As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 18, 2017.
Registration Nos. 333-146374
811-22127
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
Form N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 | ☒ | |||
Pre-Effective Amendment No. | ☐ | |||
Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 | ☒ |
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 | ☒ | |||
Amendment No. 58 | ☒ |
(Check Appropriate Box or Boxes)
COLUMBIA FUNDS VARIABLE SERIES TRUST II
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
225 Franklin Street,
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
(Address of Principal Executive Officers) (Zip Code)
Registrants Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (800) 345-6611
Christopher O. Petersen, Esq.
c/o Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
225 Franklin Street,
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
It is proposed that this filing will become effective immediately upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(d).
This Post-Effective Amendment relates to Variable PortfolioWestfield Mid Cap Growth Fund (formerly known as Variable Portfolio Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund).
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-146374) is being filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), solely for the purpose of adding exhibits to such Registration Statement. Accordingly, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 consists only of a facing page, this explanatory note, and Part C of the Registration Statement on Form N-1A. This Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 does not change the form of any prospectus or Statement of Additional Information included in post-effective amendments previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). As permitted by Rule 462(d), this Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 shall become effective upon filing with the SEC.
PART C. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 28. Exhibits
(a)(1) | Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective September 11, 2007, is incorporated by reference to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (a)(1)), filed on September 28, 2007. | |
(a)(2) | Amendment No. 2 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective April 9, 2008, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (a)(2)), filed on April 21, 2008. | |
(a)(3) | Amendment No. 3 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective January 8, 2009, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (a)(3)), filed on April 29, 2009. | |
(a)(4) | Amendment No. 4 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective January 14, 2010, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (a)(4)), filed on April 14, 2010. | |
(a)(5) | Amendment No. 5 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective April 6, 2010, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 9 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (a)(5)), filed on April 29, 2010. | |
(a)(6) | Amendment No. 6 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective November 11, 2010, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 15 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (a)(6)), filed on April 29, 2011. | |
(a)(7) | Amendment No. 7 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective January 11, 2011, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 15 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (a)(7)), filed on April 29, 2011. | |
(a)(8) | Amendment No. 8 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective September 15, 2011, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (a)(8)), filed on March 2, 2012. | |
(a)(9) | Amendment No. 9 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective January 12, 2012, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (a)(9)), filed on March 2, 2012. | |
(a)(10) | Amendment No. 10 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective June 14, 2012, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (a)(10)), filed on April 26, 2013. | |
(a)(11) | Amendment No. 11 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective September 13, 2012, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (a)(11)), filed on April 26, 2013. | |
(a)(12) | Amendment No. 12 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective January 16, 2013, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (a)(12)), filed on April 26, 2013. | |
(a)(13) | Amendment No. 13 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective April 17, 2013, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (a)(13)), filed on April 26, 2013. |
(a)(14) | Amendment No. 14 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective April 11, 2014, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 38 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (a)(14)), filed on April 29, 2014. | |
(a)(15) | Amendment No. 15 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective April 14, 2015, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (a)(15)), filed on May 15, 2015. | |
(a)(16) | Amendment No. 16 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective April 19, 2016, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (a)(16)), filed on April 28, 2016. | |
(a)(17) | Amendment No. 17 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective November 14, 2016, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 54 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (a)(17)), filed on February 17, 2017. | |
(a)(18) | Amendment No. 18 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective April 21, 2017, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (a)(18)), filed on April 27, 2017. | |
(b) | By-laws, effective September 6, 2007, most recently amended February 10, 2016, are incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (b)), filed on April 28, 2016. | |
(c) | Stock Certificate: Not Applicable. | |
(d)(1) | Management Agreement (amended and restated), dated April 25, 2016, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, Registrant, Columbia Funds Series Trust and Columbia Funds Series Trust II, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(1)), filed on April 28, 2016. | |
(d)(2) | Schedule A and Schedule B, effective July 1, 2017, to the Management Agreement between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, the Registrant, Columbia Funds Series Trust and Columbia Funds Series Trust II, effective April 25, 2016, are incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 164 to Registration Statement No. 333-131683 of Columbia Funds Series Trust II on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(2)), filed on June 27, 2017. | |
(d)(3) | Management Agreement, effective May 1, 2016, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and CVPCSF Offshore Fund, Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Columbia Variable PortfolioCommodity Strategy Fund, a series of Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(3)), filed on April 28, 2016. | |
(d)(4) | Subadvisory Agreement, dated April 8, 2010, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (formerly RiverSource Investments, LLC) and American Century Investment Management, Inc., is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(4)), filed on May 15, 2014. | |
(d)(5) | Subadvisory Agreement, dated September 13, 2012, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and BlackRock Financial Management, Inc., is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(6)), filed on May 15, 2014. |
(d)(6) | Subadvisory Agreement, dated February 15, 2017, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and BMO Asset Management Corp., is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(6)), filed on April 27, 2017. | |
(d)(7) | Subadvisory Agreement, dated March 15, 2016, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and CenterSquare Investment Management, Inc., is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 52 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(36)), filed on June 1, 2016. | |
(d)(8) | Subadvisory Agreement, dated April 8, 2010, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (formerly RiverSource Investments, LLC) and Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(7)), filed on May 15, 2014. | |
(d)(9) | Subadvisory Agreement, dated July 16, 2007, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (formerly RiverSource Investments, LLC) and Denver Investment Advisors LLC, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(8)), filed on May 15, 2014. | |
(d)(10) | Subadvisory Agreement, dated September 23, 2011, amended December 5, 2013 (Amendment No. 1), between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and Dimensional Fund Advisors, L.P., is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(9)), filed on May 15, 2014. | |
(d)(11) | Amendment No. 2, as of June 5, 2014, to the Subadvisory Agreement, dated September 23, 2011, amended December 5, 2013, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and Dimensional Fund Advisors, L.P., is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 41 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(10)), filed on August 20, 2014. | |
(d)(12) | Subadvisory Agreement, dated April 8, 2010, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (formerly RiverSource Investments, LLC) and Eaton Vance Management, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(11)), filed on May 15, 2014. | |
(d)(13) | Subadvisory Agreement, dated April 8, 2010, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (formerly RiverSource Investments, LLC) and J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc., is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(14)), filed on May 15, 2014. | |
(d)(14) | Amendment No. 1, as of June 17, 2014, to the Subadvisory Agreement, dated April 8, 2010, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (formerly RiverSource Investments, LLC) and J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc., is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 42 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(16)), filed on August 20, 2014. | |
(d)(15) | Amendment No. 2, as of April 21, 2017, to the Subadvisory Agreement, dated April 8, 2010, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (formerly RiverSource Investments, LLC) and J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc., is filed electronically herewith as Exhibit (d)(15) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A. | |
(d)(16) | Subadvisory Agreement, dated February 15, 2017, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and Jacobs Levy Equity Management, Inc., is incorporated by reference to Post- Effective Amendment No. 55 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(16)), filed on April 27, 2017. |
(d)(17) | Subadvisory Agreement, dated September 14, 2016, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and Kennedy Capital Management, Inc., is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 53 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(16)), filed on November 14, 2016. | |
(d)(18) | Subadvisory Agreement, dated January 15, 2014, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P., is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(16)), filed on May 15, 2014. | |
(d)(19) | Amendment No. 1, as of November 19, 2015, to the Subadvisory Agreement, dated January 15, 2014, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P., is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(17)), filed on April 28, 2016. | |
(d)(20) | Subadvisory Agreement, dated February 15, 2017, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and Los Angeles Capital Management and Equity Research, Inc., is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(21)), filed on April 27, 2017. | |
(d)(21) | Subadvisory Agreement, dated April 8, 2010, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (formerly RiverSource Investments, LLC) and Massachusetts Financial Services Company, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(18)), filed on May 15, 2014. | |
(d)(22) | Amendment No. 1, as of February 10, 2016, to the Subadvisory Agreement, dated April 8, 2010, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and Massachusetts Financial Services Company, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(20)), filed on April 28, 2016. | |
(d)(23) | Subadvisory Agreement, dated April 8, 2010, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (formerly RiverSource Investments, LLC) and Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc., is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(20)), filed on May 15, 2014. | |
(d)(24) | Amendment No. 1, as of February 10, 2016, to the Subadvisory Agreement, dated April 8, 2010, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc., is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(22)), filed on April 28, 2016. | |
(d)(25) | Subadvisory Agreement, dated February 15, 2017, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(26)), filed on April 27, 2017. | |
(d)(26) | Subadvisory Agreement, dated February 10, 2016, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and OppenheimerFunds Inc., is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(24)), filed on April 28, 2016. | |
(d)(27) | Subadvisory Agreement, dated April 8, 2010, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (formerly RiverSource Investments, LLC) and Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC (FIAM LLC), is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(23)), filed on May 15, 2014. |
(d)(28) | Subadvisory Agreement, dated June 18, 2014, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 41 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(27)), filed on August 20, 2014. | |
(d)(29) | Subadvisory Agreement, dated September 14, 2016, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 53 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(29)), filed on November 14, 2016. | |
(d)(30) | Subadvisory Agreement, dated January 15, 2014, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and TCW Investment Management Company, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(26)), filed on May 15, 2014. | |
(d)(31) | Amended and Restated Subadvisory Agreement, dated June 11, 2008, last amended January 16, 2013, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and Threadneedle International Limited, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(27)), filed on May 15, 2014. | |
(d)(32) | Subadvisory Agreement, dated June 19, 2013, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and Victory Capital Management Inc., is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(29)), filed on May 15, 2014. | |
(d)(33) | Subadvisory Agreement, dated April 8, 2010, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (formerly RiverSource Investments, LLC) and Wells Capital Management Incorporated, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(30)), filed on May 15, 2014. | |
(d)(34) | Amendment No. 1, as of July 18, 2014, to the Subadvisory Agreement, dated April 8, 2010, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (formerly RiverSource Investments, LLC) and Wells Capital Management Incorporated, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 42 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (d)(34)), filed on October 15, 2014. | |
(d)(35) | Amendment No. 2, dated April 21, 2017, to the Subadvisory Agreement, dated April 8, 2010, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (formerly RiverSource Investments, LLC) and Wells Capital Management Incorporated, is filed herewith as Exhibit (d)(35) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A. | |
(d)(36) | Subadvisory Agreement, dated June 21, 2017, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P., is filed herewith as Exhibit (d)(36) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A. | |
(e)(1) | Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement by and between Registrant and Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., dated March 1, 2016, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (e)(1)), filed on April 28, 2016. |
(e)(2) | Schedule I, dated May 1, 2017, and Schedule II, dated September 7, 2010, to the Distribution Agreement, amended and restated as of March 1, 2016, between Registrant and Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., are incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (e)(2)), filed on April 27, 2017. | |
(f) | Deferred Compensation Plan, adopted as of December 31, 2011, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 52 to Registration Statement No. 333-131683 of Columbia Funds Series Trust II on Form N-1A (Exhibit (f)), filed on February 24, 2012. | |
(g)(1) | Second Amended and Restated Master Global Custody Agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., dated March 7, 2011, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (g)(1)), filed on May 15, 2014. | |
(g)(2) | Addendum (related to Columbia Variable Portfolio Emerging Markets Fund and Columbia Variable Portfolio Managed Volatility Fund, now known as Columbia Variable Portfolio Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund), dated March 9, 2012, and Addendum (related to Columbia Variable Portfolio Commodity Strategy Fund), dated March 15, 2013, to the Second Amended and Restated Master Global Custody Agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., dated March 7, 2011, are incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (g)(2)), filed on May 15, 2014. | |
(g)(3) | Side letter (related to the China Connect Service on behalf of Columbia Variable PortfolioEmerging Markets Fund), dated December 19, 2014, to the Second Amended and Restated Master Global Custody Agreement with JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., dated March 7, 2011, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 44 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (g)(3)), filed on February 20, 2015. | |
(h)(1) | Shareholder Services Agreement by and between the Registrant and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., dated July 1, 2017, is filed herewith as Exhibit (h)(1) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A. | |
(h)(2) | Schedule A and Schedule B, effective July 1, 2017, to the Shareholder Services Agreement by and between the Registrant and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., dated July 1, 2017, are filed herewith as Exhibit (h)(2) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A. | |
(h)(3) | Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and Expense Cap Agreement, effective July 1, 2016, by and among Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., the Registrant, Columbia Funds Series Trust and Columbia Funds Series Trust II, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 145 to Registration Statement No. 333-131683 of Columbia Funds Series Trust II on Form N-1A (Exhibit (h)(5)), filed on June 27, 2016. | |
(h)(4) | Schedule A, as of May 1, 2017, to the Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and Expense Cap Agreement, effective July 1, 2016, by and among Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., the Registrant, Columbia Funds Series Trust and Columbia Funds Series Trust II, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (h)(4)), filed on April 27, 2017. | |
(h)(5) | Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated September 11, 2007, between RiverSource Variable Portfolio Funds, each a series of a Minnesota corporation, and corresponding RiverSource Variable Portfolio Funds, each a series of RiverSource Variable Series Trust, now known as Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II, a Massachusetts business trust, and between RiverSource Variable Portfolio Core Bond Fund, a series of RiverSource Variable Series Trust, and RiverSource Variable Portfolio Diversified Bond Fund, a series of RiverSource Variable Series Trust, now known as Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (h)(5)), filed on April 21, 2008. |
(h)(6) | Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated December 20, 2010, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 15 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (h)(9)), filed on April 29, 2011. | |
(h)(7) | Agreement and Plan of Redomiciling, dated December 20, 2010, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 15 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (h)(10)), filed on April 29, 2011. | |
(h)(8) | Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated October 9, 2012, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 117 to Registration Statement No. 333-8966 of Columbia Funds Series Trust on Form N-1A (Exhibit (h)(7)), filed on May 30, 2013. | |
(h)(9) | Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated December 17, 2015, is incorporated by reference to Registration Statement No. 333-208706 of Columbia Funds Series Trust on Form N-14 (Exhibit (4)), filed on December 22, 2015. | |
(h)(10) | Amended and Restated Credit Agreement as of December 9, 2014, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 225 to Registration Statement No. 2-99356 of Columbia Funds Series Trust I on Form N-1A (Exhibit (h)(14)), filed on April 16, 2015. | |
(h)(11) | Restated Credit Agreement, as of December 8, 2015, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 256 to Registration Statement No. 2-99356 of Columbia Funds Series Trust I on Form N-1A (Exhibit (h)(9)(i)), filed on April 11, 2016. | |
(i) | Opinion and consent of counsel as to the legality of the securities being registered is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 38 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (i)), filed on April 29, 2014. | |
(j) | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm: Not Applicable. | |
(k) | Omitted Financial Statements: Not Applicable. | |
(l) | Initial Capital Agreement: Not Applicable. | |
(m)(1) | Plan of Distribution and Agreement of Distribution, effective May 1, 2009, amended and restated March 7, 2011, between Registrant and Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 38 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (m)(1)), filed on April 29, 2014. | |
(m)(2) | Schedule A, effective May 1, 2017, to the Plan of Distribution and Agreement of Distribution, effective May 1, 2009, amended and restated March 7, 2011, between Registrant and Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (m)(2)), filed on April 27, 2017. | |
(n) | Rule 18f 3(d), amended and restated effective July 1, 2017, is filed herewith as Exhibit (n) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A. | |
(o) | Reserved. |
(p)(1) | Code of Ethics adopted under Rule 17j-1 for Registrant, effective April 14, 2014, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (p)(1)), filed on May 15, 2014. | |
(p)(2) | Ameriprise Global Asset Management Personal Trading Account Dealing and Code of Ethics Policy, effective December 15, 2016, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 288 to Registration Statement No. 2-99356 of Columbia Funds Series Trust I on Form N-1A (Exhibit (p)(2)), filed on February 7, 2017. | |
(p)(3) | American Century Investment Management, Inc. Code of Ethics, dated December 19, 2016, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (p)(3)), filed on April 27, 2017. | |
(p)(4) | BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. Code of Ethics, dated January 11, 2017, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (p)(4)), filed on April 27, 2017. | |
(p)(5) | BMO Asset Management, Corp. Code of Ethics, dated December 2016, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 295 to Registration Statement No. 2-99356 of Columbia Funds Series Trust I on Form N-1A (Exhibit (p)(12)), filed on April 26, 2017. | |
(p)(6) | CenterSquare Investment Management, Inc. Code of Ethics, dated December 2016, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (p)(6)), filed on April 27, 2017. | |
(p)(7) | Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC Code of Ethics, effective January 2, 2007, last amended January 6, 2016, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (p)(6)), filed on April 28, 2016. | |
(p)(8) | Denver Investment Advisors LLC Code of Ethics, amended, effective June 1, 2013, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (p)(7)), filed on May 15, 2014. | |
(p)(9) | Dimensional Fund Advisors, L.P. Code of Ethics, effective January 1, 2017, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (p)(9)), filed on April 27, 2017. | |
(p)(10) | Eaton Vance Management Code of Ethics, effective September 1, 2000, as revised February 8, 2017, is filed herewith as Exhibit (p)(10) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A. | |
(p)(11) | J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. Code of Ethics, effective February 1, 2005, last revised July 8, 2016, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (p)(11)), filed on April 27, 2017. | |
(p)(12) | Jacobs Levy Equity Management, Inc. Code of Ethics, dated January 1, 2016, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (p)(12)), filed on April 27, 2017. | |
(p)(13) | Kennedy Capital Management, Inc. Code of Ethics, as amended November 19, 2015, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 53 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (p)(13)), filed on November 14, 2016. | |
(p)(14) | Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. Code of Ethics, effective January 14, 2000, as amended August 11, 2016, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 295 to Registration Statement No. 2-99356 of Columbia Funds Series Trust I on Form N-1A (Exhibit (p)(11)), filed on April 26, 2017. |
(p)(15) | Los Angeles Capital Management and Equity Research, Inc. Code of Ethics, dated December 30, 2016, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 295 to Registration Statement No. 2-99356 of Columbia Funds Series Trust I on Form N-1A (Exhibit (p)(15)), filed on February 7, 2017. | |
(p)(16) | Massachusetts Financial Services Company Code of Ethics, effective date October 31, 2016, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (p)(17)), filed on April 27, 2017. | |
(p)(17) | Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. Code of Ethics, effective March 22, 2016, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (p)(18)), filed on April 27, 2017. | |
(p)(18) | Nuveen Asset Management, LLC Code of Ethics, dated July 1, 2017, is filed herewith as Exhibit (p)(18) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A. | |
(p)(19) | OppenheimerFunds Inc. Code of Ethics, dated May 26, 2016, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (p)(20)), filed on April 27, 2017. | |
(p)(20) | FIAM LLC (Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC) Code of Ethics, dated 2017, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (p)(21)), filed on April 27, 2017. | |
(p)(20)(i) | FIAM LLC (Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC) Code of Ethics for Personal Investing European Region, dated February 21, 2017 is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (p)(21)(i)), filed on April 27, 2017. | |
(p)(20)(ii) | FIAM LLC (Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC) Code of Ethics for Personal Investing Asia Pacific Region, dated February 21, 2017, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (p)(21)(i)), filed on April 27, 2017. | |
(p)(21) | Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC Code of Ethics, dated July 2013, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 41 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (p)(24)), filed on August 20, 2014. | |
(p)(22) | T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. and Its Affiliates. Code of Ethics, as of March 1, 2017, is filed herewith as Exhibit (p)(22) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A. | |
(p)(23) | TCW Investment Management Company Code of Ethics, dated March 13, 2017, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 295 to Registration Statement No. 2-99356 of Columbia Funds Series Trust I on Form N-1A (Exhibit (p)(7)), filed on April 26, 2017. | |
(p)(24) | Victory Capital Management Inc. Code of Ethics, effective July 30, 2016, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (p)(25)), filed on May 27, 2017. |
(p)(25) | Wells Capital Management Incorporated Code of Ethics, dated September 30, 2016, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 278 to Registration Statement No. 2-99356 of Columbia Funds Series Trust I on Form N-1A (Exhibit (p)(14)), filed on October 5, 2016. | |
(p)(26) | Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P. Code of Ethics, as of June 9, 2016, is filed herewith as Exhibit (p)(26) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A. | |
(q)(1) | Trustees Power of Attorney to sign Amendments to this Registration Statement, dated February 2, 2017, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 54 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (q)(1)), filed on February 17, 2017. | |
(q)(2) | Power of Attorney for Michael G. Clarke, dated May 23, 2016, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 52 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (p)(3)), filed on June 1, 2016. | |
(q)(3) | Power of Attorney for Christopher O. Petersen, dated February 16, 2015, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 44 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (q)(5)), filed on February 20, 2015. | |
(q)(4) | Power of Attorney for Amy K. Johnson, dated May 11, 2016, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (q)(4)), filed on May 27, 2017. | |
(q)(5) | Power of Attorney for Anthony P. Haugen, dated May 11, 2016, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (q)(5)), filed on May 27, 2017. |
Item 29. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the Registrant
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the investment manager or Columbia Management), as sponsor of the Columbia funds, may make initial capital investments in Columbia funds (seed accounts). Columbia Management also serves as investment manager of certain Columbia funds-of-funds that invest primarily in shares of affiliated funds (the underlying funds). Columbia Management does not make initial capital investments or invest in underlying funds for the purpose of exercising control. However, since these ownership interests may be significant, in excess of 25%, such that Columbia Management may be deemed to control certain Columbia funds, procedures have been put in place to assure that public shareholders determine the outcome of all actions taken at shareholder meetings. Specifically, Columbia Management (which votes proxies for the seed accounts) and the Boards of Trustees of the affiliated funds-of-funds (which votes proxies for the affiliated funds-of-funds) vote on each proposal in the same proportion as the vote of the direct public shareholders vote; provided, however, that if there are no direct public shareholders of an underlying fund or if direct public shareholders represent only a minority interest in an underlying fund, the Fund may cast votes in accordance with instructions from the independent members of the Board.
Item 30. Indemnification
Article VII of the Registrants Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended, provides that no trustee or officer of the Registrant shall be subject to any liability to any person in connection with Registrant property or the affairs of the Registrant, and no trustee shall be responsible or liable in any event for any neglect or wrongdoing of any officer, agent, employee, investment adviser or principal underwriter of the Registrant or for the act or omission of any other trustee, all as more fully set forth in the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, which is filed as an exhibit to this registration statement. Article 5 of the Registrants Bylaws provides that the Registrant shall indemnify and hold harmless its trustees and officers (including persons who serve at the Registrants request as directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which the Registrant has any interest) (Covered Persons) against liabilities and expenses in connection with the defense or disposition of any proceeding in which such Covered Person may be or may have been involved or with which such Covered Person may be or may have been threatened by reason of any alleged act or omission as a trustee or officer or by reason of his or her being or having been such a Covered Person, under specified circumstances, all as more fully set forth in the Bylaws, which are filed as an exhibit to the registration statement.
Section 17(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act) provides that no instrument pursuant to which Registrant is organized or administered shall contain any provision which protects or purports to protect any trustee or officer of Registrant against any liability to Registrant or its shareholders to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
The Registrants Declaration of Trust provides that nothing in the Declaration of Trust shall protect any trustee or officer against any liabilities to the Registrant or its shareholders to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office or position with or on behalf of the Registrant and the Registrants Bylaws provides that no Covered Person shall be indemnified against any liability to the Registrant or its shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Persons office.
Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. agrees to indemnify the Registrant, its officers and trustees against claims, demands, liabilities and expenses under specified circumstances, all as more fully set forth in the Registrants Distribution Agreement, which has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement.
The Registrant may be party to other contracts that include indemnification provisions for the benefit of the Registrants trustees and officers.
The trustees and officers of the Registrant and the personnel of the Registrants investment adviser and principal underwriter are insured under an errors and omissions liability insurance policy. Registrants investment adviser, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, maintains investment advisory professional liability insurance to insure it, for the benefit of Registrant and its non-interested trustees, against loss arising out of any effort, omission, or breach of any duty owed to Registrant or any series of Registrant by Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 (the 1933 Act) may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant by the Registrant pursuant to the Registrants organizational instruments or otherwise, the Registrant is aware that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and, therefore, is unenforceable.
Item 31. Business and Other Connections of the Investment Adviser
To the knowledge of the Registrant, none of the directors or officers of Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management), the Registrants investment adviser, or any subadviser to a series of the Registrant, except as set forth below, are or have been, at any time during the Registrants past two fiscal years, engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature.
