EX-99.(P)(3) 9 d420025dex99p3.htm CODE OF ETHICS OF THE DISTRIBUTOR DATED FEBRUARY 1, 2005 Code of Ethics of the Distributor dated February 1, 2005

Code of Ethics

of

JPMorgan Distribution Services

Effective February 1, 2005

Revised: August 2017


Code of Ethics

JPMorgan Asset Management

Table of Contents

 

1.

 

Introduction and Standards

     1  
    1.1.   Adoption of the Code of Ethics    1  
    1.2.   Standards of Business Conduct    1  
    1.3.   Unlawful Actions    2  
    1.4.   General Definitions    2  

2.

 

Reporting Requirements

     4  
    2.1.   Holdings Reports    4  
        2.1.1.    Content of Holdings Reports    4  
        2.1.2.    Timing of Holdings Reports    4  
    2.2.   Transaction Reports    5  
        2.2.1.    Content of Transaction Reports    5  
        2.2.2.    Timing of Transaction Reports    5  
    2.3.   Consolidated Report    5  
    2.4.   Exceptions from Reporting Requirements    5  

3.

 

Pre-approval of Certain Investments

     5  

4.

  Additional Restrictions and Corrective Action under the Personal Trading Policy and other related Policies and Procedures      6  
    4.1.   Designated Broker Requirement    6  
    4.2.   Blackout Provisions    6  
    4.3.   Minimum Investment Holding Period and Market Timing Prohibition    6  
    4.4.   Trade Reversals and Disciplinary Action    6  

5.

 

Books and Records to be Maintained by JPMDS

     7  

6.

 

Confidentiality

     7  

7.

 

Conflicts of Interest

     7  
    7.1.   Trading in Securities of Clients    7  
    7.2.   Trading in Securities of Suppliers    7  
    7.3.   Gifts    8  
    7.4.   Entertainment    8  
    7.5.   Political and Charitable Contributions    8  
    7.6.   Outside Business Activities   

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Code of Ethics

JPMorgan Asset Management

 

1. Introduction and Standards

 

1.1. Adoption of the Code of Ethics

This Code of Ethics (the “Code”) has been adopted by JPMorgan Distribution Services (“JPMDS”) in accordance with Rule 17j-1(c) under the Investment Company Act (the “1940 Act”). The Code sets forth standards of conduct, requires compliance with federal securities laws and addresses personal trading by JPMDS personnel.

Rule 17j-1(c) requires that the board of a Fund, as defined below, including a majority of directors or trustees who are not interested persons, must approve the code of ethics of the principal underwriter of the Fund, and any material changes to such code. The board must base its approval of a code and any material changes to the code on a determination that the code contains provisions reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from engaging in any conduct prohibited by section 1.3. Unlawful Actions. Before approving a code of the principal underwriter or any amendment to the code, the board of a Fund must receive a certification from the principal underwriter that it has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from violating the principal underwriter’s code of ethics. The Fund’s board must approve the code of an investment adviser or principal underwriter before initially retaining the services of the investment adviser or principal underwriter. The Fund’s board must approve a material change to a code no later than six months after adoption of the material change.

While all J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. (“JPMC”) staff, including JPMDS Supervised Persons, as defined below, are subject to the personal trading policies under the JPMC Code of Conduct, the JPMDS Code establishes more stringent standards reflecting the fiduciary obligations of JPMDS and its Supervised Persons. Where matters are addressed by both the JPMC Code of Conduct and this Code, Supervised Persons of JPMDS must observe and comply with the stricter standards set forth in this Code.

JPMDS hereby designates the staff of its Compliance Department to act as designees for the chief compliance officer of JPMDS (“CCO”) in administering this Code. Anyone with questions regarding the Code or its application should contact the Compliance Department.

 

1.2. Standards of Business Conduct

It is the duty of all Supervised Persons to place the interests of JPMDS clients before their own personal interests at all times and avoid any actual or potential conflict of interest. Given the access that Supervised Persons may have to proprietary and client information, JPMDS and its Supervised Persons must avoid even the appearance of impropriety with respect to personal trading, which must be oriented toward investment rather than short-term or speculative trading. Supervised Persons must also comply with applicable federal securities laws and report any violations of the Code promptly to the Compliance Department, which shall report any such violation promptly to the CCO.

