EX-99.(P)(2) 9 tcwetftrust_exp2.htm EXHIBIT (P)(2)

 

Exhibit (p)(2)

 

Code of Ethics

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

        Page
I.   INTRODUCTION   2
II.   FIDUCIARY DUTY AND STATEMENT OF POLICIES   3
III.   PERSONAL TRADING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES   4
IV.   REPORTING REQUIREMENTS   8
V.   EXCEPTIONS FROM PRECLEARANCE AND TRANSACTION REPORTING REQUIREMENTS   9
VI.   OVERSIGHT OF CODE OF ETHICS   10
VII.   CONFIDENTIALITY   11
VIII.   ACKNOWLEDGMENT   11
IX.   EXHIBITS   11

 

 

 

 

I. INTRODUCTION

 

Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”) requires every investment adviser to establish, maintain and enforce a code of ethics that at a minimum addresses personal trading by its access persons. High ethical standards are essential for the success of Fund Management at Engine No. 1 LLC (the “Firm”)1 to maintain the confidence of its clients, including any exchange-traded fund (the “ETF”), and any other funds registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”) together with any other future separate accounts managed by the Firm, (each, a “Client” and collectively, the “Clients”). This Code of Ethics is intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 204A of the Advisers Act, Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act and, with respect to the Funds, Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act.

 

This Code of Ethics establishes rules of conduct for each partner, member, officer and employee of the Firm (each a “Supervised Persons”) who (i) has access to nonpublic information regarding any Clients’ purchase or sale of securities, or (ii) who is involved in making securities recommendations to Clients or who has access to such recommendations that are nonpublic (each an “Access Person” and collectively, “Access Persons”). For purposes of this Code, all Supervised Persons are deemed to be Access Persons. Access Persons may also include certain persons who are employed by the Firm, such as interns, temporary workers and consultants, and are subject to the Firm’s supervision and control. Access Persons generally do not include vendors or service providers that are engaged by the Firm.

 

The objective of this Code of Ethics is to subject all business dealings and securities transactions undertaken by Supervised Persons, whether for Clients or for personal purposes, to the highest ethical standards. The Firm expects its personnel to premise their conduct on fundamental principles of openness, integrity, honesty, and trust.

 

Any terms that are not predefined here have the meaning ascribed to them in the Firm’s current version of the Compliance Manual, as amended from time to time.

 

Compliance with the provisions of the Code of Ethics shall be considered an important condition of employment with the Firm. Access Persons should understand that a material breach of the provisions of the Code of Ethics may constitute grounds for disciplinary action, including termination of employment or relationship with the Firm.

 

 

 
1 TCW Investment Management Company LLC (“TCW”) has adopted this to apply with respect to its service as investment adviser to TCW ETF Trust (the “Trust”) upon the closing of the purchase and sale agreement among Fund Management, Engine No. 1 LLC, TCW, and The TCW Group, Inc., pursuant to which TCW acquired Fund Management’s business of operating, sponsoring and advising the series of the Trust (the “ETF Business”), including through the acquisition of the assets that are primarily used or held by Fund Management or its affiliates in the conduct of the ETF Business and the assumption of certain liabilities related to, arising from or in respect of the ETF Business (the “Transaction”). Therefore, upon the closing of the Transaction, references herein to “Fund Management,” the “Adviser” or the “Firm” shall refer to TCW with respect to its service as investment adviser to the Trust.

 

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II. FIDUCIARY DUTY AND STATEMENT OF POLICIES

 

A. Confidentiality

 

Supervised Persons are expected to honor the confidential nature of company, Client, and Investor affairs. Information designated as confidential shall not be communicated outside the Firm, other than to advisors consulted on a confidential basis and will only be communicated within the Firm on a “need to know” basis. Access Persons must avoid making unnecessary disclosure of any material nonpublic information about issuers of securities or internal information concerning the Firm and its business relationships and must use such information in a prudent and proper manner in the best interests of the Firm and its Clients. The Firm has adopted a separate Privacy Policy, with which all Access Persons are expected to be familiar.

