EX-14.1 3 ck0001948565-ex14_1.htm EX-14.1 EX-14.1

 

Exhibit 14.1

 

INVESTCORP CREDIT MANAGEMENT BDC, INC.

INVESTCORP US PRIVATE CREDIT BDC II

INVESTCORP US INSTITUTIONAL PRIVATE CREDIT FUND

CODE OF ETHICS

 

This Code of Ethics (the “Code”) has been adopted by the Board of Directors/Trustees (the “Board”) of Investcorp Credit Management BDC, Inc., Investcorp US Private Credit BDC II, and Investcorp US Institutional Private Credit Fund (each a “Company” and together, the “Companies”) in accordance with Rule 17j-l(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and the May 9, 1994 Report of the Advisory Group on Personal Investing by the Investment Company Institute (the “Report”). Rule 17j-1 generally describes fraudulent or manipulative practices with respect to purchases or sales of securities held or to be acquired by business development companies if effected by access persons of such companies.

 

The purpose of this Code is to reflect the following: (1) the duty at all times to place the interests of shareholders first; (2) the requirement that all personal securities transactions be conducted consistent with the Code and in such a manner as to avoid any actual or potential conflict of interest or any abuse of an individual’s position of trust and responsibility; and (3) the fundamental standard that business development company personnel should not take inappropriate advantage of their positions.

 

SECTION I: STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND APPLICABILITY

(A)
Statement of Purpose

It is the policy of each Company that no affiliated person of each Company shall, in connection with the purchase or sale, directly or indirectly, by such person of any security held or to be acquired by each Company,

(1)
Employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud each Company;
(2)
Make to each Company any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state to each Company a material fact necessary in order to make the statement made, in light of the circumstances under which it is made, not misleading;
(3)
Engage in any act, practice, or course of business which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon each Company; or
(4)
Engage in any manipulative practice with respect to each Company.

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(B)
Scope of the Code

In order to prevent the Access Persons, as defined in Section II, paragraph (A) below, of each Company from engaging in any of these prohibited acts, practices or courses of business, the Board has adopted this Code.

SECTION II: DEFINITIONS

(A)
Access Person. “Access Person” means any director, officer, or “Advisory Person” of each Company or its investment adviser.
(B)
Advisory Person. “Advisory Person” of each Company means: (i) any director, trustee, officer or employee of each Company or its investment adviser or of any company in a control relationship to each Company or its investment 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 Covered Security by each Company, or whose functions relate to the making of any recommendations with respect to such purchases or sales; and (ii) any natural person in a control relationship to each Company or its investment adviser who obtains information concerning recommendations made to each Company with regard to the purchase or sale of a “Covered Security.”
(C)
Beneficial Interest. “Beneficial Interest” includes any entity, person, trust, or account with respect to which an Access Person exercises investment discretion or provides investment advice. A beneficial interest shall be presumed to include all accounts in the name of or for the benefit of the Access Person, his or her spouse, dependent children, or any person living with him or her or to whom he or she contributes economic support.
(D)
Beneficial Ownership. “Beneficial Ownership” shall be determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), except that the determination of direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership shall apply to all securities, and not just equity securities, that an Access Person holds or acquires. Rule 16a-1(a)(2) provides that the term “beneficial owner” means any person who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship, or otherwise, has or shares a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in any equity security. Therefore, an Access Person may be deemed to have Beneficial Ownership of securities held by members of his or her immediate family sharing the same household, or by certain partnerships, trusts, corporations, or other arrangements.
(E)
Control. “Control” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(9) of the 1940 Act.