Access Persons, as defined below, must report, and JPMDS must review, their personal securities transactions and holdings periodically. See section 2. Reporting Requirements and the JPMDS Personal Trading Policy, as defined below, for details regarding reporting procedures.

Compliance with the Code, and other applicable policies and procedures, is a condition of employment. The rules, procedures, reporting and recordkeeping requirements contained in the Code are designed to prevent employees from violating the provisions of the Code. Failure by a Supervised Person to comply with the Code may adversely impact JPMDS and may constitute a violation of federal securities laws.

At least annually, each CCO must review the adequacy of the Code and the policies and the procedures herein referenced.

 

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Code of Ethics

JPMorgan Asset Management

 

Pursuant to Rule 17j-1(c) (2), at least annually, the principal underwriter must furnish a written report to the board of the Fund, that:

 

  (a) Describes any issues arising under the Code or procedures since the last report to the board of the Fund, including, but not limited to information about material violations of the Code or procedures and sanctions imposed in response to the material violations; and

 

  (b) Certifies that the principal underwriter has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from violating the Code.

 

1.3. Unlawful Actions

It is unlawful for any Supervised Person:

 

  (c) To employ any device, scheme, or artifice to defraud a client or prospective client.

 

  (d) To make any untrue statement of a material fact to a client or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made to the client, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.

 

  (e) To engage in any act, practice, or course of business that operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit on a client or prospective client.

 

  (f) To engage in any manipulative practice with respect to a client or prospective client.

 

1.4. General Definitions

 

  (a) Supervised Persons include:

 

  (1) Any partner, officer, director (or other person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions) and employees of JPMDS;

 

  (2) All employees of entities affiliated with JPMDS that have been authorized by the Office of the Corporate Secretary to act in an official capacity on behalf of JPMDS, sometimes referred to as “dual hatted” employees;

 

  (3) Certain consultants as well as any other persons who provide advice on behalf of JPMDS and are subject to JPMDS’s supervision and control; and

 

  (4) All Access Persons, as defined in paragraph (b).

 

  (b) Access Persons include any partner, officer, director (or other person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions) and employees of JPMDS, as well as any other Supervised Person who:

 

  (1) Has access to nonpublic information regarding any clients’ purchase or sale of securities, or nonpublic information regarding the portfolio holdings of any registered fund for which JPMDS serves as principal underwriter; or

 

  (2) Is involved in making securities recommendations to clients, including Funds, or who has access to such recommendations that are nonpublic.

 

  (c)

Associated Account refers to an account in the name or for the direct or indirect benefit of a Supervised Person or a Supervised Person’s spouse, domestic partner, minor children and any other person for whom the Supervised Person provides significant financial support, as

 

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JPMorgan Asset Management

 

  well as to any other account over which the Supervised Person or any of these other persons exercise investment discretion, regardless of beneficial interest. Excluded from Associated Accounts are any 401(k) and deferred compensation plan accounts for which the Supervised Person has no investment discretion.

 

  (d) Automatic investment plan means a program in which regular periodic purchases (or withdrawals) are made automatically in (or from) investment accounts in accordance with a predetermined schedule and allocation. An automatic investment plan includes a dividend reinvestment plan.

 

  (e) Beneficial ownership is interpreted to mean any interest held directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, or any pecuniary interest in equity securities held or shared directly or indirectly, subject to the terms and conditions set forth under Rule 16a-1(a)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. A Supervised Person who has questions regarding the definition of this term should consult the Compliance Department. Please note: Any report required under section 2. Reporting Requirements may contain a statement that the report will not be construed as an admission that the person making the report has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership in the security to which the report relates.

 

  (f) Client refers to any entity (e.g., person, corporation or Fund) for which JPMDS provides a service or has a fiduciary responsibility.