 

B. Level of Care

 

Access Persons are expected to represent the interests of the Firm, its Clients and Investors in an ethical manner and to exercise due skill, care, prudence, and diligence in all business dealings, including, but not limited to, compliance with all applicable federal securities and other applicable laws and regulations and to avoid illegal activities and other conduct specifically prohibited to its Access Persons. Accordingly, Access Persons are not permitted, in connection with the purchase or sale, directly or indirectly, of a security held or to be acquired by a Client (a) to defraud or mislead a Client or Investor, (b) to engage in any act, practice or course of conduct that operates or could operate as a fraud or deceit upon a Client or Investor, or (c) to engage in any manipulative practice with respect to a Client or Investor or securities (such as price manipulation). The Firm places a high value on ethical conduct and challenges its Access Persons to live up to its ethical ideal, not merely obey the letter of the law.

 

Rule 17j-1(b) under the 1940 Act imposes similar restrictions on any investment adviser with respect to an investment company (as such term is defined under the 1940 Act). Accordingly, any references in this Code of Ethics to compliance with such fiduciary standards imposed under the Advisers Act, should be understood to include compliance with the fiduciary standards imposed under Rule 17j-1(b) under the 1940 Act, unless the context indicates otherwise.

 

C. Fiduciary Duties

 

The Firm and its affiliates are fiduciaries with respect to its Clients. As such, all personnel have the following fiduciary duties:

 

At all times, to place the interests of Clients before their own and not to take inappropriate advantage of their positions, and

 

To conduct themselves in a manner that will avoid any actual or potential conflict of interest or any abuse of a position of trust and responsibility. Conflicts of interest can arise in many ways. However, one factor that is common to many conflict of interest situations is the possibility that an Access Person’s actions or decisions may be affected because of an actual or potential divergence between or among the interests of the Firm and its affiliates, the Firm’s Clients and an Access Person’s own personal interests. A particular activity or situation may be found to involve a conflict of interest even though it does not result in any financial loss to the Firm or its Clients, irrespective of the motivations of the Access Person involved.

 

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(a) An Access Person may not rebate, directly or indirectly, to any person or entity any compensation received from the Firm, or accept, directly or indirectly, from any person or entity, other than the Firm, compensation of any nature as a bonus, commission, fee, gratuity or other consideration in connection with any transaction on behalf of the Firm or a Client (for example, directing a particular transaction in exchange for any such compensation), other than permissible gifts and entertainment as discussed in the Firm’s Compliance Manual.

 

(b) An Access Person may not serve as an officer, director, partner, manager, consultant, trustee, member of an advisory board or employee of, or have a substantial interest in or business relationship with, a competitor of the Firm.

 

(c) An Access Person must disclose to the CCO any personal or family interest in any transaction being considered by the Firm on behalf of a Client (apart from your interest in the transaction as an Investor in a Fund).

 

(d) An Access Person may not knowingly borrow from, or become indebted to, any person, business or company having business dealings or a relationship with the Firm, except with respect to customary personal loans (e.g., home mortgage loans, automobile loans, lines of credit) on the same terms as are available generally, unless the arrangement is approved by the CCO.

 

(e) An Access Person may not acquire, or derive personal gain or profit from, any business or investment opportunity that comes to his or her attention as a result of his or her association with the Firm, and in which the Access Person knows the Firm or one of its Clients might reasonably be expected to participate or have an interest, without first disclosing in writing all relevant facts to the Firm, offering the opportunity to the Firm, and receiving specific authorization from the CCO.

 

III. PERSONAL TRADING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

 

In recognition of the Firm’s fiduciary obligations to its Clients and desire to maintain its high ethical standards, the Firm has adopted the personal trading restrictions and requirements described below to: (i) prevent improper personal trading by Access Persons; (ii) prevent improper use of material, non-public information about securities recommendations made by the Firm or securities holdings of Clients; (iii) identify conflicts of interest; and (iv) provide a means to resolve any actual or potential conflict in favor of the Client.

 

While it is impossible to define all situations that might pose such a risk, this Code of Ethics is designed to address those circumstances where such risks have been identified and may be likely to arise.

 

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Adherence to the Code of Ethics and the related restriction on personal investing is considered a basic condition of employment for Access Persons. If there is any doubt as to the propriety of any activity, Access Persons should consult with the CCO or his designee, who is charged with the administration of this Code of Ethics, has general compliance responsibility for the Firm and may offer guidance on securities laws and acceptable practices, as they may change from time to time. The CCO may rely upon the advice of outside legal counsel or third-party compliance consultants, as deemed necessary.

