[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 17, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2006]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 17CFR4.7]

[Page 166-174]
 
              TITLE 17--COMMODITY AND SECURITIES EXCHANGES
 
             CHAPTER I--COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION
 
PART 4_COMMODITY POOL OPERATORS AND COMMODITY TRADING ADVISORS--Table 
of Contents
 
        Subpart A_General Provisions, Definitions and Exemptions
 
Sec.  4.7  Exemption from certain part 4 requirements for commodity pool 
operators with respect to offerings to qualified eligible persons and for 
commodity trading advisors with respect to advising qualified eligible persons.

    This section is organized as follows: Paragraph (a) contains 
definitions for the purposes of Sec.  4.7; paragraph (b) contains the 
relief available to commodity pool operators under Sec.  4.7; paragraph 
(c) contains the relief available to commodity trading advisors under 
Sec.  4.7; paragraph (d) concerns the Notice of Claim for Exemption 
under Sec.  4.7; and paragraph (e) addresses the effect of an 
insignificant deviation from a term, condition or requirement of Sec.  
4.7.
    (a) Definitions. Paragraph (a)(1) of this section contains general 
definitions, paragraph (a)(2) of this section contains the definition of 
the term qualified eligible person with respect to those persons who do 
not need to satisfy the Portfolio Requirement and paragraph (a)(3) of 
this section contains the definition of the term qualified eligible 
person with respect to those persons who must satisfy the Portfolio 
Requirement. For the purposes of this section:
    (1) In general--(i) Affiliate of, or a person affiliated with, a 
specified person means a person that directly or indirectly through one 
or more persons, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control 
with the specified person.
    (ii) Exempt account means the account of a qualified eligible person 
that is directed or guided by a commodity trading advisor pursuant to an 
effective claim for exemption under Sec.  4.7.
    (iii) Exempt pool means a pool that is operated pursuant to an 
effective claim for exemption under Sec.  4.7.
    (iv) Non-United States person means:
    (A) A natural person who is not a resident of the United States;
    (B) A partnership, corporation or other entity, other than an entity 
organized principally for passive investment, organized under the laws 
of a foreign jurisdiction and which has its principal place of business 
in a foreign jurisdiction;
    (C) An estate or trust, the income of which is not subject to United 
States income tax regardless of source;
    (D) An entity organized principally for passive investment such as a 
pool, investment company or other similar entity; Provided, That units 
of participation in the entity held by persons who do not qualify as 
Non-United States persons or otherwise as qualified eligible persons 
represent in the aggregate less than 10% of the beneficial interest in 
the entity, and that such entity was not formed principally for the 
purpose of facilitating investment by persons who do not qualify as Non-
United States persons in a pool with respect to which the operator is 
exempt from certain requirements of Part 4 of the Commission's 
regulations by virtue of its participants being Non-United States 
persons; and
    (E) A pension plan for the employees, officers or principals of an 
entity organized and with its principal place of business outside the 
United States.

[[Page 167]]

