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The Securities and Exchange Commission announced a notice regarding an application from the Esoterica Thematic Trust and Esoterica Capital LLC. They are seeking an exemption to allow modifications of subadvisory agreements without shareholder approval and relief from certain disclosure rules about fees. The requested exemption would enable more efficient operations by allowing the Adviser to select and amend agreements with subadvisers, subject to approval by the board of trustees, without the need for shareholder meetings. This is intended to streamline processes while ensuring transparency through aggregated fee disclosures.

The Department of Labor has granted an exemption to the Boilermakers Western States Apprenticeship Fund, allowing it to purchase a property in Page, Arizona, from Lodge 4, despite restrictions under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). This decision was made to avoid the costs and time of relocating the Plan's training program and because the property is already modified for this purpose. An independent fiduciary will ensure that the property is bought at fair market value, adhering to all necessary conditions. The purchase will help maintain the training program and provide administrative space for the Plan's headquarters.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration granted an exemption allowing the Associated General Contractors of America, San Diego Chapter, Inc. to lease its training facility to its Apprenticeship and Training Fund under specific conditions. The agreement ensures the Plan pays fair market rent, verified by an independent fiduciary, and that the lease benefits participants by providing effective training facilities. The fiduciary also monitors compliance with the lease terms and any rent increases must adhere to changes in the Consumer Price Index. This exemption is designed to avoid conflicts with ERISA's prohibited transaction rules.

The Securities and Exchange Commission issued a temporary order allowing the Infinity Q Diversified Alpha Fund to halt redemptions beginning February 19, 2021, due to issues with accurately valuing certain assets. Infinity Q Capital Management, the Fund's adviser, cannot calculate a fair value for certain swap instruments after discovering irregularities in their valuation process, rendering them unable to determine the correct net asset value (NAV). The Fund plans to liquidate its portfolio to ensure current and former shareholders get maximum returns while developing plans for repayment and liquidation overseen by independent parties and the Commission.

The Federal Reserve has issued an interim final rule to extend relief for certain loans guaranteed under the Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) until March 31, 2021. This extension also includes PPP second draw loans and exempts insider loans from certain banking regulations if these loans pose minimal risk. This rule aims to facilitate lending to small businesses owned by bank insiders, ensuring they have access to financial resources without being hindered by restrictions. The public is invited to comment on the rule until April 5, 2021.

The Department of Commerce is asking for feedback on their collection of information regarding the Fishery Capacity Reduction Program. This request is part of efforts to manage the burden of reporting on the public, as mandated by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The main goal of the program is to reduce fishing capacity by compensating fishermen to give up their fishing permits or vessels. The public is encouraged to send their comments by March 23, 2021, to help evaluate and improve the information collection process.