 

  (g) Covered Security means a security as defined under section 2(a)(36) of the 1940 Act held for the direct or indirect benefit of an Access Person, including any note, stock, treasury stock, security future, bond, debenture, evidence of indebtedness, certificate of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement, collateral-trust certificate, preorganization certificate or subscription, transferable share, investment contract, voting-trust certificate, certificate of deposit for a security, fractional undivided interest in oil, gas, or other mineral rights, any put, call, straddle, option, or privilege on any security (including a certificate of deposit) or on any group or index of securities (including any interest therein or based on the value thereof), or any put, call, straddle, option, or privilege entered into on a national securities exchange relating to foreign currency, or, in general, any interest or instrument commonly known as a “security”, or any certificate of interest or participation in, temporary or interim certificate for, receipt for, guaranty of, or warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase any of the foregoing. Also included in this definition are open-end mutual funds (except as noted below) and exchange traded funds. Excluded from this definition are:

 

  (1) Direct obligations of the Government of the United States;

 

  (2) Bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements;

 

  (3) Shares issued by money market funds; and

 

  (4) Shares of other types of mutual funds, unless JPMAM acts as the investment adviser or sub-adviser or JPMDS acts as the principal underwriter for the Fund;

 

  (h) Federal securities laws means the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the 1940 Act, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (1999), any rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under any of these statutes, the Bank Secrecy Act as it applies to funds and investment advisers, and any rules adopted thereunder by the SEC or the Department of the Treasury.

 

  (i) Fund means an investment company registered under the 1940 Act.

 

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JPMorgan Asset Management

 

  (j) Initial public offering means an offering of securities registered under the Securities Act of 1933, the issuer of which, immediately before the registration, was not subject to the reporting requirements of sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

  (k) JPMAM is an abbreviation for JPMorgan Asset Management, the marketing name for the asset management business of JPMorgan Chase & Co. Within the context of this document, JPMAM refers to the U.S. registered investment advisers of JPMorgan Asset Management.

 

  (l) Limited offering means an offering that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to section 4(2) or section 4(6) or pursuant to Rules 504, 505 or 506 thereunder.

 

  (m) Personal Trading Policy refers to the applicable policies and procedures under the Written Supervisory Procedures of JPMDS and the Personal Trading Policy for JPMorgan Asset Management Americas and the procedures thereunder.

 

2. Reporting Requirements

 

2.1. Holdings Reports

Access Persons must submit to the Compliance Department a report, in the form designated by the Compliance Department, of the Access Person’s current securities holdings that meets the following requirements:

 

2.1.1. Content of Holdings Reports

Each holdings report must contain, at a minimum:

 

  (a) The title and type of security, and as applicable the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, number of shares, and principal amount of each Covered Security in which the Access Person has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership;

 

  (b) The name of any broker, dealer or bank with which the Access Person maintains an Associated Account in which any Covered Securities are held for the Access Person’s direct or indirect benefit, as well as all pertinent Associated Account details (e.g., account title, account number, etc.); and

 

  (c) The date the Access Person submits the report.

 

2.1.2. Timing of Holdings Reports

Access Persons must each submit a holdings report:

 

  (a) No later than 10 days after the person becomes an Access Person, and the information must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date the person becomes an Access Person.

 

  (b) At least once each 12-month period thereafter on January 30, and the information must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date the report was submitted.

 

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JPMorgan Asset Management

 

2.2. Transaction Reports

Access Persons must submit to the Compliance Department quarterly securities transactions reports, in the form designated by the Compliance Department, that meet the following requirements:

 

2.2.1. Content of Transaction Reports

Each transaction report must contain, at a minimum, the following information about each transaction involving a Covered Security in which the Access Person had, or as a result of the transaction acquired, any direct or indirect beneficial ownership:

 

  (a) The date of the transaction, the title, and as applicable the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, interest rate and maturity date, number of shares, and principal amount of each Covered Security involved;

 

  (b) The nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition);

 

  (c) The price of the security at which the transaction was effected;

 

  (d) The name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through which the transaction was effected; and

 

  (e) The date the Access Person submits the report.

 

2.2.2. Timing of Transaction Reports

Each Access Person must submit a transaction report no later than 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter, which report must cover, at a minimum, all transactions during the quarter.

 

2.3. Consolidated Report

At the discretion of the Compliance Department, the form of annual holdings report may be combined with the form of the concurrent quarterly transaction report, provided that such consolidated holdings and transaction report meets, at a minimum, the timing requirements of both such reports if submitted separately.

 

2.4. Exceptions from Reporting Requirements

An Access Person need not submit:

 

  (a) Any report with respect to securities held in accounts over which the Access Person had no direct or indirect influence or control;

 

  (b) A transaction report with respect to transactions effected pursuant to an automatic investment plan;

 

  (c) A transaction report if the report would duplicate information contained in broker trade confirmations or account statements that the Compliance Department holds in its records so long as the Compliance Department receives the confirmations or statements no later than 30 days after the end of the applicable calendar quarter.

