serves as each Applicant Fund's 
    investment adviser and principal underwriter.2. The Adviser's sole 
    general partner is Venture Advisers, Inc., a New York corporation.
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        \2\The term ``Distributor'' shall refer to the Adviser, or an 
    entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the 
    Adviser, in its capacity as the Funds' principal underwriter.
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        3. New York Venture Fund, Venture Income Plus, and Retirement 
    Planning Fund's Global Value Fund, Convertible Securities Fund, and 
    Real Estate Securities Fund currently offer shares to the public at net 
    asset value plus a front-end sales charge (``FESC''), and have adopted 
    rule 12b-1 distribution plans providing for payment to the Distributor 
    at an annual rate of up to .25% of such Fund's average daily net 
    assets.
        4. Venture Muni Plus and Retirement Planning Fund's Growth Fund and 
    Bond Fund are authorized, pursuant to their rule 12b-1 distribution 
    plans, to pay the Distributor at an annual rate of up to .75% of such 
    Fund's average daily net assets, and to pay service fees, as defined in 
    article III, section 26 of the Rules of Fair Practice of the National 
    Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the ``NASD''). These Funds 
    also impose a CDSC upon certain redemptions of shares, pursuant to 
    existing SEC exemptive orders (the ``Prior Orders'').3
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        \3\Retirement Planning Funds of America, Investment Company Act 
    Release Nos. 14387 (Feb. 20, 1985) (notice) and 14424 (Mar. 19, 
    1985) (order), amending Investment Company Act Release Nos. 13873 
    (Apr. 9, 1984) (notice) and 13926 (May 4, 1984) (order). Venture 
    Muni (+) Plus, Investment Company Act Release Nos. 14353 (Feb. 4, 
    1985) (notice) and 14398 (Mar. 4, 1985) (order).
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        5. Applicants seek relief to permit the Funds to offer multiple 
    classes of shares, each class of shares representing a selection from 
    an array of distribution options mixing different FESCs, CDSCs, asset-
    backed sales charges, shareholder services fees, and transfer agency 
    fees. Each class of shares of a Fund would represent interests in the 
    same portfolio of investments, and would be identical in all respects, 
    except as set forth in condition 1 below. The sum of any FESC, CDSC, 
    and asset-based sales charge will not exceed the maximum sales charge 
    provided for in article III, section 26(d) of the NASD's Rules of Fair 
    Practice.
        6. Applicants initially contemplate that the non-money market Funds 
    would offer four different classes of shares. ``Class A'' shares of a 
    Fund would require payment of a FESC and impose a rule 12b-1 fee. The 
    FESC may be subject to reductions for larger purchases and under rights 
    of accumulation and letter of intent. ``Class B'' shares of a Fund 
    would be subject to rule 12b-1 fees and a CDSC. ``Class C'' shares of a 
    Fund would be subject to relatively high rule 12b-1 fees, and a CDSC 
    may be imposed on shares redeemed within one year of purchase. ``Class 
    D'' shares of a Fund would be subject to relatively low rule 12b-1 
    fees. Class D shares typically would be available only to owners of 
    separate commingled accounts, certain institutional investors, or 
    similar investors.
        7. Applicants further contemplate that the money market Funds would 
    offer two different distribution options. ``Regular Class'' shares 
    would be offered without a FESC or CDSC, and would be subject to 
    relatively low rule 12b-1 fees, if any. Shares of the Regular Class 
    would be substantially similar to Class C shares of non-money market 
    Funds. ``Class B Exchange'' shares would be identifical to the Class B 
    shares of a non-money market Fund, and it is anticipated that they 
    would be issued only upon the exchange of Class B shares for shares of 
    a money market Fund.
        8. Applicants contemplate that any class of shares of a Fund may be 
    exchanged for shares of the same class of another Fund, or for shares 
    of another Fund's class with a similar pricing structure or rule 12b-1 
    fees. Under certain circumstances, shares may be exchanged for a class 
    of shares of another Fund with different pricing characteristics. 
