Re: Section 4m(1) – Request for Relief from Registration for a
Co-Commodity
Pool Operator
Dear :
This is in response to your letter dated December 19, 2000, as
supplemented by your e-mail dated January 19, 2001, in which you
request that the Division of Trading and Markets
("Division") of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
("Commission") grant relief from registration as a commodity
pool operator ("CPO") to “X” in connection with
its serving as a general partner of the "Fund".
Based upon your representations, we understand the relevant facts to
be as follows. The Fund is a private investment limited partnership
that has two general partners, “X” and “Y”.
“A” is the managing member of both “X” and
“Y” and is registered as an associated person of
“Y”. “Y” is the Managing General Partner of
the Fund and is registered as a CPO. Although “X” is a
general partner of the Fund, “X” will not exercise
discretion, supervision or control over, or participate in: (1) the
solicitation, acceptance, or receipt of funds or property to be used
for purchasing interests in the Fund; or (2) the investment, use, or
disposition of funds or property of the Fund. Rather, “X”
will serve as the Administrative General Partner, and its involvement
with the Fund will be limited to back office and administrative
activities for the Fund. You further represent that neither
“X” nor any of its officers, directors, or other
principals are subject to statutory disqualification under Section
8a(2) or 8a(3) of the Commodity Exchange Act (the
"Act").
[1] Additionally, as part of your request, you
provided an acknowledgement dated December 20, 2000, whereby
“X” and “Y” each accepted joint and several
liability with the other for any violation of the Act or Commission
rules issued thereunder, involving or resulting from the activities of
“Y” and “X” as general partners and CPOs of
the Fund.
Based upon the foregoing, and consistent with prior positions taken by
the Division in this area, the Division will not recommend that the
Commission take any enforcement action under Section 4m(1) of the
Act
[2] against
“X” for failing to register as a CPO in connection with
its serving as general partner of the Fund.
[3] The relief issued by this letter
does not excuse “X” from compliance with any otherwise
applicable requirements contained in the Act or the Commission's
rules issued thereunder. For example, “X” remains subject
to all antifraud provisions of the Act and the Commissions rules
issued thereunder, the reporting requirements for traders set forth in
Parts 15, 18, and 19 of the Commission's rules and to all other
applicable provisions of Part 4.
[4] Moreover, this letter is applicable to
“X” solely in connection with its serving as a general
partner of the Fund.
This letter, and the relief issued herein, is based upon the
representations that have been made to us. Any different, changed, or
omitted facts or conditions might render this letter void. In this
regard, you must notify the Division immediately in the event the
operations or activities of the Fund, “Y”, or
“X” change in any material way from those represented to
us. Further, this letter represents the position of this Division only
and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Commission or any
other division or office of the Commission.
If you have any questions concerning this correspondence, please
contact Michael A. Piracci, an attorney on my staff, at
(202) 418-5430.
Very truly yours,
John C. Lawton
Acting Director
[1] 7 U.S.C.
§§ 12a(2) and 12a(3).
[2] 7 U.S.C.
§ 6m(1).
[3] See CFTC
Interpretative Letter No. 95-24, [1994-1996 Transfer Binder] Comm.
Fut. L. Rep. (CCH) ¶ 26,351 (March 13, 1995); CFTC
Interpretative Letter No. 95-14, [1994-1996 Transfer Binder] Comm.
Fut. L. Rep. (CCH) ¶ 26,341 (February 15, 1995).
[4] Commission
rules referred to herein are found at 17 C.F.R. Ch. 1
(2000).