(1) | Columbia Management, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, Inc., performs investment advisory services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Columbia Management and the directors and principal officers of Columbia Management is also included in the Form ADV filed by Columbia Management with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-25943), which is incorporated herein by reference. In addition to their position with Columbia Management, certain directors and officers of Columbia Management also hold various positions with, and engage in business for, Ameriprise Financial, Inc. or its other subsidiaries. |
(2) | American Century Investment Management, Inc. performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of American Century Investment Management, Inc. is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrants series that are subadvised by American Century Investment Management, Inc. and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of American Century Investment Management, Inc. and the directors and principal executive officers of American Century Investment Management, Inc. is also included in the Form ADV filed by American Century Investment Management, Inc. with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-8174), which is incorporated herein by reference. |
(3) | BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrants series that are subadvised by BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. and the directors and principal executive officers of BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. is also included in the Form ADV filed by BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-48433), which is incorporated herein by reference. |
(4) | BMO Asset Management Corp. performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of BMO Asset Management Corp. and certain of its officers is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrants portfolio(s) subadvised by BMO Asset Management Corp. and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of BMO Asset Management Corp. and the directors and principal executive officers of BMO Asset Management Corp. is also included in the Form ADV filed by BMO Asset Management Corp. with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-35533), which is incorporated herein by reference. |
(5) | CenterSquare Investment Management, Inc. performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of CenterSquare Investment Management, Inc. is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrants series that are subadvised by CenterSquare Investment Management, Inc. and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of CenterSquare Investment Management, Inc. and the directors and principal executive officers of CenterSquare Investment Management, Inc. is also included in the Form ADV filed by CenterSquare Investment Management, Inc. with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-51733), which is incorporated herein by reference. |
(6) | Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrants series that are subadvised by Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC and the directors and principal executive officers of Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC is also included in the Form ADV filed by Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-41391), which is incorporated herein by reference. |
(7) | Denver Investment Advisors LLC performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Denver Investment Advisors LLC is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrants series that are subadvised by Denver Investment Advisors LLC and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Denver Investment Advisors LLC and the directors and principal executive officers of Denver Investment Advisors LLC is also included in the Form ADV filed by Denver Investment Advisors LLC with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-47933), which is incorporated herein by reference. |
(8) | Dimensional Fund Advisors, L.P. performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Dimensional Fund Advisors, L.P. is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrants series that are subadvised by Dimensional Fund Advisors, L.P. and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Dimensional Fund Advisors, L.P. and the directors and principal executive officers of Dimensional Fund Advisors, L.P. is also included in the Form ADV filed by Dimensional Fund Advisors, L.P. with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-16283), which is incorporated herein by reference. |
(9) | Eaton Vance Management performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Eaton Vance Management is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrants series that are subadvised by Eaton Vance Management and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Eaton Vance Management and the directors and principal executive officers of Eaton Vance Management is also included in the Form ADV filed by Eaton Vance Management with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-15930), which is incorporated herein by reference. |
(10) | J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrants series that are subadvised by J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. and the directors and principal executive officers of J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. is also included in the Form ADV filed by J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-21011), which is incorporated herein by reference. |
(11) | Jacobs Levy Equity Management, Inc. performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Jacobs Levy Equity Management, Inc. is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrants series that are subadvised by Jacobs Levy Equity Management, Inc. and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Jacobs Levy Equity Management, Inc. and the directors and principal executive officers of Jacobs Levy Equity Management, Inc. is also included in the Form ADV filed by Jacobs Levy Equity Management, Inc. with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-28257), which is incorporated herein by reference. |
(12) | Kennedy Capital Management, Inc. performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Kennedy Capital Management, Inc., is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrants series that are subadvised by Kennedy Capital Management, Inc., and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Kennedy Capital Management, Inc., and the directors and principal executive officers of Kennedy Capital Management, Inc., is also included in the Form ADV filed by Kennedy Capital Management, Inc., with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-15323), which is incorporated herein by reference. |
(13) | Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrants series that are subadvised by Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. and the directors and principal executive officers of Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P.is also included in the Form ADV filed by Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-170), which is incorporated herein by reference. |
(14) | Los Angeles Capital Management and Equity Research, Inc. performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Los Angeles Capital Management and Equity Research, Inc. and certain of its officers is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrants portfolio(s) subadvised by Los Angeles Capital Management and Equity Research, Inc. and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Los Angeles Capital Management and Equity Research, Inc. and the directors and principal executive officers of Los Angeles Capital Management and Equity Research, Inc. is also included in the Form ADV filed by Los Angeles Capital Management and Equity Research, Inc. with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-60934), which is incorporated herein by reference. |
(15) | Massachusetts Financial Services Company performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Massachusetts Financial Services Company is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrants series that are subadvised by Massachusetts Financial Services Company and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Massachusetts Financial Services Company and the directors and principal executive officers of Massachusetts Financial Services Company is also included in the Form ADV filed by Massachusetts Financial Services Company with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-17352), which is incorporated herein by reference. |
(16) | Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc. performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc. is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrants series that are subadvised by Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc. and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc. and the directors and principal executive officers of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc. is also included in the Form ADV filed by Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc. with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-15757), which is incorporated herein by reference. |
(17) | Nuveen Asset Management, LLC performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrants series that are subadvised by Nuveen Asset Management, LLC and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC and the directors and principal executive officers of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC is also included in the Form ADV filed by Nuveen Asset Management, LLC with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-71957), which is incorporated herein by reference. |
(18) | OppenheimerFunds, Inc. performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrants series that are subadvised by OppenheimerFunds, Inc. and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Oppenheimerfunds, Inc. and the directors and principal executive officers of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. is also included in the Form ADV filed by OppenheimerFunds, Inc. with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-8253), which is incorporated herein by reference. |
(19) | Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrants series that are subadvised by Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC and the directors and principal executive officers of Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC is also included in the Form ADV filed by Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-63658), which is incorporated herein by reference. |
(20) | Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrants series that are subadvised by Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC and the directors and principal executive officers of Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC is also included in the Form ADV filed by Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-47232), which is incorporated herein by reference. |
(21) | T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrants series that are subadvised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. and the directors and principal executive officers of T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. is also included in the Form ADV filed by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-856), which is incorporated herein by reference. |
(22) | TCW Investment Management Company performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of TCW Investment Management Company is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrants series that are subadvised by TCW Investment Management Company and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of TCW Investment Management Company and the directors and principal executive officers of TCW Investment Management Company is also included in the Form ADV filed by TCW Investment Management Company with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-29075), which is incorporated herein by reference. |
(23) | Threadneedle International Limited performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Threadneedle International Limited is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrants series that are subadvised by Threadneedle International Limited and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Threadneedle International Limited and the directors and principal executive officers of Threadneedle International Limited is also included in the Form ADV filed by Threadneedle International Limited with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-63196), which is incorporated herein by reference. |
(24) | Victory Capital Management Inc. performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Victory Capital Management Inc. is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrants series that are subadvised by Victory Capital Management Inc. and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Victory Capital Management Inc. and the directors and principal executive officers of Victory Capital Management Inc. is also included in the Form ADV filed by Victory Capital Management Inc. with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-46878), which is incorporated herein by reference. |
(25) | Wells Capital Management Incorporated performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Wells Capital Management Incorporated is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrants series that are subadvised by Wells Capital Management Incorporated and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Wells Capital Management Incorporated and the directors and principal executive officers of Wells Capital Management Incorporated is also included in the Form ADV filed by Wells Capital Management Incorporated with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-21122), which is incorporated herein by reference. |
(26) | Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P. performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P. is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrants series that are subadvised by Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P. and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P. and the directors and principal executive officers of Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P. is also included in the Form ADV filed by Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P. with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 80-69413), which is incorporated herein by reference. |
Item 32. Principal Underwriter
(a) | Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. acts as principal underwriter for the following investment companies, including the Registrant: |
Columbia Acorn Trust; Columbia Funds Series Trust; Columbia Funds Series Trust I; Columbia Funds Series Trust II; Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II; Columbia Funds Variable Insurance Trust and Wanger Advisors Trust.
(b) | As to each director, principal officer or partner of Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. |
Name and Principal Business Address* |
Position and Offices with Principal Underwriter |
Positions and Offices with Registrant |
||
William F. Truscott | Chief Executive Officer | Board Member, Senior Vice President | ||
Joseph Kringdon | President and Head of Intermediary Distribution | None | ||
Jeffrey F. Peters | Managing Director and Head of Global Institutional Distribution | None | ||
Jeffrey J. Scherman | Chief Financial Officer | None | ||
Michael E. DeFao | Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Assistant Secretary | Vice President and Assistant Secretary | ||
Stephen O. Buff | Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer | None | ||
James Bumpus | Vice President National Sales Manager | None | ||
Thomas A. Jones | Vice President and Head of Strategic Relations | None | ||
Gary Rawdon | Vice President Sales Governance and Administration | None | ||
Leslie A. Walstrom | Vice President and U.S. Head of Marketing | None |
Daniel J. Beckman | Vice President and Head of U.S. Retail Product | None | ||
Marc Zeitoun | Vice President, Head of Strategic Beta and Head of Private Client Accounts | None | ||
Thomas R. Moore | Secretary | None | ||
Paul B. Goucher | Vice President and Assistant Secretary | Senior Vice President and Assistant Secretary | ||
Tara W. Tilbury | Vice President and Assistant Secretary | Assistant Secretary | ||
Nancy W. LeDonne | Vice President and Assistant Secretary | None | ||
Ryan C. Larrenaga | Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary |
||
Joseph L. DAlessandro | Vice President and Assistant Secretary | Assistant Secretary | ||
Christopher O. Petersen | Vice President and Assistant Secretary | President and Principal Executive Officer | ||
Shweta J. Jhanji | Treasurer | None | ||
Michael Tempesta | Anti-Money Laundering Officer and Identity Theft Prevention Officer | None | ||
Kevin Wasp | Ombudsman | None | ||
Kristin Weisser | Conflicts Officer | None |
* | The principal business address of Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. is 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110. |
(c) Not Applicable.
Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records
Persons maintaining physical possession of accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules thereunder include:
| Registrant, 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110; |
| Registrants investment adviser and administrator, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110; |
| Registrants subadviser, American Century Investment Management, Inc., 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111; |
| Registrants subadviser, BlackRock Financial Management, Inc., 55 East 52 nd Street, New York, NY 10055; |
| Registrants subadviser, BMO Asset Management, Corp., 115 South LaSalle Street, 11th Floor, Chicago, IL, 60603; |
| Registrants subadviser, CenterSquare Investment Management, Inc., 630 W Germantown Pike, Suite 300, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462; |
| Registrants subadviser, Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC, 227 West Monroe Street, Chicago, IL 60606; |
| Registrants subadviser, Denver Investment Advisors LLC, 370 17 th Street, Suite 5000, Denver, CO 80202; |
| Registrants subadviser, Dimensional Fund Advisors, L.P., 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746; |
| Registrants subadviser, Eaton Vance Management, Two International Place, Boston, MA 02110; |
| Registrants subadviser, FIAM LLC (d/b/a Pyramis Global Advisors), 900 Salem Street, Smithfield, RI 02917; |
| Registrants subadviser, J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc., 270 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017; |
| Registrants subadviser, Jacobs Levy Equity Management, Inc., 100 Campus Drive, 2 nd Floor West, Florham Park, NJ 07932; |
| Registrants subadviser, Kennedy Capital Management, Inc., 10829 Olive Boulevard, Saint Louis, MO 63141; |
| Registrants subadviser, Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P., One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111; |
| Registrants subadviser, Los Angeles Capital Management and Equity Research, Inc., 11150 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90025; |
| Registrants subadviser, Massachusetts Financial Services Company, 111 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02199; |
| Registrants subadviser, Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc., 522 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10036; |
| Registrants subadviser, Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606; |
| Registrants subadviser, OppenheimerFunds, Inc. 225 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10281; |
| Registrants subadviser, Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC, 540 West Madison Street, Suite 1900, Chicago, IL 60661-2551; |
| Registrants subadviser, T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., 100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202; |
| Registrants subadviser, TCW Investment Management Company LLC, 865 South Figueroa Street, Suite 1800, Los Angeles, CA 90017; |
| Registrants subadviser, Threadneedle International Limited, Cannon Place, 78 Cannon Street, London EC4N 6AG, UK; |
| Registrants subadviser, Victory Capital Management Inc., 4900 Tiedeman Road, 4 th Floor, Brooklyn, OH 44144; |
| Registrants subadviser, Wells Capital Management Incorporated, 525 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94105; |
| Registrants subadviser, Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P., 655 Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA 02111; |
| Former subadviser, Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC, 2200 Ross Avenue, 31 st Floor, Dallas, TX 75201; |
| Former subadviser, Davis Selected Advisers, L.P., 2949 East Elvira Road, Suite 101, Tucson, AZ 85756; |
| Former subadviser, Donald Smith & Co., Inc., 152 West 57 th Street, 22 nd Floor, New York, NY 10019; |
| Former subadviser, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P., 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282; |
| Former subadviser, Holland Capital Management LLC, 303 W. Madison Street, Suite 700, Chicago, IL 60606; |
| Former subadviser, Invesco Advisers, Inc., 1555 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, GA 30309; |
| Former subadviser, Jennison Associates LLC, 466 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10017; |
| Former subadviser, The London Company of Virginia, 1801 Bayberry Court, Suite 301, Richmond, VA 23226; |
| Former subadviser, Marsico Capital Management, LLC, 1200 17 th Street, Suite 1600, Denver, CO 80202; |
| Former subadviser, Mondrian Investment Partners Limited, 10 Gresham Street, 5th Floor, London EC2V7JD, UK; |
| Former subadviser, NFJ Investment Group LLC, 2100 Ross Avenue, Suite 700, Dallas, TX 75201; |
| Former subadviser, Pacific Investment Management Company LLC, 650 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660; |
| Former subadviser, Palisade Capital Management, L.L.C., One Bridge Plaza North, Suite 695, Fort Lee, NJ 07024; |
| Former subadviser, River Road Asset Management, LLC, 462 South Fourth Street, Suite 2000, Louisville, KY 40202; |
| Former subadviser, Sit Investment Associates, Inc., 3300 IDS Center, 80 South Eighth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55402; |
| Former subadviser, Snow Capital Management L.P., 2000 Georgetowne Drive, Suite 200, Sewickley, PA 15143; |
| Former subadviser, Turner Investments, L.P., 1205 Westlakes Drive, Suite 100, Berwyn, PA 19312; |
| Former subadviser, Winslow Capital Management, LLC, 4720 IDS Center, 80 South Eighth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55402; |
| Registrants principal underwriter, Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110; |
| Registrants transfer agent, Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110; and |
| Registrants custodian, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 1 Chase Manhattan Plaza, New York, NY 10005. |
In addition, Iron Mountain Records Management is an off-site storage facility housing historical records that are no longer required to be maintained on-site. Records stored at this facility include various trading and accounting records, as well as other miscellaneous records. The address for Iron Mountain Records Management is 920 & 950 Apollo Road, Eagan, MN 55121.
Item 34. Management Services
Not Applicable.
Item 35. Undertakings
Not Applicable.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant, COLUMBIA FUNDS VARIABLE SERIES TRUST II, has duly caused this Amendment to its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Minneapolis, and The State of Minnesota on the 18 th day of September, 2017.
COLUMBIA FUNDS VARIABLE SERIES TRUST II | ||||
By: |
/s/ Christopher O. Petersen |
|||
Christopher O. Petersen | ||||
President |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on the 18 th day of September, 2017.
Signature | Capacity | Signature | Capacity | |||
/s/ Christopher O. Petersen Christopher O. Petersen |
President (Principal Executive Officer) |
/s/ Patricia M. Flynn* Patricia M. Flynn |
Trustee | |||
/s/ Michael G. Clarke* Michael G. Clarke |
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) |
/s/ Catherine James Paglia* Catherine James Paglia |
Trustee | |||
/s/ William A. Hawkins* William A. Hawkins |
Chair of the Board |
/s/ Anthony M. Santomero* Anthony M. Santomero |
Trustee | |||
/s/ George S. Batejan* George S. Batejan |
Trustee |
/s/ Minor M. Shaw* Minor M. Shaw |
Trustee | |||
/s/ Kathleen A. Blatz* Kathleen A. Blatz |
Trustee |
/s/ John G. Taft* John G. Taft |
Trustee | |||
/s/ Edward J. Boudreau, Jr.* Edward J. Boudreau, Jr. |
Trustee |
/s/ Alison Taunton-Rigby* Alison Taunton-Rigby |
Trustee | |||
/s/ Pamela G. Carlton* Pamela G. Carlton |
Trustee |
/s/ William F. Truscott* William F. Truscott |
Trustee | |||
/s/ William P. Carmichael* William P. Carmichael |
Trustee |
* | By: |
/s/ Joseph DAlessandro |
||
Name: | Joseph DAlessandro** | |||
Attorney-in-fact |
** | Executed by Joseph DAlessandro on behalf of Michael G. Clarke pursuant to a Power of Attorney, dated May 23, 2016 and incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 52 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (q)(3)), filed with the Commission on June 1, 2016, and on behalf of each of the Trustees pursuant to a Trustees Power of Attorney, dated February 2, 2017 and incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 54 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 of the Registrant on Form N-1A (Exhibit (q)(1)), filed with the Commission on February 17, 2017. |
Exhibit Index
(d)(15) | Amendment No. 2, as of April 21, 2017, to the Subadvisory Agreement, dated April 8, 2010, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (formerly RiverSource Investments, LLC) and J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. | |
(d)(35) | Amendment No. 2, dated April 21, 2017, to the Subadvisory Agreement, dated April 8, 2010, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (formerly RiverSource Investments, LLC) and Wells Capital Management Incorporated. | |
(d)(36) | Subadvisory Agreement, dated June 21, 2017, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P. | |
(h)(1) | Shareholder Services Agreement by and between the Registrant and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., dated July 1, 2017. | |
(h)(2) | Schedule A and Schedule B, effective July 1, 2017, to the Shareholder Services Agreement by and between the Registrant and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., dated July 1, 2017. | |
(n) | Rule 18f 3(d), amended and restated effective July 1, 2017. | |
(p)(10) | Eaton Vance Management Code of Ethics, effective September 1, 2000, as revised February 8, 2017. | |
(p)(18) | Nuveen Asset Management, LLC Code of Ethics, dated July 1, 2017. | |
(p)(22) | T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. and Its Affiliates. Code of Ethics, as of March 1, 2017. | |
(p)(26) | Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P. Code of Ethics, as of June 9, 2016. |
AMENDMENT NO. 2
TO THE SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
This Amendment No. 2 (the Amendment), made and entered into as of April 21, 2017, is made a part of the Subadvisory Agreement between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company (Investment Manager) and J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc., a Delaware corporation (Subadviser), dated April 8, 2010, as amended June 17, 2014 (the Agreement) with respect to the fund or funds (the Fund) identified in the Agreement.
WHEREAS, Investment Manager and Subadviser desire to amend the Agreement, including Schedule A.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
1. | Schedule A . Schedule A to the Agreement shall be, and hereby is, deleted and replaced with the Schedule A attached hereto. |
2. | Portfolio Management . Section 1(a) of the Agreement shall be, and hereby is, amended by adding the following as paragraph (vi): |
(vi) | Management of Funds with Multiple Subadvisers . Subadvisers responsibilities for providing services to a Fund shall be limited to the portion of the Funds assets allocated to Subadviser (Subadviser Account). Subadviser shall not, without the prior approval of Investment Manager, effect any transactions that would cause the Subadviser Account, treated as a separate fund, to be out of compliance with the Funds investment objectives, policies and restrictions. Subadviser shall not consult with any other subadviser of a Fund concerning transactions for the Fund in securities or other assets. |
3. | Notices . Section 13 to the Agreement shall be, and hereby is, amended by deleting the addresses for Subadviser and Investment Manager and replacing them with the following: |
Subadviser:
Jeffery Reedy
Vice President
JPMorgan Investment Management, Inc.
1111 Polaris Parkway
Columbus, OH 43240
(614) 213-2094 Ph.
(614) 417-5699 Fax.
Investment Manager:
Paul Mikelson
Vice President, Subadvised Strategies
Columbia Threadneedle Investments
707 2 nd Ave. S, Routing: H17 435
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Tel: (612) 671-4452
Fax: (612) 671-0618
with a copy to:
Christopher O. Petersen
Vice President and Lead Chief Counsel
Ameriprise Financial, Inc.
5228 Ameriprise Financial Center, Routing: 27/5228
Minneapolis, MN 55474
Tel: (612) 671-4321
Fax: (612) 671-2680
4. |
The following shall be, and is hereby added as Section 22 to the Agreement: No Third-Party Beneficiaries . The Fund is intended to be a third party beneficiary of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, and without in any way implying that there are any other third-party beneficiaries to the Agreement or any other agreement with respect to the Trust or any of its series, no person other than the Investment Manager and the Subadviser is a party to this Agreement or shall be entitled to any right or benefit arising under or in respect of this Agreement (with the exception of the Fund), and there are no other third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement is intended to, or shall be read to, (i) create in any other person (including without limitation any shareholder of any Fund) any direct, indirect, |
derivative, or other rights against the Investment Manager or Subadviser, or (ii) create or give rise to any duty or obligation on the part of the Investment Manager or Subadviser (including without limitation any fiduciary duty) to any person other than the Fund, all of which rights, benefits, duties, and obligations are hereby expressly excluded. |
5. | Miscellaneous . Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Agreement. This Amendment may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original and all of which together will be deemed to be one and the same agreement. As modified herein, the Agreement is confirmed and remains in full force and effect. |
6. | Duration . Section 9(a) shall be, and hereby is, deleted and replaced with the following: |
Unless sooner terminated as provided herein, this Agreement shall continue from the date of its execution only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually in conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act. Thereafter, if not terminated, this Agreement shall continue automatically for successive periods of 12 months each, provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (i) by a vote of a majority of the Board members who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any such party, and (ii) by the Board or by a vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund.
7. | Duration and Termination . Section 9(c) to the Agreement shall be, and hereby is, deleted and replaced with the following: |
In the event of termination of the Agreement, those paragraphs of the Agreement which govern conduct of the parties future interactions with respect to Subadviser having provided investment management services to the Fund(s) for the duration of the Agreement, including, but not limited to, paragraphs 1(a)(iv)(a), 1(c), 1(d), 1(e), 1(f), 1(g), 8(a), 8(b), 8(c), 8(d), 16, 18, 19, 21 and 22 shall survive such termination of the Agreement.
[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE HAS BEEN LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first above written.
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC | J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. | |||||||
By: |
/s/ David Weiss |
By: |
/s/ Jeffery Reedy |
|||||
Signature | Signature | |||||||
Name: |
David Weiss |
Name: |
Jeffery Reedy |
|||||
Printed | Printed | |||||||
Title: |
Assistant Secretary |
Title: |
Vice President |
AMENDMENT NO. 2
TO THE SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
SCHEDULE A
[REDACTED DATA]
AMENDMENT NO. 2
TO THE SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
This Amendment No. 2 (the Amendment), made and entered into as of April 21, 2017, is made a part of the Subadvisory Agreement between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company (Investment Manager) and Wells Capital Management Incorporated, a California corporation (Subadviser), dated April 8, 2010 as amended July 18, 2014 (the Agreement).
WHEREAS, Investment Manager desires to retain Subadviser to provide investment advisory services to an additional mutual fund, Variable PortfolioPartners Core Bond Fund, and Subadviser is willing to render such investment advisory services; and
WHEREAS, Investment Manager and Subadviser desire to amend the Agreement, including Schedule A thereto, to add, effective May 1, 2017, Variable PortfolioPartners Core Bond Fund as a Fund covered by the Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
1. | Inclusion of additional Fund . All references to the Fund in the Agreement shall be, and hereby are, changed to the Fund(s), and shall mean those Fund(s) identified on the amended Schedule A attached to this Amendment. |
Schedule A . Schedule A to the Agreement shall be, and hereby is, deleted and replaced with the Schedule A attached hereto.
2. | Confidentiality . Section 1(e) of the Agreement is hereby superseded and replaced in its entirety with the following: |
This section 1(e) of the Agreement hereby supersedes and replaces in its entirety the terms the terms of the Mutual Confidentiality Agreement, dated March 15, 2017, entered into by Investment Manager and Subadviser.
Each of the parties hereto agrees that it shall exercise the same standard of care that it uses to protect its own confidential and proprietary information (Confidential Information), but no less than reasonable care, to protect the Confidential Information of the other party. As used herein, Confidential Information, includes, but is not limited to confidential and proprietary information with regard to (i) the portfolio holdings and characteristics of the Fund (or portion of the Fund allocated to Subadviser) that Subadviser manages under the terms of this Agreement (Fund Portfolio Information), (ii) any copies
of any agreements between the Investment Manager and its various counterparties and all the terms and provisions contained therein, which the Investment Manager (which term shall include the Investment Managers directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors, proposed financing sources, attorneys and accountants), and (iii) any information with respect to the investment management, information security, operational, or compliance systems or processes of the Subadviser. Each party hereby agrees to restrict access to the other partys Confidential Information to its employees who will use it only for the purpose of providing services under this Agreement. The foregoing shall not prevent a party from disclosing Confidential Information (1) that is publicly known or becomes publicly known through no unauthorized act; (2) that is rightfully received from a third party without obligation of confidentiality; (3)(a) that, in the case of Investment Managers Confidential Information, is approved in writing by Investment Manager for disclosure, (3)(b) that, in the case of Subadvisers Confidential Information, is approved in writing by Subadviser for disclosure; (4) that is disclosed in the course of a regulatory examination or that is required to be disclosed pursuant to a requirement of a governmental or regulatory agency or law, so long as the non-disclosing party provides (to the extent permitted under applicable law) the disclosing party (i.e., the party whose Confidential Information would be disclosed) with prompt written notice of such requirement prior to any such disclosure; however, Subadviser is not required to provide such notice if information is provided on an aggregate basis without specific attribution to the Fund; (5) to affiliates that have a reason to know such information; (6) to the custodian of the Fund; (7) to brokers and dealers that are counterparties for trades for the Fund; (8) to futures commission merchants executing or clearing transactions in connection with the Fund, if applicable; and (9) to third party service providers to Subadviser subject to confidentiality agreements or duties. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent Fund Portfolio Information is similar to investments for other clients of Subadviser, Subadviser may disclose such investments without direct reference to the Fund. Investment Manager agrees that Subadviser may identify Investment Manager or the Fund by name in Subadvisers current client list. Such list may be used with third parties.
