EX-99.B(P)(11) 16 a05-10439_1ex99dbp11.htm EX-99.B(P)(11)

Exhibit 99.B(p)(11)

 

SIP SIM SIMI EMI EMM

Joint Code of Ethics

 

 

STRATEGIC INVESTMENT PARTNERS, INC.

STRATEGIC INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, L.P.

STRATEGIC INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INTL., L.P.

EMERGING MARKETS INVESTORS CORPORATION

EMERGING MARKETS MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.

Amended as of February 1, 2005

 

JOINT CODE OF ETHICS

 

Strategic Investment Partners, Inc. (“SIP”), Strategic Investment Management, L.P. (“SIM”), Strategic Investment Management International, L.P. (“SIMI”), Emerging Markets Investors Corporation (“EMI”) and Emerging Markets Management, L.L.C. (“EMM”) (collectively, the “Companies”) are committed to providing investment advice with the utmost professional integrity. In addition, as investment advisers, the Companies legally are considered fiduciaries of their clients’ accounts. This means that all Access Persons (as defined herein) of the Companies owe their clients undivided loyalty and must conduct their personal affairs in such a manner as to avoid: (1) serving their own personal interests ahead of the clients’ interests; (2) taking advantage of their respective positions; and (3) engaging in any activity that conflicts with the interest of any client.

 

Because the Companies are affiliated with each other and share certain personnel and resources, the Compliance Committee (as defined herein) of each of the Companies have adopted this Joint Code of Ethics which is designed primarily to help avoid any potential conflicts that may arise when Access Persons of the Companies trade for their personal securities accounts. The Code sets forth guidelines and restrictions for personal securities trading, including an absolute prohibition against trading on the basis of “inside” (i.e., material, nonpublic) information. The Companies will provide a copy of this Joint Code of Ethics, along with any amendments, to each Access Person. Each Access Person will provide the relevant Company with a written acknowledgement of their receipt of the Code and any amendments. The form of this Acknowledgement is attached as Exhibit B to this Code of Ethics.

 

Adherence to this Code of Ethics is a condition of your employment. Please direct any questions to the Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and/or General Counsel of your Company or, in his or her absence, to another member of the Compliance Committee. As discussed in greater detail below, Access Persons must promptly report any violations of the Code of Ethics to the CCO. All reported Code of Ethics violations will be treated as being made on an anonymous basis.

 

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I.                                         GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND STANDARDS OF CONDUCT

 

The Code of Ethics is predicated on the principle that the Companies owe a fiduciary duty to each of their clients. Accordingly, the Companies’ Access Persons must avoid activities, interests and relationships that run contrary (or appear to run contrary) to the best interests of their clients.

 

Access Persons must not place the Access Person’s or the Companies’ interests ahead of the clients’. As a fiduciary, each Company must act in its clients’ best interests. In other words, the Companies or their Access Persons may not benefit at the expense of advisory clients. This concept is particularly relevant when Access Persons are making personal investments in securities traded on behalf of advisory clients.

 

All Access Persons of the Companies will act with competence, dignity and integrity, in an ethical manner, when dealing with clients, the public, prospects, third-party service providers and fellow Access Persons and employees. The following set of principles frame the professional and ethical conduct that the Companies expect from its Access Persons.

 

                  Act with integrity, competence, diligence, respect, and in an ethical manner with the public, clients, prospective clients, employers, employees, colleagues in the investment profession, and other participants in the global capital markets.

                  Place the integrity of the investment profession, the interests of clients, and the interests of the Companies above your own personal interests.

                  Adhere to the fundamental standard that you should not take inappropriate advantage of your position.

                  Conduct all personal securities transactions in a manner consistent with this policy.

                  Use reasonable care and exercise independent professional judgment when conducting investment analysis, making investment recommendations, taking investment actions, and engaging in other professional activities.

                  Practice and encourage others to practice in a professional and ethical manner that will reflect credit on you and the profession.

                  Promote the integrity of, and uphold the rules governing, capital markets.

                  Maintain and improve your professional competence and strive to maintain and improve the competence of other investment professionals.

                  Comply with applicable provisions of the Federal Securities Laws (as defined herein), the Commodity Exchange Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act and other relevant laws.

 

II.                                     DEFINITIONS

 

“Access Person” as used in this Code, includes any director of any of the Companies who is involved in the day-to-day management of any of the Companies, or any officer, senior adviser or other employee (including interns and other temporary employees unless otherwise

 

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determined by the CCO) of one or more of the Companies. This Code recognizes, however, that different Access Persons have different responsibilities, different levels of control over investment decision-making for Client accounts, and different levels of access to information about investment decision-making and implementation. In general, those with greater control and greater access face greater potential for conflicts of interest in their personal investment activities and have more direct duties to Clients. For these purposes, the definition of “Access Person” is further divided into Investment Personnel, Management Personnel and Foundry Access Persons.

 

“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.

 

A Security is “being considered for purchase or sale” when a recommendation to purchase or sell a Security has been made and communicated and, with respect to the person making the recommendation, when such person seriously considers making such a recommendation.

 

“Beneficial Ownership” shall be interpreted in the same manner as it would be in determining whether a person is subject to the provisions of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations thereunder, except that the determination of direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership shall apply to all Securities which an Access Person or Relative has or acquires through decisions within his or her control. In general, a person is considered to have “Beneficial Ownership” of a Security – regardless of who is the registered owner — if the person enjoys economic benefits which are substantially equivalent to ownership through decisions within his or her direct or indirect control. This would include, for example:

 

1.                                       Securities which a person holds for his or her own benefit either in bearer form, registered in his or her own name or otherwise regardless of whether the Securities are owned individually or jointly;

 

2.                                       Securities held in the name of his or her spouse or minor children;

 

3.                                       Securities held by a trustee, executor or administrator or by custodians, brokers or relatives;

 

4.                                       Securities owned by a partnership of which the person is a general partner;

 

5.                                       Securities held by a corporation which can be regarded as a personal holding company of a person; and

 

6.                                       Securities recently purchased by a person and awaiting transfer into his or her name.

