EX-99.(P)(17) 4 v352144_ex99-p17.htm CODE OF ETHICS

 

community capital management CODE of ETHICS     june 2013

 

I.Introduction

 

Fiduciary Duty. Community Capital Management, Inc. (the "Adviser"), in accordance with the requirements of Rule 204A-1 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Advisers Act"), has approved and adopted this Code of Ethics (the "Code"). This Code sets forth the general fiduciary principles and standards of business conduct to which all of the Adviser’s Advisory Persons are subject. This Code further sets forth policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to prevent Access Persons, as defined herein, from engaging in conduct prohibited by the Advisers Act and establishes reporting requirements for Access Persons.

 

Definitions. For purposes of the Code, the following words shall mean:

 

"Access Persons" means: (i) every officer of the Adviser or its parent, (ii) every Advisory Person of the Adviser (or Advisory Persons of the parent of the Adviser) who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes, participates in or obtains information regarding the purchase or sale of a Security for any Advisory Client or has access to nonpublic information about Adviser's non-public recommendations or the portfolio holdings of any Advisory Client account, or whose functions relate to the making of any recommendations with respect to purchases and sales, and (iii) every other person (whether or not an Advisory Person of the Adviser, such as consultants) who is subject to the Adviser’s supervision and control who has access to nonpublic information regarding any purchase or sale of securities for any Advisory Client, or has access to nonpublic information about the portfolio holdings of any Advisory Client. Access Persons also include: (i) a member of an Access Person’s immediate family (spouse, domestic partner, child or parents) who lives in an Access Person’s household (including children who are temporarily living outside of the household for school, military service or other similar situation); (ii) a relative of the person who lives in an Access Person’s household and over whose purchases, sales, or other trading activities an Access Person directly or indirectly exercises influence; (iii) a relative whose financial affairs an Access Person “controls”, whether by contract, arrangement, understanding or by convention (such as a relative he or she traditionally advises with regard to investment choices, invests for or otherwise assists financially); (iv) an investment account over which an Access Person has investment control or discretion; (v) a trust or other arrangement that names an Access Person as a beneficiary; and (vi) a non-public entity (partnership, corporation or otherwise) of which an Access Person is a director, officer, partner or Advisory Person, or in which he owns 10% or more of any class of voting securities, a "controlling" interest as generally defined by securities laws, or over which he or she exercises effective control.

 

"Advisory Client" means any affiliated investment company for which the Adviser or an affiliate serves as a general partner, or any person or entity (including affiliated investment companies) for which the Adviser serves as investment adviser, renders investment advice or makes investment decisions.

 

"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. However, any transaction that overrides the pre-set schedule or allocations of the automatic investment plan is not under the Automatic Investment Plan.

 

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community capital management CODE of ETHICS     june 2013 

 

"Beneficial Ownership" or "Beneficially Owns" means the same as it does under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 16a-1(a)(2) thereunder. A person is the "beneficial owner" of any securities in which he or she has a direct or indirect pecuniary (monetary) interest. “Beneficial Interest” means the interest a person Beneficially Owns.

 

"Exempt Security" means: (i) direct obligations of the U.S. Government (or any other "government security" as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"), bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and High-Quality Short-Term Debt Instruments, including repurchase agreements, and shares of registered open-end investment companies, (ii) securities purchased or sold in any account over which the Access Person has no direct or indirect influence or control, (iii) securities purchased or sold in a transaction that is non-volitional on the part of the Access Person, including mergers, recapitalizations or similar transactions, and (iv) securities acquired as a part of an Automatic Investment Plan.

 

"Family/Household" means a member of such person’s immediate family (spouse, domestic partner, child or parents) who lives in the person’s household (including children who are temporarily living outside of the household for school, military service or other similar situation), and a relative of the person who lives in such person’s household.

 

"High Quality Short-Term Debt Instrument" means any instrument that has a maturity at issuance of less than 366 days and that is rated in one of the two highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (e.g., Moody’s Investors Service).

 

"Security" or "Securities" 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, pre-organization 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, guarantee of, or warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase any of the foregoing.

 

II.Who is covered by the Code

 

This Code applies to all Advisory Persons of the Adviser. It is the responsibility of each Advisory Person to immediately report to the Adviser’s Chief Compliance Officer or his or her designee ("CCO") any known or suspected violations of this Code, the Adviser's Compliance Manual and the policies and procedures contained therein, or of any other activity of any Advisory Person that could constitute a violation of law. If you are aware of any activity in this regard, you should contact the CCO immediately. Failure to report a potential violation could result in disciplinary action against the non-reporting Advisory Person. The Adviser will ensure that Advisory Persons are not subject to retaliation in their employment as a result of reporting a known or suspected violation.