    Shares of a money market Fund are exchangeable for shares of any of the 
    available classes in the Funds. All exchanges made at other than net 
    asset value will comply with rule 11a-3 under the Act.
        9. Shares of one or more classes (the ``Higher 12b-1 Classes'') 
    automatically will convert to shares of another class with a lower rule 
    12b-1 fee. The conversion will occur after the shareholder has the 
    Higher 12b-1 Class shares for a period of time,4 approximately one 
    to eight years. Such conversion will occur without the imposition of 
    any additional sales charge. Shares of a Higher 12b-1 Class purchased 
    through the reinvestment of dividends and other distributions will be 
    considered held in a separate sub-account. Each time any shares of a 
    Higher 12b-1 Class convert to shares of another class, all of the 
    shares of the Higher 12b-1 Class held in the sub-account will convert 
    to shares of that other class. Applicants may suspend this feature if 
    an expert's opinion or Internal Revenue Service ruling that the 
    conversion does not constitute a taxable event under Federal income tax 
    law is not available.
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        \4\For purposes of calculating the holding period, the shares 
    will be deemed to have been purchased on the last day of the month 
    in which the purchase order for the shares was accepted. Shares 
    acquired in an exchange or series of exchanges will be deemed to be 
    purchased on the last day of the month in which the purchase order 
    for the original shares was accepted.
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        10. Expenses properly attributable to a particular class of shares 
    may be recorded separately and charged to the particular class. All 
    other expenses incurred by a Fund will be borne pro rata by each class 
    of shares of the Fund. Because of the differing class expense, rule 
    12b-1 fees, and shareholder services fees, the net income attributable 
    to and the dividends payable on one class of shares of a Fund may be 
    higher or lower than those of the other classes of shares of the same 
    Fund. To the extent that a Fund has undistributed net income or net 
    operating losses, the net asset value of the various classes of shares 
    of the Fund may differ.
        11. Applicants also seek exemptive relief to permit the Funds to 
    impose a CDSC on redemptions of Class B and Class C shares of a non-
    money market Fund, Class B Exchange shares of a money market Fund, and 
    possibly other classes of shares of any Fund. The CDSC will be assessed 
    on an amount equal to the lesser of the then current market value or 
    the cost of the shares being redeemed. The amount of the CDSC will 
    depend on the number of years, set forth in the applicable prospectus, 
    since the shareholder purchased the shares being redeemed. It is 
    expected that the CDSC schedule and CDSC period will vary in part on 
    the FESCs paid on certain classes of shares of a Fund and the 
    compensation paid to representatives selling various classes of shares 
    of a Fund.
        12. No CDSC will be imposed on amounts representing capital 
    appreciation, shares or amounts representing shares purchased through 
    the reinvestment of dividends or other distributions (including capital 
    gains distributions), or shares held for longer than the CDSC period. 
    In determining whether a CDSC is applicable, it will be assumed that a 
    redemption of shares not subject to a CDSC will be made first, followed 
    by shares subject to a CDSC in the order in which such shares were 
    purchased. No CDSC will be imposed on shares purchased prior to the 
    date that the requested order is granted, unless such shares are 
    subject to a CDSC pursuant to the Prior Orders, in which event the 
    Prior Orders will continue to apply.