 

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“Client” means any managed account for which any of the Companies serves as investment adviser. Because of the affiliation between the Companies, a Client of any one of the Companies shall be considered a Client of all of the Companies for purposes of this Code.

 

The members of the “Compliance Committee” for each Company for purposes of this Code are set forth in a list that shall be periodically provided to you as an attachment to this Code of Ethics.

 

“Covered Account” means: (1) any Securities account registered to an Access Person or a Relative; (2) any account or Securities transaction in which an Access Person or Relative has any direct or indirect “Beneficial Ownership” interest; (3) any account of an Investment Club in which the Access Person or Relative participates; and (4) and any account for which the Access Person or Relative has the ability to make investment decisions, regardless of whether the Access Person or Relative has a Beneficial Ownership interest in that account. “Covered Account” may include, for example, an Access Person’s or Relative’s personal account; any joint or tenant-in common account in which an Access Person or Relative is a participant; any account for which an Access Person or Relative acts as trustee, executor or custodian; or any account of any entity controlled directly or indirectly by an Access Person or Relative. However, Covered Account does not include a Securities account over which the Access Person or Relative has no direct influence or control.

 

“Emerging Market Country” means any country in Asia (except for Japan, Australia and New Zealand), Latin America (including Central and South America and the Caribbean), Europe (except for member countries of the European Union as of September 1, 2002), the Middle East or Africa.

 

“Emerging Market Security” includes any Security of an issuer in an Emerging Market Country, any security listed on an Emerging Market Country exchange, and any single country fund or other instrument comprised of securities of an Emerging Market Country (including, without limitation, futures and options on single country Emerging Market Country indices).

 

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

 

“Foundry Access Person” means any Access Person designated as a Foundry Access Person on a list that shall be periodically provided to you as an attachment to this Code of Ethics.

 

“Foundry Account” means Foundry Fund, L.P., Foundry Fund LLC, Foundry Fund Inc., and any other Client account that follows a substantially similar strategy.

 

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Investment Club” shall mean a group of people who pool their assets in order to make joint investment decisions (except that Investment Club does not include professionally-managed investment companies). The requirements of this Code of Ethics shall apply to the entire pooled vehicle – not just to the Access Person’s share of the pooled vehicle. Thus, for example, an Access Person who participates in an Investment Club is required to pre-clear and report the trades of the entire pooled vehicle.

 

“Investment Personnel” includes any director of any of the Companies who is involved in the day-to-day management of any of the Companies, all portfolio managers, all other Access Persons such as analysts and research associates, who provide information and advice to one or more portfolio managers, all those who execute the portfolio managers’ decisions (i.e., traders and settlement personnel), and certain additional Access Persons who have regular access to such information. For your convenience, a list of Access Persons who are considered Investment Personnel shall be periodically provided to you as an attachment to this Code of Ethics; however, the mere fact that an Access Person’s name is not on this list will not excuse that Access Person from compliance with the provisions of this Code that apply to Investment Personnel if he or she falls within the above definition.

 

“Management Personnel” includes any Access Person who is in a position to control investment decisions on behalf of a Client and certain supervisory Access Persons. For your convenience, a list of Access Persons who are considered Management Personnel shall be periodically provided to you as an attachment to this Code; however, the mere fact that an Access Person’s name is not on this list will not excuse that Access Person from compliance with the provisions of this Code that apply to Management Personnel if he or she falls within the above definition.

 

“Purchase or sale” of a Security includes among other things, the writing of an option to purchase or sell, or the transfer or assignment of a Security.

 

“Relative” means any member of an Access Person’s immediate family (including inlaws) living in the Access Person’s household.

 

“Security” shall mean 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; depository receipt; put, call, straddle, option, future or privilege on any security or on any group or index of securities (including any interest therein or based on the value thereof); put, call, straddle, option or privilege entered into on a 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. “Security” includes any interest in any vehicle managed by the Companies

 

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or any of their affiliates. “Security” shall not include: bankers’ acceptances; U.S. bank certificates of deposit; commercial paper; securities issued by the Government of the United States; shares of U.S. registered open-end investment companies (except for shares of exchange traded funds, single Emerging Market Country funds, or funds for which the Companies or any of their affiliates act as adviser or sub-adviser); shares of money market funds; and transactions in units of a unit investment trust if the unit investment trust is invested exclusively in unaffiliated mutual funds.

 

III.                                 GUIDELINES FOR PERSONAL INVESTING

 

A.                                    Rules Applicable to Access Persons

 

1.                                      Securities Being Considered for Purchase or Sale on behalf of a Client

 

An Access Person may not knowingly purchase or sell, directly or indirectly for a Covered Account, any Security that, at the time of such purchase or sale, is being considered for purchase or sale for a Client account.

 

This prohibition is intended to prevent Access Persons from engaging in or appearing to engage in “frontrunning” or “scalping”: the buying or selling of Securities in a Covered Account, prior to a Client, in order to benefit from any price movement that may be caused by Client transactions.