 

3. Pre-approval of Certain Investments

Access Persons must obtain approval from the Compliance Department before they directly or indirectly acquire beneficial ownership in any security in an initial public offering or in a limited offering. The Personal Trading Policy shall set forth the Compliance pre-clearance procedures as well as any exceptions to the pre-clearance requirement.

 

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Code of Ethics

JPMorgan Asset Management

 

4. Additional Restrictions and Corrective Action under the Personal Trading Policy and other related Policies and Procedures

In furtherance of the standards for personal trading set forth herein, JPMDS shall maintain a Personal Trading Policy with respect to the trading restrictions and corrective actions discussed under this section 4, and such other restrictions as may be deemed necessary or appropriate by JPMDS.

 

4.1. Designated Broker Requirement

Any Associated Account, except as otherwise indicated in the Personal Trading Policy, must be maintained with a Designated Broker, as provided under the JPMC Code of Conduct and the Personal Trading Policy.

 

4.2. Blackout Provisions

The personal trading and investment activities of Supervised Persons are subject to particular scrutiny because of the fiduciary nature of the business. Specifically, JPMDS must avoid even the appearance that its Supervised Persons conduct personal transactions in a manner that conflicts with the firm’s investment activities on behalf of clients. Towards this end, Supervised Persons may be restricted from conducting personal investment transactions during certain periods (“Blackout Periods”), and may be instructed to reverse previously completed personal investment transactions (see section 4.4). Additionally, the Compliance Department may restrict the personal trading activity of any Supervised Person if such activity has the appearance of violating the intent of the blackout provision or is deemed to present a possible conflict of interest.

The Blackout Periods set forth in the Personal Trading Policy may reflect varying levels of restriction appropriate for different categories of Supervised Persons based upon their level of access to nonpublic client or proprietary information.

 

4.3. Minimum Investment Holding Period and Market Timing Prohibition

Supervised Persons are subject to a minimum holding period, as set forth under the Personal Trading Policy, for all transactions in Covered Securities, as defined under section 1.4.

Supervised Persons are not permitted to conduct transactions for the purpose of market timing in any Covered Security. Market timing is defined as an investment strategy using frequent purchases, redemptions, and/or exchanges in an attempt to profit from short-term market movements.

Please see the Personal Trading Policy for further details on transactions covered or exempted from the minimum investment holding period.

 

4.4. Trade Reversals and Disciplinary Action

Transactions by Supervised Persons are subject to reversal due to a conflict (or appearance of a conflict) with the firm’s fiduciary responsibility or a violation of the Code or the Personal Trading Policy. Such a reversal may be required even for a pre-cleared transaction that results in an inadvertent conflict or a breach of black out period requirements under the Personal Trading Policy.

Disciplinary actions resulting from a violation of the Code will be administered in accordance with related JPMDS policies governing disciplinary action and escalation. All violations and disciplinary actions will be reported promptly by the Compliance Department to the JPMDS CCO. Violations will be reported at least quarterly to the firm’s executive committee and, where applicable, to the directors or trustees of an affected Fund.

 

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Code of Ethics

JPMorgan Asset Management

 

Violations by Supervised Persons of any laws that relate to JPMDS’s operation of its business or any failure to cooperate with an internal investigation may result in disciplinary action up to and including immediate dismissal and, if applicable, termination of registration.

 

5. Books and Records to be Maintained by JPMDS

 

  (a) A copy of this Code and any other code of ethics adopted by JPMDS pursuant to Rule 17j-1(c) that has been in effect during the past five years;

 

  (b) A record of any violation of the Code, and any action taken as a result of that violation;

 

  (c) A record of each report made by an Access Person as required under section 2. Reporting Requirements;

 

  (d) A record of the names of persons who are currently, or within the past five years were, Access Persons;

 

  (e) A record of any decision, and the reasons supporting the decision, to approve the acquisition of securities by Access Persons under section 3. Pre-approval of Certain Investments, for at least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which the approval is granted; and

 

  (f) Any other such record as may be required under the Code or the Personal Trading Policy.