 

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community capital management CODE of ETHICS     june 2013

 

A.Things You Need to Know to Use This Code

 

·There are two forms of reporting that Access Persons must engage in; the completion of the Initial Holdings Report (Exhibit A) and the submission of information on the Advisor’s personal trading system (including a quarterly transaction report). You can get copies of the reporting forms from the CCO in addition to information regarding access to the personal trading system.

 

·All Advisory Persons must also acknowledge that they have received, read and understood this Code and the Compliance Manual and renew that acknowledgment on a yearly basis. This acknowledgement is made on the Advisor’s personal trading system.

 

·The CCO has the authority to grant written waivers of the provisions of this Code in appropriate instances. However, (i) it is expected that waivers will be granted only in rare instances and (ii) some provisions of the Code are prescribed by rules adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and cannot be waived. These provisions include, but are not limited to, the requirements that Access Persons file reports and obtain pre-approval of investments in Initial Public Offerings and Limited Offerings.

 

·Management of the Adviser and its compliance personnel will review the terms and provisions of this Code at least annually and make amendments as necessary. Any amendments to this Code will be provided to you.

 

III.General Fiduciary Principles and Standards of Business Conduct

 

A.Acting as a Fiduciary

 

It is the policy of the Adviser to act in the best interest of its Advisory Clients and on the principles of full disclosure, good faith and fair dealing. The Adviser recognizes that it has a fiduciary duty to its Advisory Clients. Acting as a fiduciary requires that the Adviser, consistent with its other statutory and regulatory obligations, act solely in its Advisory Clients' best interests when providing investment advice and engaging in other activities on behalf of its Advisory Clients. The Adviser and its Advisory Persons must seek to avoid situations which may result in potential or actual conflicts of interest with these duties. To this end, the following principles apply:

 

·All Advisory Persons must always observe the highest standards of integrity and fair dealing and conduct their personal and business dealings in accordance with the letter, spirit and intent of all relevant laws and regulations;

 

·The Adviser must have a reasonable basis for the investment advice and decisions it makes for its Advisory Clients;

 

·The Adviser must ensure that its investment decisions are consistent with its Advisory Clients' investment objectives, policies;

 

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community capital management CODE of ETHICS     june 2013

 

·All Advisory Persons must refrain from entering into transactions, including personal securities transactions, that are inconsistent with the interests of its Advisory Clients;

 

·Advisory Persons should not take inappropriate advantage of their positions and may not, directly or indirectly, use Advisory Client opportunities for personal gain; and

 

·Advisory Persons must be loyal to its Advisory Clients and place the interests of its Advisory Client above their own.

 

The Adviser treats violations of this Code very seriously. If you violate this Code, the Adviser may take disciplinary measures against you, including, without limitation, imposing penalties or fines, reducing your compensation, demoting you, requiring unwinding of the trade, requiring disgorgement of trading gains, suspending or terminating your employment, or any combination of the foregoing.

 

Improper trading activity may constitute a violation of this Code. You may also violate this Code, however, by failing to file required reports, or by making inaccurate or misleading reports or statements concerning trading activity or securities accounts. Your conduct may violate this Code even if no Advisory Clients are harmed by your conduct.

 

If you have any doubt or uncertainty about what this Code requires or permits, you should ask the CCO. Please do not guess at the answer.

 

B.Compliance with the Federal Securities Laws

 

Advisory Persons are required to comply with applicable federal securities laws at all times. Examples of applicable federal securities laws include:

 

·the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and the SEC rules thereunder;

 

·the Advisers Act, and the SEC rules thereunder;

 

·the Investment Company Act, and the SEC rules thereunder;

 

·Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (privacy and security of client non-public information) and the SEC rules thereunder; and

 

·the Bank Secrecy Act, as it applies to funds and investment advisers, and the SEC and Department of the Treasury rules thereunder.