        13. Applicants intend to waive or reduce the CDSC on redemptions of 
    shares (a) held at the time of a shareholder's death or disability, as 
    defined in section 72(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as 
    amended (the ``Code''), provided that the redemption is requested 
    within one year of death or initial determination of disability, and 
    provided that the shareholder held the shares as an individual or as a 
    joint tenant with right of survivorship, (b) in connection with certain 
    distributions, as described below, from individual retirement accounts, 
    Keogh plans, custodial accounts maintained pursuant to section 
    403(b)(7) of the Code, or pension or profit-sharing plans 
    (collectively, ``Retirement Plans''), (c) sold to trustees, directors, 
    and officers, and members of their immediate families, of any 
    registered investment company supervised and distributed by the 
    Adviser, or to directors and officers of the Adviser's general partner 
    (in both cases including former directors, trustees, and officers) and 
    to full-time employees of the foregoing (and members of their immediate 
    families) who have been employed at least 90 days, (d) made as tax-free 
    returns of contributions to avoid tax penalty, (e) by shareholders who 
    have invested more than a stated minimum dollar amount in a Fund or 
    across the Funds and for purchases involving accumulation rights or 
    letters of intent in the same way that the FESCs of other classes are 
    subject to such discounts; (f) pursuant to a Fund's systematic 
    withdrawal plan, (g) pursuant to the right of a Fund to liquidate a 
    shareholder's account if the aggregate net asset value of the shares 
    held in such account is less than the designated account size described 
    in the Fund's prospectus; and (h) acquired by any state, county, or 
    city, or any instrumentality, department, authority, or agency thereof, 
    which is prohibited by applicable law from paying a sales charge or 
    commission in connection with the acquisition or redemption of shares 
    of any investment company.
        14. With respect to waiver category (b) above, the Funds may waive 
    the CDSC for shares redeemed in connection with a lump-sum distribution 
    or other distribution from Retirement Plans after termination of 
    employment or on any distributions after retirement, or, in the case of 
    an individual retirement account or a custodial account under section 
    403(b) of the Code, after attaining age 59\1/2\. The CDSC also may be 
    waived or reduced on any redemption resulting from the return of an 
    excess contribution pursuant to section 408(d)(4) or (5) of the Code, 
    the return of excess deferral amounts pursuant to sections 401(k)(8) or 
    402(g)(2) of the Code, the return of excess aggregate contributions 
    pursuant to section 401(m)(6) of the Code, or from the death or 
    disability of the employee. The waiver or reduction will not apply in 
    the case of a tax-free rollover or transfer of assets, other than one 
    following a separation from service. These conditions in which the CDSC 
    would be waived or reduced are designed to accommodate the majority of 
    Retirement Plan distributions that are made without penalty pursuant to 
    the Code.
        15. If the Funds waive or reduce the CDSC, such waiver or reduction 
    will be uniformly applied to all offerees in the class specified. 
    Shares are subject to the waivers, deferrals, or reductions of the CDSC 
    as provided in the applicable prospectus at the time the shares were 
    purchased.
    
    Applicants' Legal Analysis
    
        1. Applicants request an exemptive order to the extent that the 
    proposed issuance and sale of various classes of shares representing 
    interests in the same Fund might be deemed to result in a ``senior 
    security'' within the meaning of section 18(g) and to be prohibited by 
    section 18(f)(1), and to violate the equal voting provisions of section 
    18(i).
        2. Applicants believe that the proposed multi-class arrangement 
    will better enable the Funds to meet the competitive demands of today's 
    financial services industry. Under the multi-class arrangement, an 
    investor will be able to choose the method of purchasing shares that is 
    most beneficial given the amount of his or her purchase, the length of 
    time the investor expects to hold his or her shares, and other relevant 
    circumstances. The proposed arrangement would permit the Funds to 
    facilitate both the distribution of their securities and provide 
    investors with a broader choice as to the method of purchasing shares 
    without assuming excessive accounting and bookkeeping costs or 
    unnecessary investment risks.
        3. Applicants further believe that the proposed allocation of 
    expenses and voting rights relating to the rule 12b-1 distribution 
    plans in the manner described in the application is equitable and would 
    not discriminate against any group of shareholders. In addition, such 
    arrangements should not give rise to any conflicts of interest because 
    the rights and privileges of each class of shares are substantially 
    identical.
        4. Applicants submit that the proposed multi-class arrangement does 
    not present any concerns that section 18 was designed to ameliorate. 
    The multi-class arrangement does not involve borrowings, does not 
    affect a Fund's existing assets or reserves, and does not involve a 
    complex capital structure. The multi-class arrangement will not 
    increase the speculative character of the shares of the Funds. No class 
    of shares will have preference or priority over any other class of 
    shares in a Fund with respect to particular assets, and no class of 
    shares will be protected by any reserve or other account.