 

A. Accounts Covered by Policies and Procedures

 

This Code of Ethics applies to all “Personal Accounts” which includes any account in which an Access Person has any Beneficial Ownership2 and to all accounts maintained by or for:

 

1. An Access Person’s spouse (other than a legally separated or divorced spouse of the Access Person) and minor children;

 

2. Any family member living in the same household as the Access Person;

 

3. Any accounts over whose purchases, sales, or other trading activities the Access Person exercises control or investment discretion, including any account for which the Access Person serves as trustee of a trust for the benefit of a person to whom the Access Person does not provide primary financial support or that of an independent third party, but for which the Access Person has direct trading discretion;

 

4. Any persons to whom the Access Person provides primary financial support, and either (i) whose financial affairs the Access Person controls, or (ii) for whom the Access Person provides discretionary advisory services;

 

5. Any trust or other arrangement of which the Access Person or any member of the Access Person’s immediate family sharing the same household as the Access Person is a beneficiary; and

 

6. Any partnership, corporation, or other entity of which the Access Person is a director, officer or partner or in which the Access Person has a 25% or greater beneficial interest, or in which the Access Person owns a controlling interest or exercises effective control.

 

Notwithstanding the above, a Personal Account shall not include:

 

1. Any account that can invest only in open-end and closed-end investment companies (mutual funds);

 

2. A 401(k) or Section 529 account or plan that is limited to investments in open-end investment companies (mutual funds);

 

 

 
2 Beneficial ownership includes ownership by any person who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, agreement understanding, relationship or otherwise, (i) has or shares a direct or indirect financial interest in other than the receipt of an advisory fee, or (ii) possesses voting or investment power over securities or other investments.

 

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3.Any account for which the Access Person serves as trustee of a trust for the benefit of a person to whom the Access Person does not provide primary financial support or that of an independent third party; and

 

4.A Client account that is managed by the Firm.

 

B. Restrictions on Personal Trading

 

It is the responsibility of each Access Person to ensure that a particular securities transaction being considered for his or her Personal Account is not subject to a restriction contained in this Code of Ethics or otherwise prohibited by any applicable laws. Personal securities transactions for Access Persons may be affected only in accordance with the provisions of this Code of Ethics. Generally:

 

1. No Access Person may knowingly purchase or sell for any Personal Account any security, directly or indirectly, in such a way as to adversely affect a Client’s transactions.

 

2. The Firm will maintain a “Restricted List” that will apply to the Clients as well as Access Persons. A security may be added to the Restricted List for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to: the Firm is in possession of material, non-public information about an issuer; the Firm has executed a non-disclosure agreement or other agreement with a specific issuer that restricts trading in the issuer’s securities; an Access Person’s trading in such Reportable Position may present the appearance of a conflict of interest or an actual conflict of interest; and the Firm has determined it is necessary to do so. The CCO and his designees will periodically update the Restricted List.

 

In addition to the Restricted List, the CCO may maintain a “Watch List”. A security may be added to the Watch List for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to when the securities may be the subject of investment or other corporate finance activity at the Firm or at the CCO’s discretion. Trading in securities placed on the Watch List will be monitored by the CCO. The contents of the Watch List are confidential and access to the Watch List is limited to the CCO and his designees.

 

3. No Access Person may directly or indirectly purchase or sell (long or short) for any Personal Account any shares of a security listed on the Restricted List without the Firm’s pre-approval. Whenever an issuer’s security is on the Restricted List, all securities of such issuer should be considered and treated as being on the Restricted List (including common stock, preferred stock, convertible debt, debt and options).

 

4. No Access Person may directly or indirectly purchase or sell (long or short) for any Personal Account any shares of a security held in a Client account, the Firm’s actively managed ETFs, and Private Fund.

 

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5. No Access Person may buy or sell a Reportable Security in a Personal Account within five (5) days of any prior transaction in such security in a Personal Account, unless such transaction is approved in writing by the CCO.

 

6. No Access Person may use his or her knowledge of Client transactions to cause any Personal Account to profit from the market effect of such transactions (or give such information to a third person who may so profit from such transactions).

 

C. Pre-Clearance

 

An Access Person must obtain approval using the Firm’s automated system before engaging in any transaction in a “Reportable Security” in any of his or her Personal Accounts, including transactions in exchange traded funds (“ETFs”).

 

A “Reportable Security3 is any type of security except (i) a direct obligation of the U.S. Government (i.e. treasury obligations); (ii) a bankers’ acceptance, bank certificate of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instrument, including a repurchase agreement; (iii) shares issued by money market funds; (iv) shares issued by a registered, open-end investment company (actively-managed and passively managed mutual funds) for which the Firm does not act as investment adviser or sub-adviser; and (v) shares issued by unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in mutual funds for which the Firm does not act as investment adviser or sub-adviser.