 

C.Conflicts of Interest

 

§Personal Conflicts. All Advisory Persons must avoid establishing financial interests or outside affiliations which may create a conflict, or appear to create a conflict, between the Advisory Person’s personal interests and the interests of the Adviser or its Advisory Clients. A potential conflict of interest exists whenever an Advisory Person has a direct financial or other personal interest in any transaction or proposed transaction involving the Adviser or any of its Advisory Clients. A conflict of interest may also exist where the Advisory Person has an indirect interest in a transaction, for example, because the transaction will benefit someone with whom the Advisory Person has a friendship or other personal relationship. In such situations, Advisory Persons must disclose the conflict to the CCO and recuse themselves from the decision making process with respect to the transaction in question. Advisory Persons may not use non-public knowledge of a pending or currently considered securities transaction for an Advisory Client account to profit personally, directly or indirectly, as a result.

 

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§Conflict of Interest between the Adviser and an Advisory Client. In certain instances, the Adviser’s relationship with an Advisory Client may require the Adviser to place the Advisory Client’s interest above its own interests. If an Advisory Person becomes aware of a situation where the Adviser’s pursuit of its own interests in a transaction appears to conflict with its obligations to an Advisory Client, he or she should bring the situation to the immediate attention of the CCO.

 

§The Appearance of a Conflict of Interest Must Be Avoided. All Advisory Persons are expected to be objective in making business decisions and to consider any improper interest or influence that could arguably impair that objectivity. In determining whether there is an appearance of conflict, each Advisory Person should determine whether a reasonable, disinterested observer (i.e., investor, supplier, broker, an acquaintance, examiner or a government representative) would have any grounds to believe:

 

·          that the Adviser was serving its own interests or one Advisory Client's interests at the expense of another; or

 

·          that business with Advisory Clients or the Adviser was done on the basis of friendship, family ties, the giving and receiving of gifts, or to curry favor with some specific entity or individual rather than on the merits.

 

If an Advisory Person’s participation in a decision making process would raise the appearance of conflict of interest, the Advisory Person should inform his or her manager immediately.

 

§Outside Business Activities. All Advisory Person board memberships, advisory positions, trade group positions, management positions, or any involvement with public companies must be fully disclosed and submitted for prior approval to the CCO. Approval must be obtained through the CCO or his or her designee, and may require consideration by senior management of the Adviser. The Adviser can deny approval for any reason. This prohibition does not apply to service as an officer or board member of any parent, subsidiary or other affiliate of the Adviser.

 

§Gifts and Gratuities. No Advisory Person may accept or receive on their own behalf or on behalf of the Adviser any gift or other accommodation which has a value in excess of a de minimis amount (currently $100) from any vendor, broker, public company, securities salesman, client or prospective client (a "business contact"), unless approved in writing by the Chief Compliance Officer or his or her designee. No Advisory Person may accept cash gifts or cash equivalents from any such person, unless approved in writing by the Chief Compliance Officer or his or her designee. This prohibition applies equally to gifts to members of the Family/Household of an Advisory Person.

 

No Advisory Person may give on their own behalf or on behalf of the Adviser any gift or other accommodation to a business contact that may be construed as an improper attempt to influence the recipient, or which exceeds a de minimis amount (currently $250). These policies are not intended to prohibit normal business entertainment.

 

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§Entertainment and Meals. Payment for entertainment or meals where the Advisory Person is not accompanied by the person purchasing the entertainment or meals is considered a gift, subject to the rules discussed above. Acceptance of meals and entertainment where the host is present is generally permitted. However, the acceptance of particularly lavish entertainment or entertainment with excessive frequency is generally inappropriate and should be refused. Entertainment in poor taste or that adversely reflects on the morals or judgment of the individuals attending the event is considered inappropriate and also should be refused. Individuals involved in the purchase of equipment, supplies, and services may not accept entertainment or meals from a vendor or potential vendor except if business is to be discussed. Finally, under no circumstances should entertainment be accepted which may affect or be construed to affect any future dealing with that person. These policies are not intended to prohibit normal business meals.

 

§Political Contributions / Pay-to-Play. “Pay-to-play” refers to the practice whereby an adviser or its employees make political contributions or gifts for the purpose of obtaining or retaining advisory contracts with government entities. General fiduciary principles under the Advisers Act require an adviser to take reasonable steps to ensure that any political contributions made by it or its employees are not intended to obtain or retain advisory business. In addition, in 2010, the SEC adopted a rule that substantially restricts contribution and solicitation practices of investment advisers and certain of their related persons. The new rule has three key elements:

 

vIt prohibits an investment adviser from providing advisory services for compensation – either directly or through a pooled investment vehicle – for two years, if the adviser or certain of its executives or employees make a political contribution to an elected official who is in a position to influence the selection of the adviser.