3. | Portfolio Management . Section 1(a) of the Agreement shall be, and hereby is, amended by adding the following as paragraph (vi): |
(vi) |
Management of Funds with Multiple Subadvisers . Subadvisers responsibilities for providing services to a Fund shall be limited to the portion of the Funds assets allocated to Subadviser (Subadviser Account). Subadviser shall not, without the prior |
approval of Investment Manager, effect any transactions that would cause the Subadviser Account, treated as a separate fund, to be out of compliance with the Funds investment objectives, policies and restrictions. Subadviser shall not consult with any other subadviser of a Fund concerning transactions for the Fund in securities or other assets. |
4. | Duration . The first sentence of Section 9 shall be, and hereby is, deleted and replaced with the following sentence: |
Unless sooner terminated as provided herein, this Agreement, with respect to each Fund identified on Schedule A (as amended from time to time), shall continue from the date of its execution only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually in conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act. Thereafter, if not terminated with respect to a Fund, this Agreement shall continue automatically for successive periods of 12 months each, provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (i) by a vote of a majority of the Board members who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any such party, and (ii) by the Board or by a vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund.
5. | The following shall be, and is hereby added as Section 21 to the Agreement: |
No Third-Party Beneficiaries . The Fund is intended to be a third party beneficiary of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, and without in any way implying that there are any other third-party beneficiaries to the Agreement or any other agreement with respect to the Trust or any of its series, no person other than the Investment Manager and the Subadviser is a party to this Agreement or shall be entitled to any right or benefit arising under or in respect of this Agreement (with the exception of the Fund), and there are no other third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement is intended to, or shall be read to, (i) create in any other person (including without limitation any shareholder of any Fund) any direct, indirect, derivative, or other rights against the Investment Manager or Subadviser, or (ii) create or give rise to any duty or obligation on the part of the Investment Manager or Subadviser (including without limitation any fiduciary duty) to any person other than the Fund, all of which rights, benefits, duties, and obligations are hereby expressly excluded.]
6. | Notices . Section 12 to the Agreement shall be, and hereby is, amended by deleting the addresses for Subadviser and Investment Manager and replacing them with the following: |
Subadviser:
Wells Capital Management
Attn: Client Administration MAC: N9882-021
100 Heritage Reserve
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051
(866) 259-3305 Ph.
(866) 671-5539 Fax.
with a copy to:
Wells Capital Management
Attn: Client Administration MAC: A0103-103
525 Market Street, 10th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105
Ph. (866) 259-3305
Fax (866) 671-5539
Investment Manager:
Paul Mikelson
Vice President, Subadvised Strategies
Columbia Threadneedle Investments
707 2 nd Ave. S, Routing: H17 435
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Tel: (612) 671-4452
Fax: (612) 671-0618
with a copy to:
Christopher O. Petersen
Vice President and Lead Chief Counsel
Ameriprise Financial, Inc.
5228 Ameriprise Financial Center, Routing: 27/5228
Minneapolis, MN 55474
Tel: (612) 671-4321
Fax: (612) 671-2680
7. | Miscellaneous . Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Agreement. This Amendment may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original and all of which together will be deemed to be one and the same agreement. As modified herein, the Agreement is confirmed and remains in full force and effect. |
8. | Duration and Termination . Section 9(c) to the Agreement shall be, and hereby is, deleted and replaced with the following: |
In the event of termination of the Agreement, those paragraphs of the Agreement which govern conduct of the parties future interactions with respect to Subadviser having provided investment management services to the Fund(s) for the duration of the Agreement, including, but not limited to, paragraphs 1(a)(iv)(a), 1(c), 1(d), 1(e), 1(f), 8(a), 8(b), 8(c), 15, 17, 18, 20 and 21 shall survive such termination of the Agreement.
[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE HAS BEEN LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first above written.
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC | Wells Capital Management Incorporated | |||||||
By: |
/s/ David Weiss |
By: |
/s/ Jennifer L. Kelliher |
|||||
Signature | Signature | |||||||
Name: |
David Weiss |
Name: |
Jennifer L. Kelliher |
|||||
Printed | Printed | |||||||
Title: |
Assistant Secretary |
Title: |
Client Service Manager |
AMENDMENT NO. 2
TO THE SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
SCHEDULE A
[REDACTED DATA]
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
Agreement made as of the 21st day of June, 2017 by and between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company (Investment Manager), and Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (Subadviser).
WHEREAS, the Fund listed in Schedule A is a series of an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act).
WHEREAS, Investment Manager entered into a Management Agreement (the Advisory Agreement) with the Fund pursuant to which Investment Manager provides investment advisory services to the Fund.
WHEREAS, Investment Manager and the Fund each desire to retain Subadviser to provide investment advisory services to the Fund, and Subadviser is willing to render such investment advisory services.
WHEREAS, the effective date of this Agreement is September 18, 2017.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
1. | Subadvisers Duties . |
(a) | Portfolio Management . Subject to supervision by Investment Manager and the Funds Board of Directors/Trustees (the Board), Subadviser shall manage the investment operations and the composition of that portion of the assets of the Fund which is allocated to Subadviser from time to time by Investment Manager (which portion may include any or all of the Funds assets), including the purchase, retention, and disposition thereof, in accordance with the Funds investment objectives, policies, and restrictions, and subject to the following understandings: |
(i) | Investment Decisions . Subadviser shall determine from time to time what investments and securities will be purchased, retained, or sold with respect to that portion of the Fund allocated to it by Investment Manager, and what portion of such assets will be invested or held uninvested as cash. Subadviser is prohibited from consulting with any other subadviser of the Fund concerning transactions of the Fund in securities or other assets, other than for purposes of complying with the conditions of Rule 12d3-1(a) or (b) of the 1940 Act. Subadviser will not be responsible for voting proxies issued by companies held in the Fund although Investment Manager may consult with Subadviser from time to time regarding the voting of proxies of securities owned by the Fund. Subadviser will not be responsible for filing claims in class action settlements related to securities currently or previously held by that portion of the Fund allocated to it by Investment Manager, although Investment Manager may consult with Subadviser from time to time regarding the filing of claims in class action settlements. |
1 | Page
(ii) | Investment Limits . In the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, Subadviser shall act in conformity with applicable limits and requirements, as amended from time to time, as set forth in the (a) Funds prospectus (Prospectus) and the Funds Statement of Additional Information (SAI); (b) instructions and directions of Investment Manager and of the Board; and (c) requirements of the 1940 Act, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), as applicable to the Fund, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations. Investment Manager agrees to give Subadviser prompt written notice if Investment Manager believes any recommendations, advice or investments to be in violation of (a), (b) or (c) above. |
(iii) | Portfolio Transactions . |
(A) | Trading . With respect to the securities and other investments to be purchased or sold for the Fund, Subadviser shall place orders with or through such persons, brokers, dealers, or futures commission merchants (including, but not limited to, broker-dealers that are affiliated with Investment Manager or Subadviser) selected by Subadviser; provided, however, that such orders shall be consistent with Subadvisers brokerage policy; conform with federal securities laws; and be consistent with seeking best execution. The Subadviser may consider the research, investment information, and other services provided by, and the financial responsibility of, brokers, dealers, or futures commission merchants who may effect, or be a party to, any such transaction or other transactions to which Subadvisers other clients may be a party in accordance with Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. To the extent permitted by law, and consistent with its obligation to seek best execution, Subadviser may execute transactions or pay a broker-dealer a commission, spread or markup in excess of that which another broker-dealer might have charged for executing a transaction provided that Subadviser determines, in good faith, that the execution is appropriate or the commission, spread or markup is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and/or research services provided, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or Subadvisers overall responsibilities with respect to the Fund and other clients for which it acts as subadviser. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the extent Subadviser is directed by Investment Manager to use a particular broker or brokers to borrow securities to cover securities sold short, Subadviser shall have no responsibility for setting the rate charged to borrow a security or otherwise ensuring that the rate charged by such broker to borrow a security is favorable. |
2 | Page
(B) | Aggregation of Trades . Subadviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the securities or other investments to be sold or purchased for the Fund as well as other clients of Subadviser in order to seek best execution. In such event, allocation of the securities or futures contracts so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by Subadviser in the manner Subadviser considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Fund and to such other clients. |
(C) | Subadviser will not arrange purchases or sales of securities or other investments between the Fund and other accounts advised by Subadviser or its affiliates unless (a) such purchases or sales are in accordance with applicable law (including Rule 17a-7 of the 1940 Act) and the Funds policies and procedures as provided in writing to Subadviser along with any amendments, and (b) Subadviser determines the purchase or sale is in the best interests of the Fund. |
(iv) | Records and Reports . Subadviser (a) shall maintain such books and records for such time periods as are required of an SEC-registered investment adviser to an investment company registered under the 1940 Act, (b) shall render to the Board such periodic and special reports as the Board (or a Committee thereof) or Investment Manager may reasonably request in writing, and (c) shall meet with any persons at the request of Investment Manager or the Board for the purpose of reviewing Subadvisers performance under this Agreement at reasonable times and upon reasonable advance notice. |
(v) | Transaction Reports. Subadviser shall provide Investment Manager a daily trade file with information relating to all transactions concerning the allocated portion of the Funds assets for which Subadviser is responsible and shall provide Investment Manager with such other information regarding the Fund upon Investment Managers reasonable request. Subadviser shall affirm or send a trade file of these transactions as instruction to the custodian of the Fund. |
(b) |
Compliance Program and Ongoing Certification(s). As requested, Subadviser shall timely provide to Investment Manager (i) information and commentary for the Funds annual and semi-annual reports, in a format approved by Investment Manager, and shall (a) certify that such information and commentary does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the information and commentary not misleading, in a format |
3 | Page
reasonably requested by Investment Manager, as it may be amended from time to time, and (b) provide (i) additional certifications related to Subadvisers management of the Fund in order to support the Funds filings on Form N-CSR and Form N-Q, and the Funds Principal Executive Officers and Principal Financial Officers certifications under Rule 30a-2 of the 1940 Act, thereon; in a format reasonably requested by Investment Manager, as it may be amended from time to time, (ii) a quarterly sub-certification with respect to compliance matters related to Subadviser and Subadvisers management of the Fund, in a format reasonably requested by Investment Manager, as it may be amended from time to time; (iii) an annual certification from Subadvisers Chief Compliance Officer, appointed under Rule 206(4)-7 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the Advisers Act), or his or her designee with respect to the design and operation of Subadvisers compliance program, in a format reasonably requested by Investment Manager, as it may be amended from time to time; and (iv) from time to time Subadviser shall provide such certifications to assist Investment Manager in fulfilling Investment Managers obligations under Rule 38a-1 of the 1940 Act, as are reasonably requested by the Fund or Investment Manager. In addition, Subadviser will, from time to time, provide a written assessment of its compliance program in conformity with current industry standards that is reasonably acceptable to Investment Manager to enable the Fund to fulfill its obligations under Rule 38a-1 of the 1940 Act. |
(c) | Maintenance of Records . Subadviser shall timely furnish to Investment Manager all information relating to Subadvisers services hereunder which Subadviser is required by law or regulation to keep and which are needed by Investment Manager to maintain the books and records of the Fund required under the 1940 Act. Subadviser agrees that all records which it maintains for the Fund are the property of the Fund and Subadviser will surrender promptly to the Fund any of such records upon the Funds request; provided, however, that Subadviser may retain a copy of such records. Subadviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed under the 1940 Act any such records as are required to be maintained by it pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof. |
(d) | Insurance and Code of Ethics . Subadviser will provide the Fund with reasonable evidence that, with respect to its activities on behalf of the Fund, Subadviser is maintaining (i) adequate errors and omissions insurance and (ii) an appropriate Code of Ethics and related reporting procedures. |
(e) | Confidentiality . This section 1(e) of the Agreement hereby supersedes and replaces in its entirety the terms of the Mutual Confidentiality Agreement, dated March 29, 2017, entered into by Investment Manager and Subadviser. |
Each of the parties hereto agrees that it shall exercise the same standard of care that it uses to protect its own confidential and proprietary information (Confidential Information), but no less than reasonable care, to protect the Confidential Information of the other party. As used herein, Confidential
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Information, includes, but is not limited, to Fund Portfolio Information, which refers to confidential and proprietary information with regard to (i) the portfolio holdings and characteristics of the portion of the Fund allocated to Subadviser that Subadviser manages under the terms of this Agreement, and (ii) any copies of any agreements between the Investment Manager and its various counterparties and all the terms and provisions contained therein, which the Investment Manager (which term shall include the Investment Managers directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors, proposed financing sources, attorneys and accountants) may furnish, disclose or reveal to Subadviser (which term shall include Subadvisers directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors, proposed financing sources, attorneys and accountants). Each party hereby agrees to restrict access to the other partys Confidential Information to its employees who will use it only for the purpose of providing services under this Agreement. The foregoing shall not prevent a party from disclosing Confidential Information (1) that is publicly known or becomes publicly known through no unauthorized act; (2) that is rightfully received from a third party without obligation of confidentiality; (3)(a) that, in the case of Investment Managers Confidential Information, is approved in writing by Investment Manager for disclosure, (3)(b) that, in the case of Subadvisers Confidential Information, is approved in writing by Subadviser for disclosure; (4) that is disclosed in the course of a regulatory examination or that is required to be disclosed pursuant to a requirement of a governmental or regulatory agency or law, so long as the non-disclosing party provides (to the extent permitted under applicable law) the disclosing party (i.e., the party whose Confidential Information would be disclosed) with prompt written notice of such requirement prior to any such disclosure; however, Subadviser is not required to provide such notice if information is provided on an aggregate basis without specific attribution to the Fund; (5) to affiliates that have a reason to know such information; (6) to the custodian of the Fund; (7) to brokers and dealers that are counterparties for trades for the Fund; (8) to futures commission merchants executing or clearing transactions in connection with the Fund, if applicable; and (9) to third party service providers to Subadviser subject to confidentiality agreements or duties. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent Fund Portfolio Information is similar to investments for other clients of Subadviser, Subadviser may disclose such investments without direct reference to the Fund. Investment Manager agrees that Subadviser may identify Investment Manager or the Fund by name in Subadvisers current client list. Such list may be used with third parties.
(f) | Cooperation . As reasonably requested by Investment Manager or the Board and in accordance with the scope of Subadvisers obligations and responsibilities contained in this Agreement, Subadviser will cooperate with, and provide reasonable assistance to, Investment Manager or the Fund as needed in order for Investment Manager and the Fund to comply with applicable laws, rules and regulations, including, but not limited to, compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder and the evaluation of any actions under U.S. or foreign securities laws pursuant to which the Fund may be able to assert a potential claim. |
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2. | Investment Managers Duties . Investment Manager shall continue to have responsibility for all other services to be provided to the Fund pursuant to the Advisory Agreement and shall oversee and review Subadvisers performance of its duties under this Agreement. Investment Manager shall also retain direct portfolio management responsibility with respect to any assets of the Fund which are not allocated by it to the portfolio management of Subadviser as provided in paragraph 1(a) hereof or to any other subadviser. Investment Manager will periodically provide to Subadviser a list of the affiliates of Investment Manager or the Fund to which investment restrictions apply, and will specifically identify in writing (a) all publicly traded companies that issue securities in which the Fund may not invest, together with ticker symbols for all such companies, and (b) any affiliated brokers and any restrictions that apply to the use of those brokers by Subadviser. Neither Subadviser nor any of its directors, officers, partners, principals, employees or agents shall have responsibility whatsoever for, and shall incur no liability on account of (i) diversification, selection or establishment of such investment objectives, policies and restrictions of the Fund, (ii) advice on, or management of, any assets for the Fund other than the assets for which Investment Manager has delegated investment discretion to Subadviser, (iii) filing of any tax or information returns or forms, withholding or paying any taxes, or seeking any exemption or refund, (iv) registration of the Fund with any government or agency, (v) administration of the plans and trusts investing in the Fund, or (vi) overall Fund compliance with requirements of the 1940 Act and Subchapter M of the Code, relating to percentage limitations applicable to the Funds assets that would require knowledge of the Funds holdings other than the assets subject to this Agreement. |
3. | Documents Provided to Subadviser . Investment Manager has delivered or will deliver to Subadviser current copies and supplements thereto of each of the Prospectus and SAI pertaining to the Fund, and will promptly deliver to it all future amendments and supplements, if any. |
4. | Compensation of Subadviser . For the services provided and the expenses assumed pursuant to this Agreement, Investment Manager will pay to Subadviser, effective from the date of this Agreement, a fee which shall be determined daily and paid monthly, on or before the last business day of the next succeeding calendar month, at the annual rates set forth in the attached Schedule A which Schedule can be modified from time to time upon mutual agreement of the parties to reflect changes in annual rates, subject to appropriate approvals required by the 1940 Act, if any. If this Agreement becomes effective or terminates before the end of any month, the fee for the period from the effective date to the end of the month or from the beginning of such month to the date of termination, as the case may be, shall be prorated according to the proportion that such portion of the month bears to the full month in which such effectiveness or termination occurs. During the term of this Agreement, Subadviser will pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its activities under this Agreement other than costs in connection with the purchase or sale of securities and other assets (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the Fund. |
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5. | Expenses . Subadviser shall bear all expenses incurred by it and its staff with respect to all activities in connection with the performance of Subadvisers services under this Agreement, including but not limited to salaries, overhead, travel, preparation of Board materials, review of marketing materials relating to Subadviser or other information provided by Subadviser to Investment Manager and/or the Funds distributor, and marketing support. Subadviser agrees to pay to Investment Manager the cost of generating a prospectus supplement, which includes preparation, filing, printing, and distribution (including mailing) of the supplement, if the Subadviser makes any changes that require immediate disclosure in the prospectus or any required regulatory documents that may be caused by changes to its structure or ownership, to investment personnel, to investment style or management, or otherwise (Changes), and at the time of notification to the Fund or Investment Manager by the Subadviser of such Changes, the Fund is not generating a supplement for other purposes or the Fund or the Investment Manager does not wish to add such Changes to a pending supplement. In the event two or more subadvisers, if applicable, each require a supplement simultaneously, the expense (other than the costs of printing and mailing) of a combined supplement will be shared pro rata with such other subadviser(s) based upon the number of pages required by each such subadviser, and each such subadviser shall pay its pro rata share of printing and mailing costs and expenses based upon the number of supplements required to be printed and mailed. All other expenses not specifically assumed by Subadviser hereunder or by Investment Manager under the Advisory Agreement are borne by the applicable Fund. |
In the event that there is a proposed change in control of Subadviser that would act to terminate this Agreement, if a vote of shareholders to approve continuation of this Agreement is at that time deemed by counsel to the Fund to be required by the 1940 Act or any rule or regulation thereunder, Subadviser agrees to assume all reasonable costs associated with soliciting shareholders of the appropriate Fund(s), to approve continuation of this Agreement. Such expenses include the reasonable costs of preparation, filing and mailing of a proxy statement, and of soliciting proxies.
In the event that such proposed change in control of Subadviser shall occur and the Fund is operating under an exemptive order issued by the SEC to Investment Manager with respect to the appointment of subadvisers absent shareholder approval, Subadviser agrees to assume all reasonable costs and expenses (including the costs of preparation, mailing and filing) associated with the preparation of an information statement, required by the exemptive order containing all information that would be included in a proxy statement.