 

If an Access Person unknowingly purchases or sells a Security for a Covered Account at the same time that the Security is being considered for purchase or sale for a Client account, it shall not constitute a violation of this Code; however, the Access Person may be required to disgorge any profits from such purchase or sale.

 

Where trades in a Client account are effected by a sub-adviser, this prohibition shall apply only if the Access Person has actual knowledge that the Security is being considered for purchase or sale for a Client account by such sub-adviser.

 

This exception takes into account that many Access Persons do not know or have access to information regarding the Securities being considered for purchase or sale by a subadviser. This exception also recognizes that it would be impractical (if not impossible) for the Companies to maintain accurate and current lists of any Securities being considered for purchase for any Client account by all of the sub-advisers to Client accounts.

 

2.                                      Blackout Periods for Trading in the Same Security as a Client

 

Management Personnel may not buy or sell a Security for a Covered Account within seven (7) calendar days before or after any Client account which that Management Personnel

 

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manages trades in that Security. For trades placed on behalf of the Foundry Fund or any related strategy, the foregoing restriction shall apply to all Foundry Access Persons.

 

The blackout period after a Client account trades is designed to allow dissipation of the market effect of the Client’s trade before the Access Person trades. The blackout period before a Client account trades is aimed at preventing the appearance that an Access Person purchased or sold a Security for a Covered Account with the knowledge that the Security was being considered for purchase or sale for a Client account.

 

If an Access Person unknowingly purchases or sells a Security for a Covered Account within this seven (7) day period, it shall not constitute a violation of this Code; however, the Access Person may be required to disgorge any profits from such purchase or sale. For purposes of this restriction, the term “profits” has the following meaning.

 

(a)                                  For purchases of Securities, the term “profits” means the excess, if any of (i) the price that the Access Person would have paid for the Security had the Access Person waited to purchase the Security until the seventh day following the date of the Client trade; over (ii) the actual price that the Access Person paid for the Security.

 

(b)                                 For sales of Securities, the term “profits” means the excess, if any, of (i) the actual price received by the Access Person with respect to the sale of the Security; over (ii) the price that the Access Person would have received for the Security had the Access Person waited to sell the Security until the seventh day following the date of the Client trade.

 

Where trades in a Client account are executed by a sub-adviser, this prohibition shall apply only if the Access Person has actual knowledge that the Security is being considered for purchase or sale for a Client account by such sub-adviser.

 

3.                                      Ban on Short -Term Trading

 

Investment Personnel may not engage in “short-term trading” which is defined to mean the purchase and sale, or sale and purchase, of the same (or equivalent) Security within 60 calendar days.

 

The purpose of the ban on short-term trading profits is to discourage active trading which may not inure to the benefit of Clients.

 

4.                                      Prohibition Against Trading in Emerging Market Securities

 

An Access Person may not purchase or sell any Emerging Market Security for a Covered Account; except that an Access Person may, subject to all of the requirements of this Code of Ethics, purchase or sell Emerging Market Securities that are (1) privately placed (i.e., Securities

 

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that are not offered to the public and that are purchased or sold in a privately negotiated, off-exchange transaction) or (2) shares of an open-end or closed-end investment company that has a global or regional emerging markets investment mandate (but not a single Emerging Market Country fund).

 

This prohibition recognizes the greater likelihood of a potential conflict of interest given the fact that Emerging Market Securities tend to be more illiquid than the Securities of established markets. Because the vast majority of Securities purchased or acquired on behalf of Client accounts are Emerging Market Securities, the prohibition on Access Person transactions in Emerging Market Securities significantly reduces the potential for conflicts of interest and the possible appearance of impropriety in connection with Access Persons’ personal Securities transactions..

 

5.                                      Prior Approval of Personal Securities Transactions

 

Except as otherwise provided under “Exempt Transactions” in Section III.B. below, each Access Person is required to obtain written approval from Michael Duffy, or in his absence (or in the case of trades in a Covered Account of Michael Duffy), from a member of the Compliance Committee, before directly or indirectly buying or selling any Security for a Covered Account.

 

This procedure is intended to help prevent an inadvertent violation of the prohibition against trading in Securities being considered for purchase or sale by a Client account, the blackout period, the ban on insider trading and other provisions of this Code.

 

To request approval for a transaction, an Access Person must submit a Trade Authorization Request, attached to this Code as Exhibit C to Michael Duffy or, in his absence, to a member of the Compliance Committee. As part of this approval process, the Access Person shall provide notification of any personal conflict of interest relationship that may involve Clients and/or the Companies, such as the existence of any economic relationship between his or her transactions and a Security held or to be acquired by the Companies on behalf of any Client.

 

Unless the Security is being considered for purchase or sale by a Client account, the Security is subject to a blackout period, the Companies may have inside information regarding the Security, or the proposed transaction potentially conflicts with another provision of this Code, the request ordinarily will be approved promptly.

 

The prior review of acquisitions of a Security in a private placement will take into account, among other factors: (1) whether the investment opportunity should be reserved for a Client account; and (2) whether the investment opportunity is being offered to an Access Person by virtue of his or her position with one or more of the Companies.

 

Members of the financial press have suggested that emerging companies offer investment personnel the opportunity to participate in private placements in order to get those investment personnel to invest client assets in the company when it later undertakes an

 

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IPO. This produces a direct conflict since the client’s investment may result in an increase in the value of the company’s securities and, thus, an increase in the value of the Access Person’s personal holdings. The Companies recognize that some private placements will not raise such conflicts, however, and that a complete prohibition could restrict legitimate investment opportunities.

 

Further, any Access Person who has acquired beneficial ownership of an issuer through a private placement must disclose that interest to the CCO or the General Counsel prior to participating in any decision to recommend or to cause any Client to invest in any Securities of that same issuer.