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(F)
Covered Security. “Covered Security” means a security as defined in Section 2(a)(36) of the 1940 Act, except that it does not include (i): direct obligations of the Government of the United States; (ii) banker’s acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments including repurchase agreements; and (iii) shares issued by registered open-end investment companies (i.e., mutual funds); however, exchange traded funds structured as unit investment trusts or open-end funds are considered “Covered Securities.”
(G)
Company. The “Companies” mean Investcorp Credit Management BDC, Inc., a Maryland corporation, Investcorp US Private Credit BDC II, a Delaware Statutory Trust, and Investcorp US Institutional Private Credit Fund, a Delaware Statutory Trust.
(H)
Designated Officer. “Designated Officer” shall mean the officer of each Company designated by the Board from time to time to be responsible for management of compliance with this Code. The Designated Officer may appoint a designee to carry out certain of his or her functions pursuant to this Code.
(I)
Disinterested Director/Trustee. “Disinterested Director/Trustee” means a director or trustee of each Company who is not an “interested person” of each Company within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.
(J)
Initial Public Offering. “Initial Public Offering” means an offering of securities registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the issuer of which, immediately before the registration, was not subject to the reporting requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(K)
Investment Personnel. “Investment Personnel” means: (i) any employee of the Companies or their investment advisers (or of any company in a control relationship to the Companies or their investment advisers) who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes or participates in making recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of securities by each Company; and (ii) any natural person who controls each Company or its investment adviser and who obtains information concerning recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of securities by each Company.
(L)
Limited Offering. “Limited Offering” means an offering that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) or Section 4(a)(6) or pursuant to Rule 504, Rule 505 or Rule 506 under the Securities Act.
(M)
Purchase or Sale of a Covered Security. “Purchase or Sale of a Covered Security” is broad and includes, among other things, the writing of an option to purchase or sell a Covered Security, or the use of a derivative product to take a position in a Covered Security.

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(N)
Restricted List. “Restricted List” means the list promulgated and periodically updated by the Designated Officer which lists all of the Covered Securities that (1) each Company has purchased or sold within the last 15 calendar days, or is purchasing or selling or intends to purchase or sell within the next 15 calendar days; or that (2) each Company’s investment adviser has within the last 15 calendar days considered purchasing or selling on behalf of each Company, or within the next 15 calendar days intends to consider purchasing or selling on behalf of each Company.

SECTION III: STANDARDS OF CONDUCT

(A)
General Standards
(1)
No Access Person shall engage, directly or indirectly, in any business transaction or arrangement for personal profit that is inconsistent with the best interests of the Companies or their shareholders; nor shall he or she make use of any confidential information gained by reason of his or her employment by or affiliation with each Company or affiliates thereof in order to derive a personal profit for himself or herself or for any Beneficial Interest, in violation of the fiduciary duty owed to the Companies or their shareholders.
(2)
Any Access Person recommending or authorizing the purchase or sale of a Covered Security by each Company shall, at the time of such recommendation or authorization, disclose any Beneficial Interest in, or Beneficial Ownership of, such Covered Security or the issuer thereof.
(3)
No Access Person shall dispense any information concerning securities holdings or securities transactions of each Company to anyone outside each Company, without obtaining prior written approval from the Designated Officer, or such person or persons as these individuals may designate to act on their behalf. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, such Access Person may dispense such information without obtaining prior written approval:
(a)
when there is a public report containing the same information;
(b)
when such information is dispensed in accordance with compliance procedures established to prevent conflicts of interest between the Companies and their affiliates;
(c)
when such information is reported to directors/trustees of each Company; or
(d)
in the ordinary course of his or her duties on behalf of each Company.

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(4)
All personal securities transactions should be conducted consistent with this Code and in such a manner as to avoid actual or potential conflicts of interest, the appearance of a conflict of interest, or any abuse of an individual’s position of trust and responsibility within each Company.
(B)
Prohibited Transactions
(1)
General Prohibition. No Access Person shall purchase or otherwise acquire direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership, and without pre-approval clearance from the Designated Officer may not sell or otherwise dispose of direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership, of any security on the Restricted List, or in any Covered Security concerning which he or she has material non-public information, whether or not that security is on the Restricted List.
(a)
An Access Person who becomes aware that each Company is considering the purchase or sale of any Covered Security by any person (an issuer) must immediately notify the Designated Officer of any interest that such Access Person may have in any outstanding Covered Securities of that issuer.
(b)
An Access Person shall similarly notify the Designated Officer of any other interest or connection that such Access Person might have in or with such issuer.
(c)
Once an Access Person becomes aware that each Company is considering the purchase or sale of a Covered Security or that each Company holds a Covered Security in its portfolio, such Access Person may not engage, without prior approval of the Designated Officer, in any transaction in any Covered Securities of that issuer.
(d)
The foregoing notifications or permission may be provided verbally, but should be confirmed in writing as soon and with as much detail as possible.
(2)
Initial Public Offerings and Limited Offerings. Investment Personnel of each Company must obtain pre-approval clearance from each Company before directly or indirectly acquiring Beneficial Ownership in any securities in an Initial Public Offering or in a Limited Offering. Such approval must be obtained from the Designated Officer.
(3)
Blackout Periods. No Investment Personnel shall execute a securities transaction in any security that each Company owns or is considering for purchase or sale.