 

vIt prohibits an advisory firm and certain executives and employees from soliciting or coordinating campaign contributions from others – a practice referred to as “bundling” – for an elected official who is in a position to influence the selection of the adviser. It also prohibits solicitation and coordination of payments to political parties in the state or locality where the adviser is seeking business.

 

vIt prohibits an adviser from paying a third party, such as a solicitor or placement agent, to solicit a government client on behalf of the investment adviser, unless that third party is an SEC-registered investment adviser or broker-dealer subject to similar pay to play restrictions.

 

SEC Press Release 2010-116; http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2010/2010-116.htm

 

The rule includes a de minimis provision that permits contributions of up to $350 for candidates for whom the contributor is entitled to vote, and $150 for candidates for whom the contributor is not entitled to vote.

 

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Political contributions or gifts from the Advisor, its Advisory Persons and solicitors to persons who may be in a position to affect the award of business to the Advisor may raise various legal and regulatory issues. For instance, the SEC as well as many states and municipalities have rules disqualifying an advisor from managing assets for certain governmental entities if the adviser, any employee or an adviser’s solicitor has contributed to certain political organizations, candidates or state officials for office.

 

To avoid violating such rules, as well as to avoid the appearance of impropriety, all political contributions must be in compliance with the following procedures:

 

Pre-Approval of Contributions in Excess of $150.00 – When making contributions, Advisory Persons must be sensitive when considering a contribution to a political party, PAC or person who is, or may in the future be, in a position to affect the award of business to the Advisor. Therefore, prior to making any political contribution or gift (including subscriptions, loans or deposit of money or anything of value given) to any political party (e.g., Republican, Democratic, Independent), Political Action Committees (“PAC”) or to any state official as defined by this policy in excess of $150 (whether in a lump sum or series of contributions in any calendar year), the employee should seek approval from the Chief Compliance Officer or his or her designee.

 

Quarterly Reporting - All Advisory Persons will be requested to include as part of their Quarterly Transaction Report (submitted through the Advisor’s personal trading system) their political contributions during the quarter (including those under the $150 preclearance level). These contributions may include subscriptions, loans or deposits of money or anything of value given to any political party (e.g., Republican, Democratic, Independent), PAC or to any state official as defined by this policy.

 

State officials are defined in this policy is any person, who was, at the time of the political contribution or gift, a candidate for governor, treasurer or a legislative seat. A PAC is defined as a private group organized to elect or defeat government officials in order to promote legislation that is often favorable to that group’s purpose or mission. The quarterly report will ask the Advisory Person to disclose the name of recipient, amount of the contribution or gift value, office and state of the campaign and the date of the contribution. Additionally, each Advisory Person will indicate whether they are entitled to vote for the recipient of their political contribution.

 

Separation of Political and Employment Activities - All political activities of Advisory Persons must be kept separate from employment and expenses may not be charged to the Advisor. Advisory Persons may not conduct political activities during working hours or use the Advisor’s facilities for political campaign purposes without the prior written approval of the Chief Compliance Officer or his or her designee.

 

No Contribution on Behalf of the Advisor – Advisory Persons may not make political contributions on behalf of the Advisor to any political party, or in connection with any federal, state, or local campaigns, except with the prior written approval of the Chief Compliance Officer or his or her designee.

 

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§Preferential Treatment. Advisory Persons must make investment decisions, undertake commitments, and perform their duties and obligations without favoritism of any kind and award business or contracts strictly on the basis of merit. An Advisory Person should not actively seek nor accept a discount on any item for personal use from a business contact. If such a person extends preferential treatment (for example, offers a discount) to an Advisory Person in a personal transaction, the Advisory Person must have the preferential treatment pre-approved by the CCO before proceeding with the transaction.

 

§Borrowing. Advisory Persons should borrow only from reputable organizations that regularly lend money (borrowing from relatives, however, is not subject to restriction). If an Advisory Person borrows from any financial institution, the loan must not involve favored treatment of any kind based upon their employment with the Adviser.

 

D.Standards of Business Conduct

 

§General. Advisory Persons are expected to conduct themselves at all times in a manner consistent with the highest professional standards. Each Advisory Person accordingly must devote his or her attention and skills to the performance of his or her responsibilities and avoid activities that interfere with that responsibility or that are detrimental to the Adviser and its reputation.

 

§Communications with Advisory Client. All communications with Advisory Clients, whether verbal or written, must convey information clearly and fairly. Exaggerated, unwarranted or misleading statements or claims are prohibited.