    (v) Portfolio Requirement means that a person:
    (A) Owns securities (including pool participations) of issuers not 
affiliated with such person and other investments with an aggregate 
market value of at least $2,000,000;
    (B) Has had on deposit with a futures commission merchant, for its 
own account at any time during the six-month period preceding either the 
date of sale to that person of a pool participation in the exempt pool 
or the date that the person opens an exempt account with the commodity 
trading advisor, at least $200,000 in exchange-specified initial margin 
and option premiums for commodity interest transactions; or
    (C) Owns a portfolio comprised of a combination of the funds or 
property specified in paragraphs (a)(1)(v)(A) and (B) of this section in 
which the sum of the funds or property includable under paragraph 
(a)(1)(v)(A), expressed as a percentage of the minimum amount required 
thereunder, and the amount of futures margin and option premiums 
includable under paragraph (a)(1)(v)(B), expressed as a percentage of 
the minimum amount required thereunder, equals at least one hundred 
percent. An example of a composite portfolio acceptable under this 
paragraph (a)(1)(v)(C) would consist of $1,000,000 in securities and 
other property (50% of paragraph (a)(1)(v)(A)) and $100,000 in exchange-
specified initial margin and option premiums (50% of paragraph 
(a)(1)(v)(B)).
    (vi) United States means the United States, its states, territories 
or possessions, or an enclave of the United States government, its 
agencies or instrumentalities.
    (2) Persons who do not need to satisfy the Portfolio Requirement to 
be qualified eligible persons. Qualified eligible person means any 
person, acting for its own account or for the account of a qualified 
eligible person, who the commodity pool operator reasonably believes, at 
the time of the sale to that person of a pool participation in the 
exempt pool, or who the commodity trading advisor reasonably believes, 
at the time that person opens an exempt account, is:
    (i) A futures commission merchant registered pursuant to section 4d 
of the Act, or a principal thereof;
    (ii) A broker or dealer registered pursuant to section 15 of the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or a principal thereof;
    (iii) A commodity pool operator registered pursuant to section 4m of 
the Act, or a principal thereof; Provided, That the pool operator:
    (A) Has been registered and active as such for two years; or
    (B) Operates pools which, in the aggregate, have total assets in 
excess of $5,000,000;
    (iv) A commodity trading advisor registered pursuant to section 4m 
of the Act, or a principal thereof; Provided, That the trading advisor:
    (A) Has been registered and active as such for two years; or
    (B) Provides commodity interest trading advice to commodity accounts 
which, in the aggregate, have total assets in excess of $5,000,000 
deposited at one or more futures commission merchants;
    (v) An investment adviser registered pursuant to section 203 of the 
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (``Investment Advisers Act'') or 
pursuant to the laws of any state, or a principal thereof; Provided, 
That the investment adviser:
    (A) Has been registered and active as such for two years; or
    (B) Provides securities investment advice to securities accounts 
which, in the aggregate, have total assets in excess of $5,000,000 
deposited at one or more registered securities brokers;
    (vi) A ``qualified purchaser'' as defined in section 2(a)(51)(A) of 
the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the ``Investment Company Act'');
    (vii) A ``knowledgeable employee'' as defined in Sec.  270.3c-5 of 
this title;
    (viii)(A) With respect to an exempt pool:
    (1) The commodity pool operator, commodity trading advisor or 
investment adviser of the exempt pool offered or sold, or an affiliate 
of any of the foregoing;
    (2) A principal of the exempt pool or the commodity pool operator, 
commodity trading advisor or investment adviser of the exempt pool, or 
of an affiliate of any of the foregoing;

[[Page 168]]

    (3) An employee of the exempt pool or the commodity pool operator, 
commodity trading advisor or investment adviser of the exempt pool, or 
of an affiliate of any of the foregoing (other than an employee 
performing solely clerical, secretarial or administrative functions with 
regard to such person or its investments) who, in connection with his or 
her regular functions or duties, participates in the investment 
activities of the exempt pool, other commodity pools operated by the 
pool operator of the exempt pool or other accounts advised by the 
trading advisor or the investment adviser of the exempt pool, or by the 
affiliate; Provided, That such employee has been performing such 
functions and duties for or on behalf of the exempt pool, pool operator, 
trading advisor, investment adviser or affiliate, or substantially 
similar functions or duties for or on behalf of another person engaged 
in providing commodity interest, securities or other financial services, 
for at least 12 months;
    (4) Any other employee of, or an agent engaged to perform legal, 
accounting, auditing or other financial services for, the exempt pool or 
the commodity pool operator, commodity trading advisor or investment 
adviser of the exempt pool, or any other employee of, or agent so 
engaged by, an affiliate of any of the foregoing (other than an employee 
or agent performing solely clerical, secretarial or administrative 
functions with regard to such person or its investments); Provided, That 
such employee or agent:
    (i) Is an accredited investor as defined in Sec.  230.501(a)(5) or 
(6) of this title; and
    (ii) Has been employed or engaged by the exempt pool, commodity pool 
operator, commodity trading advisor, investment adviser or affiliate, or 
by another person engaged in providing commodity interest, securities or 
other financial services, for at least 24 months;
    (5) The spouse, child, sibling or parent of a person who satisfies 
the criteria of paragraph (a)(2)(viii)(A)(1), (2), (3) or (4) of this 
section; Provided, That:
    (i) An investment in the exempt pool by any such family member is 
made with the knowledge and at the direction of the person; and
    (ii) The family member is not a qualified eligible person for the 
purposes of paragraph (a)(3)(xi) of this section;
    (6)(i) Any person who acquires a participation in the exempt pool by 
gift, bequest or pursuant to an agreement relating to a legal separation 
or divorce from a person listed in paragraph (a)(2)(viii)(A)(1), (2), 
(3), (4) or (5) of this section;
    (ii) The estate of any person listed in paragraph 
(a)(2)(viii)(A)(1), (2), (3), (4) or (5) of this section; or
    (iii) A company established by any person listed in paragraph 
(a)(2)(viii)(A)(1), (2), (3), (4) or (5) of this section exclusively for 
the benefit of (or owned exclusively by) that person and any person 
listed in paragraph (a)(2)(viii)(A)(6)(i) or (ii) of this section;
    (B) With respect to an exempt account:
    (1) An affiliate of the commodity trading advisor of the exempt 
account;
    (2) A principal of the commodity trading advisor of the exempt 
account or of an affiliate of the trading advisor;
    (3) An employee of the commodity trading advisor of the exempt 
account or of an affiliate of the trading advisor (other than an 
employee performing solely clerical, secretarial or administrative 
functions with regard to such person or its investments) who, in 
connection with his or her regular functions or duties, participates in 
the investment activities of the trading advisor or the affiliate; 
Provided, That such employee has been performing such functions and 
duties for or on behalf of the trading advisor or the affiliate, or 
substantially similar functions or duties for or on behalf of another 
person engaged in providing commodity interest, securities or other 
financial services, for at least 12 months;
    (4) Any other employee of, or an agent engaged to perform legal, 
accounting, auditing or other financial services for, the commodity 
trading advisor of the exempt account or any other employee of, or agent 
so engaged by, an affiliate of the trading advisor (other than an 
employee or agent performing solely clerical, secretarial or 
administrative functions with regard to such person or its investments); 
Provided, That such employee or agent:

[[Page 169]]

    (i) Is an accredited investor as defined in Sec.  230.501(a)(5) or 
(a)(6) of this title; and
    (ii) Has been employed or engaged by the commodity trading advisor 
or the affiliate, or by another person engaged in providing commodity 
interest, securities or other financial services, for at least 24 
months; or
    (5) The spouse, child, sibling or parent of the commodity trading 
advisor of the exempt account or of a person who satisfies the criteria 
of paragraph (a)(2)(viii)(B)(1), (2), (3) or (4) of this section; 
Provided, That:
    (i) The establishment of an exempt account by any such family member 
is made with the knowledge and at the direction of the person; and
    (ii) The family member is not a qualified eligible person for the 
purposes of paragraph (a)(3)(xi) of this section;
    (6)(i) Any person who acquires an interest in an exempt account by 
gift, bequest or pursuant to an agreement relating to a legal separation 
or divorce from a person listed in paragraph (a)(2)(viii)(B)(1), (2), 
(3), (4) or (5) of this section;
    (ii) The estate of any person listed in paragraph 
(a)(2)(viii)(B)(1), (2), (3), (4) or (5) of this section; or
    (iii) A company established by any person listed in paragraph 
(a)(2)(viii)(B)(1), (2), (3), (4) or (5) of this section exclusively for 
the benefit of (or owned exclusively by) that person and any person 
listed in paragraph (a)(2)(viii)(B)(6)(i) or (ii) of this section;
    (ix) A trust; Provided, That:
    (A) The trust was not formed for the specific purpose of either 
participating in the exempt pool or opening an exempt account; and
    (B) The trustee or other person authorized to make investment 
decisions with respect to the trust, and each settlor or other person 
who has contributed assets to the trust, is a qualified eligible person;
    (x) An organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal 
Revenue Code (the ``IRC''); Provided, That the trustee or other person 
authorized to make investment decisions with respect to the 
organization, and the person who has established the organization, is a 
qualified eligible person;
    (xi) A Non-United States person;
    (xii)(A) An entity in which all of the unit owners or participants, 
other than the commodity trading advisor claiming relief under this 
section, are qualified eligible persons;
    (B) An exempt pool; or
    (C) Notwithstanding paragraph (a)(3) of this section, an entity as 
to which a notice of eligibility has been filed pursuant to Sec.  4.5 
which is operated in accordance with such rule and in which all unit 
owners or participants, other than the commodity trading advisor 
claiming relief under this section, are qualified eligible persons.
    (3) Persons who must satisfy the Portfolio Requirement to be 
qualified eligible persons. Qualified eligible person means any person 
who the commodity pool operator reasonably believes, at the time of the 
sale to that person of a pool participation in the exempt pool, or any 
person who the commodity trading advisor reasonably believes, at the 
time that person opens an exempt account, satisfies the Portfolio 
Requirement and is:
    (i) An investment company registered under the Investment Company 
Act or a business development company as defined in section 2(a)(48) of 
such Act not formed for the specific purpose of either investing in the 
exempt pool or opening an exempt account;
    (ii) A bank as defined in section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 
1933 (the ``Securities Act'') or any savings and loan association or 
other institution as defined in section 3(a)(5)(A) of the Securities Act 
acting for its own account or for the account of a qualified eligible 
person;
    (iii) An insurance company as defined in section 2(13) of the 
Securities Act acting for its own account or for the account of a 
qualified eligible person;
    (iv) A plan established and maintained by a state, its political 
subdivisions, or any agency or instrumentality of a state or its 
political subdivisions, for the benefit of its employees, if such plan 
has total assets in excess of $5,000,000;
    (v) An employee benefit plan within the meaning of the Employee 
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974; Provided, That the investment 
decision is made by a plan fiduciary, as defined in