 

This obligation is not extinguished by any subsequent sale of the Securities acquired by the Access Person in the private placement or by the fact that the Securities are subsequently registered under the Securities Act of 1933. Once this disclosure is made, a review of the investment decision on behalf of the Client will be undertaken by Access Persons with no interest in that particular issuer.

 

6.                                      Restriction on Purchases During Initial Public Offerings

 

Investment Personnel may not purchase Securities in an initial public offering (“IPO”) without the prior approval of the Compliance Committee.

 

The purchase of an IPO by Investment Personnel poses at least two potential conflicts of interest: First, the opportunity to invest in an IPO often is highly sought after and available only to a limited number of investors. Consequently, an opportunity to participate in a “hot issue” or other attractive IPO is not likely to be viewed as a random event. It also may create the impression that future investment decisions for Clients were pursued as a form of “compensation” for the opportunity to participate in the IPO instead of because they were in the best interests of Clients. Second, any short-term profits earned by Investment Personnel in an IPO may create at least the appearance that an investment opportunity that should have been available to clients was diverted to the personal benefit of Investment Personnel. Restricting the purchase of a Security in an IPO will help reduce these potential conflicts.

 

B.                                    Exempt Transactions

 

The following transactions are specifically exempted from the requirements set forth in Section III.A.2 through Section III.A.5:

 

1.                    transactions in securities listed on a United States securities exchange (excluding Emerging Market Securities and shares of funds for which the Companies serve as adviser or sub-adviser), provided that the dollar value of all purchases and sales of such securities in the aggregate within any six month period is less than or equal to $25,000; and provided further that:

 

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                       the six-month period is a “rolling period,” (i.e., the limit is applicable between any two dates which are six months apart);

 

                       transactions in options, other than options on commodities, will be included for purposes of calculating whether the $25,000 limit has been exceeded. Such transactions will be measured by the value of the Securities underlying the options; and

 

                       Access Persons comply with the prohibitions on Insider Trading and the reporting requirements imposed by this Code; **

 

2.                    purchases or sales of exchange traded Securities (excluding Emerging Market Securities and shares of funds for which the Companies serve as adviser or sub-adviser) of companies having a market capitalization in excess of $500 million;**

 

3.                    purchases or sales of U.S. exchange-traded futures contracts and options on futures contracts (including, but not limited to S&P 500 futures, currency futures and other types of futures regulated by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, but excluding futures and options on stocks and Emerging Markets Securities); **

 

The following transactions are specifically exempted from the requirements set forth in Section III.A.1 through Section III.A.6:

 

4.                    purchases, sales, transfers or assignments that are non-volitional on the part of either the Access Person, or Relative;

 

5.                    purchases which are part of an Automatic Investment Plan;

 

6.                    purchases effected upon the exercise of rights issued by an issuer pro rata to all holders of a class of its Securities, to the extent such rights were acquired from such issuer, and sales of such rights so acquired;

 

7.                    purchases or sales of Securities issued by any U.S. State or municipality or any multinational organization (such as the World Bank) and OECD government bonds (excluding Emerging Market Securities);

 

The following transactions are specifically exempted from the requirements set forth in Section III.A.1 through Section III.A.5:

 

8.                    purchases and sales (except for Emerging Markets Securities) occurring in an account that is managed on a fully-discretionary basis by an unaffiliated

 

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money manager, provided that the Access Person does not receive advanced notice of such purchases and sales;**

 

9.                    purchases and sales of shares of exchange-traded funds that also qualify as U.S. registered open-end investment companies (except for shares of single Emerging Market Country funds, or funds for which the Companies or any of their affiliates act as adviser or sub-adviser).

 


** Note: The exemptions set forth in paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 8 immediately above shall not apply to Foundry Access Persons.

 

IV.                                OTHER REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS

 

A.                                    Insider Trading Prohibition

 

Access Persons are strictly prohibited from trading either for a Covered Account or the account of any other person (including a Client) on the basis of material, non-public information, or communicating material, non-public information to others in violation of the law.

 

In the course of their duties for the Companies, Access Persons may acquire “material, non-public information,” also referred to as “inside information,” regarding a company or its securities. Material, non-public information is any information that may influence an investment decision relating to a security, or that may affect an analysis of the value of a security, and that is not generally available to the public. Trading on the basis of material, non-public information – regardless of whether it is for a Client or for a Covered Account — is a violation of the federal securities laws, punishable by imprisonment and severe fines.

 

The Boards of the Companies have adopted an “Insider Trading Policy” that describes more fully what constitutes “insider trading” and the legal penalties for engaging in it. That policy is attached to this Code as Exhibit A. Access Persons should refer to the Insider Trading Policy (as well as this Code) whenever any question arises regarding what to do if an Access Person believes he or she may have material, non-public information.

 

B.                                    Access Person Affiliation with Securities Issuers

 

The Companies may not invest, on behalf of a Client, in a Security of an issuer if any Access Person has any current affiliation with such issuer (i.e., control or ownership interest greater than 5% or membership on the board of directors) unless:

 

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1.                    none of the Investment Personnel responsible for making the investment decision has had any prior non-public communications with the affiliated Access Person concerning either the issuer or the purchase of the Security;

 

2.                    following the purchase of any such Security, the affiliated Access Person shall not participate in any discussions, or have any other communications, with any Investment Personnel concerning the issuer or the purchase, sale or holding of any of the affiliated issuer’s Securities;

 

AND

 

3.                    the affiliation is disclosed in the relevant Company’s Form ADV.