 

§Disclosure of Confidential Information. In the course of conducting business, Advisory Persons may become privy to confidential information about the Adviser, its present and prospective Advisory Clients. It is a violation of this Code, and in some cases may be a violation of law, for any Advisory Person to disclose to anyone other than another Advisory Person any confidential information obtained while in the course of conducting business on behalf of the Adviser. Disclosure to other Advisory Persons should be made only when and to the extent necessary to further the legitimate business purposes of the Adviser. Advisory Persons may not use any such information in connection with their personal investments or investments of others subject to their control.

 

§Advisory Client and Investor Information. Advisory Clients and Investors in any affiliated investment companies of the Adviser have the right to expect the Adviser and its Advisory Persons to treat information concerning their business dealings in the strictest confidence. Accordingly, no one may divulge such Advisory Client and investor information except in accordance with the Adviser’s privacy policy and unless the party to whom a disclosure is made is legitimately entitled to the information (i.e., needs to know the information in furtherance of the investor’s business) or the Advisory Client or investor gives prior consent to the disclosure. Any such prior consent should be documented in advance of disclosure.

 

§Company Information. Confidential information about the Adviser, its parent or other affiliated companies, that is obtained by an Advisory Person, including its investors, products, processes, financial condition, plans, patents, or licenses may not be disclosed to persons outside of the organization, except with the approval of senior management and to further the legitimate business purposes of the Adviser. Discretion should always be used when handling confidential client, investor or company information, and such information should never be disseminated to an unauthorized person. Advisory Persons are reminded that when it is necessary to carry sensitive information off the Adviser’s premises, they should take appropriate care for its security. Specifically, Advisory Persons should avoid casually displaying documents or engaging in confidential business conversations in public places, including, but not limited to, elevators, hallways, restrooms, airports, and in public transportation. Advisory Persons who take documents or computer files off the premises to work at home should return all such materials to the Adviser upon completion of the particular at home project. Any questions about the confidential nature of information or whether confidential information may be disclosed should immediately be referred to the CCO.

 

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community capital management CODE of ETHICS     june 2013

 

§Corporate Assets. All information, products and services connected to or generated by the Adviser as a business are considered corporate assets to which the Adviser has ownership rights. Corporate property utilized or developed by Advisory Persons during their employment, including, but not limited to, files, analysis, reference materials, reports, written or e-mail correspondence, trade secrets, client lists, strategies, computer hardware and software, data processing systems, computer programs and databases, remains exclusively the Adviser’s property both during employment and after the Advisory Person leaves the firm. Accordingly, all Advisory Persons are expected to protect the Adviser’s ownership or property including all information, products, and services and to return all information to the Adviser at the termination of employment. Further, Advisory Persons are prohibited from misusing the Adviser’s corporate assets (including use of assets for a non-business purpose, theft, inflation of expenses, etc.) and from misusing or removing those assets from the premises upon leaving the firm. Before beginning employment with the Adviser, each Advisory Person should give his or her manager a copy or any non-competition, non-disclosure or non-pirating agreement by which the Advisory Person is bound at the time of hiring. Any questions about this requirement should be raised with senior management.

 

§Money Laundering. Every Advisory Person bears responsibility for recognizing suspicious transaction or investor activity that may constitute money laundering (including the structuring of deposits) and that may involve proceeds from unlawful activities such as drug trafficking or racketeering. In particular, Advisory Persons should be aware that even the simple receipt of funds, including through wire transfers, which are derived from illegal activities can subject them to prosecution for money laundering. Any suspicious deposit or customer activity which causes an Advisory Person concern about the source of an investor’s funds should be promptly reported to the CCO.

 

§Bribery. Under federal law, it is illegal for the Adviser or any Advisory Person to pay, offer to pay, or authorize a payment of any money or other thing of value to:

 

·an official of a local, state, federal or foreign government or an agency of a local, state, federal or foreign government;

 

·a political party or official thereof, or a candidate for political office; or

 

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·any other person the payor knows or has reason to know will pay or give the money or value to those listed above.

 

Where the purpose is to influence the recipient to take or refrain from taking any official action or to induce the recipient to use his or her influence to affect governmental action to obtain, retain, or direct business for the Adviser, offering or making any such remuneration or consideration to a domestic or foreign government official, political party or candidate for political office is strictly prohibited. All Advisory Persons must immediately report all invitations to accept a bribe or any proposal or suggestion of a similar illegal nature to the CCO.