6. | Representations of Subadviser . Subadviser represents and warrants as follows: |
(a) |
Subadviser (i) is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and will continue to be so registered for so long as this Agreement remains in effect; (ii) is not an affiliated person of the Investment Manager or of the Fund within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act (other than by virtue of serving as a Subadviser to the Fund); (iii) is not prohibited by the 1940 Act or the Advisers |
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Act from performing the services contemplated by this Agreement; (iv) has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer under Rule 206(4)-7 of the Advisers Act; (v) has adopted written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to prevent violations of the Advisers Act from occurring, detect violations that have occurred, correct promptly any violations that have occurred, and will provide prompt notice of any material violations relating to the Fund to Investment Manager; (vi) has met and will seek to continue to meet for so long as this Agreement remains in effect, any other applicable federal or state requirements, or the applicable requirements of any regulatory or industry self-regulatory agency necessary to be met in order to perform the services contemplated by this Agreement; (vii) has the authority to enter into and perform the services contemplated by this Agreement; and (viii) will promptly notify Investment Manager (1) in the event that Subadviser becomes an affiliated person of the Investment Manager or of the Fund within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act; (2) of the occurrence of any event that would disqualify Subadviser from serving as an investment adviser of an investment company pursuant to Section 9(a) of the 1940 Act, (3) in the event the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) or other governmental authority has: censured Subadviser; placed limitations upon the activities, functions or operations of Subadviser; or has commenced proceedings or an investigation that may result in any of these actions, (4) upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the Fund has ceased to qualify or might not qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code and (5) of any material fact known to Subadviser respecting or relating to Subadviser that is not contained in the Prospectus, and is required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or of any statement relating to Subadviser contained therein that becomes untrue in any material respect. |
(b) | Subadviser has adopted a written code of ethics complying with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and will provide Investment Manager with a copy of the code of ethics. Within 60 days of the end of the last calendar quarter of each year that this Agreement is in effect, a duly authorized officer of Subadviser shall certify to Investment Manager that there has been no material violation of Subadvisers code of ethics or, if such a violation has occurred, that appropriate action was taken in response to such violation. To the extent Subadviser has approved any material changes to its code of ethics, such revised code together with an explanation of such amendments shall be promptly (but in no event later than 60 days) provided to Investment Manager. |
(c) | Subadviser has provided Investment Manager with a copy of a document intended to address the disclosures specified in Form ADV Part 2A, and promptly will furnish a copy of any amendments to such document to Investment Manager (at least annually). Investment Manager acknowledges that, under Rule 204-3 under the Advisers Act, as amended, to the extent Subadvisers only clients are registered investment companies, Subadviser is not required to file a Form ADV, Part 2A, with the SEC. |
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(d) | Subadviser will promptly notify Investment Manager of any changes in the controlling shareholder, in the key personnel who are either the portfolio manager(s) responsible for the Fund or the Chief Executive Officer of Subadviser, or if there is otherwise an actual change in control or management of Subadviser. |
7. | Representations of Investment Manager . Investment Manager represents and warrants as follows: |
(a) | Investment Manager (i) is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and will continue to be so registered for so long as this Agreement remains in effect; (ii) is not prohibited by the 1940 Act or the Advisers Act from performing the services contemplated by this Agreement; (iii) has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer under Rule 206(4)-7 of the Advisers Act; (iv) has adopted written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to prevent violations of the Advisers Act from occurring, detect violations that have occurred, correct promptly any violations that have occurred, and will provide prompt notice of any material violations relating to the Fund to the Subadviser; (v) has met and will seek to continue to meet for so long as this Agreement remains in effect, any other applicable federal or state requirements, or the applicable requirements of any regulatory or industry self-regulatory agency necessary to be met in order to perform the services contemplated by this Agreement; (vi) has the authority to enter into and perform the services contemplated by this Agreement; and (vii) will promptly notify Subadviser (1) of the occurrence of any event that would disqualify Investment Manager from serving as an investment adviser of an investment company pursuant to Section 9(a) of the 1940 Act or otherwise, (2) in the event the SEC or other governmental authority has: censured Investment Manager; placed limitations upon its activities, functions or operations; or has commenced proceedings or an investigation that may result in any of these actions or (3) upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the Fund has ceased to qualify or might not qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code. |
(b) | Investment Manager agrees that neither it nor any of its affiliates will in any way refer directly or indirectly to its relationship with Subadviser, or any of its affiliates in offering, marketing, or other promotional materials without the prior written consent of Subadviser; provided that Investment Manager shall not be required to obtain Subadvisers prior written consent to make factual statements regarding the fact that Subadviser serves as subadviser to the Fund, in responding to requests for information, in required disclosures or in responding to regulatory inquiries. |
(c) | The Fund is and will continue to be the owner of all assets for which Investment Manager delegates investment discretion to Subadviser from time to time, and there are and will continue to be no restrictions on the pledge, hypothecation, transfer, sale or public distribution of such assets. |
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(d) | Investment Manager is establishing and will be maintaining the Funds account with Subadviser solely for the purpose of investing the relevant assets and not with a view to obtaining information regarding portfolio holdings or investment decisions in order to effect securities transactions based upon such information or to provide such information to another party, and that Investment Manager and its employees, officers and directors shall not use account holdings information for any of the foregoing purposes. |
(e) | The Board has approved the appointment of Subadviser pursuant to this Agreement. |
8. | Liability and Indemnification . |
(a) |
Except as may otherwise be provided by the 1940 Act or any other federal securities law, Subadviser, any of its affiliates and any of the officers, partners, employees, consultants, or agents thereof shall not be liable for any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or litigation (including legal and other expenses) incurred or suffered by the Fund, Investment Manager, or any affiliated persons thereof (within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act) or controlling persons thereof (as described in Section 15 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 1933 Act) ) (collectively, Fund and Investment Manager Indemnitees) as a result of any error of judgment or mistake of law by Subadviser with respect to the Fund, except that nothing in this Agreement shall operate or purport to operate in any way to exculpate, waive, or limit the liability of Subadviser for, and Subadviser shall indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and Investment Manager Indemnitees against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses) to which any of the Fund and Investment Manager Indemnitees may become subject under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, or under any other statute, at common law, or otherwise arising out of or based on (i) any willful misconduct, bad faith, reckless disregard, or negligence of Subadviser in the performance of any of its duties or obligations hereunder; (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact regarding Subadviser contained in the Prospectus and SAI, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Fund or the omission to state therein a material fact regarding Subadviser known to Subadviser which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon written information furnished to Investment Manager or the Fund by Subadviser Indemnitees (as defined below) for use therein; provided, however, that Subadviser has had a reasonable opportunity to review information regarding Subadviser contained in the Prospectus and SAI, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature or other materials pertaining to the Fund as set forth in section 11; or (iii) any violation of federal or state statutes or regulations by Subadviser. It is further understood and agreed that Subadviser may rely upon information furnished to it by Investment Manager that it reasonably believes to be accurate and reliable. Subadviser shall be liable for any loss incurred by the |
Fund, the Investment Manager or their respective affiliates to the extent such losses arise out of any act or omission directly attributable to Subadviser which results, directly or indirectly, in an error in the net asset value of the Fund. The federal securities laws impose liabilities in certain circumstances on persons who act in good faith, and therefore nothing herein shall in any way constitute a waiver or limitation of any rights which Investment Manager may have under any securities laws. Neither Subadviser nor any Subadviser Indemnitees (as defined below) shall be liable for any loss or damage arising or resulting from the acts or omissions of the custodian of the Fund, any broker, financial institution or any other third party with or through whom Subadviser arranges or enters into a transaction in respect of the Fund, except to the extent that Subadviser or its affiliate instructed such broker, financial institution or third party to take such action or omission. Investment Manager understands and acknowledges that Subadviser does not warrant that the portion of the assets of the Fund managed by Subadviser will achieve any particular rate of return or that its performance will match any benchmark index or other standard or objective. |
(b) | Except as may otherwise be provided by the 1940 Act or any other federal securities law, Investment Manager and the Fund shall not be liable for any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or litigation (including legal and other expenses) incurred or suffered by Subadviser or any of its affiliated persons thereof (within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act) or controlling persons (as described in Section 15 of the 1933 Act) (collectively, Subadviser Indemnitees) as a result of any error of judgment or mistake of law by Investment Manager with respect to the Fund, except that nothing in this Agreement shall operate or purport to operate in any way to exculpate, waive, or limit the liability of Investment Manager for, and Investment Manager shall indemnify and hold harmless Subadviser Indemnitees against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses) to which any of Subadviser Indemnitees may become subject under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, or under any other statute, at common law, or otherwise arising out of or based on (i) any willful misconduct, bad faith, reckless disregard, or negligence of Investment Manager in the performance of any of its duties or obligations hereunder; (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus and SAI, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Fund or the omission to state therein a material fact known to Investment Manager which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, unless such statement or omission concerned Subadviser and was made in reliance upon written information furnished to Investment Manager or the Fund by a Subadviser Indemnitee for use therein, or (iii) any violation of federal or state statutes or regulations by Investment Manager or the Fund. |
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(c) | After receipt by Investment Manager or Subadviser, its affiliates, or any officer, director, employee, or agent of any of the foregoing, entitled to indemnification as stated in (a) or (b) above (Indemnified Party) of notice of the commencement of any action, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any person obligated to provide indemnification under this section (Indemnifying Party), such Indemnified Party shall notify the Indemnifying Party in writing of the commencement thereof as soon as practicable after the summons or other first written notification giving information of the nature of the claim that has been served upon the Indemnified Party; provided that the failure to so notify the Indemnifying Party will not relieve the Indemnifying Party from any liability under this section, except to the extent that the omission results in damages to the Indemnifying Party caused solely as a result of the failure to give such notice. The Indemnifying Party, upon the request of the Indemnified Party, shall retain counsel satisfactory to the Indemnified Party to represent the Indemnified Party in the proceeding, and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party unless (1) the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel, or (2) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party and representation by both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Party agrees to indemnify the Indemnified Party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. |
9. | Duration and Termination . |
(a) | Unless sooner terminated as provided herein, this Agreement shall continue for two years from the date written above. Thereafter, if not terminated, this Agreement shall continue automatically for successive periods of 12 months each, provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (i) by a vote of a majority of the Board members who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any such party, and (ii) by the Board or by a vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund. |
(b) |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the Board or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund on 60 days written notice to Subadviser. This Agreement may also be terminated, without the payment of any penalty, by Investment Manager (i) upon 60 days written notice to Subadviser; (ii) upon material breach by Subadviser of any representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement, if such breach has not been cured within 20 days after written notice of such breach; or (iii) immediately if, in the reasonable judgment of Investment Manager, Subadviser becomes |
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unable to discharge its duties and obligations under this Agreement, including circumstances such as the insolvency of Subadviser or other circumstances that could adversely affect the Fund. Subadviser may terminate this Agreement at any time, without payment of any penalty, (1) upon 60 days written notice to Investment Manager; or (2) upon material breach by Investment Manager of any representations and warranties set forth in the Agreement, if such breach has not been cured within 20 days after written notice of such breach. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act) or upon the termination of the Advisory Agreement. |
(c) | In the event of termination of the Agreement, those paragraphs of the Agreement which govern conduct of the parties future interactions with respect to Subadviser having provided investment management services to the Fund(s) for the duration of the Agreement, including, but not limited to, paragraphs 1(a)(iv)(a), 1(c), 1(d), 1(e), 1(f), 8(a), 8(b), 8(c), 15, 17, 18, 20 and 21 shall survive such termination of the Agreement. |
10. | Subadvisers Services Are Not Exclusive . Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right of Subadviser or any of its partners, officers, or employees to engage in any other business or to devote his or her time and attention in part to the management or other aspects of any business, whether of a similar or a dissimilar nature, or limit or restrict Subadvisers right to engage in any other business or to render services of any kind to any other mutual fund, corporation, firm, individual, or association or other entity. Subadviser acts as adviser to other clients and may, subject to compliance with its fiduciary obligations, give advice, and take action, with respect to any of those which may differ from the advice given, or the timing or nature of action taken, with respect to the Fund. Subject to its fiduciary obligation to the Fund, Subadviser shall have no obligation to purchase or sell for the Fund, or to recommend for purchase or sale by the Fund, any security which Subadviser, its principals, affiliates or employees may purchase or sell for themselves or for any other clients. |
11. | References to Subadviser . Subadviser hereby grants to Investment Manager during the term of this Agreement, the right to use Subadvisers name as required for public filings and marketing materials in accordance with the terms described herein. Investment Manager agrees to furnish to Subadviser at its principal office all prospectuses, SAIs, proxy statements, reports to shareholders, sales literature, or other material prepared for distribution to sales personnel, shareholders of the Fund or the public, that refer to Subadviser prior to the use thereof, and not to use such material if Subadviser reasonably objects in writing five (5) business days (or such other time as may be mutually agreed upon) after receipt thereof. Such materials may be furnished to Subadviser hereunder by first-class or overnight mail, electronic or facsimile transmission, or hand delivery. |
12. | Notices . Any notice, statement, consent or approval required or permitted to be given in connection with this Agreement (Notice) shall be in writing and shall be sufficiently given if delivered (whether in person, by post, by courier service or other personal method of delivery), or if transmitted by facsimile or other electronic means of communication: |
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In the case of Subadviser:
Jenny Muller
Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P.
One Financial Center
23rd Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02111
Tel: (617) 428-7184
Fax: (617) 428-7190
with a copy to:
Kathryn Kearney
Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P.
One Financial Center
23rd Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02111
Tel: (617) 428-7149
Fax: (617) 428-7190
In the case of Investment Manager:
Paul Mikelson
Vice President, Subadvised Strategies
Columbia Threadneedle Investments
707 2 nd Ave. S, Routing: H17 435
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Tel: (612) 671-4452
Fax: (612) 671-0618
with a copy to:
Christopher O. Petersen
Vice President and Lead Chief Counsel
Ameriprise Financial, Inc.
5228 Ameriprise Financial Center, Routing: 27/5228
Minneapolis, MN 55474
Tel: (612) 671-4321
Fax: (612) 671-2680
Any Notice delivered or transmitted to a party as provided above shall be deemed to have been given and received on the day it is delivered or transmitted, provided that it is delivered or transmitted on any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or statutory holiday in
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the jurisdiction where the Notice is received (Business Day) prior to 5:00 p.m. local time in the place of delivery or receipt. However, if the Notice is delivered or transmitted after 5:00 p.m. local time or if such day is not a Business Day then the Notice shall be deemed to have been given and received on the next Business Day.
Any party may, from time to time, change its address by giving Notice to the other party in accordance with the provisions of this section.
13. | Amendments . This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent, subject to approval by the Board and the Funds shareholders to the extent required by the 1940 Act. |
14. | Assignment . No assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act, as amended) of this Agreement shall be made by Investment Manager or Subadviser without the prior written consent of the Fund, and, if required by law, the Funds shareholders, and Investment Manager or Subadviser (as applicable). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no assignment shall be deemed to result from any changes in the directors, officers, or employees of Investment Manager or Subadviser except as may be provided to the contrary in the 1940 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. |
15. | Governing Law . This Agreement, and, in the event of termination of the Agreement, those paragraphs that survive such termination of the Agreement under paragraph 9(c), shall be governed by the laws of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, without giving effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof, or any applicable provisions of the 1940 Act. To the extent that the laws of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, or any of the provision of this Agreement, conflict with applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the latter shall control. The Investment Manager and Subadviser hereby consent to the jurisdiction of a state of federal court situated in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in connection with any dispute arising hereunder. Any action or dispute between the Investment Manager and the Subadviser arising out of this Agreement shall be brought exclusively in the state of federal courts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Investment Manager and Subadviser hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which either party may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that such proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. |
16. | Entire Agreement . This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding among the parties hereto, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. |
17. | Severability . Should any part of this Agreement be held invalid by a court decision, statute, rule, or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby. This Agreement and, in the event of termination of the Agreement, those paragraphs that survive such termination of the Agreement under paragraph 9(c), shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors. |
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18. | Interpretation . Any questions of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from a term or provision of the 1940 Act shall be resolved by reference to such term or provision in the 1940 Act and to interpretation thereof, if any, by the federal courts or, in the absence of any controlling decision of any such court, by rules, regulations, or orders of the SEC validly issued pursuant to the 1940 Act. Where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is altered by a rule, regulation, or order of the SEC, whether of special or general application, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation, or order. |
19. | Headings . The headings in this Agreement are intended solely as a convenience and are not intended to modify any other provision herein. |
20. | Authorization . Each of the parties represents and warrants that the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action by such party and when so executed and delivered, this Agreement will be the valid and binding obligation of such party in accordance with its terms. |
21. | No Third-Party Beneficiaries . The Fund is intended to be a third party beneficiary of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, and without in any way implying that there are any other third-party beneficiaries to the Agreement or any other agreement with respect to the Trust or any of its series, no person other than the Investment Manager and the Subadviser is a party to this Agreement or shall be entitled to any right or benefit arising under or in respect of this Agreement (with the exception of the Fund), and there are no other third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement is intended to, or shall be read to, (i) create in any other person (including without limitation any shareholder of any Fund) any direct, indirect, derivative, or other rights against the Investment Manager or Subadviser, or (ii) create or give rise to any duty or obligation on the part of the Investment Manager or Subadviser (including without limitation any fiduciary duty) to any person other than the Fund, all of which rights, benefits, duties, and obligations are hereby expressly excluded. |
16 | Page
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first above written.
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC | Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P. | |||||||
By: |
/s/ David Weiss |
By: |
/s/ Kathryn Kearney |
|||||
Signature | Signature | |||||||
Name: |
David Weiss |
Name: |
Kathryn Kearney |
|||||
Printed | Printed | |||||||
Title: |
Assistant Secretary |
Title: |
CFO/CCO |
17 | Page
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
SCHEDULE A
[REDACTED DATA]
18 | Page
Shareholder Services Agreement CFVST II
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES AGREEMENT
This agreement (the Agreement) is made as of July 1, 2017, by and between Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II (the Trust) acting on behalf of its series all as listed on Schedule A hereto (as the same may from time to time be amended to add or delete one or more series of the Trust) (each series of the Trust being hereinafter referred to as a Fund), and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., a Minnesota corporation (CMISC) and amends and restates the Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent Agreement dated March 1, 2016 (the Previous Agreement), by and between the Trust on behalf of each Fund and CMISC.
WHEREAS, the Trust is a registered investment company;
WHEREAS, shares of each Fund may be offered to separate accounts funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies (Contracts) issued by participating insurance companies (Participating Insurance Companies) as well as qualified pension and retirement plans (Qualified Plans) and other qualified institutional investors;
WHEREAS, CMISC and/or its affiliates have entered into agreements (Service Agreements) with Participating Insurance Companies, Qualified Plans or their sponsors and other authorized investors (together, Participating Organizations) providing for the provision of certain services with respect to the Contracts, Qualified Plans or other owners of Fund shares; and
WHEREAS, the Trust and CMISC wish to amend and restate the Previous Agreement to better reflect the nature of the arrangement between the Trust and CMISC, including the payments from the Trust or CMISC to Participating Organizations as a service fee;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants set forth herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Appointment . The Trust hereby appoints CMISC to act as transfer and servicing agent and dividend disbursing agent for the Funds, and CMISC accepts such appointments and will perform the respective duties and functions of such appointments in the manner hereinafter set forth.
2. Compensation . The Trust shall pay to CMISC, or to such person(s) as CMISC may from time to time instruct, such compensation (a Service Fee) as may from time to time be approved by the Board of Trustees/Directors (the Board) of the Trust, all or a portion of which will be paid to Participating Organizations. Schedule B hereto sets forth the compensation arrangements to be effective as of the date of this Agreement, and the treatment of all interest earned with respect to balances in the accounts maintained by CMISC referred to in paragraphs 5, 8, and 9 of this Agreement, net of any charges imposed by the bank(s) at which CMISC maintains such accounts.
3. Copies of Documents . The Trust will furnish CMISC with copies of the following documents: the Declaration of Trust of the Trust and all amendments thereto; and the Trusts registration statement (the Registration Statement) as in effect on the date hereof under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and all amendments or supplements thereto hereafter filed. The prospectus(es) and statement(s) of additional information contained in each such Registration Statement, as from time to time amended and supplemented, together are herein collectively referred to as the Prospectus.
4. Lost or Destroyed Certificates . In case of the alleged loss or destruction of any shareholder certificate, no new certificate shall be issued in lieu thereof. CMISC shall cancel such lost or destroyed certificate, and, provided that the purported holder of such lost or destroyed certificate furnishes to CMISC an affidavit of loss of the shares represented by such lost or destroyed certificate in a form satisfactory to CMISC, supported by an appropriate bond satisfactory to CMISC and the Trust and issued by a surety company satisfactory to CMISC, CMISC shall reflect the ownership by such holder of the shares represented by such lost or destroyed certificate in its book entry system.
5. Receipt of Funds for Investment . CMISC will maintain one or more accounts with its cash management bank into which it will deposit funds payable to CMISC as agent for, or otherwise identified as being for the account of, each Fund, and will promptly thereafter deposit such funds in the Funds account with its custodian (the Custodian) and notify the Fund of such deposits in writing (which may be in electronic format).
6. Shareholder Accounts . Upon receipt of any funds referred to in paragraph 5 hereof, CMISC will compute the number of shares purchased by the shareholder according to the net asset value of Fund shares next determined after such receipt; and
(a) in the case of a new shareholder, open and maintain an open account for such shareholder in the name or names set forth in the subscription application form; and
(b) send to the shareholder a confirmation indicating the amount of full and fractional shares purchased (in the case of fractional shares, rounded to three decimal places) and the price per share;
all subject to any reasonable instructions which the Funds principal underwriter (the Distributor) or the Trust may give to CMISC with respect to rejection of orders for shares and in accordance with the Prospectus.
7. Unpaid Checks . In the event that any check or other order for payment of money on the account of any shareholder or new investor is returned for any reason, CMISC will take such steps, including imposition of a reasonable processing or handling fee on such shareholder or investor, as CMISC may, in CMISCs discretion, deem appropriate, or as the Trust or the Distributor may instruct CMISC.
8. Dividends and Distributions . The Trust will promptly notify CMISC of the declaration of any dividend or distribution with respect to shares of Funds of the Trust, the amount of such dividend or distribution, the date each such dividend or distribution shall be paid, and the record date for determination of shareholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution. As dividend disbursing agent, CMISC will, on or before the payment date of any such dividend or distribution, notify the Custodian of the estimated amount of cash required to pay such dividend or distribution, and the Trust agrees that on or before the mailing date of such
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dividend or distribution it will instruct the Custodian to make available to CMISC sufficient funds therefor in a dividend and distribution account maintained by CMISC with the Custodian. As dividend disbursing agent, CMISC will prepare and distribute to shareholders any funds to which they are entitled by reason of any dividend or distribution and, in the case of shareholders entitled to receive additional shares by reason of any such dividend or distribution, CMISC will make or cause to be recorded appropriate credits to their accounts and prepare and mail to shareholders a confirmation statement. CMISC will replace lost or stolen checks issued to a shareholder upon receipt of proper notification and will maintain any stop payment order against the lost or stolen checks, subject to the imposition of a reasonable processing or handling fee on such shareholder, as CMISC may, in CMISCs discretion, deem appropriate, or as the Trust or the Distributor may instruct CMISC.
9. Repurchase and Redemptions . CMISC will receive and stamp with the date of receipt all requests delivered to CMISC for repurchase or redemption of shares and CMISC will process such repurchases as agent for the Distributor and such redemptions as agent for the Trust as follows, all in accordance with the terms and procedures set forth in the Funds Prospectus:
(a) If such request complies with standards for repurchase or redemption approved from time to time by the Trust, CMISC will, on or prior to the seventh calendar day succeeding the receipt of any such request for repurchase or redemption in good order, pay to the shareholder from funds deposited by the Trust from time to time in a repurchase and redemption account maintained by CMISC with its cash management bank, the appropriate repurchase or redemption price, as the case may be, as set forth in the Prospectus;
(b) If such request does not comply with said standards for repurchase or redemption as approved by the Trust, CMISC will promptly notify the shareholder of such fact, together with the reason therefor, and shall effect such repurchase or redemption at the price in effect at the time of receipt of documents complying with said standards, or, in the case of a repurchase, at such other time as the Distributor, as agent for the Trust, shall so direct; and
(c) CMISC shall notify the Trust and the Distributor as soon as practicable on each business day of the total number of Fund shares covered by requests for repurchase or redemption that were received by CMISC in proper form on the previous business day, such notification to be confirmed in writing.
10. Exchanges and Transfers . Upon receipt by CMISC of a request to exchange Fund shares held in a shareholders account for shares of another Fund, CMISC will verify that the exchange request is made by authorized means and that the requested exchange is in accordance with the Trusts applicable policies and will process a redemption and corresponding purchase of shares in accordance with the Trusts redemption and purchase policies and in accordance with the redemption and purchase provisions of this Agreement. Upon receipt by CMISC of a request to transfer Fund shares accompanied by such endorsements, instruments of assignment or evidence of succession as CMISC may require and further accompanied by payment of any applicable transfer taxes, and satisfaction of any conditions contained in the Trusts Declaration of Trust, By-Laws, and Prospectus, CMISC will record the transfer of ownership of such shares in the appropriate records and will process the transfer in accordance with the Trusts transfer policies and will open an account for the transferee, if a new shareholder, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
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11. Tax Forms and Reports . CMISC will prepare, file with the Internal Revenue Service and with any other foreign, federal, state or local governmental agency which may require such filing, and, if required, mail to shareholders such forms and reports for reporting dividends and distributions paid by the Funds as are required to be so prepared, filed and mailed by applicable laws, rules and regulations, and CMISC will withhold from distributions to shareholders such sums as are required to be withheld under applicable foreign, federal and state income tax laws, rules and regulations.
12. Record Keeping . CMISC will maintain records, which at all times will be the property of the Trust and available for inspection by the Trust and Distributor, showing for each shareholders account the following:
(a) Name, address and United States taxpayer identification or Social Security number, if provided (or amounts withheld with respect to dividends and distributions on shares if a taxpayer identification or Social Security number if not provided);
(b) Number of shares held and number of shares for which certificates have been issued;
(c) Historical information regarding the account of each shareholder, including dividends and distributions paid, if any, and the date and price for all transactions on a shareholders account;
(d) Any stop or restraining order placed against a shareholders account;
(e) Information with respect to withholdings of taxes on dividends paid to foreign accounts; and
(f) Any instruction as to record address, and any correspondence or instructions or privileges (such as a telephone exchange privilege), relating to the maintenance of a shareholders account.
In addition, CMISC will keep and maintain on behalf of the Trust all records which the Trust or CMISC is required to keep and maintain pursuant to any applicable statute, rule or regulation, including without limitation, Rules 17Ad-6 and 17Ad-7 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Rule 31(a)-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, relating to the maintenance of records in connection with the services to be provided hereunder.
13. Other Information Furnished . CMISC will furnish to the Trust and the Distributor or to third parties at their direction, such as the Trusts Blue Sky service provider, such other information, including shareholder lists and statistical information as may be agreed upon from time to time between CMISC and the Trust. CMISC shall notify the Trust of any request or demand to inspect the share records books of the Trust and will act upon the instructions of the Trust as to permitting or refusing such inspection. CMISC will also provide reports pertaining to the services provided under this Agreement as the Trust or its Board may reasonably request.
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14. Shareholder Inquiries . CMISC will respond promptly to written correspondence from shareholders, registered representatives of broker-dealers engaged in selling Fund shares, the Trust and the Distributor relating to its duties hereunder, and such other correspondence or communications as may from time to time be mutually agreed upon between CMISC and the Trust. CMISC also will respond promptly to telephone inquiries from shareholders with respect to existing accounts.
15. Communications to Shareholders and Meetings . CMISC will determine all shareholders entitled to receive, and will address and mail, all communications by the Trust to its shareholders, including annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders, proxy material for meetings of shareholders, dividend notifications, and other periodic communications to shareholders. CMISC will receive, examine and tabulate returned and completed proxy cards for meetings of shareholders and certify the vote to the Trust.
16. Other Services . If and as requested by the Trust (and as mutually agreed upon by the parties as to any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses), CMISC shall provide any additional related services, including but not limited to services pertaining to escheatments, abandoned property, garnishment orders, bankruptcy and divorce proceedings, Internal Revenue Service or state tax authority tax levies and summonses, and U.S. Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control and all matters relating to the foregoing.
17. Investor Services by Participating Organizations . CMISC will enter into Service Agreements with Participating Organizations pursuant to which the Participating Organizations will provide shareholder services (Investor Services) to their clients, customers and participants investing directly or indirectly in the Funds (together, Contract/Plan Owners). CMISC will implement a program for overseeing the provision of Investor Services by the Participating Organizations and the service fees payable to such Participating Organizations under their Service Agreements, and will report to the Board on such Investor Services at least annually. The service fee paid by CMISC to Participating Organizations is intended to compensate Participating Organizations for providing Investor Services to Contract/Plan Owners pursuant to applicable Service Agreements. The Investor Services provided by Participating Organizations may include, but are not limited to:
(a) Processing purchases, redemptions, exchanges and transfers of units representing interests in Fund shares (units), and other permissible legal actions with respect to units, in a timely fashion in accordance with the terms of the governing instruments of the Contract or Qualified Plan or similar instruments;
(b) Disbursing or crediting to Contract/Plan Owners all proceeds of redemptions of units and all dividends and other distributions not reinvested in Fund shares;
(c) Maintaining Contract/Plan Owner accounts;
(d) Mailing regulatory documents including proxies, prospectuses and annual reports to Contract/Plan Owners;
(e) Returning and completing proxy cards for meetings of shareholders in a manner consistent with applicable law;
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(f) Confirming Fund share transactions;
(g) Providing an appropriate level of oversight of applicable rules and regulations affecting the units; and
(h) Responding to correspondence, telephone inquiries or other communications from Contract/Plan Owners with respect to investments in a Fund.
18. Insurance . CMISC will maintain adequate insurance coverage with respect to the services provided under this Agreement, and will not allow such insurance coverage to lapse, without the prior written consent of the Trust.
19. Service Levels . CMISC agrees to report to the Board of the Trust on the nature and quality of the services it provides to the Funds under this Agreement, as may be requested by the Board from time to time.
20. Duty of Care and Indemnification . CMISC will at all times use reasonable care and act in good faith in performing its duties hereunder. CMISC will not be liable or responsible for delays or errors by reason of circumstances beyond its control, including without limitation, acts of civil or military authority, national or state emergencies, labor difficulties, fire, mechanical breakdown, flood or catastrophe, acts of God, insurrection, war, riots or failure of transportation, communication or power supply, so long as CMISC maintains comprehensive business continuity plans and procedures pursuant to paragraph 27 hereof.
CMISC may rely on certifications of the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Trust as to proceedings or facts in connection with any action taken by the shareholders or the Board of the Trust, and upon instructions not inconsistent with this Agreement from the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Trust. CMISC may seek from counsel for the Trust, at the Trusts expense, or its own counsel advice whenever it deems it appropriate. With respect to any action reasonably taken on the basis of such certifications or instructions or in accordance with the advice of counsel for the Trust, the Trust will indemnify and hold harmless CMISC from any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses), provided that such certifications or instructions are not provided by an employee of CMISC or any affiliate of CMISC.
The Trust will indemnify CMISC against and hold CMISC harmless from any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) arising out of or in connection with any material breach by the Trust of any provision of this Agreement provided that such claim, demand, action or suit is not the result of CMISCs bad faith or negligence.