        5. Applicants submit that the requested exemption to permit the 
    Funds to implement the proposed CDSC is appropriate in the public 
    interest, and is consistent with the protection of investors and the 
    purposes fairly intended by the policy and provisions of the Act. The 
    proposed CDSC arrangements will provide shareholders the option of 
    having greater investment dollars working for them from the time of 
    their purchase than if a sale load had been imposed at such time.
    
    Applicants' Conditions
    
        Applicants agree that any order granting the requested relief shall 
    be subject to the following conditions:
        1. Each class of shares of a Fund will represent interests in the 
    same portfolio of investments and will be identical in all respects, 
    except as set forth below. The only differences among the classes of 
    shares of a Fund will relate solely to: (a) the impact of the 
    disproportionate payments made under any rule 12b-1 distribution plan 
    and shareholder services plan applicable to such class of shares; (b) 
    expenses that may be allocated to a particular class of shares, which 
    are limited to the following: (i) the incremental transfer agency costs 
    attributable to such class of shares; (ii) the cost of preparing, 
    printing, and mailing materials such as shareholder reports, 
    prospectuses, and proxy materials to current shareholders of the class; 
    (iii) any SEC and Blue Sky registration fees incurred by such class; 
    (iv) directors' fees or expenses incurred as a result of issues 
    relating solely to such class; (v) legal and accounting expenses 
    relating solely to such class; and (vi) any other incremental expenses 
    subsequently identified that should be properly allocated to a 
    particular class which shall be approved by the SEC pursuant to an 
    amended order; (c) the fact that each class will vote separately with 
    respect to any rule 12b-1 distribution plan, except as provided in 
    condition 16 below; (d) the different exchange privileges of each class 
    of shares; (e) the different conversion features of each class of 
    shares; and (f) the name or designation of each class of shares.
        2. The directors of each Fund, including a majority of the 
    independent directors, will approve the multi-class system. The minutes 
    of the meetings of the directors of a Fund regarding the deliberations 
    of the directors with respect to the approvals necessary to implement 
    the multi-class system will reflect in detail the reasons for the 
    directors' determination that the multi-class system is in the best 
    interests of both the Fund and its shareholders.
        3. The initial determination of the class expenses that will be 
    allocated to a particular class and any subsequent changes thereto will 
    be reviewed and approved by a vote of the board of directors of the 
    Fund including a majority of the directors who are not interested 
    persons of the Fund. Any person authorized to direct the allocation and 
    disposition of monies paid or payable by the Fund to meet class 
    expenses shall provide to the board or directors, and the directors 
    shall review, at least quarterly, a written report of the amounts so 
    expended and the purposes for which such expenditures were made.
        4. On an ongoing basis, the directors of each Fund that adopts the 
    multi-class system, pursuant to their fiduciary responsibilities under 
    the Act and otherwise, will monitor the Fund for the existence of any 
    material conflicts among the interests of the various classes of shares 
    offered by that Fund. The directors, including a majority of the 
    independent directors, will take such action as is reaonsably necessary 
    to eliminate any such conflicts that may develop. The Adviser and 
    Distributor will be responsible for reporting any potential or existing 
    conflicts to the directors. If a conflict arises, the Adviser or 
    Distributor, at its own cost, will remedy such conflict up to and 
    including establishing a new registered management investment company.
        5. The directors of each Fund will receive quarterly and annual 
    statements concerning distribution and shareholder servicing 
    expenditures complying with paragraph (b)(3)(ii) of rule 12b-1, as it 
    may be amended from time to time. In the statements, only expenditures 
    properly attributable to the sale or servicing of a particular class of 
    shares will be used to justify any distribution or servicing fee 
    charged to that class. Expenditures not related to the sale or 
    servicing of a particular class will not be presented to the directors 
    to justify and fee attributable to that class. The statements, 
    including the allocations upon which they are based, will be subject to 
    the review and approval of the independent directors in the exercise of 
    their fiduciary duties.
