EX-99.28.P.5 15 fp0026339_ex9928p5.htm
 
LYRICAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LP
 
CODE OF ETHICS

(effective October, 2015)

As an investment adviser, the Firm stands in a position of trust and confidence with respect to our clients. Accordingly we have a fiduciary duty to place the interests of all client account and funds (collectively, the “Funds”) before the interests of the Firm and our Employees. In order to assist the Firm and our Employees in meeting our obligations as a fiduciary, the Firm has adopted this Code of Ethics (the "Code"). The Code incorporates the following general principles which all Employees are expected to uphold:

·
We must at all times place the interests of our Funds first.

·
All personal securities transactions must be conducted in a manner consistent with the Code and avoid any actual or potential conflicts of interest or any abuse of an Employee's position of trust and responsibility.

·
Employees must not take any inappropriate advantage of their positions at the Firm.

·
Information concerning the identity of securities and financial circumstances of the Funds and their investors must be kept confidential.

·
Independence in the investment decision-making process must be maintained at all times.

The Firm believes that these general principles not only help us fulfill our fiduciary obligations, but also protect the Firm's reputation and instill in our Employees the Firm's commitment to honesty, integrity and professionalism. Employees should understand that these general principles apply to all conduct, whether or not the conduct also is covered by more specific standards or procedures set forth below. Failure to comply with the Code may result in disciplinary action, including termination of employment.

A.
Persons and Accounts Covered by the Code

1.
Employees

The Code applies to all of the Firm's Employees, which for purposes of the Code include all of the Firm's supervised persons. The Firm's supervised persons consist of our directors, officers and partners (or other persons occupying a similar status or performing similar functions); our employees; and any other person who provides advice on behalf of the Firm and is subject to the Firm's supervision and control.

2.
Access Persons

Certain provisions of the Code apply only to the Firm's "access persons". Our access persons include any Employee who:

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·
Has access to nonpublic information regarding any Fund's purchases or sales of securities, or nonpublic information regarding the portfolio holdings of any SEC registered investment company that the Firm or any of our affiliates manages; or

·
Is involved in making securities recommendations to the Funds, or has access to such recommendations that are nonpublic.

All of the Firm's directors, officers and partners are presumed to be access persons.

3.
Accounts and Covered Securities

The requirements and restrictions contained in the Code apply to all "covered securities" in any "personal account".

a.
Personal Accounts

The term "personal account" means any securities account in which an Employee has any direct or indirect "beneficial ownership," and includes any personal account of an Employee's immediate family member (including any relative by blood or marriage either living in the Employee's household or financially dependent on the Employee).

An Employee is deemed to have beneficial ownership if the Employee, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares a direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from the relevant personal account. For a full definition of beneficial ownership, refer to Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act").

b.
Covered Securities

The term "covered securities" includes all securities defined as such under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the "Advisers Act"), and includes:

·
Debt and equity securities;

·
All forms of limited partnership and limited liability company interests, including interests in private investment funds (such as hedge funds), and interests in investment clubs; and

·
Foreign unit trusts and foreign mutual funds.

·
Options and futures on the foregoing.

The term "covered securities," however, does not include the following:

·
Direct obligations of the U.S. government (e.g., treasury securities);

·
Bankers' acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper, and high-quality short-term debt obligations, including repurchase agreements;

·
Shares issued by money market funds;

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·
ETFs and ETNs that are organized as unit investment trusts;

·
Shares of open-end mutual funds that are not advised or sub-advised by the Firm (or the Firm's affiliates);

·
Shares issued by unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or more open-end mutual funds, none of which are funds advised or sub-advised by the Firm (or the Firm's affiliates); and

·
Options and futures on the foregoing.

Any questions regarding the application of these terms should be referred to, and addressed by, the Compliance Officer.

c.
Investments in Securities purchased for Firm Clients

Any purchase or sale by an Employee (other than through accounts managed by the Firm) in securities (each, a “Firm Holding”) that would then be purchased (or sold short) for a new Lyrical Asset Management LP account will be prohibited. Further, in the event an Employee holds an investment (long or short) in a security that becomes a Firm Holding, it is the Firm’s policy that such position shall not be sold (or bought to cover) until after such security has been fully sold (or bought to cover) for all clients of the Firm.