 

Pre-clearance is also required for transactions in a private offering conducted pursuant to Section 4(2) or 4(5) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or Regulation D thereunder for any Personal Account. When investing in a private offering, an Access Person must identify and report any potential conflicts of interest to the CCO as they arise. Access Persons are prohibited from transacting in any security in an initial public offering (“IPO”) in a Personal Account.

 

A request for pre-clearance may be made using the Firm’s automated system or by submitting a request in advance of the contemplated transaction. A sample Pre-Clearance Form is also attached hereto as Exhibit 2. Any approval given under this paragraph will expire the following day (T+1) from when the request was submitted; good-until-cancel trade orders are not permitted. The CCO is responsible for maintaining a record of all pre-clearance requests. In all cases, the Firm, through its automated system, will determine whether approval should be given by comparing to Client transactions and monitoring the Firm’s trade recommendations. Additionally, the Firm will have the authority to grant exceptions or waivers if deemed appropriate; these will be granted on a case-by-case basis if the Access Person’s trading does not disadvantage any Client.

 

 

 
3Under the Advisers Act, a “security” means 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.

 

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IV. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

 

All Access Persons are required to submit to the CCO the following reports:

 

A. Initial Holdings Report

 

Access Persons are required to provide an Initial Holdings Report in StarCompliance within ten (10) days of the date that such person is hired, or became an Access Person, that discloses details of all of the Access Person’s current Reportable Securities holdings in his or her Personal Accounts. A sample reporting form is attached hereto as Exhibit 3. Information contained in Initial Holding Reports must be current as of a date no more than forty-five (45) days prior to the date of submission. Annual Holdings Report

 

Access Persons must complete an Annual Holdings Report with details of all current Reportable Securities holdings in their Personal Accounts as of year-end, December 31. A sample reporting form is attached hereto as Exhibit 3. Access Persons are expected to complete the Annual Holding Report in StarCompliance by January 30.

 

B. Quarterly Transactions Reports

 

Access Persons must provide a Quarterly Transactions Report including details of each transaction in a Reportable Security in their Personal Accounts for the most recent quarter end. A sample reporting form is attached hereto as Exhibit 3. Access Persons must submit Quarterly Transactions Reports in StarCompliance within fifteen (15) days of the end of each calendar quarter. Any trades of Reportable Securities that did not occur through a broker-dealer, such as the purchase of a private placement, must be pre-cleared (as described in this Code of Ethics) and affirmed through the Access Person’s quarterly transaction affirmation

 

Content Requirements – Quarterly transaction report must include:

 

date of transaction;

 

title of Reportable Security;

 

ticker symbol or CUSIP number of Reportable Security (as applicable);

 

interest rate or maturity rate (if applicable);

 

number of shares;

 

principal amount of Reportable Security;

 

nature of transaction (i.e., purchase or sale);

 

price of reportable security at which the transaction was effected;

 

the name of broker, dealer or bank through which the transaction was effected;

 

the date upon which the Access Person submitted the report.

 

If an Access Person opens a personal account with a brokerage firm after submitting his or her initial or annual holdings report (as applicable), such Access Person must promptly inform the CCO to ensure that the holdings and transactions in such account are properly reported in accordance with the reporting requirements above. A request letter to broker for duplicate statements, attached hereto as Exhibit 4, is used for this purpose.

 

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V. EXCEPTIONS FROM PRECLEARANCE AND TRANSACTION REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

 

The following transactions are exempt from the preclearance and quarterly transaction reporting requirements discussed above.

 

A. Cryptocurrency (e.g., digital assets such as Bitcoin (BTC), Litecoin (LTC), and Ethereum (ETH)) accounts or wallets do not need to be reported and the purchase or sale of cryptocurrencies do not require preclearance or reporting. However, all cryptocurrency-based ETFs are subject to the same ETF reporting requirements as described above. Additionally, private offerings require preclearance even if the offered securities are purchased with cryptocurrency. Certain cryptocurrency offerings such as initial coin offerings may be considered a securities offering. When in doubt, contact the Firm’s CCO to determine whether preclearance or reporting in certain cryptocurrency transactions are required.