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(4)
Company Acquisition of Shares in Companies that Investment Personnel Hold Through Limited Offerings. Investment Personnel who have been authorized to acquire securities in a Limited Offering must disclose that investment to the Designated Officer when they are involved in each Company’s subsequent consideration of an investment in the issuer, and each Company’s decision to purchase such securities must be independently reviewed by Investment Personnel with no personal interest in that issuer.
(5)
Gifts. No Access Person may accept, directly or indirectly, any gift, favor, or service of more than a de minimis value (e.g., $250) from any person with whom he or she transacts business on behalf of each Company under circumstances when to do so would conflict with each Company’s best interests or would impair the ability of such person to be completely disinterested when required, in the course of business, to make judgments and/or recommendations on behalf of each Company.
(6)
Service as Director. No Access Person shall serve on the board of directors of a portfolio company of each Company without prior written authorization of the Designated Officer based upon a determination that the board service would be consistent with the interests of each Company and its shareholders.

SECTION IV: PROCEDURES TO IMPLEMENT CODE OF ETHICS

The following reporting procedures have been established to assist Access Persons in avoiding a violation of this Code, and to assist each Company in preventing, detecting, and imposing sanctions for violations of this Code. Every Access Person must follow these procedures. Questions regarding these procedures should be directed to the Designated Officer.

(A)
Applicability

All Access Persons are subject to the reporting requirements set forth in Section IV(B) except:

(1)
with respect to transactions effected for, and Covered Securities held in, any account over which the Access Person has no direct or indirect influence or control;
(2)
a Disinterested Director/Trustee, who would be required to make a report solely by reason of being a Director/Trustee, need not make: (1) an initial holdings or an annual holdings report; and (2) a quarterly transaction report, unless the Disinterested Director/Trustee knew or, in the ordinary course of fulfilling his or her official duties as a Director/Trustee, should have known that during the 15-day period immediately before or after such Disinterested Director/Trustee’s transaction in a Covered Security,

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each Company purchased or sold the Covered Security, or each Company or its investment adviser considered purchasing or selling the Covered Security.
(3)
an Access Person need not make a quarterly transaction report if the report would duplicate information contained in broker trade confirmations or account statements received by each Company with respect to the Access Person in the time required by subsection (B)(2) of this Section IV, if all of the information required by subsection (B)(2) of this Section IV is contained in the broker trade confirmations or account statements, or in the records of each Company, as specified in subsection (B)(4) of this Section IV.

 

(B)
Report Types
(1)
Initial Holdings Report. An Access Person must file an initial report not later than 10 days after that person became an Access Person. The initial report must: (a) contain the title, number of shares and principal amount of each Covered Security in which the Access Person had any direct or indirect beneficial ownership when the person became an Access Person; (b) identify any broker, dealer or bank with whom the Access Person maintained an account in which any Covered Securities were held for the direct or indirect benefit of the Access Person as of the date the person became an Access Person; and (c) indicate the date that the report is filed with the Designated Person. A copy of a form of such report is attached hereto as Exhibit B.
(2)
Quarterly Transaction Report. An Access Person must file a quarterly transaction report not later than 30 days after the end of a calendar quarter.
(a)
With respect to any transaction made during the reporting quarter in a Covered Security in which such Access Person had any direct or indirect beneficial ownership, the quarterly transaction report must contain: (i) the transaction date, title, interest date and maturity date (if applicable), the number of shares and the principal amount of each Covered Security; (ii) the nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition); (iii) the price of the Covered Security at which the transaction was effected; (iv) the name of the broker, dealer or bank through which the transaction was effected; and (v) the date that the report is submitted by the Access Person. A copy of a form of such report is attached hereto as Exhibit C.