In any case in which the Trust may be asked to indemnify or hold harmless CMISC, CMISC shall advise the Trust of all pertinent facts concerning the situation giving rise to the claim or potential claim for indemnification, and CMISC shall use reasonable care to identify and notify the Trust promptly concerning any situation which presents or appears likely to present a claim for indemnification.
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21. Employees . CMISC is responsible for the employment, control and conduct of its agents and employees and for injury or harm to such agents or employees or to others caused by such agents or employees. CMISC assumes full responsibility for its agents and employees under applicable statutes and agrees to pay all employer taxes thereunder.
22. AML/CIP . CMISC agrees to use its best efforts to provide anti-money laundering services to the Trust and to operate the Trusts customer identification program, in each case in accordance with the written procedures developed by CMISC and adopted or approved by the Board of the Trust and with applicable law and regulation. CMISC further agrees to cooperate with any request from examiners or other personnel of U.S. Government agencies having jurisdiction over the Trust for information and records relating to the anti-money laundering procedures or services and consents to inspection by such examiners or other personnel for this purpose.
23. Termination . This Agreement shall continue indefinitely until terminated by not less than sixty (60) days written notice given by the Trust to CMISC or by six (6) months written notice given by CMISC to the Trust. Upon termination hereof, the Trust shall pay such compensation as may be due to CMISC as of the date of such termination.
24. Successors . In the event that in connection with termination of this Agreement a successor to any of CMISCs duties or responsibilities hereunder is designated by the Trust by written notice to CMISC, CMISC shall promptly, at the expense of the Trust, transfer to such successor a certified list of the shareholders of the Funds (with name, address and taxpayer identification or Social Security number), the historical record of the account of each shareholder and the status thereof, and all other relevant books, records, correspondence and other data established or maintained by CMISC under this Agreement in a form reasonably acceptable to the Trust (if such form differs from the form in which CMISC has maintained the same, the Trust shall pay any expenses associated with transferring the same to such form), and will cooperate in the transfer of such duties and responsibilities, including provision for assistance from CMISCs personnel in the establishment of books, records and other data by such successor. CMISC shall be entitled to reasonable compensation and reimbursement of its out-of-pocket expenses in respect of assistance provided in accordance with the preceding sentence, unless such termination resulted from a material breach of this Agreement by CMISC or was caused by CMISC. Also, in the event of the termination of this Agreement, to the extent permitted by the agreements or licenses described below, CMISC shall, if requested by the officers on behalf of the Board of the Trust, use reasonable efforts to assign to the Trust, or its designee, such portion of its rights under any existing agreements to which it is a party and pursuant to which it has a right to have access to data processing capability in connection with the services contemplated by this Agreement and under any licenses to use third-party software in connection with the services contemplated by this Agreement and under any licenses to use third-party software in connection therewith as is applicable to the Trust, and in connection with such assignment shall grant to the assignee an irrevocable right and license or sublicenses, on a non-exclusive basis, to use any software used in connection therewith and, on an exclusive basis, any proprietary rights or interest which it has under such agreements or licenses.
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25. Use of Affiliated Companies and Subcontractors . In connection with the services to be provided directly by CMISC under this Agreement, CMISC may, to the extent it deems appropriate, and subject to compliance with the requirements of applicable laws and regulations and upon receipt of approval of the Board of the Trust, make use of (i) its affiliated companies and their directors, trustees, officers and employees and (ii) subcontractors selected by it, with the understanding that there shall be no diminution in the quality or level of services provided to the Trust, and provided that CMISC shall supervise and remain fully responsible for the services of all such third parties in accordance with and to the extent provided in this Agreement. All costs and expenses associated with services provided by any such third parties shall be borne by CMISC or such parties, except to the extent specifically provided otherwise in this Agreement. The preceding portion of this Section 25 applies to services CMISC has agreed to provide directly under this Agreement; CMISC is authorized to enter into Service Agreements with Participating Organizations, pursuant to which Participating Agreements will provide Investor Services to Contract/Plan Owners.
26. Confidentiality . CMISC agrees on behalf of itself and its employees to treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Trust all records and other information relative to the Trust and its prior, present or potential shareholders and not to use such records and information for any purpose other than performance of its responsibilities and duties under this Agreement, except after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld where CMISC may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to comply, when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities or when so requested by the Trust. Furthermore, CMISC will implement procedures reasonably designed to safeguard information in accordance with the Funds privacy policy as adopted by the Board and with applicable laws and regulations.
27. Compliance . CMISC agrees to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations, codes, orders, self-regulatory organization guidelines or regulations, and government rules in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. CMISC agrees to provide the Trust with such certifications, reports and other information, and reasonable access to appropriate personnel and facilities, as the Trust may reasonably request from time to time to assist it in complying with, and monitoring for compliance with, applicable laws, rules and regulations. CMISC will implement, test and maintain comprehensive business continuity plans and procedures as appropriate to provide uninterrupted services to the Trust pursuant to this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement, CMISC will perform all services covered by the Agreement in a manner so as to conform with the procedures and arrangements described in the Funds Prospectus.
28. Market Timing . CMISC will assist other service providers of the Trust as necessary in the implementation of the Trusts market timing policy adopted by the Board, as set forth in the Funds Prospectus. Furthermore, to the extent applicable, CMISC will carry out its obligations set forth in the Funds Compliance Program concerning the implementation and administration of policies and procedures relating to Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act.
29. No Third-Party Beneficiaries . For the avoidance of doubt, and without in any way indicating or implying that there are any third-party beneficiaries to the Agreement or any other agreement to which the Trust or any series thereof is a party, no person other than the Trust and CMISC shall be deemed to be a party to this Agreement or shall be entitled to any right or
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benefit arising under or in respect of this Agreement; there are no third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement is intended to, or shall be read to, (i) create in any person other than the Trust and CMISC (including without limitation any shareholder of any Fund) any direct, indirect, derivative, or other rights against the Trust or CMISC, or (ii) create or give rise to any duty or obligation on the part of CMISC or the Trust (including without limitation any fiduciary or other duty) to any person.
30. Miscellaneous . This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Trust and CMISC hereby consent to the jurisdiction of a state of federal court situated in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in connection with any dispute arising hereunder. Any action or dispute between the Trust and CMISC arising out of this Agreement shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Trust and CMISC hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which any such party may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that such proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or limit any of the provisions of this Agreement or otherwise affect their construction or effect. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written document signed by both parties hereto. All provisions regarding indemnification, liability, and limits thereon, and confidentiality shall survive the termination of this Agreement. This Agreement, including the attached Schedules, sets forth the entire understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and incorporates, merges and supersedes any and all prior understandings and communications, whether written or oral, with respect to such subject matter.
A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and CMISC acknowledges that this Agreement is executed on behalf of the Trust by an officer thereof in his or her capacity as an officer thereof and not individually, and that the obligations of or arising out of this Agreement are not binding upon any of the trustees, officers, employees, agents or shareholders of the Trust individually, but are binding solely upon the assets and property of the Trust. CMISC further acknowledges that the assets and liabilities of each Fund that is a series of Trust are separate and distinct and that the obligations of or arising out of this Agreement with respect to each Fund that is a series of the Trust are binding solely upon the assets or property of such Fund. CMISC also agrees that obligations of or arising out of this Agreement with respect to each Fund that is a series of the Trust shall be several and not joint, in accordance with its proportionate interest hereunder, and agrees not to proceed (by way of claim, set-off or otherwise) against any Fund for the obligations of another Fund.
[ The remainder of this page intentionally left blank .]
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Service Agreement - CFVST II
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused the forgoing Agreement to be duly executed as of July 1, 2017.
COLUMBIA FUNDS VARIABLE SERIES TRUST II, on behalf of their respective series listed on Schedule A |
||
By: |
/s/ Christopher O. Petersen |
|
Name: Christopher O. Petersen | ||
Title: President | ||
COLUMBIA MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT SERVICES CORP. | ||
By: |
/s/ Lyn Kephart-Strong |
|
Name: Lyn Kephart-Strong | ||
Title: President |
Schedule TA Agreement CFVST II
SCHEDULE A
As of July 1, 2017
Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II
Columbia Variable Portfolio Balanced Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio Commodity Strategy Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio Core Equity Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio Disciplined Core Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio Dividend Opportunity Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio Emerging Markets Bond Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio Emerging Markets Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio Global Bond Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio Government Money Market Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio High Yield Bond Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio Income Opportunities Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio Intermediate Bond Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio Large Cap Growth Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio Large Cap Index Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio Limited Duration Credit Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio Mid Cap Growth Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio Mid Cap Value Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio Select International Equity Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio Select Large-Cap Value Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio Seligman Global Technology Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio U.S. Equities Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio U.S. Government Mortgage Fund
Variable Portfolio Aggressive Portfolio
Variable Portfolio American Century Diversified Bond Fund
Variable Portfolio BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund
Variable Portfolio CenterSquare Real Estate Fund
Variable Portfolio Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund
Variable Portfolio Conservative Portfolio
Variable Portfolio DFA International Value Fund
Variable Portfolio Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund
Variable Portfolio Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund
Variable Portfolio Loomis Sayles Growth Fund
Variable Portfolio Los Angeles Capital Large Cap Growth Fund
Variable Portfolio MFS ® Blended Research ® Core Equity Fund
Variable Portfolio MFS ® Value Fund
Variable Portfolio Moderate Portfolio
Variable Portfolio Moderately Aggressive Portfolio
Variable Portfolio Moderately Conservative Portfolio
Variable Portfolio Morgan Stanley Advantage Fund
Variable Portfolio Oppenheimer International Growth Fund
Variable Portfolio Partners Core Bond Fund
Variable Portfolio Partners Small Cap Growth Fund
Variable Portfolio Partners Small Cap Value Fund
Variable Portfolio Pyramis International Equity Fund
Variable Portfolio T.Rowe Price Large Cap Value Fund
Variable Portfolio TCW Core Plus Bond Fund
Variable Portfolio Victory Sycamore Established Value Fund
Variable Portfolio Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund
Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent Agreement
SCHEDULE B
Payments under the Agreement to CMISC shall be made in the first two weeks of the month following the month in which a service is rendered or an expense incurred.
Each Fund will pay a Service Fee equal to the payments made by CMISC to Participating Organizations for services each such Participating Organization provides to its clients, customers and participants investing directly or indirectly in the Funds at an annualized rate of up to 0.20% of the average daily net assets of Fund assets attributable to or held in the name of such Participating Organization.
In addition, CMISC shall be entitled to retain as additional compensation for its services all CMISC revenues for fees for wire, telephone, and redemption orders, account transcripts due CMISC from shareholders of the Fund and interest (net of bank charges) earned with respect to balances in the accounts referred to in paragraph 2 of the Agreement.
All determinations hereunder shall be in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and subject to audit by the Funds independent accountants.
Except as expressly provided in the Agreement, CMISC shall not be entitled to reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses. The Funds will promptly reimburse CMISC for any other unscheduled expenses incurred by CMISC whenever the Funds and CMISC mutually agree that such expenses are not otherwise properly borne by CMISC as part of its duties under the Agreement.
IN WITNESS THEREOF, the parties hereto have executed the foregoing Schedule A and Schedule B as of July 1, 2017.
COLUMBIA FUNDS VARIABLE SERIES TRUST II
on behalf of its series listed on Schedule A
By: |
/s/ Christopher O. Petersen |
|
Name: Christopher O. Petersen | ||
Title: President |
COLUMBIA MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT SERVICES CORP.
By: |
/s/ Lyn Kephart-Strong |
|
Name: Lyn Kephart-Strong | ||
Title: President |
18f-3 Plan - CFVST II
AMENDED AND RESTATED
RULE 18f-3 MULTI-CLASS PLAN
I. | Introduction. |
Pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), this Rule 18f-3 Multi-Class Plan (Plan) sets forth the methods for allocating fees and expenses among the classes of shares (Shares) in the investment portfolios (the Funds) of Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II (the Trust). Among other things, this Plan identifies expenses that may be allocated to a particular class of Shares to the extent that they are actually incurred in a different amount by the class or relate to a different kind or degree of services provided to the class. In addition, this Plan sets forth the maximum distribution fees, maximum shareholder servicing fees, maximum shareholder administration fees, conversion features, exchange privileges, other shareholder services and transfer agency fees, if any, applicable or allocated to each class of Shares of the Trust.
The Trust is an open-end series investment company registered under the 1940 Act, the Shares of which are registered on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933. The Trust offers multiple classes of Shares in its Funds pursuant to the provisions of Rule 18f-3 and this Plan.
Each Fund and the classes of Shares representing interests in the Fund it issues are set forth in Schedule A hereto. Schedule A shall be updated by officers of the Trust from time to time as necessary to reflect the current classes and Funds offered by the Trust.
II. | Allocation of Expenses. |
1. Except as otherwise set forth herein or as may from time to time be specifically approved by board of trustees of the Registrant (the Trustees), all expenses of each Fund shall be allocated proportionately among the classes of such Fund pro rata based on the relative net assets of each class. Pursuant to Rule 18f-3, the Trust shall allocate to each class of Shares in a Fund any fees and expenses incurred by the Trust in connection with the distribution and/or the provision of shareholder services to holders of such class of Shares under any distribution plan, shareholder servicing plan and/or plan administration agreement (a Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Plan).
2. In addition, pursuant to Rule 18f-3, the Trust may allocate to a particular class of Shares the following fees and expenses, if any, but only to the extent they relate to (as defined below) the particular class of Shares:
(i) | transfer agency fees and expenses identified by the Registrants transfer agent or officers as being fees and expenses that relate to such class of Shares; |
(ii) | printing and postage expenses of preparing and distributing materials such as shareholder reports, prospectuses, reports and proxies to current shareholders of such class of Shares or to regulatory agencies that relate to such class of Shares; |
(iii) | blue sky registration or qualification fees that relate to such class of Shares; |
(iv) | Securities and Exchange Commission registration fees that relate to such class of Shares; |
(v) | expenses of administrative personnel and services (including, but not limited to, those of a portfolio accountant, custodian or dividend paying agent charged with calculating net asset values and determining or paying distributions) as required to support the shareholders of such class of Shares; |
(vi) | litigation or other legal expenses that relate to such class of Shares; |
(vii) | fees of the Trustees of the Trust incurred as a result of issues that relate to such class of Shares; |
(viii) | independent accountants fees that relate to such class of Shares; and |
(ix) | any other fees and expenses that relate to such class of Shares. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust may not allocate advisory or custodial fees or other expenses related to the management of a Funds assets to a particular class, except that the Trust may cause a class to pay a different advisory fee to the extent that any difference in amount paid is the result of the application of the same performance fee provisions, if any, in the advisory contract of the Fund to the different investment performance of each class.
3. For all purposes under this Plan, fees and expenses that relate to a class of Shares are those fees and expenses that are actually incurred in a different amount by the class or that relate to a different kind or degree of services provided to the class. The officers of the Trust shall have the authority to determine, to the extent permitted by applicable law or regulation and/or U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission guidance, whether any or all of the fees and expenses described in paragraph 2 above should be allocated to a particular class of Shares. The Treasurer, any Deputy or Assistant Treasurer, or another appropriate officer of the Trust shall periodically or as frequently as requested by the Board report to independent Trustees regarding any such allocations.
4. For all purposes under this Plan, Daily Dividend Fund means any Fund that has a policy of declaring distributions of net investment income daily, including any money market fund that determines net asset value using the amortized cost method permitted by Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act.
5. Income and any expenses of Daily Dividend Funds that are not allocated to a particular class of any such Fund pursuant to this Plan shall be allocated to each class of the Fund on the basis of the net assets of that class in relation to the net assets of the Fund, excluding the value of subscriptions receivable (the Settled Shares Method).
Realized and unrealized capital gains and losses of Daily Dividend Funds that are not allocated to a particular class of any such Fund pursuant to this Plan shall be allocated to each class of the Fund on the basis of the net assets of that class in relation to the net assets of the Fund (the Relative Net Assets Method).
6. Income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, and any expenses of Funds that are not Daily Dividend Funds that are not allocated to a particular class of any such Fund pursuant to this Plan shall be allocated to each class of the Fund on the Relative Net Assets Method.
7. Pursuant to the shareholder service agreement, each Share class is subject to service fee up to fee set forth in the agreement. There is no transfer agency service fees for Columbia Variable Portfolio Core Equity Fund.
8. Pursuant to the shareholder service agreement, each Share class is subject to service fee up to fee set forth in the agreement.
9. In certain cases, a Fund service provider may waive or reimburse all or a portion of the expenses of a specific class of Shares of the Fund. The applicable service provider shall report to the Board of Trustees regarding any such waivers or reimbursements, including why they are consistent with the fair and equitable treatment of shareholders of all classes.
III. | Class Arrangements. |
The following summarizes the maximum initial sales charges, contingent deferred sales charges, maximum distribution fees, maximum shareholder servicing fees, maximum plan administration and/or shareholder administration fees, if any, conversion features, exchange privileges and other shareholder service fees, if any, applicable or allocated to each class of Shares of the Trust. Additional details regarding such fees and services are set forth in the relevant Funds (or Funds) current prospectus(es) and statement of additional information.
1. Class 1 Shares
A. | Maximum Initial Sales Charge : None |
B. | Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge : None |
C. | Maximum Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Fees : None |
D. | Conversion Features/Exchange Privileges : Class 1 Shares of a Fund shall have such conversion features and exchange privileges, if any, as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund. |
E. | Other Shareholder Services : Class 1 Shares of a Fund shall have such arrangements for shareholder services as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund. |
2. Class 2 Shares
A. | Initial Sales Charge : None |
B. | Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge : None |
C. | Maximum Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Fees : Class 2 Shares may pay distribution and service fees pursuant to a Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Plan as described in the prospectuses as from time to time in effect. Such distribution fees may be in amounts up to 0.25% per annum of the average daily net assets attributable to such class. |
D. | Conversion Features/Exchange Privileges : Class 2 Shares of a Fund shall have such conversion features and exchange privileges, if any, as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund. |
E. | Other Shareholder Services : Class 2 Shares of a Fund shall have such arrangements for shareholder services as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund. |
3. Class 3 Shares
A. | Initial Sales Charge : None |
B. | Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge : None |
C. | Maximum Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Fees : Pursuant to a Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Plan, Class 3 Shares of each Fund may pay distribution fees of up to 0.125% of the average daily net assets of such Shares. |
D. | Conversion Features/Exchange Privileges : Class 3 Shares of a Fund shall have such conversion features and exchange privileges, if any, as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund. |
E. | Other Shareholder Services : Class 3 Shares of a Fund shall have such arrangements for shareholder services as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund. |
4. Class 4 Shares
A. | Initial Sales Charge : None |
B. | Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge : None |
C. | Maximum Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Fees : Pursuant to a Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Plan, Class 4 Shares of each Fund may pay distribution fees of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of such Shares. |
D. | Conversion Features/Exchange Privileges : Class 4 Shares of a Fund shall have such conversion features and exchange privileges, if any, as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund. |
E. | Other Shareholder Services : Class 4 Shares of a Fund shall have such arrangements for shareholder services as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund. |
IV. | Board Review. |
The Board of Trustees of the Trust shall review this Plan, including the application of the Relative Net Assets Method and the Settled Shares Method to the Funds, as frequently as it deems necessary. Prior to any material amendment(s) to this Plan, the Board of Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust, shall find that the Plan, as proposed to be amended (including any proposed amendments to the method of allocating class and/or Fund expenses), is in the best interests of each class of Shares of the Fund individually and the Fund as a whole. In considering whether to approve any proposed amendment(s) to the Plan, the Board of Trustees of the Trust shall request and evaluate such information as they consider reasonably necessary to evaluate the proposed amendment(s) to the Plan.
Adopted: | September 7, 2010 | |
Amended and Restated: | April 17, 2013 | |
Amended and Restated | April 11, 2014 | |
Amended and Restated | May 1, 2015 | |
Amended and Restated | May 1, 2016 | |
Amended and Restated | May 1, 2017 | |
Amended and Restated | July 1, 2017 |
Schedule A
Effective July 1, 2017
Funds and Authorized Classes of Shares
The Funds are authorized to issue those classes of Shares representing interests in the Funds as indicated in the following table:
F UNDS WITH C LASSES 1, 2, 3 AND 4
Funds |
Classes | |||||||||||||||
Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 3 | Class 4 | |||||||||||||
Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II |
||||||||||||||||
Columbia Variable Portfolio Balanced Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 3 | | ||||||||||||
Columbia Variable Portfolio Government Money Market Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 3 | | ||||||||||||
Columbia Variable Portfolio Commodity Strategy Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | | | ||||||||||||
Columbia Variable Portfolio Disciplined Core Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 3 | | ||||||||||||
Columbia Variable Portfolio Dividend Opportunity Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 3 | | ||||||||||||
Columbia Variable Portfolio Emerging Markets Bond Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | | | ||||||||||||
Columbia Variable Portfolio Emerging Markets Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 3 | | ||||||||||||
Columbia Variable Portfolio Global Bond Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 3 | | ||||||||||||
Columbia Variable Portfolio High Yield Bond Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 3 | | ||||||||||||
Columbia Variable Portfolio Income Opportunities Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 3 | | ||||||||||||
Columbia Variable Portfolio Intermediate Bond Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 3 | | ||||||||||||
Columbia Variable Portfolio Large Cap Growth Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 3 | | ||||||||||||
Columbia Variable Portfolio Large Cap Index Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 3 | | ||||||||||||
Columbia Variable Portfolio Limited Duration Credit Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | | | ||||||||||||
Columbia Variable Portfolio Mid Cap Growth Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 3 | | ||||||||||||
Columbia Variable Portfolio Mid Cap Value Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 3 | | ||||||||||||
Columbia Variable Portfolio Select International Opportunity Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 3 | | ||||||||||||
Columbia Variable Portfolio Select Large-Cap Value Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 3 | | ||||||||||||
Columbia Variable Portfolio Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 3 | | ||||||||||||
Columbia Variable Portfolio Seligman Global Technology Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | | | ||||||||||||
Columbia Variable Portfolio U.S. Equities Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | | | ||||||||||||
Columbia Variable Portfolio U.S. Government Mortgage Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 3 | | ||||||||||||
Variable Portfolio Aggressive Portfolio |
| Class 2 | | Class 4 | ||||||||||||
Variable Portfolio American Century Diversified Bond Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | | |
A-1
Funds |
Classes | |||||||||||||||
Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 3 | Class 4 | |||||||||||||
Variable Portfolio BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 3 | | ||||||||||||
Variable Portfolio Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | | | ||||||||||||
Variable Portfolio Conservative Portfolio |
| Class 2 | | Class 4 | ||||||||||||
Variable Portfolio CenterSquare Real Estate Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | | |||||||||||||
Variable Portfolio DFA International Value Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | | | ||||||||||||
Variable Portfolio Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | | | ||||||||||||
Variable Portfolio Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | | | ||||||||||||
Variable Portfolio Loomis Sayles Growth Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | | | ||||||||||||
Variable Portfolio Los Angeles Capital Large Cap Growth Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | | | ||||||||||||
Variable Portfolio MFS ® Value Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | | | ||||||||||||
Variable Portfolio MFS ® Blended Research ® Core Equity Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 3 | | ||||||||||||
Variable Portfolio Moderate Portfolio |
| Class 2 | | Class 4 | ||||||||||||
Variable Portfolio Moderately Aggressive Portfolio |
| Class 2 | | Class 4 | ||||||||||||
Variable Portfolio Moderately Conservative Portfolio |
| Class 2 | | Class 4 | ||||||||||||
Variable Portfolio Morgan Stanley Advantage Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | | | ||||||||||||
Variable Portfolio Oppenheimer International Growth Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | | |||||||||||||
Variable Portfolio Partners Core Bond Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | | |||||||||||||
Variable Portfolio Partners Small Cap Growth Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | | | ||||||||||||
Variable Portfolio Partners Small Cap Value Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 3 | | ||||||||||||
Variable Portfolio Pyramis International Equity Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | | | ||||||||||||
Variable Portfolio TCW Core Plus Bond Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | | | ||||||||||||
Variable Portfolio T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | | | ||||||||||||
Variable Portfolio Victory Sycamore Establish Value Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 3 | | ||||||||||||
Variable Portfolio Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund |
Class 1 | Class 2 | | |
CODE OF ETHICS
Applicable to:
Eaton Vance Corp. Eaton
Vance Management
Boston Management and Research
Eaton Vance Investment Counsel
Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd. Eaton
Vance Management (International) Limited Eaton
Vance Advisers (Ireland) Limited
Eaton Vance Australia Pty. Ltd. Eaton
Vance Management Canada Ltd.
Eaton Vance Management International (Asia) Pte. Ltd.
Eaton Vance Trust Company
Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc.
(each of the foregoing entities,
an Eaton Vance Entity
and collectively the Eaton Vance Entities)
and
Eaton Vance Funds
Eaton Vance Unit Investment Trusts
Effective: September 1, 2000
(as revised February 8, 2017)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents 1
Overview
Part I. | Standards of Business Conduct | |
Part II. | Policy on Personal Securities Transactions | |
General Provisions | ||
Appendix 1. | Procedures for Policy on Personal Securities Transactions | |
Appendix 2. | Eaton Vance Funds Policies and Procedures in Prevention of Insider Trading | |
Appendix 3. | Eaton Vance Policies and Procedures in Prevention of Insider Trading |
1 | The policies and procedures attached to this Code of Ethics as Appendices provide additional guidance on certain topics addressed in the Code but are not a part of the Code. |
2
OVERVIEW 2
Applicability
Eaton Vance Personnel. You are subject to this Code of Ethics if you are an employee, officer, director, consultant or intern of any Eaton Vance Entity.