B.
Compliance with Applicable Federal Securities Laws

In addition to the general principles of conduct stated in the Code and the specific trading restrictions and reporting requirements described below, the Code requires all Employees to comply with applicable federal securities laws. These laws include the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), the Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Advisers Act, Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999, any rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission under any of these statutes, the Bank Secrecy Act as it applies to private investment funds and investment advisers, and any rules adopted thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Department of the Treasury.

C.
Securities Holdings Reports by Access Persons

1.
Initial and Annual Holdings Reports

a.
Contents of Holdings Reports

Every access person must submit both initial and annual holdings reports to the Compliance Officer that discloses all covered securities held in any personal account. Each such report must contain, at a minimum:

(1) the title and type of covered security, and the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number (as applicable), number of shares, and principal amount of each covered security in any personal account;

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(2) the name of any broker, dealer or bank with which the access person maintains any personal account; and

(3) the date on which the access person submits the report.

b.
Timing of Holdings Reports

Every access person must submit a holdings report, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, within the following time frames:

(1) no later than 10 days after becoming an access person, and the information contained in the report must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date of becoming an access person; and

(2) at least once each year thereafter within 30 days of the end of the Firm's fiscal year, and the information contained in the report must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date the report is submitted.

2.
Quarterly Transaction Reports

a.
Contents of Transaction Reports

Every access person must submit a quarterly transaction report to the Compliance Officer for each covered securities transaction in any personal account. The report must contain, at a minimum, the following information for each transaction:

(1) the date of the transaction, the title, and the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number (as applicable), interest rate and maturity date, number of shares, and principal amount of each covered security involved;

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

(3) the price of the covered security at which the transaction was effected;

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

(5) the date on which the access person submits the report.

b.
Timing of Quarterly Transaction Reports

Each access person must submit a quarterly transaction report, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, no later than 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter, which report must cover, at a minimum, all transactions that occurred during the preceding quarter.

3.
Exceptions to the Reporting Requirements

No access person is required to submit:

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a.
Any report with respect to covered securities held in a personal account over which the access person had no direct or indirect influence or control (e.g., a blind trust).

b.
A quarterly transaction report with respect to transactions effected pursuant to an automatic investment plan (i.e., 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, including any dividend reinvestment plans).

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

D.
Pre-Approval for Trades in Covered Securities, IPOs and Private Placements

Every access person must obtain approval from the Compliance Officer before acquiring for a personal account any covered security whether in a public markets transaction, or either:

·
Issued in an initial public offering (i.e., an offering of securities registered under the Securities Act, the issuer of which, immediately before registration, was not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act); or

·
Issued in a limited offering (i.e., an offering that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(2), Section 4(6), Rule 504, Rule 505 or Rule 506 thereunder).

E.
Prohibited Transactions in Mutual Funds

All Employees are prohibited from engaging in short-term trading for their personal accounts in the shares of any open-end mutual fund (i.e., market timing). For purposes of the Code, the term "short-term trading" means any purchase and sale or sale and purchase of the shares of a mutual fund within a 30-day period, or such longer period as may be specified by a mutual fund's prospectus. In addition, all Employees are prohibited from trading in the shares of mutual funds for their personal accounts, and for the Funds managed by the Firm, in a manner inconsistent with a mutual fund's prospectus.

F.
Service on Boards of Directors and Other Outside Activities

An Employee's service on the board of directors of an outside company, as well as other outside activities generally, could lead to the potential for conflicts of interest and insider trading problems, and may otherwise interfere with an Employee's duties to the Firm. Accordingly, Employees are prohibited from serving on the boards of directors of any outside company, unless the service (i) would be in the best interests of the Firm or the Funds and (ii) has been approved in writing by the Compliance Officer. In addition, any Employee serving on the board of a private company which is about to go public may be required to resign either immediately or at the end of the current term.

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The Firm also discourages Employees from (i) engaging in outside business ventures (such as consulting engagements or public/charitable positions); (ii) accepting any executorships, trusteeship or power of attorney (except with respect to a family member); and (iii) serving on a creditors committee except as part of the Employee's duties at the Firm. Accordingly, an Employee must obtain pre-approval from the Compliance Officer prior to engaging in any of these activities.

G.
Gifts and Entertainment

Please refer to the Firm’s gifts and entertainment policy.

H.
Reporting Violations

Every Employee must immediately report any violation of the Code to the Compliance Officer or, in the Compliance Officer's absence, the General Counsel. All reports will be treated confidentially and investigated promptly and appropriately. The Firm will not retaliate against any Employee who reports a violation of the Code in good faith and any retaliation constitutes a further violation of the Code. The Compliance Officer will keep records of any violation of the Code, and of any action taken as a result of the violation.