 

This prohibition is not intended to apply to investments in vehicles managed or sponsored by the Companies or any of their affiliates.

 

C.                                    Gifts

 

Except as provided below, Access Persons may not seek or accept anything of value, either directly or indirectly, from broker-dealers or other persons providing or seeking to provide services to a Client and/or the Companies.

 

For the purposes of this provision, the following benefits, favors or gifts from persons providing or seeking to provide services to a Client and/or the Companies will not be considered to be in violation of this Code of Ethics:

 

                       an occasional business meal, sporting event or other entertainment event at the expense of the giver, provided that the expense is reasonable and both the giver and the Access Person are present. If there is any doubt as to the reasonableness of any such expense, Access Persons must consult the CCO or the General Counsel.

 

                       any situation in which the cost of returning an occasional gift would exceed its value or where the occasional benefit, favor or gift is of insignificant value (i.e., less than $100).

 

D.                                    Confidentiality of Client Information

 

An Access Person may not disclose to any person (including another Access Person) the Securities activities engaged in or contemplated for any Client account, except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to, and within the scope of, the performance of such Access Person’s duties.

 

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Each Access Person is expected to sign a confidentiality agreement with the Companies and renew the agreement annually thereafter. This prohibition is designed to help prevent the disclosure of “inside information” to persons outside the Companies and to minimize the opportunity for actual or apparent violations of this Code by Access Persons.

 

E.                                      Service as Director or Trustee

 

An Access Person may not serve on the Board of Directors of any publicly traded company, any issuer of Securities eligible for purchase by any of the Companies, or any other organization that might present a potential conflict of interest (such as a position with a Client organization or an organization affiliated with a Client) without prior authorization of the CCO or the General Counsel.

 

Any such authorization will be based on a determination that the Board service would not be inconsistent with the interests of the Companies and their Clients.

 

V.                                    EXCEPTIONS

 

There may be some circumstances where exceptions to these restrictions will be allowed upon request by an Access Person. Any such requests will be fully documented and reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Compliance Committee. Such request will be granted only upon a determination by the Compliance Committee that the proposed activity does not create any actual or apparent conflicts with the interest of any Client that cannot be adequately addressed through appropriate disclosure.

 

VI.                                ACCESS PERSON REPORTING AND CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS

 

A.                                    Confidentiality of Records

 

All statements of holdings, duplicate trade confirmations, duplicate account statements, and reports required by this Code (as described below) may be provided to Carol Grefenstette, the General Counsel and the CCO, as well as their respective designees who need to know such information for purposes of carrying out their obligations under this Code of Ethics. In addition, Carol Grefenstette, the General Counsel or the CCO may provide access to any of those materials to the other members of the Compliance Committee and/or the Companies’ Boards of Directors in order to resolve questions regarding compliance with this Code. Carol Grefenstette, the General Counsel and the CCO also may provide regulatory authorities access to those materials where required to do so under applicable laws, regulations, or orders of such authorities. The Companies shall use reasonable efforts to maintain the confidentiality of such information and to not disclose the information other than as provided above.

 

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B.                                    Disclosure of Personal Holdings

 

Within 10 days of commencement of employment and annually thereafter by January 31 of each year, all Access Persons must submit to the CCO or his or her designee (or, in the case of the Directors and the General Counsel, to Carol Grefenstette or her designee) information on all Securities in Covered Accounts using the Disclosure of Personal Holdings Form attached as Exhibit D. Information submitted at the commencement of employment must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the commencement of employment. Information provided annually thereafter must be as of the previous calendar year end.

 

C.                                    Annual Certification

 

Each Access Person also shall certify annually that:

 

                  he or she has read and understands the Code of Ethics and recognizes that he or she is subject thereto;

 

                  he or she has complied with the requirements of the Code of Ethics; and

 

                  he or she has reported all personal Securities transactions required to be reported under this Code.

 

The Annual Certification shall be made on the form attached as Exhibit E.

 

D.                                    Duplicate Copies of Broker Confirmations

 

Each Access Person must instruct each broker, bank, or other financial institution in which the Access Person has a Covered Account to send to the CCO or his or her designee duplicate copies of confirmations of all transactions in such Covered Account(s).

 

The transactions reported on the broker confirmations will be reviewed and compared against approved Trade Authorization Requests, and are intended to allow the Companies to ensure the effectiveness of their compliance efforts.

 

Access Persons shall not be required to submit transaction reports with respect to transactions effected pursuant to an Automatic Investment Plan.

 

E.                                      Quarterly Reports

 

Each Access Person must submit to the CCO or his or her designee quarterly information on any transactions for a Covered Account using the Quarterly Report of Securities Transactions Form attached as Exhibit F no later than 20 days following each quarter-end.

 

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Access Persons are required to report all transactions in a Covered Account, including purchases or sales of shares of any mutual funds for which the Company or any its affiliates is adviser or sub-adviser. Any such report may contain a statement that the report shall not be construed as an admission by the person making such report that he or she has any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership in the Security to which the report relates. (The definition of Beneficial Ownership in this Code does not necessarily apply for purposes of other securities laws or for purposes of estate or income tax reporting or liability.)

 

These disclosures will help ensure that confirmations for all transactions are being sent to the CCO or his or her designee. They also will capture certain investments (e.g., private placements) that are not reflected in traditional broker-dealer accounts.

 

ACCESS PERSONS ARE REMINDED THAT THEY MUST REPORT NOT ONLY THEIR OWN TRANSACTIONS BUT ALSO THE TRANSACTIONS BY THEIR “RELATIVES” AS DEFINED IN SECTION II ABOVE.