        6. Any shareholder services plan will be adopted and operated in 
    accordance with the procedures set forth in rule 12b-1(b) through (f) 
    as if the expenditures made thereunder were subject to rule 12b-1, 
    except that shareholders need not enjoy the voting rights specified in 
    rule 12b-1.
        7. Dividends paid by a Fund with respect to its various classes of 
    shares, to the extent any dividends are so paid, will be calculated in 
    the same manner, at the same time, on the same day, and will be in the 
    same amount, except that class expenses relating to each class of 
    shares will be borne exclusively by that class.
        8. The methodology and procedures for calculating the net asset 
    value and dividends and distributions of the classes and the proper 
    allocation of expenses among the classes have been reviewed by an 
    expert (the ``Expert''). The Expert has rendered a report to 
    applicants, which has been provided to the staff of the SEC, that such 
    methodology and procedures are adequate to ensure that such 
    calculations and allocations will be made in an appropriate manner, 
    subject to the conditions and limitations in that report. On an ongoing 
    basis, the Expert, or an appropriate substitute Expert, will monitor 
    the manner in which the calculations and allocations are being made 
    and, based upon such review, will render at least annually a report to 
    each Fund offering any of the proposed classes that the calculations 
    and allocations are being made properly. The reports of the Expert will 
    be filed as part of the periodic reports filed with the SEC pursuant to 
    sections 30(a) and 30(b)(1) of the Act. The work papers of the Expert 
    with respect to such reports, following request by a Fund (which each 
    Fund agrees to make), will be available for inspection by the SEC staff 
    upon written request for such work papers by a senior member of the 
    Division of Investment Management, limited to the Director, an 
    Associate Director, the Chief Accountant, the Chief Financial Analyst, 
    an Assistant Director, and any Regional Administrators or Associate and 
    Assistant Administrators. The initial report of the Expert is a 
    ``report on policies and procedures placed in operation'' and the 
    ongoing reports will be ``reports on policies and procedures placed in 
    operation and tests of operating effectiveness'' as defined and 
    described in SAS No. 70 of the AICPA, as it may be amended from time to 
    time, or in similar auditing standards as may be adopted by the AICPA 
    from time to time.
        9. Applicants have adequate facilities in place to ensure 
    implementation of the methodology and procedures for calculating the 
    net asset value and dividends and distributions of the various classes 
    of shares and the proper allocation of expenses among the various 
    classes of shares, and this representation has been concurred with by 
    the Expert in the initial report referred to in condition 8 above and 
    will be concurred with by the Expert, or an appropriate substitute 
    Expert, on an ongoing basis at least annually in the ongoing reports 
    referred to in condition 8 above. Applicants will take immediate 
    corrective measures if this representation is not concurred in by the 
    Expert or appropriate substitute Expert.
        10. The prospectus of each Fund which issues two or more classes of 
    shares will contain a statement to the effect that a salesperson and 
    any other person entitled to receive compensation for selling or 
    servicing Fund shares may receive different compensation with respect 
    to one particular class of shares over another in the Fund.
        11. The Distributor will adopt compliance standards as to when each 
    class of shares may appropriately be sold to particular investors. 
    Applicants will require all persons selling shares of the Funds to 
    agree to conform to such standards.
        12. The conditions pursuant to which the exemptive order is granted 
    and the duties and responsibilities of the boards of directors of the 
    Funds with respect to the multi-class system will be set forth in 
    guidelines which will be furnished to the directors.
        13. Each Fund will disclose the respective expenses, performance 
    data, distribution arrangements, services, fees, sales loads, deferred 
    sales loads, and exchange privileges applicable to each class of shares 
    of the Fund in every prospectus, regardless of whether all classes of 
    shares are offered through each prospectus. Each Fund will disclose the 
    respective expenses and performance data applicable to each class of 
    shares of the Fund in such Fund's shareholder report. The shareholder 
    reports will contain, in the statement of assets and liabilities and 
    statement of operations, information related to a Fund as a whole 
    generally and not on a per class basis. A Fund's per share data, 
    however, will be prepared on a per class basis with respect to all 
    classes of shares of such Fund. To the extent any advertisement or 
    sales literature describes the expenses or performance data applicable 
    to a particular class of shares, it will also disclose the respective 
    expenses and/or performance data applicable to all classes of shares. 