I.
Exceptions to the Code

The Compliance Officer may, under very limited circumstances, grant an exception from the requirements of the Code on a case-by-case basis, provided that:

·
The Employee seeking the exception provides the Compliance Officer with a written statement (i) detailing the efforts made to comply with the requirement from which the Employee seeks an exception and (ii) containing a representation that compliance with the requirement would impose significant undue hardship on the Employee;

·
The Compliance Officer believes that the exception would not harm or defraud a Fund, violate the general principles stated in the Code or compromise the Employee's or the Firm's fiduciary duty to any Fund; and

·
The Employee provides any supporting documentation that the Compliance Officer may request from the Employee.

No exceptions may be made to the fundamental requirements contained in the Code that have been adopted to meet applicable rules under the Advisers Act.

J.
Administration of the Code

The Compliance Officer will receive and review all reports submitted pursuant to the Code. The Compliance Officer will review the reports to determine that access person trades are consistent with requirements and restrictions set forth in the Code and do not otherwise indicate any improper trading activities. The Compliance Officer also will ensure that all books and records relating to the Code are properly maintained. The books and records required to be maintained include the following:

·
A copy of the Code that is in effect, or at any time within the past five years was in effect;
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·
A record of any violation of the Code, and of any action taken as a result of the violation;

·
A record of all written acknowledgements of receipt, review and understanding of the Code from each person who is currently, or within the past five years was, an Employee;

·
A record of each report made by an access person, including any brokerage confirmations and brokerage account statements obtained from access persons;

·
A record of the names of persons who are currently, or within the past five years were, access persons; and

·
A record of any decision, and the reasons supporting the decision, to approve the acquisition of an IPO or limited offering.

·
A record of any exception from the Code granted by the Compliance Officer, all related documentation supplied by the Employee seeking the exception, and the reasons supporting the decision to grant the exception.

These books and records must be maintained by the Firm in an easily accessible place for at least five years from the end of the fiscal year during which the record was created, the first two years in an appropriate office of the Firm.

Finally, the Firm is required to include a description of our Code in Part II of our Form ADV and, upon request, furnish investors in the Funds with a copy of the Code. The Compliance Officer will ensure that a proper description of our Code is included in the Form ADV and will coordinate the distribution of our Code to any investors who request a copy.

K.
Sanctions

Any violation of any provision of the Code may result in disciplinary action. The Compliance Officer, in consultation with the General Counsel, will determine an appropriate sanction. Disciplinary action may include, among other sanctions, a letter of reprimand, disgorgement, suspension, demotion or termination of employment.

L.
Acknowledgment of Receipt and Compliance

The Firm will provide each Employee with a copy of the Code and any amendments hereto. Any questions regarding any provision of the Code or its application should be directed to the Compliance Officer. Each Employee must provide the Firm with a written acknowledgement (in the form provided by the Firm) evidencing the fact that such Employee has received and reviewed, and understands, the Code.

March, 2015

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EXHIBIT A

HOLDINGS REPORT

Name of Access Person:
   
     
Date of Submission:
   

Type of Report (check one):
 
 Initial Holdings Report (submitted within 10 days after becoming an access person)
   
 Annual Holdings Report (submitted annually)

I.
Securities Accounts

Account Title
Broker/Institution Name and Address
Account Number
     
     
     
     

II.
Covered Securities

Title of Security
Type of Security
Ticker or CUSIP
Number of Shares
Principal Amount
1.
       
2.
       
3.
       
4.
       
5.
       
6.
       
7.
       
8.
       
9.
       
10.
       

I hereby certify that the information contained in this report is accurate and that listed above are all personal accounts and covered securities with respect to which I have beneficial ownership.

 
By:
   
   
Name:
 
   
Date:
 

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EXHIBIT B QUARTERLY TRANSACTION REPORT
 
Name of Access Person:
   
     
Date of Submission:
   
 
I.
Transactions

Trade Date
and
Transaction
Type
Transaction
Price and
Number of
Shares 
Name of
Security
Ticker or
CUSIP
Interest Rate
and Maturity
Date
Principal
Amount
Broker/
Institution
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             

I hereby certify that the information contained in this report is accurate and that listed above are all transactions for the quarter ended ________ of covered securities with respect to which I have beneficial ownership.

 
By:
   
   
Name:
 
   
Date:
 
 
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