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(b)
With respect to any account established by the Access Person in which any securities were held during the quarter for the direct or indirect benefit of the Access Person, the quarterly transaction report must contain: (i) the name of the broker, dealer or bank with whom the Access Person established the account; (ii) the date the account was established; and (iii) the date that the report is submitted by the Access Person.
(3)
Annual Holdings Report. An Access Person must file an annual holdings report not later than 30 days after the end of a fiscal year. The annual report must contain the following information (which information must be current as of a date no more than 45 days before the report is submitted): (a) the title, number of shares, and principal amount of each Covered Security in which the Access Person had any direct or indirect beneficial ownership; (b) the name of any broker, dealer or bank in which any Covered Securities are held for the direct or indirect benefit of the Access Person; and (c) the date the report is submitted. A copy of a form of such report is attached hereto as Exhibit D.
(4)
Account Statements. In lieu of providing a quarterly transaction report, an Access Person may direct his or her broker to provide to the Designated Officer copies of periodic statements for all investment accounts in which they have Beneficial Ownership that provide the information required in quarterly transaction reports, as set forth above.
(5)
Company Reports. No less frequently than annually, each Company must furnish to the Board, and the Board must consider, a written report that:
(a)
describes any issues arising under the Code or procedures since the last report to the Board, including but not limited to, information about material violations of the Code or procedures and sanctions imposed in response to the material violations; and
(b)
certifies that each Company has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from violating the Code.
(C)
Disclaimer of Beneficial Ownership. Any report required under this Section IV may contain a statement that the report shall not be construed as an admission by the person submitting such duplicate confirmation or account statement or making such report that he or she has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership in the Covered Security to which the report relates.
(D)
Review of Reports. The reports required to be submitted under this Section IV shall be delivered to the Designated Officer. The Designated Officer shall review such reports, including a review such transactions against a listing of all

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transactions effected by each Company and securities of any companies included on the Restricted List during the reporting period, to determine whether any transactions recorded therein constitute a violation of the Code. Before making any determination that a violation has been committed by any Access Person, such Access Person shall be given an opportunity to supply additional explanatory material. The Designated Officer shall maintain copies of the reports as required by Rule 17j-1(f).
(E)
Acknowledgment and Certification. Upon becoming an Access Person and annually thereafter, all Access Persons shall sign an acknowledgment and certification of their receipt of and intent to comply with this Code in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A and return it to the Designated Officer. Each Access Person must also certify annually that he or she has read and understands the Code and recognizes that he or she is subject to the Code. In addition, each access person must certify annually that he or she has complied with the requirements of the Code and that he or she has disclosed or reported all personal securities transactions required to be disclosed or reported pursuant to the requirements of the Code.
(F)
Records. Each Company shall maintain records with respect to this Code in the manner and to the extent set forth below, which records may be maintained on microfilm or electronic storage media under the conditions described in Rule 31a-2(f) under the 1940 Act and shall be available for examination by representatives of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”):
(1)
A copy of this Code and any other code of ethics of each Company that is, or at any time within the past five years has been, in effect shall be maintained in an easily accessible place;
(2)
A record of any violation of this Code and of any action taken as a result of such violation shall be maintained in an easily accessible place for a period of not less than five years following the end of the fiscal year in which the violation occurs;
(3)
A copy of each report made by an Access Person or duplicate account statement received pursuant to this Code, including any information provided in lieu of the reports under subsection (A)(3) of this Section IV shall be maintained for a period of not less than five years from the end of the fiscal year in which it is made or the information is provided, the first two years in an easily accessible place;
(4)
A record of all persons who are, or within the past five years have been, required to make reports pursuant to this Code, or who are or were responsible for reviewing these reports, shall be maintained in an easily accessible place;