 

VII.                            COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES AND SANCTIONS

 

The CCO and the members of the Compliance Committee will oversee compliance with this Code.

 

A.                                    Prevention of Violations

 

To prevent violations of this Code and of the Insider Trading Policy:

 

Michael Duffy or, in his absence, a member of the Compliance Committee, will accept and review Trade Authorization Requests and either grant or deny such requests promptly.

 

The CCO, the General Counsel or his or her designee will:

 

                  Answer questions regarding this Code and the Insider Trading Policy;

 

                  Review all trading activity reports filed by each Access Person and coordinate the review with Michael Duffy and the members of the Compliance Committee as may be appropriate;

 

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                  Promptly, upon learning of a significant violation of this Code or of the Insider Trading Policy, prepare a written report to the other members of the Compliance Committee providing full details and recommendations for further action.

 

The Compliance Committee will:

 

                  Resolve issues of whether information received by an Access Person is material and non-public;

 

                  Review on a regular basis (at least annually) and update as necessary this Code and the Insider Trading Policy; and

 

                  Upon a determination that an Access Person has violated this Code or the Insider Trading Policy, determine appropriate sanctions and take any action necessary to prevent further violations.

 

B.                                    Sanctions

 

Upon discovering a violation of this Code, the Compliance Committee may impose such sanctions as it deems appropriate, including, but not limited to: requiring the Access Person to disgorge any profits realized as a result of the violation; requiring the Access Person to pay a penalty in addition to any disgorgement; prohibiting the Access Person from selling any Security the purchase of which constituted a violation of this Code for a period of six (6) months after such purchase; placing a letter of censure in the Access Person’s personnel file; or suspension or termination of the Access Person. Any payments required hereunder shall be paid to the affected Client(s) or to a charitable organization of the Companies’ choosing.

 

C.                                    Reporting Violations and Remedial Actions

 

The Companies take the potential for conflicts of interest caused by personal investing very seriously. As such, the Companies require their Access Persons to promptly report any violations of the Code of Ethics to the CCO. The Companies’ Management Personnel are aware of the potential matters that may arise as a result of this requirement, and shall take action against any Access Person who seeks retaliation against another for reporting violations of the Code of Ethics. The Companies have zero tolerance for retaliatory actions and therefore may subject offenders to severe action. In order to minimize the potential for such behavior, all reports of Code of Ethics violations will be treated as being made on an anonymous basis.

 

D.                                    Reports to the Compliance Committee

 

As applicable, the CCO shall prepare a report no less frequently than annually relating to this Code of Ethics to the Compliance Committee. Such report shall:

 

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                  If applicable, identify any violations requiring significant remedial action during the past year; and

 

                  If applicable, identify any recommended changes in the existing restrictions or procedures based upon the Company’s experience under its Code of Ethics, evolving industry practices or developments in applicable laws or regulations.

 

E.                                      Recordkeeping

 

The CCO or his or her designee shall maintain records in the manner and to the extent set forth below.

 

                  A copy of this Code of Ethics and any other code which is, or at any time within the past five years has been, in effect shall be preserved in an easily accessible place.

                  A record of any violation of this Code of Ethics and of any action taken as a result of such violation shall be preserved 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.

                  A record of all written acknowledgements as required by this Code of Ethics for each person who is currently, or within the past five years was, an Access Person of the Companies shall be preserved in an easily accessible place.

                  A copy of each report made pursuant to this Code of Ethics by an Access Person, including any information provided in lieu of reports, shall be preserved by the Companies for at least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which the report is made or the information is provided, the first two years in an easily accessible place.

                  A list of all persons who are, or within the past five years have been, required to make reports pursuant to this Code of Ethics or who are or were responsible for reviewing these reports, shall be maintained in an easily accessible place.

                  A record of any decision, and the reasons supporting the decision, to approve the acquisition of Securities by Access Persons that were acquired either (i) through an Initial Public Offering; or (ii) through a private placement.

 

F.                                      Disclosure

 

Each of the Companies shall describe its Code of Ethics to Clients in Part II of its Form ADV and, upon request, furnish Clients with a copy of the Code of Ethics. All Client requests for any of the Companies’ Code of Ethics shall be directed to the CCO.

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

INSIDER TRADING POLICY

 

INSIDER TRADING POLICY

 

I.                                         GENERAL PRINCIPLES

 

It is the policy of the Companies that no Access Person may: (i) trade for any account (including, but not limited to, a Covered Account or the account of any Client) on the basis of material non-public information, or (ii) communicate material non-public information to others in violation of the law – conduct that is commonly called “insider trading.” This policy extends to activities both within and outside of an Access Person’s respective duties with the Companies. Each Access Person must read this policy statement and acknowledge his or her understanding of it. Terms used in this policy but not defined will have the same meanings given them in the Companies’ Joint Code of Ethics.

 

The elements of insider trading and the penalties for it are discussed below. If, after reviewing this policy statement, you have any questions, you should consult the CCO or the General Counsel.

 

II.                                     DEFINITION OF MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION

 

Only information that is both “material” and “non-public” falls within the prohibition against insider trading.

 

A.                                    Meaning of “Material”

 

Information is “material” if it is likely to be viewed by a reasonable investor as important in making a decision to buy, hold, or sell a security or if its disclosure is likely to have an effect on the value of a security. Information may be material even if it relates to speculative or contingent events. Information that is material to a decision to trade a security also is likely to be material to a decision to trade related derivatives.