 

§Relations with Regulators. It is the Adviser’s policy to cooperate with government authorities and regulators during routine audits and examinations, as well as inquiries and investigations. The CCO must immediately be made aware of any requests from government authorities or regulators and should be involved in responding to all such inquiries in order to be certain that we are providing complete and accurate information to regulators, as well as to ensure awareness of pending inquiries that may require us to maintain certain records.

 

IV.Restrictions on Personal Trading Activity.

 

A.           Front-Running. Without the prior written approval of the CCO, no Advisory Person may execute a transaction in a Security for any account in which he or she has any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership if the Advisory Person is aware or should be aware that an order for an Advisory Client account for the same security, same way, remains unexecuted or the Adviser is considering same way trades in the security for Advisory Client accounts. Transactions in options, derivatives or convertible instruments for such Advisory Person accounts that are related to a transaction in an underlying security for a client account ("inter-market front running") are subject to the same restrictions.

 

B.           Restricted List. Certain transactions in which the Adviser engages may require, for either business or legal reasons, that any Advisory Client accounts or any account in which an Advisory Person or the Adviser has any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership do not trade in certain securities for specified time periods. A security will be designated as "restricted" if the Adviser is involved in a transaction that places limits on the aggregate position held by the accounts in that security, or if trading in a security should be restricted for any other reason. The Adviser’s "restricted list" will be maintained by the CCO. It generally will not be circulated. It is the Advisory Person’s responsibility contact the CCO in order to determine whether a security is on the Adviser’s restricted list prior to the execution of any security transaction.

 

C.           Principal Transactions. Neither the Adviser nor any of its Advisory Persons may engage in principal transactions between an account of the Adviser or any account in which an Advisory Person has any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership and a client account without first obtaining the prior written approval of the CCO and the consent of the Advisory Client.

 

D.           Private Placements. No Advisory Person may acquire, directly or indirectly, beneficial ownership of any security in a private placement without the prior approval of the CCO. A Personal Securities Trading Request should be submitted through the Advisor’s personal trading system. The CCO shall promptly notify the Advisory Person of approval or denial of clearance to trade via the personal trading system.

 

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E.            Initial Public Offerings. No Advisory Person may acquire, directly or indirectly, beneficial ownership of any security in an initial public offering which the Advisor may reasonably be considering for purchase for one or more Clients without the prior approval of the CCO. A Personal Securities Trading Request should be submitted to the CCO through the Advisor’s personal trading system before the Advisory Person places an indication of interest in the initial public offering with a broker. The CCO shall promptly notify the Advisory Person of approval or denial of clearance to trade via the personal trading system.

 

F.           Manipulative Practices. Section 9(a)(2) of the Exchange Act makes it unlawful for any person, acting alone or with others, to effect a series of transactions in any security registered on a national securities exchange creating actual or apparent active trading in such security or raising or depressing the price of the security, for the purpose of inducing the purchase or sale of such security by others. Rule 10b-5 under the Exchange Act has been interpreted to proscribe the same type of trading practices in OTC securities. The thrust of these prohibitions against manipulative trading practices is that no Advisory Person should, alone or with others, for either an Advisory Client account or any account in which an Advisory Person or the Adviser has any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership:

 

·         engage in trading or apparent trading activity for the purpose of inducing purchases or sales by others; or

 

·         engage in trading or apparent trading activity for the purpose of causing the price of a security to move up or down, and then take advantage of such price movement by buying or selling at such "artificial" price level.

 

Of course, buy or sell programs may cause stock prices to rise or fall, and price changes resulting from supply and demand factors are not prohibited. Rather, Section 9(a)(2) prohibits activity where there is a purpose to affect the price of a security artificially through trading or apparent trading, not where such change is an incidental result of a change in supply, demand, or in the intrinsic value of a security.

 

V.      Trading for Access Persons. Each Access Person shall direct his or her broker to supply to the CCO, on a timely basis, either (i) duplicate copies of period statements for all securities accounts in which the Access Person has a direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership interest other than those holding only Exempt Securities; or (ii) electronic submission of trade confirmations of all Securities transactions, other than for Exempt Securities, in which the person has, or by reason of such transaction acquires, any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership . It is the responsibility of each Access Person to ensure that either duplicate statements are delivered to the Advisor or that authorization to obtain electronic data is provided. Exhibit B contains a Form of Letter to Broker Dealer, Bank, or Mutual Fund for use in making arrangements for the provision of duplicate statements.

 

i.          Pre-clearance of personal trades. Access Persons may not buy or sell Securities (other than Exempt Securities) for any account in which he or she has any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership, unless such persons obtains, in advance of the transaction, clearance for that transaction from the CCO.