Eaton Vance Funds 3 Managed or Distributed by an Eaton Vance Entity. You are subject to this Code of Ethics if you are an access person (as defined in Part II below) of a Fund (as defined in Part II below) for which an Eaton Vance Entity provides day-to-day investment management or acts as principal distributor.
Eaton Vance Funds Managed by Advisers and Sub-Advisers Other Than Eaton Vance Entities. If you are an access person (as defined in Part II below) of a Fund (as defined in Part II below) and employed by an adviser or sub-adviser that provides the Fund with day-to-day investment management and that is not an Eaton Vance Entity (unaffiliated adviser), you are not subject to this Code provided that:
| you are subject to a code of ethics adopted by the unaffiliated adviser that the Funds Chief Compliance Officer has determined meets all the requirements of and complies with Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (Rule 17j-1), and Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended; and |
| the Fund Board has approved the unaffiliated advisers code of ethics pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 17j-1. |
Material exceptions to any such unaffiliated advisers Code as applied to a Fund access person are required to be reported to the Fund Chief Compliance Officer promptly.
Independent Trustees of Eaton Vance Funds. Independent Fund Trustees (as defined in Part II) are access persons of the Funds. If you are an Independent Fund Trustee, you are subject to the OverviewGoverning Principles and General Provisions sections of the Code and your obligations under the Policy on Personal Securities Transactions section of the Code are set forth in Part II, Section D.
Governing Principles
Independent Trustees of Eaton Vance Funds. If you are subject to this Code as an access person of the Fund, you have a duty at all times to place the interests of the Fund first. You are required to conduct all your personal securities transactions consistent with the letter and spirit of this Code and in such a manner as to avoid any actual or potential conflicts of interest or any abuse of your position of trust and responsibility with respect to the Funds. You are expected not only to follow the specific rules, but also the spirit of the Code.
2 | Capitalized terms used in this Overview have the meanings assigned to them in Part II of the Code. |
3 | For the ease of reference, the Board of Trustees or Board of Directors of an Eaton Vance Fund is referred to collectively herein as the Board of Trustees and Trustees and Directors are referred to collectively herein as Trustees. |
3
In that connection, you may not engage in any activities which directly or indirectly:
| defrauds a Fund; |
| misleads a Fund, including statements that omit material facts; |
| operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit on a Fund; |
| functions as a manipulative practice with respect to a Fund; or |
| functions as a manipulative practice with respect to a security. |
Eaton Vance Personnel and Eaton Vance Funds Managed or Distributed by an Eaton Vance Entity. If you are subject to this Code as an employee, officer, director, consultant or intern of any Eaton Vance Entity you have the same duties outlined above with respect to the Fund as well as to all other Clients (as defined in part II below).
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PART I
STANDARDS OF BUSINESS CONDUCT
If you are subject to this Code:
You are expected to comply with the following standards of business conduct:
| you must comply with all applicable laws and regulations including the federal securities laws; |
| you must comply with the fiduciary obligations outlined below; and |
| you must comply with this Code of Ethics. |
You have a duty to promptly report any violation or apparent violation of the Code of Ethics to the Chief Compliance Officer. This duty exists whether the violation or apparent violation is yours or that of another person subject to this Code. Retaliation against individuals who report violations or apparent violations of the Code in good faith is not permitted. Violators of the Code are subject to sanctions.
Nothing in this Code restricts or prohibits you from initiating communications directly with, responding to any inquiries from, providing testimony before, providing confidential information to, reporting possible violations of law or regulation to, or from filing a claim or assisting with an investigation directly with a self-regulatory authority or a government agency or entity, including without limitation, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. Commodities Futures Trading Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the U.S. Congress, any other federal, state or local governmental agency or commission, and any agency Inspector General (collectively, the Regulators), or from making other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of federal, state or local law or regulation. This Code does not limit your right to receive an award from any Regulator that provides awards for information relating to a potential violation of law. You do not need prior authorization to engage in conduct protected by this paragraph, and do not need to notify the Chief Compliance Officer that you have engaged in such conduct. You recognize and agree that, in connection with any such activity outlined above, you must inform the Regulators, your attorney, a court or a government official that the information you are providing is confidential. Despite the foregoing, you are not permitted to reveal to any third-party, including any governmental, law enforcement, or regulatory authority, information you came to learn during the course of your employment that is protected from disclosure by any applicable privilege, including but not limited to the attorney-client privilege and/or attorney work product doctrine. The Eaton Vance Entities, the Eaton Vance Funds and the Eaton Vance Unit Investment Trusts do not waive any applicable privileges or the right to continue to protect privileged attorney-client information, attorney work product, and other privileged information.
5
Please take notice that federal law provides criminal and civil immunity from federal and state claims for trade secret misappropriation to individuals who disclose a trade secret to their attorney, a court, or a government official in certain, confidential circumstances that are set forth at 18 U.S.C. §§ 1833(b)(1) and 1833(b)(2), related to the reporting or investigation of a suspected violation of the law, or in connection with a lawsuit for retaliation for reporting a suspected violation of the law.
Fiduciary Obligations
You have a duty to act in utmost good faith with respect to each Client (as defined in Part II below), and to provide full and fair disclosure of all material facts, particularly where the interests of the Company (as defined in Part II below) may be in conflict with those of a Client. The Company has a duty to deal fairly and act in the best interests of its Clients at all times. The following fiduciary principles govern your activities and the interpretation/administration of these rules:
| The interests of Clients must be placed first at all times. |
| All your personal trading transactions must be conducted consistent with the rules contained in Part I and Part II of this Code and in such a manner as to avoid any actual or potential conflict of interest or any abuse of your position of trust and responsibility. |
| You should never use your position with the Company, or information acquired during your employment, in your personal trading in a manner that may create a conflict or the appearance of a conflict between your personal interests and the interest of the Company or its Clients. If such a conflict or potential conflict arises, you must report it immediately to the Chief Compliance Officer. |
In connection with providing investment management services to Clients, this includes prohibiting any activity which directly or indirectly:
| defrauds a Client in any manner; |
| misleads a Client, including any statement that omits material facts; |
| operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit on a Client; |
| functions as a manipulative practice with respect to a Client; and |
| functions as a manipulative practice with respect to securities. |
These rules do not identify all possible conflicts of interest, and literal compliance with each of the specific provisions of Part I and Part II of the Code of Ethics will not shield you from liability for personal trading or other conduct that is designed to circumvent its restrictions or violates a fiduciary duty to Clients.
Additional Standards of Business Conduct
If you are an employee, officer, director, consultant or intern of any Eaton Vance Entity listed on the cover page of this Code of Ethics, you are also subject to the Eaton Vance Corp. Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. Any violation of the Eaton Vance Corp. Code of Business Conduct and Ethics may also be deemed a violation of this Code of Ethics.
6
PART II
POLICY ON
PERSONAL SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS
DEFINITIONS
Company refers to each Fund and EV UIT (as defined below), and each of Eaton Vance Corp. (EVC) , Eaton Vance Management (EVM) , Boston Management and Research (BMR) , Eaton Vance Investment Counsel (EVIC) , Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd. (EVAL) , Eaton Vance Management (International) Limited (EVMI) , Eaton Vance Advisers (Ireland) Limited (EVAI) , Eaton Vance Australia Pty. Ltd. ( EV Australia), Eaton Vance Management Canada Ltd. (EVMC) , Eaton Vance Management International (Asia) Pte. Ltd. (EVMIA) , Eaton Vance Trust Company (EVTC) and Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. (EVD) .
Eaton Vance Entity means any of EVC, EVM, BMR, EVIC, EVAL, EVMI, EVAI, EV Australia, EVMC, EVMIA, EVTC and EVD; and together they are the Eaton Vance Entities.
Fund is each Fund that is an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 in the Eaton Vance Fund complex. The Funds in the Eaton Vance Fund complex are either open-end funds, including open-end exchange traded managed funds (referred to as NextShares), or closed-end funds. EV UITs (as defined below) are not Funds in the Eaton Vance Fund complex.
Sub-advised Fund is each investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 for which EVM or BMR acts as the investment sub-adviser.
EV UIT is each investment company registered as a unit investment trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940 that is sponsored by EVD.
Client is (1) any person or entity, including a Fund or a Sub-advised Fund, for which an Eaton Vance Entity provides investment advisory services and (2) any EV UIT.
Access Person is each of the following:
(1) | a director, trustee, or officer of (i) a Fund to whom this Code is applicable as described in the Overview above, (ii) an EV UIT, (iii) EVM, (iv) BMR, (v) EVAL, (vi) EVMI or (v) EVIC; |
(2) | an employee, consultant, or intern of (i) a Fund to whom this Code is applicable as described in the Overview above, (iii) an EV UIT, or (iii) any Eaton Vance Entity who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes, participates in, obtains or has access to nonpublic information regarding the purchase or sale of Securities by a Client, or whose functions relate to the making of any recommendations with respect to the purchases or sales (including a portfolio manager, |
7
investment counselor, investment analyst 4 , member of a trading department, most administrative personnel in EVIC and each investment department, and certain members of the investment operations department, separately managed account operations department, information technology department, legal department and fund administration department) or who, in connection with his or her regular functions has access to nonpublic information regarding such recommendations (including certain members of the fund administration department and information technology department);
(3) | an employee, consultant, or intern of (i) a Fund to whom this Code is applicable as described in the Overview above or (ii) any of EVC, EVM, BMR, EVIC, EVAL or EVMI who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, has access to nonpublic information regarding portfolio holdings of a Fund or Sub-advised Fund (including a portfolio manager, investment analyst, member of a trading department, most administrative personnel in each investment department, and certain members of the investment operations department, separately managed account operations department, information technology department, brand marketing department, media relations department, legal department and fund administration department); |
(4) | a natural person in a Control relationship to (i) a Fund to whom this Code is applicable as described in the Overview above, (ii) an EV UIT or (iii) of EVC, EVM, BMR, EVIC, EVAL or EVMI who obtains nonpublic information concerning recommendations made to the Client with regard to the purchase or sale of Securities by the Client; |
(5) | a Reporting Person; and |
(6) | a director, officer or employee of EVD who is not a Reporting Person but who, in the ordinary course of business, makes, participates in, obtains or, in EVDs judgment, is able to obtain nonpublic information regarding, the purchase or sale of Securities by a Fund or an EV UIT, or whose functions or duties in the ordinary course of business relate to the making of any recommendation to a Fund or EV UIT regarding the purchase or sale of Securities. |
Investment Professional is each of the following:
(1) | an employee of (i) a Fund to whom this Code is applicable as described in the Overview above, (ii) an EV UIT, (iii) a Sub-advised Fund or (iii) any of Eaton Vance Entity 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 the Client (including a portfolio manager, an investment counselor, and an investment analyst); and |
(2) | a natural person who Controls (i) a Fund to whom this Code is applicable as described in the Overview above, (iii) an EV UIT or (iii) any of EVM, BMR, EVMI or EVAL and who obtains information concerning recommendations made to the Client with regard to the purchase or sale of Securities by the Client. |
4 | As used in this Policy on Personal Securities Transactions, the term investment analyst includes any person that performs financial and/or quantitative analysis of securities that results in a recommendation to a portfolio manager or investment counselor regarding an investment in such securities. |
8
Every Investment Professional is also an Access Person.
Reporting Person is each employee of EVD or EVM who is a registered representative or registered principal of EVD.
Independent Fund Trustee is a trustee or director of a Fund who is not an interested person of the Fund (as determined under the Investment Company Act of 1940).
Immediate Family of any person includes his or her spouse, children, and relatives living in his or her principal residence.
Designated Broker is any one of the following broker-dealer firms:
1. | Charles Schwab; |
2. | E*Trade; |
3. | Fidelity; |
4. | Folio Investing; |
5. | Merrill Lynch; |
6. | Interactive Brokers |
7. | Morgan Stanley Smith Barney; |
8. | TD Ameritrade; |
9. | UBS; |
10. | Wells Fargo; |
11. | Hargreaves Lansdown (for international Access Persons only); or |
12. | Killik & Co. (for international Access Persons only). |
Securities means anything that is considered a security under the Investment Company Act of 1940, including most kinds of investment instruments, including:
1. | stocks and bonds; |
2. | shares of exchange traded funds (commonly referred to as ETFs); |
3. | shares of closed-end investment companies, including shares of Eaton Vance closed-end Funds; |
4. | options on securities, on indexes and on currencies; |
5. | investments in all kinds of limited partnerships; |
6. | investments in unit investment trusts, including EV UITs; |
7. | investments in private investment funds, hedge funds, private equity funds, venture capital funds and investment clubs; |
8. | units or shares of U.K.-authorized unit trusts (commonly referred to as AUTs) and open-ended investment companies (commonly referred to as OEICs) that are governed by the U.K Financial Services and Market Act 2000 and subject to regulation by the Financial Services Authority (or any successor); and |
9. | investments in other non-U.S. unit trusts and non-U.S. mutual funds. |
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The term Securities does not include:
a. | direct obligations of the U.S. Government; |
b. | bankers acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt obligations, including repurchase agreements; |
c. | shares of open-end investment companies that are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (mutual funds and exchange-traded managed funds), other than shares of Funds or Sub-advised Funds; and |
d. | premium bonds, indexed-linked savings certificates, fixed income savings certificates, guaranteed equity bonds, capital bonds, childrens bonus bonds, fixed rate savings bonds, income bonds and pensioners guaranteed income bonds issued and sold directly to the public through the National Savings and Investments agency of the United Kingdoms Chancellor of the Exchequer. |
Shares of Funds and Sub-advised Funds that are not money market funds are Securities for the purposes of this Policy.
Initial Public Offering means an offering of securities registered under the Securities Act of 1933, the issuer of which, immediately before the registration, was not subject to the reporting requirements of sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. As used in this Policy, the term Initial Public Offering shall also mean a one time offering of stock to the public by the issuer of such stock which is not an initial public offering.
Limited Offering means an offering that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to section 4(2) or section 4(5) or pursuant to rule 504, rule 505 or rule 506 under the Securities Act of 1933. A Limited Offering thus includes an offering commonly referred to as a private placement, as well as a non-public offering in limited amounts available only to certain investors. A Limited Offering includes any offer to you to purchase any Securities, whether stock, debt securities, or partnership interests, from any entity, unless those Securities are registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (that is, are publicly offered/publicly traded Securities).
Large Cap Issuer is an issuer of Securities with an equity market capitalization of more than $3 billion.
Beneficial Interest with respect to Securities or a Securities account generally means an interest where you or a member of your Immediate Family, directly or indirectly, (i) have investment discretion or the ability (including joint ability or discretion) to purchase or sell Securities or direct the disposition of Securities; (ii) have voting power over Securities, or the right to direct the voting of Securities; or (iii) have a direct or indirect financial interest in Securities (or other benefit substantially equivalent to ownership of Securities). For purposes of this Policy, beneficial ownership shall be interpreted in the same manner as it would be under Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for purposes of reporting beneficial ownership under Section 16 of the 1934 Act, as amended.
Control means with respect to (1) an entity, the power to exercise a controlling influence over the management or policies of the entity, unless such power is solely the result of an official position with such entity, (2) an account, having investment discretion over the account and (3) an issuer (including a Fund, a Sub-advised Fund or an EV UIT), a Beneficial Interest in more than 25% of the voting securities of the issuer.
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Chief Legal Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, Treasurer, Compliance Manager, Senior Compliance Administrator, Compliance Attorney, Investment Compliance Officer and Treasury Manager mean the persons identified as such in the Procedures. Questions or comments regarding the Code may be emailed to codeofethics@eatonvance.com .
Procedures means the Procedures for Policy on Personal Securities Transactions attached to this Code as Appendix 1.
A. Applicability of the Policy
1. Who is Covered. One or more parts of this Policy apply to Company officers, employees, consultants and interns. Certain parts apply only to Access Persons, Independent Fund Trustees, Investment Professionals, or Reporting Persons. The Company will notify you if you are in one of these categories.
This Policy covers not only your personal Securities transactions, but also those of your Immediate Family (your spouse, children, and relatives living in your principal residence).
2. What Accounts are Covered. Unless the Compliance Manager or Compliance Attorney determines otherwise based on your specific facts and circumstances, this Policy applies to Securities holdings and transactions: (i) in all accounts in which you or members of your Immediate Family have a direct or indirect Beneficial Interest; and/or (ii) in all accounts that are directly or indirectly under your Control or the Control of a member of your Immediate Family. 5
Accounts that are normally covered by this Policy include accounts that are:
(1) | in your name; |
(2) | in the name of a member of your Immediate Family; |
(3) | of a partnership in which you or a member of your Immediate Family have a Beneficial Interest, or are a partner with direct or indirect investment discretion; |
(4) | a trust of which you or a member of your Immediate Family are a beneficiary and/or a trustee with direct or indirect investment discretion (on a sole or joint basis); |
(5) | of a closely held corporation, limited liability company or similar legal entity in which you or a member of your Immediate Family are a Controlling shareholder and have direct or indirect investment discretion over Securities held by such entity; and |
(6) | an account or trust holding Securities where you have sole or shared investment discretion, or are otherwise deemed to Control. |
5 | Please note that any Securities accounts managed by EVIC in which an Access Person or the Immediate Family of an Access Person has a direct or indirect Beneficial Interest are subject to this Policy. Securities transactions in such accounts must be pre-cleared. |
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3. When You Must Use a Designated Broker. All Securities accounts of (a) Reporting Persons or Access Persons (other than Access Persons who are Independent Fund Trustees) must be maintained with one or more Designated Brokers, unless the account:
(1) | holds only shares of EVC Securities that are publicly traded and is held with Computershare; |
(2) | includes only shares of Funds and Sub-advised Funds and is held with such Funds transfer agent; |
(3) | includes only shares of Funds purchased through the Companys retirement plans; |
(4) | is a retirement account you established through a prior employer, or as part of a DRIP or ESOP investment program; |
(5) | includes only units or shares of an AUT or OEIC for which forward prices are available and no Eaton Vance Entity acts as investment adviser; or |
(6) | is subject to a code of ethics or similar policy applicable to a member of your Immediate Family requiring an account be held at an entity other than a Designated Broker. |
Persons who become Reporting Persons or Access Persons must initiate movement of existing accounts to one or more Designated Brokers within thirty (30) calendar days of the Company notifying them of their status as a Reporting Person or Access Person. 6
B. Rules Applicable to All Employees 7
If you are a Company officer, employee, consultant or intern, you are subject to the following rules.
1. Pre-clearance: EVC Securities. You must pre-clear all purchases, sales or other transactions involving EVC Securities that are publicly traded with the Treasurer or Treasury Manager, except that you do not have to pre-clear (1) purchases pursuant to the EVC Employee Stock Purchase Plan or to the exercise of any EVC stock option agreement, (2) bona fide gifts of such EVC Securities that you receive, or (3) automatic, non-voluntary transactions involving such EVC Securities, such as stock dividends, stock splits, or automatic dividend reinvestments, or certain non-voluntary transactions initiated by a broker, dealer or bank with respect to such EVC Securities deposited in a margin account. NOTE: The purchase or sale of publicly traded options on Eaton Vance Securities is prohibited.
6 | You may maintain an existing account you opened with a broker, dealer or bank that is not a Designated Broker if: |
(a) | (1) you were an Access Person prior to October 1, 2008 and (2) the account was established with such broker, dealer or bank prior to October 1, 2008; |
(b) | (1) you became an Access Person on October 1, 2009, (2) immediately prior to becoming an Access Person you were a Reporting Person, and (3) the account was established with such broker, dealer or bank prior to October 1, 2009; |
(c) | (1) you were an Access Person of EVAL and/or EVMI on August 3, 2015 and (2) the account was established with such broker, dealer or bank prior to August 3, 2015. |
7 Reminder: When this Policy refers to you or your transactions, it includes your Immediate Family and accounts in which you or they have a direct or indirect Beneficial Interest. See section A, Applicability of the Policy, above. The procedure for obtaining pre-clearance is explained in the Procedures.
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There are times when transactions in EVC Securities are routinely prohibited, such as prior to releases of earnings information. Normally you will be notified of these blackout periods.
2. Pre-clearance: Eaton Vance Closed-End Funds. You must pre-clear all purchases and sales of shares of Eaton Vance closed-end Funds. You may obtain a list of all of Eaton Vance closed-end Funds at http://funds.eatonvance.com/All-Closed-end-funds.php .
3. Reporting Requirements. You must ensure that the broker-dealer you use sends to the Senior Compliance Administrator copies of confirmations of all purchases and sales of EVC Securities that are publicly traded and shares of Eaton Vance closed-end Funds that you were required to pre-clear. If you are an Access Person required to file reports of personal Securities transactions, these purchases and sales must be included in your reports.
4. Prohibited Transactions. You are prohibited from purchasing or selling any security, either personally or for any Client, while you are in the possession of material, non-public information concerning the Security or its issuer. Please read Appendix 3 to the Code of Ethics, Eaton Vance Policies and Procedures in Prevention of Insider Trading.
5. Transactions in Shares of Funds and Sub-advised Funds and Units of EV UITs. You must comply with all prospectus restrictions and limitations on purchases, sales or exchanges of Fund or Sub-advised Fund shares or EV UIT units when you purchase, sell or exchange such shares or units.
C. Rules Applicable to Access Persons 8
If you are an Access Person, you are subject to the following rules, in addition to the Rules Applicable to All Employees in section B above, provided that Access Persons who are Independent Fund Trustees are only subject to the Access Person rules in section D of this Part II.
1. Pre-Clearance: All Securities . You must pre-clear all purchases and sales of Securities, except that you do not have to pre-clear:
(1) | unless you are a trader in the equity department 9 , a purchase of equity Securities of a Large Cap Issuer (with a market capitalization of more than $3 billion), if the value of such purchase, together with the value all of your purchases of equity Securities of that Large Cap Issuer in the previous six (6) calendar days, would not exceed $50,000; |
8 | Reminder : When this Policy refers to you or your transactions, it includes your Immediate Family and accounts in which you or they have a direct or indirect Beneficial Interest, and over which you or they exercise direct or indirect influence or Control. See section A, Applicability of the Policy, above and check the definition of Securities and of other capitalized terms in the Definitions section above. |
9 | Traders in the equity department must pre-clear each purchase and sale of equity Securities of a Large Cap Issuer, even if the value of such purchase or sale, together with the value all of his or her other purchases or sales, respectively, of equity Securities of that Large Cap Issuer in the previous 10 six (6) calendar days, would not exceed $50,000. |
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(2) | unless you are a trader in the equity department 10 , a sale of equity Securities of a Large Cap Issuer, if the value of such sale, together with the value all of your sales of equity Securities of that Large Cap Issuer in the previous six (6) calendar days, would not exceed $50,000; |
(3) | a purchase of investment grade, non-convertible debt Securities, if the value of such purchase, together with the value all of your purchases of investment grade, non-convertible debt Securities of the same issuer in the previous six (6) calendar days, would not exceed $50,000; |
(4) | a sale of investment grade, non-convertible debt Securities, if the value of such sale, together with the value all of your sales of investment grade, non-convertible debt Securities of the same issuer in the previous six (6) calendar days, would not exceed $50,000; |
(5) | a purchase of any put, call, straddle, option, or privilege entered into on a national securities exchange relating to foreign currency, if the value of such purchase together with the notional value of all such purchases with respect to a given currency in the previous six (6) calendar days would not exceed $50,000; |
(6) | a sale of any put, call, straddle, option, or privilege entered into on a national securities exchange relating to foreign currency, if the value of such sale together with the notional value of all such sales with respect to a given currency in the previous six (6) calendar days would not exceed $50,000; |
(7) | a purchase (including through an exchange) of Securities of a Fund or a Sub-advised Fund unless it is a closed-end Fund; |
(8) | a redemption (including through an exchange) of Securities of a Fund or a Sub-advised Fund unless it is a closed-end Fund; |
(9) | a purchase of units or shares of an AUT or OEIC, provided that the Access Person receives a forward price for such purchase of the units or shares and no Eaton Vance Entity acts as investment adviser to the AUT or OEIC; |
(10) | a redemption of units or shares of an AUT or OEIC, provided that the Access Person receives a forward price for such redemption of the units or shares and no Eaton Vance Entity acts as investment adviser to the AUT or OEIC; |
(11) | an automatic, non-voluntary transaction, such as a stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, or automatic dividend reinvestment, or the termination of a unit investment trust (including an EV UIT); or |
(12) | a transaction pursuant to a mandatory tender offer or bond call that is applicable pro rata to all stockholders or bond holders, respectively. |
10 | Traders in the equity department must pre-clear each purchase and sale of equity Securities of a Large Cap Issuer, even if the value of such purchase or sale, together with the value all of his or her other purchases or sales, respectively, of equity Securities of that Large Cap Issuer in the previous six (6) calendar days, would not exceed $50,000. |
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The exemptions from pre-clearance in clauses (1) through (6) above do not apply to trading in any Security that is placed on a restricted list pursuant to the Eaton Vance Policies and Procedures in Prevention of Insider Trading. Further, the Chief Compliance Officer may suspend your ability to rely on the exemptions from pre-clearance in clauses (1) through (10) if he or she concludes that you have engaged in excessive personal trading or that pre-clearance by you is otherwise warranted.