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(5)
A copy of each report required under subsection (B)(5) of this Section IV shall be maintained for at least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which it is made, the first two years in an easily accessible place; and
(6)
A record of any decision, and the reasons supporting the decision, to approve the direct or indirect acquisition by an Access Person of beneficial ownership in any securities in an Initial Public Offering or Limited Offering shall be maintained for at least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which the approval is granted.
(G)
Obligation to Report a Violation. Every Access Person who becomes aware of a violation of this Code by any person must report it to the Designated Officer, who shall report it to appropriate management personnel. The management personnel will take such disciplinary action that they consider appropriate under the circumstances. In the case of officers or other employees of each Company, such action may include removal from office. If the management personnel consider disciplinary action against any person, they will cause notice thereof to be given to that person and provide to that person the opportunity to be heard. The Board will be notified, in a timely manner, of remedial action taken with respect to violations of the Code.
(H)
Confidentiality. All reports of Covered Securities transactions, duplicate confirmations, account statements and other information filed with each Company or furnished to any person pursuant to this Code shall be treated as confidential, but are subject to review as provided herein and by representatives of the SEC or otherwise to comply with applicable law or the order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

SECTION V: SANCTIONS

Upon determination that a violation of this Code has occurred, appropriate management personnel of each Company may impose such sanctions as they deem appropriate, including, among other things, disgorgement of profits, a letter of censure or suspension or termination of the employment of the violator. All violations of this Code and any sanctions imposed with respect thereto shall be reported in a timely manner to the Board.

SECTION VI: AMENDMENTS

This Code may be amended from time to time by resolution of the Board, or without a resolution of the Board to the extent the approval of such amendment is not required under the 1940 Act.

 

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EXHIBIT A

ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND CERTIFICATION

 

I acknowledge receipt of the Code of Ethics of Investcorp Credit Management BDC, Inc., Investcorp US Private Credit BDC II, and Investcorp US Institutional Private Credit Fund. I have read and understand such Code of Ethics and agree to be governed by it at all times. Further, if I have been subject to the Code of Ethics during the preceding year, I certify that I have complied with the requirements of the Code of Ethics and have disclosed or reported all personal securities transactions required to be disclosed or reported pursuant to the requirements of the Code of Ethics.

 

 

(signature)

 

 

 

(please print name)

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

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EXHIBIT B

INITIAL HOLDINGS REPORT

 

 

Name

 

 

Date

 

 

 

NAME OF ISSUER

NUMBER OF SHARES

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I certify that the foregoing is a complete and accurate list of all securities in which I have any Beneficial Ownership.

 

 

 

Signature

 

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EXHIBIT C

QUARTERLY TRANSACTION REPORT

 

 

Name

 

 

Date

 

 

 

 

DATE

NAME OF

ISSUER

NUMBER

OF

SHARES

INTEREST

DATE

MATURITY

DATE

PRINCIPAL

AMOUNT

TYPE OF

TRANSACTION

NAME OF

BROKER/

DEALER/

BANK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I certify that the foregoing is a complete and accurate list of all transactions for the covered period in securities in which I have any Beneficial Ownership.

 

 

 

Signature

 

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EXHIBIT D

ANNUAL HOLDINGS REPORT

 

 

Name

 

 

Date

 

 

 

NAME OF ISSUER

NUMBER OF SHARES

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

NAME OF

BROKER/DEALER/ BANK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I certify that the foregoing is a complete and accurate list of all securities in which I have any Beneficial Ownership.

 

 

 

Signature

 

 

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EXHIBIT E

PERSONAL SECURITIES ACCOUNT INFORMATION

 

 

Name

 

 

Date

 

 

 

 

SECURITIES

FIRM NAME AND ADDRESS

ACCOUNT NUMBER

ACCOUNT NAME(S)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I certify that the foregoing is a complete and accurate list of all securities accounts in which I have any Beneficial Ownership.

 

 

 

Signature

 

 

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