 

Any transaction may be cancelled at the end of the day by the CCO and the trade allocated to a client account if determined by the CCO to be required. The Chief Operating Officer of the Adviser must similarly approve any trade by the CCO. A Personal Securities Trading Request submitted through the Advisor’s personal trading system should be used for this purpose. The CCO shall promptly notify the Advisory Person of approval or denial of clearance to trade via the personal trading system. If the transaction approved, that approval is valid for the day on which it is granted and the immediately following business day. The CCO (or COO in the case of a transaction by the CCO) may revoke a pre-clearance any time after it is granted and before the transaction is executed.

 

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ii.          Pre-clearance of certain borrowing. Prior to arranging a personal loan with a financial institution that will be collateralized by Securities an Access Person must obtain the approval of the CCO.

 

ii.          Blackout Period. No Access Person may buy or sell any Security on a day during which it is included within Adviser’s trading rotation, including any rebalancing.

 

iii.         Prohibition on Short Sales and Similar Transactions. Access Persons may not purchase a put option or sell a call option, sell short or otherwise take a short position, either directly or through any Beneficial Ownership, in any Security held by any client.

 

VI.    Reporting Requirements and Procedures. In order to provide the Adviser with information to enable it to determine with reasonable assurance whether the provisions of this Code are being observed by its Access Persons, the following reporting requirements regarding personal securities transactions apply.

 

A.           Initial Holdings Reports: Within ten (10) days after a person becomes an Access Person, such person shall submit to the CCO a completed Initial Holdings Report substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. 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 Security (other than an Exempt Security) in which the person has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership; (b) the name of any broker, dealer or bank with whom the person maintains an account in which any Securities are held for the person’s direct or indirect benefit1; and (c) the date the person submits the report. The Initial Holdings Report must be current as of a date no more than thirty (30) days prior to the date the person became an Access Person

 

B.Annual Holdings Report

 

In accordance with the Advisor’s standard compliance calendar, an Access Person shall submit through the Advisor’s personal trading system, a report of holdings current as of a date no more than thirty (30) days prior to the date the report is submitted. Each annual 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 Security (other than an Exempt Security) in which the person has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership; (b) the name of any broker, dealer or bank with whom the person maintains an account in which any Securities are held for the person’s direct or indirect benefit; and (c) the date the person submits the report.

  

 

1 Please be advised that this includes accounts which hold only Exempt Securities, despite the fact that those accounts are not subject to duplicate statement or pre-clearance requirements, e.g. accounts over which sole discretion has been granted to a third party.

 

 

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community capital management CODE of ETHICS     june 2013

 

C.Quarterly Report:

 

(i)        Each Access Person shall submit reports through the personal trading system showing all transactions in Securities (other than Exempt Securities) in which the person has, or by reason of such transaction acquires, any direct or indirect beneficial ownership, as well as all accounts established with brokers, dealers or banks during the quarter in which any Securities, other than Exempt Securities, were held for the direct or indirect beneficial interest of the person. Such reports shall be submitted through the system no later than thirty (30) days after the end of each calendar quarter.

 

(ii)                 Thereafter, Advisory Persons must advise the Adviser and receive authorization before opening any new brokerage or commodities accounts. Notice shall be given to, and authorization received from the CCO.

 

(iii)                In addition, each Access Person must report to the CCO any private Securities transactions that are not carried out through brokerage accounts.

 

(iv)               For each Securities trade by an Access Person for which a confirmation is not available, the Access Person is responsible for promptly providing the CCO with the date, Security, nature of the transaction, price, parties and brokers involved in the transaction.

 

VII.Administration of the Code

 

The duties and responsibilities include:

 

A.                 The CCO shall promptly provide all persons covered by this Code with a copy of the Code. In addition, all persons covered by this Code must complete the Initial Holdings Report included as Exhibit A within ten (10) days of becoming subject to this Code and must submit an initial and annual certification through the personal trading system by the deadline set by the Advisor;

 

The CCO shall identify all Access Persons and inform them of their reporting obligations promptly;

 

The CCO must maintain a record of any decision relating to pre-clearance requests, and the reasons supporting the decision, for at least five (5) years after the end of the fiscal year in which the approval is granted;

 

If the CCO finds that a Code violation may have occurred, the CCO must promptly report the possible violation to senior management;

 

The CCO will submit his or her own reports (as required) to the Chief Operating Officer who will fulfill the duties of the CCO with respect to such reports; and

 

At least annually, the CCO will furnish to senior management as part of his or her annual compliance report under 206(4)-7, a description of any material issues arising under the Code since the previous report, including, but not limited to, information about material violations of the Code and sanctions imposed in response to the material violations.