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section 3(21) of such Act, which is a bank, savings and loan 
association, insurance company, or registered investment adviser; or 
that the employee benefit plan has total assets in excess of $5,000,000; 
or, if the plan is self-directed, that investment decisions are made 
solely by persons that are qualified eligible persons;
    (vi) A private business development company as defined in section 
202(a)(22) of the Investment Advisers Act;
    (vii) An organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the IRC, 
with total assets in excess of $5,000,000;
    (viii) A corporation, Massachusetts or similar business trust, or 
partnership, limited liability company or similar business venture, 
other than a pool, which has total assets in excess of $5,000,000, and 
is not formed for the specific purpose of either participating in the 
exempt pool or opening an exempt account;
    (ix) A natural person whose individual net worth, or joint net worth 
with that person's spouse, at the time of either his purchase in the 
exempt pool or his opening of an exempt account exceeds $1,000,000;
    (x) A natural person who had an individual income in excess of 
$200,000 in each of the two most recent years or joint income with that 
person's spouse in excess of $300,000 in each of those years and has a 
reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in the current 
year;
    (xi) A pool, trust, insurance company separate account or bank 
collective trust, with total assets in excess of $5,000,000, not formed 
for the specific purpose of either participating in the exempt pool or 
opening an exempt account, and whose participation in the exempt pool or 
investment in the exempt account is directed by a qualified eligible 
person; or
    (xii) Except as provided for the governmental entities referenced in 
paragraph (a)(3)(iv) of this section, if otherwise authorized by law to 
engage in such transactions, a governmental entity (including the United 
States, a state, or a foreign government) or political subdivision 
thereof, or a multinational or supranational entity or an 
instrumentality, agency, or department of any of the foregoing.
    (b) Relief available to commodity pool operators. Upon filing the 
notice required by paragraph (d) of this section, and subject to 
compliance with the conditions specified in paragraph (d) of this 
section, any registered commodity pool operator who offers or sells 
participations in a pool solely to qualified eligible persons in an 
offering which qualifies for exemption from the registration 
requirements of the Securities Act pursuant to section 4(2) of that Act 
or pursuant to Regulation S, 17 CFR 230.901 et seq., and any bank 
registered as a commodity pool operator in connection with a pool that 
is a collective trust fund whose securities are exempt from registration 
under the Securities Act pursuant to section 3(a)(2) of that Act and are 
offered or sold, without marketing to the public, solely to qualified 
eligible persons, may claim any or all of the following relief with 
respect to such pool:
    (1) Disclosure relief. (i) Exemption from the specific requirements 
of Sec. Sec.  4.21, 4.24, 4.25 and 4.26 with respect to each exempt 
pool; Provided, That if an offering memorandum is distributed in 
connection with soliciting prospective participants in the exempt pool, 
such offering memorandum must include all disclosures necessary to make 
the information contained therein, in the context in which it is 
furnished, not misleading; and that the following statement is 
prominently disclosed on the cover page of the offering memorandum, or, 
if none is provided, immediately above the signature line on the 
subscription agreement or other document that the prospective 
participant must execute to become a participant in the pool:

    ``PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING 
COMMISSION IN CONNECTION WITH POOLS WHOSE PARTICIPANTS ARE LIMITED TO 
QUALIFIED ELIGIBLE PERSONS, AN OFFERING MEMORANDUM FOR THIS POOL IS NOT 
REQUIRED TO BE, AND HAS NOT BEEN, FILED WITH THE COMMISSION. THE 
COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION DOES NOT PASS UPON THE MERITS OF 
PARTICIPATING IN A POOL OR UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF AN OFFERING 
MEMORANDUM. CONSEQUENTLY, THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION HAS 
NOT

[[Page 171]]

REVIEWED OR APPROVED THIS OFFERING OR ANY OFFERING MEMORANDUM FOR THIS 
POOL.''

    (ii) Exemption from disclosing the past performance of exempt pools 
in the Disclosure Document of non-exempt pools except to the extent that 
such past performance is material to the non-exempt pool being offered; 
Provided, That a pool operator that has claimed exemption hereunder and 
elects not to disclose any such performance in the Disclosure Document 
of non-exempt pools shall state in a footnote to the performance 
disclosure therein that the operator is operating or has operated exempt 
pools whose performance is not disclosed in this Disclosure Document.
    (2) Periodic reporting relief. Exemption from the specific 
requirements of Sec. Sec.  4.22(a) and (b); Provided, That a statement 
signed and affirmed in accordance with Sec.  4.22(h) is prepared and 
distributed to pool participants no less frequently than quarterly 
within 30 calendar days after the end of the reporting period. This 
statement must be presented and computed in accordance with generally 
accepted accounting principles and indicate:
    (i) The net asset value of the exempt pool as of the end of the 
reporting period;
    (ii) The change in net asset value from the end of the previous 
reporting period; and
    (iii) The net asset value per outstanding unit of participation in 
the exempt pool as of the end of the reporting period.
    (3) Annual report relief. (i) Exemption from the specific 
requirements of Sec. Sec.  4.22(c) and (d); Provided, That within 90 
calendar days after the end of the exempt pool's fiscal year, the 
commodity pool operator electronically files with the National Futures 
Association and distributes to each participant in lieu of the financial 
information and statements specified by those sections, an annual report 
for the exempt pool, affirmed in accordance with Sec.  4.22(h) which 
contains, at a minimum:
    (A) A Statement of Financial Condition as of the close of the exempt 
pool's fiscal year (elected in accordance with Sec.  4.22(g));
    (B) A Statement of Income (Loss) for that year; and
    (C) Appropriate footnote disclosure and any other material 
information.
    (ii) Such annual report must be presented and computed in accordance 
with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied and, 
if certified by an independent public accountant, so certified in 
accordance with Sec.  1.16 as applicable.
    (iii) Legend. (A) If a claim for exemption has been made pursuant to 
this section, the commodity pool operator must make a statement to that 
effect on the cover page of each annual report.
    (B) If the annual report is not certified in accordance with Sec.  
1.16, the pool operator must make a statement to that effect on the 
cover page of each annual report and state that a certified audit will 
be provided upon the request of the holders of a majority of the units 
of participation in the pool who are unaffiliated with the commodity 
pool operator.
    (4) Recordkeeping relief. Exemption from the specific requirements 
of Sec.  4.23; Provided, That the commodity pool operator must maintain 
the reports referred to in paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(3) of this section 
and all books and records prepared in connection with his activities as 
the pool operator of the exempt pool (including, without limitation, 
records relating to the qualifications of qualified eligible persons and 
substantiating any performance representations) at his main business 
address and must make such books and records available to any 
representative of the Commission, the National Futures Association and 
the United States Department of Justice in accordance with the 
provisions of Sec.  1.31.
    (c) Relief available to commodity trading advisors. Upon filing the 
notice required by paragraph (d) of this section, and subject to 
compliance with the conditions specified in paragraph (d) of this 
section, any registered commodity trading advisor who anticipates 
directing or guiding the commodity interest accounts of qualified 
eligible persons may claim any or all of the following relief with 
respect to the accounts of qualified eligible persons who have

[[Page 172]]

given due consent to their account being an exempt account under Sec.  
4.7:
    (1) Disclosure relief. (i) Exemption from the specific requirements 
of Sec. Sec.  4.31, 4.34, 4.35 and 4.36; Provided, That if the commodity 
trading advisor delivers a brochure or other disclosure statement to 
such qualified eligible persons, such brochure or statement shall 
include all additional disclosures necessary to make the information 
contained therein, in the context in which it is furnished, not 
misleading; and that the following statement is prominently displayed on 
the cover page of the brochure or statement or, if none is provided, 
immediately above the signature line of the agreement that the client 
must execute before it opens an account with the commodity trading 
advisor:

    ``PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING 
COMMISSION IN CONNECTION WITH ACCOUNTS OF QUALIFIED ELIGIBLE PERSONS, 
THIS BROCHURE OR ACCOUNT DOCUMENT IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE, AND HAS NOT 
BEEN, FILED WITH THE COMMISSION. THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING 
COMMISSION DOES NOT PASS UPON THE MERITS OF PARTICIPATING IN A TRADING 
PROGRAM OR UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF COMMODITY TRADING ADVISOR 
DISCLOSURE. CONSEQUENTLY, THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION HAS 
NOT REVIEWED OR APPROVED THIS TRADING PROGRAM OR THIS BROCHURE OR 
ACCOUNT DOCUMENT.''

    (ii) Exemption from disclosing the past performance of exempt 
accounts in the Disclosure Document for non-exempt accounts except to 
the extent that such past performance is material to the non-exempt 
account being offered; Provided, That a commodity trading advisor that 
has claimed exemption hereunder and elects not to disclose any such 
performance in the Disclosure Document for non-exempt accounts shall 
state in a footnote to the performance disclosure therein that the 
advisor is advising or has advised exempt accounts for qualified 
eligible persons whose performance is not disclosed in this Disclosure 
Document.
    (2) Recordkeeping relief. Exemption from the specific requirements 
of Sec.  4.33; Provided, That the commodity trading advisor must 
maintain, at its main business office, all books and records prepared in 
connection with his activities as the commodity trading advisor of 
qualified eligible persons (including, without limitation, records 
relating to the qualifications of such qualified eligible persons and 
substantiating any performance representations) and must make such books 
and records available to any representative of the Commission, the 
National Futures Association and the United States Department of Justice 
in accordance with the provisions of Sec.  1.31.
    (d) Notice of claim for exemption. (1) A notice of a claim for 
exemption under this section must:
    (i) Be in writing;
    (ii) Provide the name, main business address, main business 
telephone number and the National Futures Association commodity pool 
operator or commodity trading advisor identification number of the 
person claiming the exemption;
    (iii)(A) Where the claimant is a commodity pool operator, provide 
the name(s) of the pool(s) for which the request is made; Provided, That 
a single notice representing that the pool operator anticipates 
operating single-investor pools may be filed to claim exemption for 
single-investor pools and such notice need not name each such pool;
    (B) Where the claimant is a commodity trading advisor, contain a 
representation that the trading advisor anticipates providing commodity 
interest trading advice to qualified eligible persons;
    (iv) Contain representations that:
    (A) Neither the commodity pool operator or commodity trading advisor 
nor any of its principals is subject to any statutory disqualification 
under section 8a(2) or 8a(3) of the Act unless such disqualification 
arises from a matter which was previously disclosed in connection with a 
previous application for registration if such registration was granted 
or which was disclosed more than thirty days prior to the filing of the 
notice under this paragraph (d);
    (B) The commodity pool operator or commodity trading advisor will 
comply with the applicable requirements of Sec.  4.7; and

