# CFTC Letter No. 11-01: The Division of Clearing and Intermediary Oversight provided no-action relief to the general partners of two commodity pools from registering as CPOs under Section 4m(1) of the Commodity Exchange Act, and allowed an a..

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFTC_L11_01

## Section

- **Citation:** CFTC Letter No. 11-01
- **Heading:** The Division of Clearing and Intermediary Oversight provided no-action relief to the general partners of two commodity pools from registering as CPOs under Section 4m(1) of the Commodity Exchange Act, and allowed an a..
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** CFTC Staff Letters (2008-present) / The Division of Clearing and Intermediary Oversight provided no-action relief to the general partners of two commodity pools from registering as CPOs under Section 4m(1) of the Commodity Exchange Act, and allowed an a...

## Text

Summary: The Division of Clearing and Intermediary Oversight provided no-action relief to the general partners of two commodity pools from registering as CPOs under Section 4m(1) of the Commodity Exchange Act, and allowed an affiliated, registered CPO (“designee”) to serve as the CPO of the pools instead, where, among other things: (1) the general partners and the designee are under common ownership and control; (2) the general partners have delegated all of their management authority to the designee; (3) the general partners do not engage in the solicitation of investors for the pool and do not manage property of the pool; and (4) each general partner and the designee executed and submitted to the Division a written acknowledgement of joint and several liability for any violation by either of them of the Act or the Commission’s regulations in connection with the operation of their respective pools.

U.S. COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION
Three Lafayette Centre
1155 21st Street, NW, Washington, DC 20581
Telephone: (202) 418-5430
Facsimile: (202) 418-5547
aradhakrishnan@cftc.gov
Division of Clearing and
Intermediary Oversight
Ananda Radhakrishnan
Director
CFTC Letter No. 11-01
No-Action
March 22, 2011
Division of Clearing and Intermediary Oversight

Re: Section 4m(1) – Request for CPO Registration Relief for Affiliated General
Partners of Several Commodity Pools

Dear :

This is in response to your letter dated January 10, 2011 to the Division of Clearing and
Intermediary Oversight (the “Division”) of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the
“Commission”), as supplemented by a telephone conversation between you and Division staff on
January 27, 2011, an email from you on February 23, 2011, and a telephone conversation with
your associate, “A”, on February 25, 2011 (collectively, the “correspondence”)
ry 10, 2011 to the Division of Clearing and
Intermediary Oversight (the “Division”) of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the
“Commission”), as supplemented by a telephone conversation between you and Division staff on
January 27, 2011, an email from you on February 23, 2011, and a telephone conversation with
your associate, “A”, on February 25, 2011 (collectively, the “correspondence”). By the
correspondence, you seek relief from the requirement to register with the Commission as a
commodity pool operator (“CPO”) under Section 4m(1) of the Commodity Exchange Act (the
“Act”)1 on behalf of: (i) “B”, in connection with serving as the general partner of “C”; and (ii)
“D”, in connection with serving as the general partner of “E”, such that “F” may serve as the
CPO of each of the “C” and “E”.

Based upon representations made in the correspondence, we understand the relevant facts
to be as follows. “F” is registered as a CPO with the Commission. “F” has entered into certain
arrangements with “B” and “D” in order to achieve more favorable tax treatment through the
allocation of performance fees to “B” and “D”.2

In support of your request you represent that:

1
7 U.S.C. §1 et seq. The Act can be accessed through the Commission’s website at
www.cftc.gov.

2
The Division takes no position, however, regarding the advisability or legality of this
conclusion under federal or state law, or regulations issued by the Department of the Treasury.
.2

In support of your request you represent that:

1
7 U.S.C. §1 et seq. The Act can be accessed through the Commission’s website at
www.cftc.gov.

2
The Division takes no position, however, regarding the advisability or legality of this
conclusion under federal or state law, or regulations issued by the Department of the Treasury.

Page 2

1. “B” and “D” are not subject to statutory disqualification under Section 8a(2) or 8a(3) of
the Act.

2. “F”, “B”, and “D” are under common ownership and control.3

3. Pursuant to the “C’s” investment management agreement with “F”, the investment
management functions and investment discretion with respect to the “C” have been
delegated to “F”. In addition, the “C’s” general partner, “B”, does not engage in the
solicitation of investors for the “C” or manage any of the “C’s” property.

4. Pursuant to the “E’s” investment management agreement with “F”, the investment
management functions and investment discretion with respect to the “E” have been
delegated to “F”. In addition, the “E’s” general partner, “D”, does not engage in the
solicitation of investors for the “E” or manage any of the “E’s” property.

5. All books and records of the “C” and the “E” are maintained at the offices of “F”.

6. “B” and “D” have no employees or other persons acting on their respective behalf, and do
not perform any functions or provide any services that are subject to the Act or
Commission’s regulations.

In further support of this request “B” and “D” have each entered into an
acknowledgement with “F” to be jointly and severally liable for any violation of the Act or
Commission’s regulations, to the extent that such violation is applicable to activities as CPOs in
connection with the operation of “B” and “D’s” respective funds
services that are subject to the Act or
Commission’s regulations.

In further support of this request “B” and “D” have each entered into an
acknowledgement with “F” to be jointly and severally liable for any violation of the Act or
Commission’s regulations, to the extent that such violation is applicable to activities as CPOs in
connection with the operation of “B” and “D’s” respective funds.

Based upon the foregoing, and consistent with prior practice in this area,4 the Division
will not recommend that the Commission commence any enforcement action against “B” or “D”
for failure to register as a CPO under Section 4m(1) of the Act in connection with serving as a
general partner of the “C” and “E”, respectively. This position is, however, subject to the
conditions that: (1) “F” serves as the CPO of the “C” and “E”; and (2) “F” remains registered as
a CPO.

The relief issued by this letter does not excuse “B” or “D” from compliance with any
other applicable requirements contained in the Act or in the Commission’s regulations issued
thereunder. For example, “B” and “D” remain subject to all antifraud provisions of the Act and
the Commission’s regulations, as well as the reporting requirements for traders set forth in Parts

3
“G”, directly or indirectly, owns 100% of the general partners of “F”, “B”, and “D”.

4
See, e.g., CFTC Staff Letter 10-33 [Current Transfer Binder] Comm. Fut. L. Rep.
¶31,523 (Sep. 21, 2010).
under. For example, “B” and “D” remain subject to all antifraud provisions of the Act and
the Commission’s regulations, as well as the reporting requirements for traders set forth in Parts

3
“G”, directly or indirectly, owns 100% of the general partners of “F”, “B”, and “D”.

4
See, e.g., CFTC Staff Letter 10-33 [Current Transfer Binder] Comm. Fut. L. Rep.
¶31,523 (Sep. 21, 2010).

Page 3

15, 18 and 19 of the Commission’s regulations, and all applicable provisions of Part 4, including
Regulations 4.20 and 4.41.5

This letter, and the position taken herein, are based upon the representations made to us
and are subject to compliance with the conditions stated above. Any different, changed or
omitted material facts or circumstances might render this letter void. In this regard, you must
notify the Division immediately in the event that the operations or activities of “F”, “B”, “D”, the
“C”, or the “E” change in any material respect from those as represented to us. Further, this
letter and the position taken herein represent the view of this Division only, and do not
necessarily represent the position or view of the Commission or of any other office or division of
the Commission.

If you have any questions concerning this correspondence, please contact Zachary J.
King, an attorney on my staff, at (202) 418-5364.

Very truly yours,

Ananda Radhakrishnan
Director

5
Commission Regulations may similarly be found at www.cftc.gov.

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFTC_L11_01. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.