 

VIII.Recordkeeping

 

The Adviser will maintain records as set forth below. These records will be maintained in accordance with Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act and the following requirements. They will be available for examination by representatives of the SEC and other regulatory agencies.

 

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community capital management CODE of ETHICS     june 2013

  

A.        A copy of this Code and any other code adopted by the Adviser which is, or at any time within the past five (5) years has been, in effect will be preserved in an easily accessible place.

 

B.        A record of any Code violation and of any action taken as a result of the violation will be preserved in an easily accessible place for a period of at least five (5) years following the end of the fiscal year in which the violation occurred.

 

C.        A copy of each report submitted by an Access Person under this Code will be preserved for a period of at least five (5) years from the end of the fiscal year in which the report is made or the information is provided, for the first two (2) years in an easily accessible place.

 

D.        A record of all persons, currently or within the past five (5) years, who are or were required to submit reports under this Code, and a list of those who are or were responsible for reviewing these reports, will be maintained in an easily accessible place.

 

IX.Miscellaneous

 

A.       Confidentiality. The Adviser will endeavor to maintain the confidentiality of all personal securities transactions and any other information filed pursuant to this Code. Such reports and related information, however, may be produced to the SEC and other regulatory agencies.

 

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EXHIBIT A TO CODE OF ETHICS - INITIAL HOLDINGS REPORT

 

 

 

       
Access Person Last Name   First Name     MI
         
Office Location   Phone #  

 

1.Personal Investment Holdings Report

 

The following is a list of all investment accounts and Securities not held in such accounts in which I have Beneficial Ownership, and such information is current as of a date no more than 30 days prior to the date hereof:

 

Table 1 – Investment Accounts

 

Instructions:

 

·Provide the information requested below for each investment account in which you have Beneficial Ownership. Indicate “N/A” or “None” if appropriate.

 

·Attach the most recent account statement for each account identified.

 

·Attach separate sheets if necessary

 

NAME OF BROKER
DEALER, BANK,
OR OTHER
FINANCIAL
INTERMEDIARY 

  ACCOUNT TITLE
Acct Holder’s Name
And (Acct Type)
  RELATIONSHIP
If Acct Holder Is
Not The Access
Person
  ACCOUNT
NUMBER
  Non-
Discretionary
/ Managed
Account
(Check if yes)
Ex: Smith Barney   Jane Smith (IRA)   spouse   xxx-xxxxx    
                 
                 
                 

 

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EXHIBIT A TO CODE OF ETHICS - INITIAL HOLDINGS REPORT

 

Table 2 – Other Investment Holdings

 

Instructions:

 

·If you have Beneficial Ownership in any Securities that are not held in an investment account listed above (stock certificates, private equity investments), list them below. Indicate “N/A” or “None” if appropriate.

·Attach separate sheets if necessary

 

NAME OF
SECURITY
OWNER
 

 

RELATIONSHIP
if security owner is
not the Access
Person

  NAME/TITLE
OF SECURITY
 

 

 

TYPE OF
SECURITY

 

 

TICKER
OR CUSIP

 

NUMBER
OF SHARES
/
PRINCIPAL

AMOUNT

                     
                     
                     

 

4.Certification

 

I certify that the information on this form is accurate and complete in all material respects.

 

Access Person’s Printed Name: ____________________________________________

 

Access Person’s Signature: _________________________________________

 

Date: __________

 

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EXHIBIT B TO CODE OF ETHICS - FORM OF LETTER TO BROKER/DEALER

 

(Date)

 

(Name and

 

Address of Financial Institution)

 

Subject:   Account #:  
       
    Title of Account:  

 

Dear Sir / Madam:

 

I or a member of my immediate family is affiliated with Community Capital Management, Inc. (CCM), an investment adviser that is registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”). Pursuant to CCM’s Code of Ethics and the provisions of Rule 204a-1 under the Advisers Act, please send duplicate periodic statements for the referenced account directly to:

 

Community Capital Management, Inc.

 

Chief Compliance Officer – CODE OF ETHICS

 

2500 Weston Road, Suite 101

 

Weston, FL 33331

 

Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions, please contact me at (877) 272-1977.

 

  Sincerely,
   
  (Name of Access Person)

 

cc: CCM Chief Compliance Officer

 

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