 

Information provided by a company could be material because of its expected effect on a particular class of a company’s securities, all of the company’s securities, the securities of another company, or the securities of several companies. The misuse of material non-public information applies to all types of securities, including equity, debt, commercial paper, government securities and options.

 

Material information does not need to relate directly to a company’s business. For example, material information about the contents of an upcoming newspaper column may affect the price of a security, and therefore considered to be material.

 

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B.                                    Meaning of “Non-Public”

 

Information should be considered “non-public” when it has not been disseminated publicly by means such as a press release carried over a major news service, an article in a major news publication, materials communicated to potential investors or customers, materials available from public disclosure services, or a public filing made with a regulatory agency.

 

C.                                    Examples

 

Material, non-public information can come from Access Persons as well as from persons outside the Companies. Examples of information that, depending on the circumstances, may be material and non-public include, without limitation:

 

                  undisclosed financial information (e.g., company earnings information or estimates, fund performance, a change in dividend policy, liquidity problems or changed projections, significant litigation or developments for which reserves might be taken);

 

                  undisclosed operating developments (e.g., new products or natural resource discoveries, changes in business operations or extraordinary management developments, large increases or decreases in orders, or potential governmental or regulatory developments);

 

                  proposed business activities (e.g., mergers, acquisitions, sales or divestitures of substantial assets, restructuring, other market-sensitive transactions involving a fund or company, major investments, refinancing or extraordinary borrowings or, in certain circumstances, the mere retention of an investment bank);

 

                  a forthcoming change in rating by a well-known research analyst;

 

                  undisclosed events or problems that could affect the NAV or performance of a fund; and

 

                  even a pending order or decision to purchase or sell securities by a fund or Client.

 

Material, non-public information may include “tips” received directly or indirectly from corporate insiders whether or not in the context of a Client relationship.

 

However, information disclosed by an issuer to an Access Person because a Client is a major shareholder or because an Analyst or Portfolio Manager has asked for it generally will not be considered material non-public information unless there is any reason to believe that the information: (i) would not be furnished to other shareholders, analysts or other portfolio

 

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managers who asked for it; (ii) was otherwise disclosed improperly or without the authorization of the issuer; or (iii) was provided with the expectation that it would be maintained in confidence. Observations or judgments about a company made by a portfolio manager or analyst based on a company visit generally will not be considered material non-public information unless such observations or judgments are based on information of the kind outlined in (i), (ii) or (iii) above.

 

D.                                    Special Considerations for Emerging Markets Information

 

The Companies are aware that, unlike in the U.S. and other developed markets where most material information regarding a company is routinely disseminated to the public, the bulk of material information regarding companies in many emerging markets may not be disseminated regularly to the public. In many cases, such information is not disseminated to the public either because it is not local practice (or companies are not legally required) to make routine company information widely available and/or there are few or no vehicles or channels (e.g., financial publications such as The Wall Street Journal) available to disseminate such information. The Companies take the position that the mere fact that material information about an emerging markets company is not regularly disseminated to the public does not necessarily mean that Access Persons are prohibited from trading on such information for Client accounts. However, Access Persons are required to take the following steps to determine whether it is appropriate to trade on the basis of such information:

 

                  An Access Person with material information regarding an emerging markets company should make a reasonable effort to determine whether such information has been disseminated to the public. If the information has been made available in at least one publication of general circulation or another widely available document, the Access Person generally may trade on the basis of such information without further analysis.

 

                  If the Access Person determines that such information has not been disseminated widely, the Access Person should determine why such information has not been publicly disseminated. If the information has not been disseminated or made available to the general public solely because it is not required by law or by local practice or because there are few means of distributing such information widely, the Access Person generally may trade on such information provided that the information: (i) would be furnished to other shareholders, analysts or portfolio managers who asked for it; (ii) was not disclosed improperly or without the authorization of the issuer; and (iii) was not provided with the expectation that it would be maintained in confidence. If the information has not been disseminated to the public for reasons other than the ones set forth above, or if the information does not meet the requirements of (i), (ii) and (iii), the Access Person may not trade on the basis of such information.

 

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                  If the Access Person has any doubts about why the information was not disseminated publicly or about whether the information meets the requirements of (i), (ii) and (iii) above, the Access Person should consult with the CCO or the General Counsel before trading on the basis of such information or communicating such information to another Access Person or person outside the Companies (please refer to the procedures in Section IV below).

 

III.                                 PENALTIES FOR INSIDER TRADING

 

The legal penalties for trading on or communicating material non-public information are severe. An Access Person (and in some cases the Companies) can be subject to some or all of the penalties below, even if the Access Person or the Companies do not benefit from the violation. Penalties include:

 

                  civil injunctions;

 

                  damages in a civil suit as much as three times the amount of actual damages suffered by other buyers or sellers;

 

                  disgorgement of profits;

 

                  jail sentences;

 

                  fines for the person who committed the violation of up to three times the profit gained or loss avoided; and/or

 

                  prohibition from employment in the securities industry.

 

In addition, any violation of this Policy can be expected to result in serious disciplinary measures by the Companies, including termination of employment.

 

IV.                                PROCEDURES TO IMPLEMENT THE INSIDER TRADING POLICY

 

The following procedures are intended to help Access Persons avoid insider trading and to aid the Companies in preventing, detecting and punishing insider trading. Every Access Person of the Companies must follow these procedures or risk the penalties described in Section III above. If you have any questions about these procedures, you should consult the CCO or the General Counsel.

 

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A.                                    Identifying Insider Information

 

Any time you think that you may have inside information about a company, before you can place any trade in that company’s securities, either for a Covered Account or for others (including a Client) and before you advise anyone to trade in that company’s securities, ask yourself the following questions:

 

                  Is the information material? Is this information that an investor would consider important in making his or her investment decisions? Is it information that would substantially affect the market price of the securities if it were generally disclosed?

