[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 106 (Friday, May 31, 1996)] [Notices] [Pages 27375-27377] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-13696] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Investment Company Act Release No. 21983; International Series Release No. 984/812-9966] Bankers Trust Australia Limited; Notice of Application May 24, 1996. Agency: Securities and Exchange Commission (``SEC''). Action: Notice of application for exemption under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the ``Act''). ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Applicant: Bankers Trust Australia Limited (``BTAL''). [[Page 27376]] Relevant Act Sections: Order requested under section 6(c) for an exemption from section 17(f). Summary of Application: BTAL requests an order to permit it to maintain foreign securities and other assets of U.S. registered investment companies in the custody of Pendal Nominees Pty. Limited (``Pendal Nominees''), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of BTAL. Filing Date: The application was filed on January 30, 1996, and amended on May 3, 1996. 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 June 18, 1996, 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 NW., Washington, D.C. 20549. Applicant: BTAL, The Chifley Tower, Level 15, 2 Chifley Square, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia, with copies to Dana L. Platt, Esq., Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP, 1251 Avenue of the Americas--45th Floor, New York, New York 10020. For Further Information Contact: Mercer E. Bullard, Staff Attorney, (202) 942-0565, or Allison E. Baur, Branch Chief, (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. Applicant's Representations 1. BTAL is bank organized under the laws of Australia and regulated by the Reserve Bank of Australia. As of December 31, 1995, BTAL had shareholders' equity of approximately $770 million. BTAL is a wholly- owned, indirect subsidiary of Bankers Trust Company (``BTCo''). 2. BTCo is a New York State chartered bank and a member of the Federal Reserve System. As of December 31, 1995, BTCo had aggregate capital, surplus, and undivided profits in excess of $4.9 billion. 3. Pendal Nominees, a wholly-owned, indirect subsidiary of BTAL and BTCo, was incorporated in Australia in 1971. Although Pendal Nominees is a distinct legal entity, it is administered as part of BTAL, shares office space with BTAL; and all of its representatives are employees of BTAL. Pendal Nominees has provided custody and trustee services for BTAL's Funds Management Division since 1985. Pendal Nominees has shareholders' equity of less than $100 million. 4. BTAL requests an order under section 6(c) of the Act granting exemptive relief from section 17(f) of the Act for itself, Pendal Nominees, any investment company registered under the Act other than an investment registered under section 7(d) of the Act (``Investment Company''), and any custodian for an Investment Company to the extent necessary to permit BTAL, any Investment Company, or any custodian for an Investment Company to maintain foreign securities, cash or cash equivalents (collectively ``Assets'') in the custody of Pendal Nominees. Applicant's Legal Analysis 1. Section 6(c) of the Act provides that the SEC may exempt any person, security, or transaction from any provision of the Act if and to the extent that such exemption is necessary or appropriate in the public interest and consistent with the protection of investors and the purposes fairly intended by the policy and provisions of the Act. 2. Section 17(f) of the Act requires every registered management investment company to place and maintain its securities and similar investments in the custody of certain enumerated entities. Section 17(f) effectively restricts entities located outside of the United States that may act as custodians for Investment Companies to overseas branches of domestic banks. 3. Rule 17f-5 under the Act expands the group of entities located outside the United States that are permitted to serve as custodians for registered management investment companies. These entities, among other things, must qualify as ``Eligible Foreign Custodians.'' Rule 17f- 5(c)(2)(ii) defines the term `'Eligible Foreign Custodian'' to include a majority-owned direct or indirect subsidiary of a qualified U.S. bank or bank-holding company that is incorporated or organized under the laws of a country other than the United States and that has shareholders' equity in excess of $100 million as of the close of its most recently completed fiscal year. The rule defines the term ``Qualified U.S. Bank'' to include a banking institution organized under the laws of the United States that has an aggregate capital, surplus, and undivided profits of not less than $500,000. 4. BTAL and Pendal Nominees are incorporated under the laws of Australia and are wholly-owned indirect subsidiaries of BTCo, which is a ``Qualified U.S. Bank'' under rule 17f-5. BTAL has shareholders' equity in excess of $100 million and thus qualifies as an Eligible Foreign Custodian under rule 17f-5(c)(2)(ii). Pendal Nominees, however, does not meet the minimum shareholders' equity requirement under rule 17f-5(c)(2)(ii). Consequently, Pendal Nominees does not qualify as an Eligible Foreign Custodian under rule 17f-5 and, absent exemptive relief, could not serve as custodian for an Investment Company. 5. BTAL contends that the terms of the foreign custody arrangements, as described in the conditions set forth below, will adequately protect Investment Companies and their shareholders against loss. BTAL believes that the requested relief is necessary and appropriate in the public interest and consistent with the protection of investors and the purposes fairly intended by the policies and provisions of the Act. Applicant's Conditions BTAL agrees, as conditions to the requested exemptive relief, that: 1. The foreign custody arrangements proposed with respect to Pendal Nominees will satisfy the requirements of rule 17f-5 in all respects other than with regard to the minimum shareholders' equity requirement for an eligible foreign custodian. 2. BTAL currently satisfies and will continue to satisfy all requirements of rule 17f-5, including the minimum shareholders' equity requirement of rule 17f-5(c)(2)(ii). 3. Pendal Nominees currently satisfies all requirements of rule 17f-5, except for the minimum shareholders' equity requirement of rule 17f-5(c)(2)(ii). 4. BTAL will deposit Assets in Australia with Pendal Nominees only in accordance with a three-party contractual agreement that will remain in effect at all times during which Pendal Nominees fails to meet the requirements of Rule 17f-5 relating to minimum shareholders' equity. The agreement will be among Pendal Nominees, BTAL, and the Investment Company or the custodian for the Investment Company for which BTAL acts as subcustodian. Under the [[Page 27377]] agreement, BTAL will provide specified custodial or subcustodial services for the Investment Company or custodian and will delegate to Pendal Nominees such of BTAL's duties and obligations as will be necessary to permit Pendal Nominees to hold the Assets custody in Australia. The agreement will further provide that BTAL will be liable for any loss, damage, cost, expense, liability, or claim arising out of or in connection with the performance by Pendal Nominees of its responsibilities under the agreement to the same extent as if BTAL had been required to provide custody services under such agreement. For the SEC, by the Division of Investment Management, under delegated authority. Margaret H. McFarland, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 96-13696 Filed 5-30-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8010-01-M