    The information provided by applicants for publication in any newspaper 
    or similar listing of the Fund's net asset value and public offering 
    price will present each outstanding class of shares separately.
        14. Applicants acknowledge that the grant of the exemptive order 
    requested by this application will not imply SEC approval, 
    authorization, or acquiescence in any particular level of payments that 
    the Funds may make pursuant to their rule 12b-1 distribution plans or 
    shareholder services plan in reliance on the exemptive order.
        15. Any class of shares with a conversion feature (``Purchase 
    Class'') will convert into another class (``Target Class'') of shares 
    on the basis of the relative net asset values of the two classes, 
    without the imposition of any sales load, fee, or other charge. After 
    conversion, the converted shares will be subject to an asset-based 
    sales charge and/or service fee (as those terms are defined in Article 
    III, Section 26 of the NASD's Rules of Fair Practice), if any, that in 
    the aggregate are lower than the asset-based sales charge and service 
    fee to which they were subject prior to the conversion.
        16. If a Fund implements any amendment to any rule 12b-1 
    distribution plan (or, if presented to shareholders, adopts or 
    implements any amendment of a shareholder services plan) that would 
    increase materially the amount that may be borne by the Target Class 
    shares under the plan, existing Purchase Class shares will stop 
    converting into Target Class unless the Purchase Class shareholders, 
    voting separately as a class, approve the proposal. The directors shall 
    take such action as is necessary to ensure that existing Purchase Class 
    shares are exchanged or converted into a new class of shares (``New 
    Target Class''), identical in all material respects to Target Class as 
    it existed prior to implementation of the proposal, no later than the 
    date such shares previously scheduled to convert into Target Class. If 
    deemed advisable by the directors to implement the foregoing, such 
    action may include the exchange of all existing Purchase Class shares 
    for a new class (``New Purchase Class''), identical to existing 
    Purchase Class shares in all material respects except that New Purchase 
    Class will convert into New Target Class. New Target Class or New 
    Purchase Class may be formed without further exemptive relief. 
    Exchanges or conversions described in this condition shall be effected 
    in a manner that the directors reasonably believe will not be subject 
    to Federal taxation. In accordance with condition 4, any additional 
    cost associated with the creation, exchange, or conversion of New 
    Target Class or New Purchase Class shall be borne solely by the Adviser 
    and Distributor. Purchase Class shares sold after the implementation of 
    the proposal may convert into Target Class shares subject to the higher 
    maximum payment, provided that the material features of the Target 
    Class plan and the relationship of such plan to the Purchase Class are 
    disclosed in an effective registration statement.
        17. Applicants will comply with the provisions of proposed rule 6c-
    10 under the Act, Investment Company Act Release No. 16619 (Nov. 2, 
    1988), as such rule is currently proposed and as it may be reproposed, 
    adopted or amended.
    
        For the SEC, by the Division of Investment Management, pursuant 
    to delegated authority.
    Margaret H. McFarland,
    Deputy Secretary.
    [FR Doc. 94-15714 Filed 6-28-94; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 8010-01-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
06/29/1994
Department:
Securities and Exchange Commission
Entry Type:
Uncategorized Document
Action:
Notice of application for Exemption under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the ``Act'').
Document Number:
94-15714
Dates:
The application was filed on April 12, 1994, and amended on June 1, 1994. By supplemental letter dated June 22, 1994, counsel to applicants agreed to file an amendment during the notice period to make certain changes to its application. This notice reflects the changes to be made to the application by such further amendment.
Pages:
0-0 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Federal Register: June 29, 1994, Rel. No. IC-20371, 812-8938