You are responsible for determining if an issuer is a Large Cap Issuer; you may consult an appropriate Internet website for this purpose, such as Yahoo: Finance. Remember that you must always pre-clear all transactions (i.e. purchases, sales and gifts) in EVC Securities that are publicly traded and shares of a Fund that is an Eaton Vance closed-end Fund even if EVC or the Fund, as applicable, is a Large Cap Issuer. See section B.1, Pre-Clearance: EVC Securities and section B.2, Pre-Clearance: Eaton Vance Closed-End Funds above. Investment Professionals have additional pre-clearance obligations. See section F, Additional Rules Applicable to Investment Professionals and Certain Other Persons, below.
You will not receive pre-clearance of a transaction for any Security at a time when the Chief Compliance Officer or Chief Legal Officer believes circumstances warrant prohibiting a transaction in a particular Security. This may include when there is a pending buy or sell order for the same Security for a client. Remember that the term Security is broadly defined. For example, an option on a Security is itself a Security, and the purchase, sale and exercise of the option is subject to pre-clearance. A pre-clearance approval normally is valid only during the day on which it is given. Pre-clearance procedures are set forth in the Procedures.
2. Holding Period: Eaton Vance Closed-End Funds. Pursuant to federal securities laws, trustees, directors and officers of closed-end Funds, and certain Access Persons involved in managing such Funds may not benefit from purchasing and selling, or selling and purchasing, shares of these Funds within six (6) months or each other, and must file SEC Forms 4 regarding their transactions in shares of these funds. If you are in this category, the Senior Compliance Administrator will notify you and assist you in filing these Forms, and you will not receive pre-clearance for any purchase or sale that would violate the six-month restriction. Therefore, if you are in this category, you should expect to hold the shares you purchase for at least six (6) months.
3. Prohibited and Restricted Transactions. The following transactions are either prohibited without prior approval, or are discouraged, as indicated. The procedures for obtaining approval are in the Procedures.
a. Initial Public Offering of an EV UIT . From the time that the final investment portfolio to be disclosed in the registration statement of an EV UIT (referred to as the Final Investment Portfolio) is disseminated internally to personnel of EVD (and its affiliates) by the Director of UIT Product Development or his designee in connection with the Initial Public Offering of that EV UIT (referred to as the Dissemination Date) until the first (1st) day of the Initial Public Offering period of that EV UIT, no Access Person may purchase or sell any Security in the Final Investment Portfolio in his or her personal Securities account.
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b. Initial Public Offerings . You may not purchase or otherwise acquire any Security in an Initial Public Offering. You may apply to the Chief Compliance Officer and the Investment Compliance Officer for prior written approval to purchase or acquire a Security in an Initial Public Offering, but approval will be granted only in rare cases that involve extraordinary circumstances. Accordingly, the Company discourages such applications. You might be given approval to purchase a Security in an Initial Public Offering, for example, pursuant to the exercise of rights you have as an existing bank depositor or insurance policyholder to acquire the Security in connection with the banks conversion from mutual or cooperative form to stock form, or the insurance companys conversion from mutual to stock form.
c. Limited Offerings . You may not purchase or otherwise acquire any Security in a Limited Offering, except with the prior approval from the Chief Compliance Officer and the Investment Compliance Officer. (Remember that a Limited Offering, as defined, includes virtually any Security that is not a publicly traded/listed Security.) Such approval will only be granted where you establish that there is no conflict or appearance of conflict with any Client or other possible impropriety (such as where the Security in the Limited Offering is appropriate for purchase by a Client, or when your participation in the Limited Offering is suggested by a person who has a business relationship with any Company or expects to establish such a relationship). Examples where approval might be granted, subject to the particular facts and circumstances, are a personal investment in a private fund or limited partnership in which you would have no involvement in making recommendations or decisions, or your investment in a closely held corporation or partnership started by a family member or friend.
d. Short Sales . You may not sell short any Security, except that you may (i) sell short a Security if you own at least the same amount of the Security you sell short (selling short against the box) and (ii) sell short U.S. Treasury futures and stock index futures based on the S&P 500 or other broad based stock indexes. All transactions entered into pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above are subject to pre-clearance.
e. Naked Options . You may not engage in option transactions with respect to any Security, except that (i) you may purchase a put option or sell a call option on Securities that you own and, (ii) in order to close such a transaction, you may sell a put option or purchase a call option on Securities that you own. You may not engage in the purchase or sale of publicly-traded options on shares of EVC Securities. All transactions entered into pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above are subject to pre-clearance.
f. Short-term Trading . You are strongly discouraged from engaging in excessive short-term trading of Securities. The purchase and sale, or sale and purchase, of the same or equivalent Securities within sixty (60) calendar days are generally regarded as short-term trading. Such transactions are subject to pre-clearance.
4. Prohibited Transactions:
a. Designated Issuers . If you are an Access Person who:
| has been designated as a Limited Person under the Non-Public Information and Ethical Wall Policy (the Ethical Wall Policy) with respect to a Designated Issuer (as defined in the Ethical Wall Policy); or |
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| has otherwise been permitted access to the investment portfolio records relating to a Designated Issuer pursuant to clauses (x) and (z) of section 2 of the Ethical Wall Policy, |
you may not purchase or sell any Security issued by such Designated Issuer until the ethical wall concerning such Designated Issuer has been lifted in accordance with the Ethical Wall Policy.
b. Equity Department and EVIC . If you are an Access Person in the equity department or EVIC, you may not purchase or sell any Security until the seventh (7th) calendar day after any (a) Analyst Select Portfolio purchase or sale activity regarding that Security (whether an addition, increased position, deletion, decreased position), (b) addition or deletion of such Security from the Counselors Focus Portfolio, or (c) change in the WPP of that Security on Code Red in an amount to be determined from time to time by the Chief Equity Investment Officer of EVM, 11 in each case to provide sufficient time for Client transactions in that Security before personal transactions in that Security. In addition, the Chief Compliance Officer may require other Access Persons with access to any of the Analyst Select Portfolio, Counselors Focus Portfolio, Equity Department research on Code Red or other investment department research to adhere to the restrictions in this paragraph upon written notice to such Access Person by the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee.
In addition, Access Persons that are traders in the equity department must pre-clear each purchase and sale of equity Securities of a Large Cap Issuer, even if the value of such purchase or sale, together with the value all of his or her other purchases or sales, respectively, of equity Securities of that Large Cap Issuer in the previous six (6) calendar days, would not exceed $50,000.
c. Investment Operations Department Separately Managed Accounts . If you are an Access Person in the investment operations department, you may not purchase or sell any Security from the day of any communication or notice (verbal or written) of a pending program trade until the second (2nd) business day after execution of that pending program trade by all participating separately managed accounts.
d. Investment Operations Department NextShares Basket Creation . 11 If you are an Access Person (a) in the investment operations department who, in connection with your regular functions or duties, participates in the creation of the daily basket for any NextShares or (b) in the information technology department who, in connection with your regular functions or duties, has access to the systems used in the creation of the daily basket for any NextShares, you may not purchase or sell any Security that is bought or sold by a NextShares to convert a given days (the Subject Dates) basket constituents to the desired portfolio composition until the second (2 nd ) business day following the Subject Date.
11 | The WPP is the weighted price potential of the security as determined by an analyst or other Investment Professional in the EVM or EVMI Equity Department of [February X, 2017]. The amount the WPP must change in order to trigger this restriction is 5% and is subject to change at any time without notice. |
12 | NextShares issue and redeem shares in creation units. A NextShares issues or redeems a creation unit in return for a basket of Securities, other instruments or cash that the NextShares specifies each business day. The basket is not intended to be representative of the current holdings of the Nextshares and will be converted to or from the desired portfolio composition. |
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5. Investment Clubs. You may not be a member of an investment club that trades in and owns Securities in which members have an interest. Such an investment club is regarded by this Policy as your personal account, and it is usually impracticable for you to comply with the rules of this Policy, such as pre-clearance of transactions, with respect to that investment club. If you were a member of an investment club and a Company employee on September 1, 2000, you may either (i) resign from the club by January 31, 2001 or promptly upon becoming an Access Person, and until your resignation is effective you may not influence or Control the investment decisions of the club, or (ii) you may continue as a member, but only if the club is regarded as your personal account and you (and the club) meet all of the requirements of this Policy with respect to every securities transaction by the club, including pre-clearance, prohibited and restricted transaction, and reporting requirements.
6. Reporting Requirements 12 . You are required to provide the following reports of your Security holdings and transactions to the Senior Compliance Administrator. Please refer to the Procedures for reporting procedures and forms.
a. Initial Report of Holdings . Within ten (10) calendar days after you become an Access Person, you must submit to the Senior Compliance Administrator a report of your holdings of Securities, including the title, type, exchange ticker or CUSIP number (if applicable), number of shares and principal amount of each Security held as of a date not more than forty-five (45) calendar days before you became an Access Person. Your report must also include the name of any broker, dealer or bank with whom you maintain an account for trading or holding any type of securities, whether stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or other types and the date on which you submit the report to the Senior Compliance Administrator.
b. Annual Report of Holdings . After January 1 and before January 31st of each year, you must submit to the Senior Compliance Administrator a report of your holdings of Securities, current within forty-five (45) calendar days before the report is submitted, including the title, type, exchange ticker or CUSIP number (if applicable), number of shares and principal amount of each Security held. Your report must include the name of any broker, dealer or bank with whom you maintain an account for trading or holding any type of securities, whether stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or other types and the date on which you submit the report to the Senior Compliance Administrator.
c. Quarterly Transaction Report . Within thirty (30) calendar days after the end of each calendar quarter, you must submit to the Senior Compliance Administrator a report of your transactions in Securities during that quarter, including the date of the transaction, the title, type, exchange ticker or CUSIP number (if applicable), the interest rate and maturity date (if applicable), and the number of shares and principal amount of each Security in the transaction, the nature of the transaction (whether a purchase, sale, or other type of acquisition or disposition, including a gift), the price of the Security at which the transaction was effected, and the name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through the transaction was effected. If you established an account with a broker, dealer or bank in which any Security was held during that quarter, (i) the broker, dealer or bank must be a Designated Broker and (ii) you must state the name of the broker, dealer or bank and the date you established the account on your report. The report must state the date on which you submit it to the Senior Compliance Administrator.
12 | Reminder: Your reports also relate to members of your Immediate Family and the accounts referred to under section A, Applicability of the Policy, above. Please review the definition of Securities in the Definitions section above. |
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You do not have to submit a quarterly transaction report if (i) copies of all of your transaction confirmations and account statements are provided to the Senior Compliance Administrator for that quarter (see paragraph 7, Confirmations of Transactions and Account Statements, below), or (ii) all of the information required in such report is, on a current basis, already in the records of the Company (as, for example, in the case of transactions in EVC Securities through the EVC employee stock purchase plan or by the exercise of stock options).
7. Confirmations of Transactions and Account Statements. You must ensure that each broker, dealer or bank with which you maintain an account send to the Senior Compliance Administrator, as soon as practicable, copies of all confirmations of your Securities transactions and of all monthly, quarterly and annual account statements. See section A.2., Applicability of the Policy What Accounts are Covered, above.
This requirement does not apply to Securities transactions involving shares of a Fund where EVD acts as your broker.
If you certify to the Compliance Assistance that the Senior Compliance Administrator has received all of your confirmations and account statements by the date your quarterly transaction report is due, and if those confirmations and statements contain all of the information required in your quarterly transaction report, you do not have to submit that report.
D. Rules Applicable to Access Persons Who Are Independent Fund Trustees
If you are an Access Persons who is an Independent Fund Trustee, you are subject to the following rules:
1. Prohibited Transactions. You are prohibited from purchasing or selling any security while you are in the possession of material, non-public information concerning the Security or its issuer. Please read Appendix 2 to the Code of Ethics, Eaton Vance Funds Policies and Procedures in Prevention of Insider Trading.
2. Reporting. As an Independent Fund Trustee you are generally exempt from the reporting requirements applicable to Access Persons (see section C.6.). However, if you knew or, in the ordinary course of fulfilling your official duties as a trustee, should have known that during the fifteen (15) day period immediately before or after your transaction in a Security, the Fund purchased or sold the Security, or the Fund or its investment adviser considered purchasing or selling the Security, you must file a quarterly transaction report with the Fund Chief Compliance Officer within thirty (30) calendar days after the end of such calendar quarter. The report must include the date of the transaction, the title, type, exchange ticker or CUSIP number (if applicable), the interest rate and maturity date (if applicable), and the number of shares and principal amount of each Security in the transaction, the nature of the transaction (whether a purchase, sale, or other type of acquisition or disposition, including a gift), the price of the Security at which the transaction was effected, and the name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through the transaction was effected. The report also must state the date on which you submit it to the Fund Chief Compliance Officer.
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3. Holding Period: Eaton Vance Closed-End Funds. Pursuant to federal securities laws, trustees of closed-end Funds may not benefit from purchasing and selling, or selling and purchasing, shares of a closed-end Fund within six (6) months of each other. Trustees must file SEC Forms 4 regarding their transactions in shares of the closed-end Funds. If you are in this category, the Fund Chief Compliance Officer (or his designee) will notify you and assist you in filing these Forms. Therefore, you should expect to hold the closed-end Fund shares you purchase for at least six (6) months.
E. Rules Applicable to Reporting Persons 13
In addition to the Rules Applicable to All Employees and Rules Applicable to Access Persons in sections B and C above, if you are a Reporting Person, you are required to submit a written notice to the Senior Compliance Administrator prior to establishing any new Securities account covered by the Policy or placing an order for the purchase or sale of any Security with any broker, dealer or bank. The notice must identify the broker, dealer or bank (which must be a Designated Broker) on such account. Please refer to the Procedures for reporting procedures and forms.
F. Additional Rules Applicable to Investment Professionals and Certain Other Persons 14
If you are an Investment Professional, or a member of a portfolio management team in the case of section F.3 below, you may be subject to the following rules, in addition to the Rules Applicable to Access Persons in section C above. Before engaging in any personal Securities transactions, please review those rules, which include pre-clearance and reporting requirements, as well as restricted transactions.
The following rules relate to the requirement that transactions for Clients whose portfolios you manage, or for whom you make recommendations, take precedence over your personal Securities transactions, and therefore Clients must be given the opportunity to trade before you do so for yourself. In addition, it is imperative to avoid conflicts, or the appearance of conflicts, with Clients interests. While the following Securities transactions are subject to pre-clearance procedures, you are responsible for avoiding all prohibited transactions described below, and you may not rely upon the pre-clearance procedures to prevent you from violating these rules.
1. Prohibited Transactions: All Investment Professionals. You may not cause or recommend a Client to take action for your personal benefit. Thus, for example, you may not trade in or recommend a security for a Client in order to support or enhance the price of a security in your personal account, or front run a Client.
13 | Reminder: Your reports also relate to members of your Immediate Family and the accounts referred to under section A, Applicability of the Policy, above. Please review the definition of 14 Securities in the Definitions section above. |
14 | Reminder: When this Policy refers to you or your transactions, it includes your Immediate Family and accounts in which you or they have a direct or indirect Beneficial Interest. See section A, Applicability of the Policy, above and check the definition of Securities and of other capitalized terms in the Definitions section above. |
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2. Prohibited Transactions: EV UITs. If you are an Investment Professional who is responsible for identifying the securities that will comprise the investment portfolio for an EV UIT, you must promptly disclose to the Investment Compliance Officer if you have purchased any Security that is included in the Final Investment Portfolio for that EV UIT within the seven (7) calendar days preceding the Dissemination Date of that Final Investment Portfolio. Depending upon the circumstances, there may be no impact on your prior purchase, or you may be required to sell that Security before it is purchased for the EV UIT, or you may have to pay to the EV UITs account the difference between your and the EV UITs purchase price for the Security, if your price was lower.
3. Prohibited Transactions: Portfolio Managers, Members of Portfolio Management Teams, Investment Counselors, et al. For each of the prohibited transactions listed below in this section F.3, you are deemed to manage and/or be part of the portfolio management team for each Client account (other than any EV UIT) for which (i) you are a named portfolio manager or investment counselor or (ii) you have regular access to nonpublic information regarding the actual purchase or sale of Securities for the account prior to the placement of an order to purchase or sell such Securities with the relevant trading personnel for execution. You are deemed to have such regular access to nonpublic information regarding the actual purchase or sale of Securities for a Client account if you have the authority to: (x) complete trade tickets (or other documentation) required in order to place an order to purchase or sell Securities for the account with the relevant trading personnel for execution; (y) place such an order for the account with the relevant trading personnel for execution; or (z) review such trade tickets (or other documentation) prior to submission to the relevant trading personnel for execution, in each case whether in hard copy or by electronic means. 15
a. Personal Trades in Same Direction as Client . If you are a portfolio manager, an investment counselor or a member of a portfolio management team, you may not purchase any Security for your personal account until one (1) calendar day after you have purchased that Security for any Client account that you manage. You may not sell any Security for your personal account until one (1) calendar day after you have sold that Security for any Client account that you manage.
b. Personal Trades in Opposite Direction as Client: Seven-Day Blackout . If you are a portfolio manager, an investment counselor or a member of a portfolio management team, you may not sell any Security for your personal account until the eighth (8 th ) calendar day after you have purchased that Security for any Client account that you manage. You may not purchase any Security for your personal account until the eighth (8th) calendar day after you have sold that Security for any Client account that you manage.
15 | The prohibited transactions in this section F.3 do not apply to: (1) persons with access to nonpublic information regarding only potential purchases or sales of Securities in Client accounts, such as in connection with additions, deletions or rating changes of securities through the Analyst Select Portfolio, Counselors Focus Portfolio or on Code Red (see section C.4 for the prohibitions that relate to such persons and such situations); or (2) persons in Eaton Vance Investment Counsel who have the type of authority identified in clause (x), (y) or (z) of this section F.3 solely to facilitate client service in the event of the absence from the office of the primary investment counselor(s) or other Eaton Vance Investment Counsel employee with primary responsibility for the account. |
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c. Trading Before a Client .
(i) If you are a portfolio manager or an investment counselor, before you place an order to purchase a Security for a Client account that you manage, you must disclose to the Investment Compliance Officer if you have purchased that Security for your personal account within the preceding seven (7) calendar days. Depending upon the circumstances, there may be no impact on your prior purchase, or you may be required to sell that Security before it is purchased for the Client, or you may have to pay to the Clients account the difference between your and the Clients purchase price for the Security, if your price was lower.
(ii) If you are a portfolio manager or an investment counselor, before you place an order to sell a Security for a Client account that you manage, you must disclose to the Investment Compliance Officer if you have sold that Security for your personal account within the preceding seven (7) calendar days. Depending upon the circumstances, you may or may not be required to pay to the Clients account the difference between your and the Clients sales price for the Security, if your price was higher.
(iii) As a member of a portfolio management team, if you enter into a Security transaction for your personal account of a type described in section F.3.c(i) or (ii) you must disclose such transactions to the Investment Compliance Officer (to the extent you have actual knowledge of the transaction for the Client account). Depending upon the circumstances, you may or may not be subject to the relevant requirements described in such sections.
d. General Prohibition . Because your responsibility is to put your Clients interests ahead of your own, if you are a portfolio manager, an investment counselor or a member of a portfolio management team you may not delay taking appropriate action for a Client account that you manage in order to avoid potential adverse consequences in your personal account.
4. Prohibited Transactions: Investment Analysts. If you are an investment analyst, before you purchase or sell a Security, Clients must be afforded the opportunity to act upon your recommendations regarding such Security. You may not purchase or sell any Security for which you have coverage responsibility unless either (i) you have first broadly communicated throughout the relevant investment group your research conclusion regarding that Security (through an Analyst Select Portfolio recommendation or Security rating, including ratings communicated through Code Red or other research system) and afforded suitable Clients sufficient time to act upon your recommendation (as set forth in 4(a) and 4(b) below), or (ii) you have first determined, with the prior concurrence of the Investment Compliance Officer, that investment in that Security is not suitable for any Client. If your research conclusions are not communicated through an Analyst Select Portfolio recommendation or Security rating, before you purchase or sell a Security for which you have coverage responsibility, you must first obtain the approval of the Investment Compliance Officer.
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a. Personal Trades Consistent with New or Changed Recommendations or Ratings . If you are an investment analyst, you may not purchase or sell any Security for which you have coverage responsibility until the third (3rd) business day after you have broadly communicated a new or changed recommendation or rating for such Security to the Investment Professionals in the relevant department, and then only if your transaction is consistent with your recommendation or rating.
b. Personal Trades Inconsistent with New or Changed Recommendations or Ratings . If you are an investment analyst, you may not purchase or sell any Security for which you have coverage responsibility until the tenth (10th ) calendar day after you have broadly communicated your new or changed recommendation or rating for such Security to the Investment Professionals in the relevant department, if your transaction is inconsistent with your recommendation or rating. You must pre-clear any such transaction and disclose to the Investment Compliance Officer the reasons you desire to make a trade inconsistent with your recommendation or rating.
c. Trading before Communicating a Recommendation or Rating . If you are an investment analyst who is in the process of making a new or changed recommendation or rating for a Security for which you have coverage responsibility, but you have not yet broadly communicated your research conclusions and recommendations or ratings for such Security to the Investment Professionals in the relevant department, you are prohibited from trading in that Security.
5. Required Disclosures: Investment Analysts. If you are an investment analyst, before you make a recommendation that a Security be purchased, sold or held by a Client, you must disclose to the Investment Compliance Officer and to any Investment Professionals to whom you make the recommendation any direct or indirect Beneficial Interest you may have in that Security.
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GENERAL PROVISIONS
1. Maintenance of List of Access Persons and Investment Professionals: Notification. The Senior Compliance Administrator shall maintain a list of all Access Persons and Investment Professionals, shall notify each of his or her status, and shall ensure that each has received a copy of the Code of Ethics.
2. Review of Securities Reports. The Chief Compliance Officer shall ensure that all Initial and Annual Reports of Securities Holdings and Quarterly Transaction Reports, together with all Securities Transaction Confirmations and Account Statements received by the Senior Compliance Administrator, will be reviewed in accordance with the attached Procedures.
3. Certifications by Employees. Each employee of an Eaton Vance Entity must certify at the time of hire and annually thereafter (within the timeframes established from time to time by the legal department) that he or she has read and understood the Code of Ethics and has complied and will comply with its provisions. In addition upon any revision to this Code of Ethics, each employee of an Eaton Vance Entity must certify that he or she has read the Code, as revised, and understands and will comply with its provisions.
4. Fund Board Approval. The Board of Trustees of each Fund, including a majority of the Independent Fund Trustees, has approved this Code of Ethics and must approve any material change hereto within six months after such change is adopted. EVD has approved the Code of Ethics on behalf of the EV UITs and must approve any material change hereto within six months after such change is adopted.
5. Annual Report to Fund Board. At least annually (i) each of EVM, BMR and EVD shall submit to the Board of Trustees of each Fund and (ii) EVM shall submit to each Sub-advised Fund for consideration a written report that (a) describes any issues arising under the Code of Ethics or the Procedures since the last report the Board, including information about material violations of the Code of Ethics or the Procedures and the sanctions imposed in response to material violations, and (b) certifies that each such Company has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from violating the Code of Ethics.
6. Recordkeeping Requirements. On behalf of each Company, EVC shall maintain the following records at its principal place of business in an easily accessible place and make these records available to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or any representative of the SEC at any time and from time to time for reasonable periodic, special or other examination:
(1) | copies of the Code of Ethics currently in effect and in effect at any time within the past five (5) fiscal years; |
(2) | a record of any violation of the Code of Ethics and of any action taken as a result of the violation, to be maintained for at least five (5) years after the end of the fiscal year in which the violation occurred; |
(3) | copies of each report referred to in sections C or D of the Policy on Personal Securities Transactions (Policy), Part II above, to be maintained for at least five (5) years after the end of the fiscal year in which the report is made or information provided (notwithstanding the foregoing, any confirmation relating to a Securities transaction subsequently reported in a monthly, quarterly or annual account statement may be disposed of following the receipt of such account statement); |
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(4) | a record of any approval to acquire a Security in an Initial Public Offering, with the reasons supporting the approval, for at least 5 years after the end of the fiscal year in which the approval is granted; |
(5) | a record of any approval to acquire a Security in a Limited Offering, with the reasons supporting the approval, for at least 5 years after the end of the fiscal year in which the approval is granted; |
(6) | a record of all persons, currently or within the past five (5) fiscal years, who are or were required to make reports referred to in section D of the Policy and who are or were responsible for reviewing such reports; |
(7) | copies of each certification referred to in paragraph 3 of these General Provisions made by a person who currently is, or in the past five (5) years was, subject to this Code of Ethics, to be maintained for at least five (5) years after the fiscal year in which the certification made; and |
(8) | a copy of each Annual Report to a Fund Board referred to in paragraph 5 of these General Provisions, to be maintained for at least five (5) years after the end of the fiscal year in which it was made. |
7. Confidentiality. All reports and other documents and information supplied by any employee of a Company or Access Person in accordance with the requirements of this Code of Ethics shall be treated as confidential, but are subject to review as provided herein and in the Procedures, by senior management of EVC, by representatives of the SEC, or otherwise as required by law, regulation, or court order.
8. Interpretations. If you have any questions regarding the meaning or interpretation of the provisions of this Code of Ethics, please consult with the Compliance Attorney.