 

                  Is the information nonpublic? To whom has this information been provided? Has it been effectively communicated to the marketplace by appearing in publications of general circulation? (For emerging markets information only: If applicable, why hasn’t this information been disseminated widely?)

 

If after asking these questions (and considering the explanations of material non-public information in Part II of this Policy), you believe that the information is material and non-public, or if you have questions as to whether the information is material and non-public, you should take the following steps:

 

                  Report the matter immediately to the CCO or the General Counsel.

 

                  Do not purchase or sell the securities on behalf of a Covered Account or others (including a Client).

 

                  Do not communicate the information inside or outside the Companies, other than to the CCO or the General Counsel.

 

                  After the CCO or the General Counsel has reviewed the issue, you will be instructed to continue the prohibition against trading and communication, or you will be allowed to trade and communicate the information.

 

B.                                    Prevention of Insider Trading

 

To prevent insider trading the Compliance Committee will:

 

                  Resolve issues of whether information received by an Access Person is material and non-public;

 

                  When it has been determined that an Access Person has material non-public information:

 

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                  Implement measures to prevent the dissemination of such information; and

 

                  If necessary, restrict Access Persons from trading in the relevant security.

 

C.                                    Detection of Insider Trading

 

To detect insider trading, the CCO or his or her designee will, on a quarterly basis:

 

                  Review all Quarterly Reports of Securities Transactions filed by each Access Person within a reasonable period of time after submission;

 

                  If necessary, coordinate the review of such reports with other members of the Compliance Committee; and

 

                  Be available to answer questions regarding or arising under this Policy.

 

In addition, upon learning of a significant violation of this Policy, the CCO or the General Counsel will prepare a report to the Compliance Committee providing full details and recommendations for further action.

 

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EXHIBIT B

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

 

I hereby acknowledge receipt of the Companies’ Code of Ethics and Insider Trading Policy and I certify that I have read and agree to abide by these documents. I also confirm that I have instructed all brokerage houses where I maintain a Covered Account to supply duplicate copies of my confirmation statements to the CCO or his or her designee. I hereby certify that I have never been found civilly liable for or criminally guilty of insider trading and that no legal proceedings alleging that I have violated the law on insider trading are now pending or, to my knowledge, threatened by any person or authority.

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature:

 

 

 



 

EXHIBIT C

 

TRADE AUTHORIZATION REQUEST

 

Name:

 

Date:

 

Transaction Information

 

                  Please check one: Purchase   o   Sale   o

 

                  Company Name:

 

                  Security:

 

                  Amount:                 Approximate Price Per Share:

 

                  Recommended by (if applicable):

 

Account Information

 

                  Please check one: Cash   o   Margin   o

 

                  Account Name:

 

                  Account Number:

 

Access Person Representation and Signature

 

To the best of my knowledge, the above-described transaction is consistent with the Companies’ Code of Ethics and Insider Trading Policy.

 

 

 

 

 

Access Person Signature

 

Date

 

 

Authorized By:

 

Name:

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

 

Signature:

 

 

 

 

This authorization is valid until the close of the business day following the date of approval.

 



 

EXHIBIT D

 

DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL HOLDINGS

 

This form is to be submitted by all Access Persons within 10 days of commencement of employment and annually thereafter (no later than January 31 of each year). Information submitted at the commencement of employment must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the commencement of employment. Information provided annually thereafter must be as of the previous calendar year end.

 

I hereby certify that the following is a complete list of the Securities in which I have a direct or indirect beneficial ownership:

 

Security
(Full Name of Issuer and Type of
Security)

 

Ticker
Symbol or
CUSIP #

 

No. of Shares
Or Principal
Amount

 

Brokerage Account

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I further certify that set forth below is a complete list of all of the brokers, dealers, banks and other financial institutions with which I maintain an account in which any securities are held for my direct or indirect benefit.

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature:

 

 

 



 

EXHIBIT E

 

ANNUAL CERTIFICATION

 

I hereby certify that I have read and complied with the Companies’ Code of Ethics and Insider Trading Policy for the year ending December 31,           (or for such time as I have been employed by the Companies, if less than one year). I also confirm that, during this period, I instructed all brokerage houses where I maintained any Covered Account to supply duplicate copies of my confirmation statements to the Companies, Attn: Chief Compliance Officer; and that I reported all personal Securities transactions required to be reported under the Companies’ Code of Ethics.

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature:

 

 

 



 

EXHIBIT F

 

QUARTERLY REPORT OF SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS

 

The following is a record of all Securities transactions during the quarter ended                   in any Covered Account. (This form is to be submitted to the CCO or his or her designee by all Access Persons no later than 20 days after the end of every calendar quarter.)

 

Name/
Description
of Security

 

Number of
Shares or
Principal
Amount
(include
coupon
rate and
maturity
date if
applicable)

 

Ticker
Symbol
or
CUSIP #

 

Date of
Trans-
action

 

Price at
Which
Effected

 

Market Cap
of Company
on Date of
Purchase/Sale
Over or
Under $500
million)?

 

Purchase
or Sale

 

Broker-
Dealer or
Bank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hereby certify that I did not purchase any Emerging Market Security (other than as permitted by Section III.A.4 of the Code of Ethics) and that, if I qualify as Investment Personnel as defined in the Code of Ethics, that I did not purchase any Security in an initial public offering during the quarter covered by this report.

 

Date:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature: