[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 214 (Friday, November 5, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60464-60466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-28975]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. IC-24118]


Notice of Applications for Deregistration Under Section 8(f) of 
the Investment Company Act of 1940

October 29, 1999.
    The following is a notice of applications for deregistration under 
section 8(f) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 for the month of 
October 1999. A copy of each application may be obtained for a fee at 
the SEC's Public Reference Branch, 450 Fifth St., NW, Washington, DC 
20549-0102 (tel. 202-942-8090). An order granting each application will 
be issued unless the SEC orders a hearing. Interested persons may 
request a hearing on any application by writing to the SEC's Secretary 
at the address below and

[[Page 60465]]

serving the relevant 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 November 22, 1999, and should be accompanied by proof of service on 
the 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 who wish to be notified of a hearing may request 
notification by writing to the Secretary, SEC, 450 Fifth Street, NW, 
Washington, DC 20549-0609. For Further Information Contact: Diane L. 
Titus, at (202) 942-0564, SEC, Division of Investment Management, 
Office of Investment Company Regulation, 450 Fifth Street, NW, 
Washington, DC 20549-0506.

BlackRock Fund Investors I [File No. 811-8986], BlackRock Fund 
Investors II [File No. 811-8990], BlackRock Fund Investors III 
[File No. 811-8988] and BlackRock Asset Investors [File No. 811-
8984]

    Summary: Each applicant, a closed-end investment company, seeks an 
order declaring that it has ceased to be an investment company. On 
September 27, 1999, each applicant made a final liquidating 
distribution to its common shareholders at net asset value per share. 
Preferred shares of BlackRock Asset Investors also were redeemed on 
September 27, 1999. On September 10, 1999, each applicant redeemed its 
outstanding notes. BlackRock Fund Investors I, BlackRock Fund Investors 
II, and BlackRock Fund Investors III each incurred expenses of $12,500 
in connection with the liquidations. BlackRock Asset Investors incurred 
expenses of $92,500 in connection with the liquidation.
    Filing Dates: Each application was filed on September 30, 1999. 
BlackRock Asset Investors filed an amended application on October 20, 
1999.
    Applicants' Address: 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022.

TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund [File No. 811-7372]

    Summary: Applicant seeks an order declaring that it has ceased to 
be an investment company. On June 28, 1999, applicant transferred its 
assets to Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Income Builder Fund, based on net 
asset value. Expenses of $95,645 incurred in connection with the 
reorganization were paid by applicant.
    Filing Date: The application was filed on October 12, 1999.
    Applicant's Address: Two World Trade Center, 70th Floor, New York, 
New York 10048

Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc. [File 
No. 811-6148]; Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund [File 
No. 811-7179]

    Summary: Each applicant seeks an order declaring that it has ceased 
to be an investment Company. On March 15, 1999, Morgan Stanley Dean 
Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc. transferred its assets to 
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Worldwide Income Trust, based on net asset 
value. On June 28, 1999, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund 
transferred its assets to Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Mid-Cap Equity 
Trust, based on net asset value. Expenses of $119,373 and $209,654, 
respectively, incurred in connection with the reorganizations were paid 
by each applicant.
    Filing Dates: Each application was filed on October 12, 1999.
    Applicant's Address: Two World Trade Center, 70th Floor, New York, 
New York 10048.

Blackrock MQE Investors [File No. 811-7903]

    Summary: Applicant, a closed-end investment company, seeks an order 
declaring that it has ceased to be an investment company. On September 
10, 1999, applicant made a final liquidating distribution to its common 
shareholders at net asset value per share. Preferred units of applicant 
were redeemed on March 4, 1999. Expenses of $10,000 incurred in 
connection with the liquidation were paid by applicant.
    Filing Date: The application was filed on September 27, 1999.
    Applicant's Address: 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154.

Northstar Strategic Income Fund [File No. 811-8414]

    Summary: Applicant seeks an order declaring that it has ceased to 
be an investment company. On November 20, 1998, applicant transferred 
its assets to Northstar High Yield Fund (the ``Acquiring Fund''), based 
on net asset value. Expenses of $57,538 incurred in connection with the 
reorganization were paid by the Acquiring Fund.
    Filing Date: The application was filed on September 15, 1999.
    Applicant's Address: Northstar Investment Management Corporation, 
300 First Stamford Place, Stamford, Connecticut 06902.

TCW/DW Emerging Markets Opportunities Trust [File No. 811-8240]

    Summary: Applicant seeks an order declaring that it has ceased to 
be an investment company. On June 21, 1999, applicant made a 
liquidating distribution to its shareholders at net asset value per 
share. Expenses of $26,000 incurred in connection with the liquidation 
were paid by applicant.
    Filing Date: The application was filed on September 24, 1999.
    Applicant's Address: Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 
10048.