 

6. Confidentiality

Supervised Persons have a special responsibility to protect the confidentiality of information related to customers. This responsibility may be imposed by law, may arise out of agreements with customers, or may be based on policies or practices adopted by the firm. Certain jurisdictions have regulations relating specifically to the privacy of individuals and/or business and institutional customers. Various business units and geographic areas within JPMC have internal policies regarding customer privacy.

The foregoing notwithstanding, JPMDS and its Supervised Persons must comply with all provisions under the Bank Secrecy Act, the USA Patriot Act and all other applicable federal securities laws, as well as applicable anti-money laundering and know your client policies and procedures of JPMDS and JPMC.

 

7. Conflicts of Interest

With regards to each of the following restrictions, more detailed guidelines may be found under the applicable JPMDS policy and/or the JPMC Code of Conduct.

 

7.1. Trading in Securities of Clients

Supervised Persons should not invest in any securities of a client with which the Supervised Person has or recently had significant dealings or responsibility on behalf of JPMDS if such investment could be perceived as based on confidential information.

 

7.2. Trading in Securities of Suppliers

Supervised Persons in possession of information regarding, or directly involved in negotiating, a contract material to a supplier of JPMDS may not invest in the securities of such supplier. If you own the securities of a company with which we are dealing and you are asked to represent JPMorgan Chase in such dealings you must:

 

  (a) Disclose this fact to your department head and the Compliance Department; and

 

  (b) Obtain prior approval from the Compliance Department before selling such securities.

 

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Code of Ethics

JPMorgan Asset Management

 

7.3. Gifts

A conflict of interest occurs when the personal interests of Supervised Persons interfere or could potentially interfere with their responsibilities to the firm and its clients. Supervised Persons should not accept inappropriate gifts, favors, entertainment, special accommodations, or other things of material value that could influence their decision-making or make them feel beholden to a person or firm. Similarly, Supervised Persons should not offer gifts, favors, entertainment or other things of value that could be viewed as overly generous or aimed at influencing decision-making or making a client feel beholden to the firm or the Supervised Person. More specific guidelines are set forth under the gifts and entertainment policy of JPMDS and under the JPMC Code of Conduct.

 

7.4. Entertainment

No Supervised Person may provide or accept extravagant or excessive entertainment to or from a client, prospective client, or any person or entity that does or seeks to do business with or on behalf of JPMDS. Supervised Persons may provide or accept a business entertainment event, such as dinner or a sporting event, of reasonable value, if the person or entity providing the entertainment is present, and only to the extent that such entertainment is permissible under both the gifts and entertainment policy of JPMDS and the JPMC Code of Conduct

 

7.5. Political and Charitable Contributions

Supervised Persons are prohibited from making political contributions for the purpose of obtaining or retaining advisory contracts with government entities. In addition, Supervised Persons are prohibited from considering JPMDS’s current or anticipated business relationships as a factor in soliciting political or charitable donations. Additional restrictions, disclosures and other requirements regarding political activities are described under the JPMC Code of Conduct.

 

7.6. Outside Business Activities

A Supervised Person’s outside activities must not reflect adversely on the firm or give rise to a real or apparent conflict of interest with the Supervised Person’s duties to the firm or its clients. Supervised Persons must be alert to potential conflicts of interest and be aware that they may be asked to discontinue any outside activity if a potential conflict arises. Supervised Persons may not, directly or indirectly:

 

  (a) Accept a business opportunity from someone doing business or seeking to do business with JPMDS that is made available to the Supervised Person because of the individual’s position with the firm.

 

  (b) Take for oneself a business opportunity belonging to the firm.

 

  (c) Engage in a business opportunity that competes with any of the firm’s businesses.

More specific guidelines are set forth under the conflicts of interest policy of JPMDS and under the JPMC Code of Conduct. Procedures and forms for pre-clearance of these activities by the Office of the Secretary of JPMC are available in the JPMC Procedures for Pre-Clearance of Outside Activities Referenced in the JPMC Code of Conduct. Supervised Persons must seek a new clearance for a previously approved activity whenever there is any material change in relevant circumstances, whether arising from a change in your job or association with JPMDS or in your role with respect to that activity or organization. You must also notify the Office of the Secretary of JPMC when any approved outside activity terminates.

 

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Code of Ethics

JPMorgan Asset Management

 

Regardless of whether an activity is specifically addressed under JPMDS policies or the JPMC Code of Conduct, supervised persons should disclose any personal interest that might present a conflict of interest or harm the reputation of the firm.

 

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