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    (C) Where the claimant is a commodity pool operator, that the exempt 
pool will be offered and operated in compliance with the applicable 
requirements of Sec.  4.7;
    (v) Specify the relief claimed under Sec.  4.7;
    (vi) Where the claimant is a commodity pool operator, state the 
closing date of the offering or that the offering will be continuous;
    (vii) Be manually signed by a representative duly authorized to bind 
the commodity pool operator or commodity trading advisor;
    (viii) Be filed with the National Futures Association at its 
headquarters office (Attn: Director of Compliance, Compliance 
Department); and
    (ix)(A)(1) Where the claimant is a commodity pool operator, except 
as provided in paragraph (d)(1)(iii)(A) of this section with respect to 
single-investor pools and in paragraph (d)(1)(ix)(A)(2) of this section, 
be received by the National Futures Association:
    (i) Before the date the pool first enters into a commodity interest 
transaction, if the relief claimed is limited to that provided under 
paragraphs (b)(2), (3) and (4) of this section; or
    (ii) Prior to any offer or sale of any participation in the exempt 
pool if the claimed relief includes that provided under paragraph (b)(1) 
of this section.
    (2) Where participations in a pool have been offered or sold in full 
compliance with Part 4, the notice of a claim for exemption may be filed 
with the National Futures Association at any time; Provided, That the 
claim for exemption is otherwise consistent with the duties of the 
commodity pool operator and the rights of pool participants and that the 
commodity pool operator notifies the pool participants of his intention, 
absent objection by the holders of a majority of the units of 
participation in the pool who are unaffiliated with the commodity pool 
operator within twenty-one days after the date of the notification, to 
file a notice of claim for exemption under Sec.  4.7 and such holders 
have not objected within such period. A commodity pool operator filing a 
notice under this paragraph (d)(1)(ix)(A)(2) shall either provide 
disclosure and reporting in accordance with the requirements of Part 4 
to those participants objecting to the filing of such notice or allow 
such participants to redeem their units of participation in the pool 
within three months of the filing of such notice.
    (B) Where the claimant is a commodity trading advisor, be received 
by the Commission before the date the trading advisor first enters into 
an agreement to direct or guide the commodity interest account of a 
qualified eligible person pursuant to Sec.  4.7.
    (2) The notice will be effective upon receipt by the National 
Futures Association with respect to each pool for which it was made 
where the claimant is a commodity pool operator and otherwise generally 
where the claimant is a commodity trading advisor; Provided, That any 
notice which does not include all the required information shall not be 
effective, and that if at the time the National Futures Association 
receives the notice an enforcement proceeding brought by the Commission 
under the Act or the regulations is pending against the pool operator or 
trading advisor or any of its principals, the exemption will not be 
effective until twenty-one calendar days after receipt of the notice by 
the National Futures Association and that in such case an exemption may 
be denied by the Commission or the National Futures Association or made 
subject to such conditions as the Commission or the National Futures 
Association may impose.
    (3) Any exemption claimed hereunder shall cease to be effective upon 
any change which would cause the commodity pool operator of an exempt 
pool to be ineligible for the relief claimed with respect to such pool 
or which would cause a commodity trading advisor to be ineligible for 
the relief claimed. The pool operator or trading advisor must promptly 
file a notice advising the National Futures Association of such change.
    (4)(i) Any exemption from the requirements of Sec.  4.21, 4.22, 
4.23, 4.24, 4.25 or 4.26 claimed hereunder with respect to a pool shall 
not affect the obligation of the commodity pool operator to comply with 
all other applicable provisions of Part 4, the Act and the Commission's 
rules and regulations, with

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respect to the pool and any other pool the pool operator operates or 
intends to operate.
    (ii) Any exemption from the requirements of Sec.  4.31, 4.33, 4.34, 
4.35 or 4.36 claimed hereunder shall not affect the obligation of the 
commodity trading advisor to comply with all other applicable provisions 
of Part 4, the Act and the Commission's rules and regulations, with 
respect to any qualified eligible person and any other client to which 
the commodity trading advisor provides or intends to provide commodity 
interest trading advice.
    (e) Insignificant deviations from a term, condition or requirement 
of Sec.  4.7. (1) A failure to comply with a term or condition of Sec.  
4.7 will not result in the loss of the exemption with respect to a 
particular pool or client if the commodity pool operator or the 
commodity trading advisor relying on the exemption shows that:
    (i) The failure to comply did not pertain to a term, condition or 
requirement directly intended to protect that particular qualified 
eligible person;
    (ii) The failure to comply was insignificant with respect to the 
exempt pool as a whole or to the particular exempt account; and
    (iii) A good faith and reasonable attempt was made to comply with 
all applicable terms, conditions and requirements of Sec.  4.7.
    (2) A transaction made in reliance on Sec.  4.7 must comply with all 
applicable terms, conditions and requirements of Sec.  4.7. Where an 
exemption is established only through reliance upon paragraph (e)(1) of 
this section, the failure to comply shall nonetheless be actionable by 
the Commission.

[65 FR 47854, Aug. 4, 2000, as amended at 67 FR 77411, Dec. 18, 2002; 68 
FR 47231, Aug. 8, 2003; 71 FR 8942, Feb. 22, 2006]