VAM Institutional Funds, Inc. [File No. 811-4546]

    Summary: Applicant seeks an order declaring that it has ceased to 
be an investment company. On April 1, 1999, applicant made a 
liquidating distribution to its shareholders at net asset value per 
share. Expenses of $35,000 incurred in connection with the liquidation 
were paid by applicant's investment adviser.
    Filing Dates: The application was filed on July 19, 1999, and 
amended on September 29, 1999.
    Applicant's Address: 90 South Seventh Street, Suite 4300, 
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402.

Balanced Portfolio [File No. 811-8502]

    Summary: Applicant seeks an order declaring that it has ceased to 
be an investment company. On August 1, 1999, applicant made a 
liquidating distribution to its shareholders at net asset value per 
share. Expenses of $10,000 incurred in connection with the liquidation 
were paid by Citibank, N.A., applicant's investment adviser.
    Filing Date: The application was filed on October 26, 1999.
    Applicant's Address: Elizabethan Square, George Town, Grand Cayman, 
Cayman Islands, BWI.

Voyageur Investment Trust II [File No. 811-8350]

    Summary: Applicant seeks an order declaring that it has ceased to 
be an investment company. On November 18, 1998, applicant made a 
liquidating distribution to its shareholders at net asset value per 
share. Expenses of $360 incurred in connection with the liquidation 
were paid by the applicant.
    Filing Date: The application was filed on October 25, 1999.
    Applicant's Address: 1818 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 
19103.

[[Page 60466]]

MBL Growth Fund, Inc. [File No. 811-3593]

    Summary: Applicant seeks an order declaring that it has ceased to 
be an investment company. On June 22, 1999, applicant made a 
liquidating distribution to its shareholders based on net asset value 
per share. Expenses of $4,175 were incurred in connection with the 
liquidation and were paid by applicant.
    Filing Dates: The application was filed on July 22, 1999, and 
amended on September 29, 1999.
    Applicant's Address: 520 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102-
3111.

MBL Variable Contract Account--2 [File No. 811-2047]

    Summary: Applicant seeks an order declaring that it has ceased to 
be an investment company. On June 30, 1999, and July 14, 1999, 
applicant made liquidating distributions to its shareholders based on 
net asset value per share. No expenses were incurred in connection with 
the liquidation.
    Filing Date: The application was filed on July 29, 1999.
    Applicant's Address: 520 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102-
3111.

MBL Variable Contract Account--3 [File No. 811-2313]

    Summary: Applicant seeks an order declaring that it has ceased to 
be an investment company. On June 30, 1999, and July 14, 1999, 
applicant made liquidating distributions to its shareholders based on 
net asset value per share. No expenses were incurred in connection with 
the liquidation.
    Filing Dates: The application was filed on July 29, 1999, and 
amended on September 29, 1999, and October 4, 1999.
    Applicant's Address: 520 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102-
3111.

MBL Variable Contract Account--7 [File No. 811-3853]

    Summary: Applicant seeks an order declaring that it has ceased to 
be an investment company. On June 30, 1999, applicant made a 
liquidating distribution to its shareholders based on net asset value 
per share. No. expenses were incurred in connection with the 
liquidation.
    Filing Date: The application was filed on July 29, 1999.
    Applicant's Address: 520 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102-
3111.

MBL Variable Contract Account--9 [File No. 811-5224]

    Summary: Applicant seeks an order declaring that it has ceased to 
be an investment company. On June 30, 1999, applicant made a 
liquidating distribution to its shareholders based on net asset value 
per share. No. expenses were incurred in connection with the 
liquidation.
    Filing Date: The application was filed on July 30, 1999.
    Applicant's Address: 520 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102-
3111.

MBL Variable Contract Account--11 [File No. 811-5798]

    Summary: Applicant seeks an order declaring that it has ceased to 
be an investment company. On June 30, 1999, applicant made a 
liquidating distribution to its shareholders based on net asset value 
per share. No expenses were incurred in connection with the 
liquidation.
    Filing Date: The application was filed on July 30, 1999.
    Applicant's Address: 520 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102-
3111.

Empire Life Deferred Variable Annuity Account [File No. 811-05478]

    Summary: Applicant seeks an order declaring that it has ceased to 
be an investment company. Applicant has not made any public offering of 
its securities and does not propose to make any public offering or 
engage in business of any kind.
    Filing Date: The application was filed on August 17, 1999.
    Applicant's Address: 5069 154th Place NE, Redmond, Washington 
98052.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, 
pursuant to delegated authority.
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-28975 Filed 11-4-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-M