 

Note: The standards above are subject to change depending on emerging regulatory requirements and the Firm’s exposure to cryptocurrencies or related products. Certain cryptocurrencies may be restricted and require pre-clearance and reporting in the future;

 

B. Purchases or sales that are non-volitional on the part of the Access Person such as purchases that are made pursuant to a merger, tender offer or exercise of rights, dividends, or reinvestment of dividends (except holdings need to be included on Initial and Annual Holdings Reports);

 

C. Purchases or sales with respect to securities held in any Personal Account over which the Access Person has no discretion over (i.e., a financial advisor traded account, an investment club, etc.) (“Non-Discretionary Account”). The CCO has authority under this Code of Ethics to determine at any time whether a particular account qualifies or continues to qualify as a Non-Discretionary Account, whether additional information should be provided by the relevant Access Person or whether additional steps must be taken by the relevant Access Person in order to maintain Non-Discretionary Account status for the relevant account. Access Persons with a Non-Discretionary Account must annually certify to the CCO in the form contained in Exhibit 5 to this Code of Ethics;

 

F. Quarterly Transaction Reports are not required if the report would duplicate information contained in broker trade confirm or account statements that an Access Person has already provided to the CCO; provided, that such broker trade confirm or account statements are provided to the CCO within 30 days of the end of the applicable calendar quarter. A sample letter for requesting duplicate account statements and trade confirmations be provided directly to the CCO by the broker is attached as Exhibit 4 to this Code of Ethics; and

 

G. Transactions in securities that are not Reportable Securities (e.g., treasury obligations and shares in mutual funds), as defined above.

 

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VI. OVERSIGHT OF CODE OF ETHICS

 

A. Reporting

 

Any situation that may involve a conflict of interest or other possible violation of this Code of Ethics must be promptly reported to the CCO who must report it to executive management. All Access Persons are required to promptly report any violation of this Code of Ethics they become aware of to the CCO or, in the event the violation involves the CCO, to the Firm’s CEO. Access Persons who violate this Code of Ethics are required to report their own violations, including if a violation is inadvertent or of a technical nature.

 

B. Review of Transactions

 

Each Access Person’s transactions in his/her Personal Accounts may be reviewed on a regular basis and compared to transactions entered into by the Firm on behalf of Clients. Any transactions that are believed to be a violation of this Code of Ethics will be reported promptly to the CCO who must report them to the executive management.

 

Notwithstanding any prior receipt of approval of a transaction in a Personal Account, the CCO and/or the Firm’s principal(s) will review all such transactions(s) at a suitable time, and they reserve the right to cancel any transaction(s) upon review. For example, after reviewing any transaction where a Client and an Access Person have effectively traded the same security in close proximity to each other, the CCO may determine that in order to avoid even the appearance of impropriety, the Access Person’s transaction must be cancelled, or any profits gained or losses avoided may be owed to the Client(s) or to the charity of the Access Person’s choice even though all compliance requirements had been met.

 

C. Approval of CCO’s Requests and Reports

 

The Firm’s CEO or its designee is responsible for reviewing and approving any requests or reports submitted by the CCO under this Code of Ethics.

 

D. Administration of Code of Ethics Relating to the Registered Funds:

 

So long as the Firm is advising a Fund, the board of trustees/directors of the Fund, including a majority of the trustees/directors who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) under the 1940 Act (all such trustees/directors collectively, the “Board”), must approve this Code of Ethics and any material changes to this Code of Ethics. The Board must approve any such material change to this Code of Ethics no later than six months after adoption of the material change. In addition, the CCO will provide a written report, no less frequently than annually, to the Board on the administration of the Code of Ethics, as required by Rule 17j-1(c)(2) under the 1940 Act.

 

E. Books and Records

 

The books and records required to be maintained under this Code of Ethics shall be maintained in a manner that complies with the recordkeeping requirements under Rule 204-2 under the Advisers Act and Rule 17(j)(f) of the 1940 Act.

 

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VII. CONFIDENTIALITY

 

All reports of securities transactions and any other information filed pursuant to this Code of Ethics shall be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

 

VIII. ACKNOWLEDGMENT

 

All Access Persons are required to provide the Firm with a written acknowledgment of his or her receipt of this Code of Ethics and any amendments thereto. Attached hereto as Exhibit 1 is a form of acknowledgement.

 

IX. EXHIBITS

 

See next page for Code Exhibits. Note: All forms in Exhibits and Appendices contained herein may be completed, stored, or monitored using the Firm’s compliance monitoring system.

 

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