9. Violations and Sanctions. Any employee of a Company who violates any provision of this Code of Ethics shall be subject to sanction, including but not limited to censure, a ban on personal Securities trading, disgorgement of any profit or taking of any loss, fines, and suspension or termination of employment. Each sanction shall be recommended by the Compliance Officer in consultation with the Chief Compliance Officer and approved by the Chief Legal Officer or Management Committee of EVC. In the event the Chief Compliance Officer violates any provisions of this Code of Ethics, the Chief Legal Officer shall recommend the sanction to be imposed for approval by the Management Committee of EVC.
If the Chief Compliance Officer believes that any Fund trustee who is not an employee of a Company has violated any provision of the Policy, he or she shall so advise the trustees of the Fund, providing full particulars. The Fund trustees, in consultation with counsel to the Fund and/or counsel to the Independent Fund Trustees, shall determine whether a material violation has occurred and may impose such sanctions as they deem appropriate.
In adopting and approving this Code of Ethics, the Company and the Fund Boards of Trustees do not intend that a violation of this Code of Ethics necessarily is or should be considered to be a violation of Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act or Rule 204A-1 of the Investment Advisers Act.
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Nuveen Compliance | July 1, 2017 |
Code of Ethics
SUMMARY AND SCOPE
What the Code is about
Helping to ensure that Nuveen personnel place the interests of Nuveen clients ahead of their own personal interests.
Who the Code applies to and what the implications are
This Code applies to individuals in the following categories:
| Nuveen Employees based in the U.S. (except employees of Gresham Investment Management LLC, Westchester Group Investment Management Inc., and any employees of Greenwood Resources, Inc. who are based outside of Portland, Oregon). |
| Consultants, interns and temporary workers, if the Nuveen Ethics Office has decided to make you subject to the Code based on your contract length, job duties, work location and other factors. |
| Certain TIAA employees that are deemed by the TIAA- CREF Funds CCO or the Nuveen Ethics Office to be Access Persons. |
| The independent directors and trustees of the TIAA- CREF Funds Complex and Nuveen sponsored or branded funds, whose obligations are set forth in supplemental policies to the Code. |
For individuals who are subject to the Code, there are two designations with different implications: Access Person and Investment Person.
ACCESS PERSON
All Nuveen Employees subject to the Code are considered Access Persons since they have, or potentially could have, access to non-public information about securities transactions and other investments, holdings or recommendations for Affiliate-Advised Accounts or Portfolios.
Key characteristics of this designation. An individual may be considered an Access Person of multiple advisers affiliated with Nuveen, or of only one. If your regular duties give you access to non-public information, or you are a director, trustee or officer of a Nuveen or TIAA-CREF sponsored or branded fund, your personal trading is
generally monitored only against the trading activity of the specific adviser(s) or Affiliated Funds with which you are involved. For other employees, personal trading is typically monitored against the trading activities of all advisers affiliated with Nuveen. You will generally not be permitted to execute transactions in a security on any day when an Affiliate-Advised Account or Portfolio managed by the adviser(s) that you are monitored against has a pending buy or sell order for that security.
INVESTMENT PERSON
An Access Person who meets any of the following criteria will in addition be considered an Investment Person:
| The Access Person is a Portfolio Manager, Research Analyst or Research Assistant. They otherwise participate in making recommendations or decisions concerning the purchase or sale of securities in any Affiliate-Advised Account or Portfolio. |
| The Access Person has been designated an Investment Person by the Nuveen Ethics Office. |
Key characteristics of this designation. The vast majority of Investment Persons are employees of Nuveens affiliated investment advisers.
An Investment Person is prohibited from transacting in securities during the period starting 7 calendar days before, and ending 7 calendar days after, any trade in an Affiliate-Advised Account or Portfolio for which he/she has responsibility. In addition, an Investment Persons personal transactions will be reviewed for conflicts in the period starting 7 calendar days before, and ending 7 calendar days after, all trades by their associated investment adviser. In some cases, the Investment Person may be required to reverse a trade and/or forfeit an appropriate portion of any profit as determined by the Nuveen Ethics Office. These consequences can apply whether or not the trade was pre-cleared.
The personal trading of Investment Persons is generally only monitored against the trading activity of the specific adviser for which they have been designated an Investment Person.
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Important to understand
Some of our affiliated investment advisers may impose additional rules on the same topics covered in this Code . Check with your manager or local/designated Chief Compliance Officer if you have questions.
Personal trading is a privilege, not a right. Nuveen Employees are expected to follow the law and adhere to the highest standards of behavior including with respect to personal trading. Any violation of the Code could have
severely adverse effects on you, your co-workers, and Nuveen.
You may be held personally liable for your conduct and be subject to fines, regulatory sanctions, and even criminal penalties. Because Nuveen can restrict your trading or take actions such as forcing you to hold a position or to disgorge profits, personal trading carries risks beyond normal market risks.
Some requirements in this Code apply to Household Members. Each Household Member (see Terms with Special Meanings below) is subject to the same restrictions and requirements that apply to his/her related Nuveen Employee.
The Code does not address every ethical issue that might arise. If you have any doubt at all after consulting the Code, contact the Nuveen Ethics Office for direction.
The Code applies to appearance as well as substance. Always consider how any action might appear to an outside observer (such as a client or regulator).
You are expected to follow the Code both in letter and in spirit. Literal compliance, such as pre-clearing a transaction, does not necessarily protect you from liability for conduct that violates the spirit of the Code. If you have questions about how to comply with this Code, consult the Nuveen Ethics Office.
WHO TO CONTACT
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Nuveen Ethics Office: nuveenethicsoffice@nuveen.com
Nuveen Ethics Office Helplines: 1-312-917-8000 1-800-842-2733 extension 22-5599 |
TERMS WITH SPECIAL MEANINGS
Within this policy, these terms are defined as follows:
Affiliate-Advised Account or Portfolio Any Affiliated Fund, or any portfolio or client account advised or sub-advised by Nuveen.
Affiliated Fund Any TIAA-CREF or Nuveen branded or sponsored open-end fund, closed-end fund, or Exchange Traded Fund (ETF), and any third-party fund advised or sub-advised by Nuveen.
Automatic Investment Plan Any program, such as a dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP), under which investment account purchases or withdrawals occur according to a predetermined schedule and allocation.
Beneficial Ownership Any interest by which you or any Household Memberdirectly or indirectlyderives a monetary benefit from purchasing, selling, or owning a security or account, or exercises investment discretion.
You have Beneficial Ownership of securities held in accounts in your own name, or any Household Members name, and in all other accounts over which you or any Household Member exercises or may exercise investment decision-making powers, or other influence or control, including trust, partnership, estate, and corporate accounts or other joint ownership or pooling arrangements.
Code This Code of Ethics.
Domestic Partner An individual who is neither a relative of or legally married to a Nuveen Employee, but shares a residence and is in a mutual commitment similar to marriage with such Nuveen Employee.
Federal Securities Laws The applicable portions of any of the following laws, as amended, and of any rules adopted under them by the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Department of the Treasury:
| Securities Act of 1933. |
| Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
| Investment Company Act of 1940. |
| Investment Advisers Act of 1940. |
| Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. |
| The Bank Secrecy Act. |
Household Member Any of the following who reside, or are expected to reside for at least 90 days a year, in the same household as a Nuveen Employee:
Spouse or Domestic Partner. |
Parent, stepparent, grandparent. |
| Sibling. |
Child, stepchild, grandchild. |
In-laws, (mother, father, son, daughter, brother, sister). |
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TERMS WITH SPECIAL MEANINGS
(continued)
Independent Director Any director or trustee of an Affiliated Fund who is not an interested person within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Managed Account Any account in which you or a Household Member has Beneficial Ownership and for which you have delegated full investment discretion in writing to a third-party broker or investment manager.
Nuveen Nuveen, LLC and all of its direct or indirect subsidiaries.
Nuveen Employee Any full- or part-time employee of Nuveen, and any consultants, interns or temporary workers designated by the Nuveen Ethics Office.
Reportable Account Any account for which you or a Household Member has Beneficial Ownership AND in which securities can be bought or held. This includes, among others:
| All Managed Accounts. |
| Any Nuveen 401(k) plan account. |
| Any 401(k) plan account from a previous employer that permits the purchase of any Reportable Security. |
| Any direct holding in an Affiliated Fund. |
| Any retirement account or health savings account (HSA) that permits the purchase of any Reportable Security, and any 529 college savings plan that permits the purchase of Affiliated Funds. |
The following are NOT considered Reportable Accounts:
| Charitable giving accounts. |
| Accounts held directly with a mutual fund complex in which non-Affiliated Funds are the only possible investment. |
Reportable Security Any security EXCEPT:
| Direct obligations of the U.S. government (indirect obligations, such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac securities, are reportable). |
| Certificates of deposit, bankers acceptances, commercial paper, and high quality short-term debt (including repurchase agreements). |
| Money market funds. |
| Open-end funds that are not Affiliated Funds. |
Reportable Transaction Any transaction involving a Reportable Security EXCEPT:
| Transactions in Managed Accounts. |
| Transactions occurring under an Automatic Investment Plan. |
GENERAL RESTRICTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
BASIC PRINCIPLES
1. | Never abuse a clients trust, rights, or interests. |
This means you must never do any of the following:
| Engage in any plan or action, or use any device, that would defraud or deceive a client. |
| Make any material statements of fact that are incorrect or misleading, either as to what they include or omit. |
| Engage in any manipulative practice. |
| Use your position (including any knowledge or access to opportunities you have gained by virtue of your position) to personal advantage or to a clients disadvantage. This would include, for example, front- running or tailgating (trading directly before or after the execution of a large client trade order), or any attempt to influence a clients trading to enhance the value of your personal holdings. |
| Conduct personal trading in any way that could be inconsistent with your fiduciary duties to a client (even if it does not technically violate the Code). |
2. | Handle conflicts of interest appropriately. This applies not only to actual conflicts of interest, but also to any situation that might appear to an outside observer to be improper or a breach of fiduciary duty. |
3. | Keep confidential information confidential. Always properly safeguard any confidential information you obtain in the course of your work. This includes confidential information related to any of the following: |
| Any Affiliate-Advised Account or Portfolio and any other financial product offered or serviced by Nuveen. |
| New products, product changes, or business initiatives. |
| Past, current, and prospective clients, including their identities, investments, and account activity. |
Keeping information confidential means using discretion in disclosing information as well as guarding against unlawful or inappropriate access by others. This includes:
| Making sure no confidential information is visible on your computer screen and desk when you are not there. |
| Not sharing passwords with others. |
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| Using caution when discussing business in any location where your conversation could be overheard. Confidential information may be released only as required by law or as permitted under the applicable privacy policy(ies). Consult the Nuveen Ethics Office or your local/designated CCO before releasing any confidential information. |
4. | Handle Material Non-Public Information properly. Follow all of the terms described in Material Non-Public Information below. Be aware that any failure to handle such information properly is a serious offense and may lead to disciplinary action from Nuveen as well as serious civil or criminal liability. |
5. | Comply with Federal Securities Laws. Any violation of these laws is punishable as a violation of the Code. |
6. | Never do anything indirectly that, if done directly, would violate the Code. Such actions will be considered the equivalent of direct Code violations. |
7. | Promptly alert the Nuveen Ethics Office or your local/designated CCO of any actual or suspected wrongdoing. Examples of wrongdoing include violations of the Federal Securities Laws, misuse of corporate assets, misuse of confidential information, or other violations of the Code. If you prefer to report confidentially, call the legacy Nuveen Confidential Hotline at 1-877-209-3663 or the TIAA Confidential Hotline at 1-877-774-6492. Note that failure to report suspected wrongdoing in a timely fashion is itself a violation of the Code. |
PRE-CLEARANCE AND HOLDING REQUIREMENTS
8. | Pre-clear any trade in Reportable Securities, including certain Affiliated Funds (see the box below for additional information). |
If your trade requires pre-clearance, request approval through PTA before you or any Household Member places an order to buy or sell any Reportable Security. Any approval you receive expires at the end of the day it was granted; however, you may place after hours trades in international markets until 11:59 p.m. local time on that day. When requesting pre-clearance, follow this process:
| Request pre-clearance on the same day you want to trade. Be sure your pre-clearance request is accurate as to security and direction of trade. |
| Wait for approval to be displayed before trading. If you receive approval, you may only trade that same day, and only within the scope of approval. If you do not receive approval, do not trade. |
| Place day orders only. Do not place good-til-canceled orders. You may place orders for an after-hours trading session using that days preclearance approval, but you must not place any order that could remain open into the next regular trading session. |
9. | Hold positions in Reportable Securities for 60 calendar days, or be prepared to forfeit any gains. Generally, you may sell the security on the 60th day after purchase. This requirement extends to any options or other transactions that may have the same effect as a purchase or sale, and to all Reportable Securitiesexcept for ETFs that are non-Affiliated Funds and are based on approved broad-based indices (list can be obtained from the Nuveen Ethics Office) and permitted options on these ETFs. The requirement is tested on a last-in-first-out basis, across all of your holdings (not just within individual accounts). |
You may be required to surrender any gains realized (net of commissions) through a violation of this rule. You may close a position at a loss at any time, provided pre-clearance has been obtained or an exemption applies.
10. | Comply with trading restrictions described in the prospectuses for all Affiliated Funds. This includes restrictions on frequent trading in shares of any open-end Affiliated Fund. Any violation of these trading restrictions is punishable as a violation of the Code. |
11. | Pre-clear any transaction in a Managed Account that involves your influence. You must also immediately consult with the Nuveen Ethics Office to discuss whether the account in question can properly remain classified as a Managed Account. |
12. | Obtain approval before investing in a private placement (such as a private equity investment, hedge fund, or limited partnership) and before selling or redeeming a private placement that is branded, sponsored, advised or sub-advised by Nuveen. This includes transactions in any private funds advised or sub-advised by Nuveen. Approval is required even if the investment is made in a Managed Account. Approval is not needed for additional capital calls following the initial investment. |
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WHAT NEEDS TO BE PRE-CLEARED | ||
Pre-clearance required
All actively initiated trades in Reportable Securities, except those listed here under No pre-clearance required.
Be aware that pre-clearance can be withdrawn even after it has been granted, and even after you have traded, if Nuveen later becomes aware of Affiliate-Advised Account or Portfolio trades whose existence would have resulted in denial of preclearance. In these cases you may be required to reverse a trade and/or forfeit an appropriate portion of any profit, as determined by the Nuveen Ethics Office.
Note that closed-end funds and ETFs are Reportable Securities, but certain ETFs do not need to be pre-cleared. These ETFs are listed here under No pre-clearance required. |
No pre-clearance required
Shares of any open-end mutual fund (including Affiliated Funds).
ETFs that are not Affiliated Funds and are based on approved broad-based indices (list can be obtained from the Nuveen Ethics Office).
CDs and commercial paper.
Securities acquired or disposed of through actions outside your control or issued pro rata to all holders of the same class of investment, such as automatic dividend reinvestments, stock splits, mergers, spin-offs, or rights subscriptions.
Sales pursuant to a bona fide tender offer.
Trades made through an Automatic Investment Plan that has been disclosed to the Nuveen Ethics Office in advance.
Trades in a Managed Account (except that you must pre-clear any trades that involve your influence, any initial purchases of private placements, and any sales or redemptions of private placements that are branded, sponsored, advised or sub-advised by Nuveen).
Currency futures and permitted financial futures. |
OTHER RESTRICTIONS
13. | Never knowingly trade any security being traded or considered for trade by any Affiliate-Advised Account or Portfolio. This applies to employee transactions in securities that are exempt from pre-clearance, and includes equivalent or related securities. |
For example, if a companys common stock is being traded, you may face restrictions on trading any of the companys debt, preferred, or foreign equivalent securities, and from trading or exercising any options based on the companys securities.
14. | Always prioritize client trades over personal trades. Your fiduciary duties to the client are far more important than your personal trading, which is a privilege and not a right. Never delay or in any way alter the timing or terms of a client trade for your personal benefit. |
15. | Do not engage in trading that involves single stock futures, naked short sales or naked options Options are permitted only for hedging purposes (i.e., the sale of covered calls or the purchase of puts that are offset by existing long positions), with the following exceptions: |
| You may buy or sell naked long-term options (those with an expiration of 1 year or more from the date of purchase) may be bought or sold, subject to the 60-day holding period). |
| Short sales against the box are permitted. |
16. | Never participate in an investment club or similar entity. |
17. | Do not engage in excessive or inappropriate trading activity. Never let personal trading interfere with your professional duties. The Nuveen Ethics Office and/or your local/designated CCO, in consultation with your manager, will determine what constitutes excessive or inappropriate trading |
18. | Never purchase an IPO without advance approval. Equity IPO participation is generally prohibited, but approval may be granted in special circumstances, such as when: |
| You already have equity in the company and are offered shares. |
| You are a policy holder or depositor in a company that is demutualizing. |
| A family member has been offered shares as an employee. |
You may receive approval for offerings of fixed income securities, convertible securities, preferred securities, open- and closed-end funds or commodity pools.
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MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION | ||
What is Material Non-Public Information?
Material Non-Public Information is defined as information regarding any security, securities-based derivatives or issuer of a security that is both material and non-public.
Information is material if both of the following are true:
A reasonable investor would likely consider it important when making an investment decision.
Public release of the information would likely affect the price of a security.
Information is generally non-public if it has not been distributed through a widely used public medium, such as a press release or a report, filing or other periodic communication.
Restrictions and requirements
Any time you think you might have, or may be about to, come into possession of Material Non-Public Information (whether in connection with your position at Nuveen or not), alert the Nuveen Ethics Office. Alternatively, you may alert your local/designated CCO or Legal office, who in turn must promptly notify the Nuveen Ethics Office. Follow the instructions you are given.
Note that information regarding account-related activity including, but not limited to, new and terminated accounts, large cash flows, index construction and rebalancing for ETFs and related transactionsmay constitute Material Non-Public Information. If you possess this type of information, you do not need to disclose it to the Nuveen Ethics Office. However you should never knowingly trade any security likely to be considered for trade by any Affiliate-Advised Account or Portfolio, or otherwise seek to benefit from the Material Non-Public Information. |
Until you receive further instructions from the Nuveen Ethics Office, your local/designated CCO or Legal, do not take any action in relation to the information, including trading or recommending the relevant securities or communicating the information to anyone else.
Never make decisions on your own regarding potential Material Non-Public Information, including whether such information is actually Material Non-Public Information or what steps should be taken.
If the Nuveen Ethics Office, your local/designated CCO and/or Legal determine that you have Material Non-Public Information:
Do not buy, sell, gift, or otherwise dispose of the securities, whether on behalf of an Affiliate-Advised Account or Portfolio, yourself, or anyone else.
Do not in any way recommend, encourage, or influence others to transact in the issuers securities, even if you do not specifically disclose or reference the Material Non-Public Information.
Do not communicate the Material Non-Public Information to anyone, whether inside or outside Nuveen, except in discussions with the Nuveen Ethics Office and Legal and as expressly permitted by any confidentiality agreement or supplemental policies and procedures of your investment adviser. |
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
UPON BECOMING A NUVEEN EMPLOYEE
19. | Within 7 calendar days of starting at Nuveen, acknowledge receipt of the Code. This includes certifying that you have read the Code, understand it, recognize that you are subject to it, have complied with all of its applicable requirements, and have submitted all Code-required reports. |
20. | Within 7 calendar days of starting at Nuveen, report all of your Reportable Accounts and holdings in Reportable Securities . Use PTA for this reporting. Include current information (no older than 45 calendar days before your first day of employment) on all Reportable Securities. For each security, provide the security name and type, a ticker symbol or CUSIP, the number of shares or units held, and principal amount |
(dollar value). For each Reportable Account, provide information about the broker, dealer, or bank through which the account is held and the type of account. For each Reportable Account, submit a copy of the most recent statement.
Note that there are separate procedures for Managed Accounts, as described below in item 23.
Code of Ethics |
Page 7 of 8 |
21. | Within 7 calendar days of starting at Nuveen, report all current investments in private placements (limited offerings). Limited offerings are Reportable Securities. |
22. | If you are located in the United States, within 30 calendar days of starting at Nuveen, move or close any Reportable Account that is not at an approved firm. The approved firms are: |
Ameriprise Financial
Charles Schwab
Chase Investment/ JP Morgan
Edward Jones
E*Trade Fidelity
Interactive Brokers
Merrill Lynch
Morgan Stanley
Oppenheimer & Co.
Raymond James |
RBC Dominion Securities
Scottrade Inc.
Stifel Financial
T. Rowe Price
TD Ameritrade
TIAA-CREF Brokerage Services
UBS Securities
U. S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.
Vanguard Brokerage Services
Wells Fargo |
Under very limited circumstances, it may be possible to obtain a waiver to keep a Reportable Account at a non-approved firm. Examples include:
| An account owned by a Household Member who works at another financial firm with comparable restrictions. |
| An account that holds securities that cannot be transferred. |
| An account that cannot be moved because of a trust agreement. To apply for an exception, contact the Nuveen Ethics Office. For any account granted an exception, arrange for the Nuveen Ethics Office to receive duplicates of all periodic statements. If a firm cannot provide duplicate statements directly to the Nuveen Ethics Office, you must take responsibility for providing them yourself. |
Note that consultants and temporary workers may not be required to move or close Reportable Accounts at the discretion of the Nuveen Ethics Office.
Employees located outside of the United States must arrange to provide the Nuveen Ethics Office with duplicate statements of all Reportable Accounts.
WHEN OPENING ANY NEW REPORTABLE ACCOUNT (INCLUDING A MANAGED ACCOUNT)
23. | Get pre-approval for any new Managed Account. Using the appropriate form (available from the Nuveen Ethics Office), provide representations that support the classification of the account as a Managed Account. For an account to be classified as a Managed Account, the account owner must have no direct or indirect influence or control over the securities in the account. The form must be signed by the accounts broker or investment manager and by all account owners (you and/or any Household Member). You may be asked periodically to confirm these representations. |
Note that if the Managed Account is not maintained at an approved firm, you are also responsible for ensuring that duplicate statements of the Managed Account are sent to the Ethics Office. In addition, you will need to provide duplicate statements to the adviser with which you are affiliated, if they also require such statements.
24. | Report any new Reportable Account (other than a Managed Account) that is opened with an approved firm. Do this within 7 calendar days of the date you or a Household Member opens the account or an account becomes a Reportable Account through marriage, cohabitation, divorce, death, or another event. |
EVERY QUARTER
25. | Within 20 calendar days of the end of each calendar quarter, verify that all Reportable Transactions made during that quarter have been reported. PTA will display all transactions of yours for which it has received notice. For any transactions not displayed (such as transactions in accounts you have approval to maintain elsewhere), you are responsible for ensuring that the Nuveen Ethics Office promptly receives copies of all account statements so that they can enter them into PTA. |
For each Reportable Transaction, you must provide, as applicable, the transaction date, security name and type, ticker symbol or CUSIP, interest rate (coupon) and maturity date, number of shares, price at which the transaction was effected, principal amount (dollar value), the nature of the trade (buy or sell), and the name of the broker, dealer, or bank that effected the transaction. It is very important that you carefully review and verify the transactions and related details displayed on PTA, checking for accuracy and completeness. If you find any errors or omissions, correct or add to your list of transactions in PTA.
Code of Ethics |
Page 8 of 8 |
EVERY YEAR
26. | Within 40 calendar days of the end of each calendar year, acknowledge receipt of the most recent version of the Code and file your Annual Holdings and Accounts Report. |
The report must contain the information described in item 20 above, and include your certification that you have reported all Reportable Accounts, and all holdings and transactions in Reportable Securities for the previous year.
For Managed Accounts, you must affirm annually through PTA (for yourself and on behalf of any Household Member) the classification of the account as a Managed Account through a separate certification. No broker or investment manager involvement is required on this annual reaffirmation.
You also must acknowledge any amendments to the Code that occur during the course of the year.
ADDITIONAL RULES FOR SECTION 16 PERSONS |
Section 16 Persons are insiders, or people with responsibility for policy decisions or portfolio transactions. If you are unsure of your status as a Section 16 Person, please contact the Legal Department or the Ethics Office.
Pre-clear (through PTA) any transactions in closed-end funds of which you are a Section 16 Person. Your request will be reviewed by Legal.
When selling for a gain any securities you buy that are issued by the entity of which you are a Section 16 Person, make sure it is at least 6 months after your most recent purchase of that security. This rule extends to any options or other transactions that may have the same effect as a purchase or sale, and is tested on a last-in-first-out basis. You may be required to surrender any gains realized through a violation of this rule. Note that for any fund of which you are a Section 16 Person, no exception from preclearance is available.
Email details of all executed transactions in these securities to the appropriate contact in the Legal Department.
Section 16 Persons should refer to the Nuveen Funds Section 16 Policy and Procedures for additional information. |
CODE ADMINISTRATION
Training
You will be required to participate in training on the Code when joining Nuveen as well as periodically during the time you are subject to the Code.
Exceptions
The Code exists to prevent violations of law. The Nuveen Ethics Office may, under certain circumstances, grant waivers from a Code requirement. No waivers or exceptions that would violate any law will be granted.
Monitoring
The Nuveen Ethics Office is responsible for monitoring transactions and holdings for any violations of this Code.
Consequences of violation
Any individual who violates the Code is subject to penalty. Penalties could include, among other possibilities, a written warning, restriction of trading privileges, disgorgement of trading profits, fines, and suspension or termination of employment.
Applicable rules
The Code has been adopted in recognition of Nuveens fiduciary obligations to clients and in accordance with various provisions of Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. This Code is also adopted by the Affiliated Funds advised by Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC and Teachers Advisors, LLC under Rule 17j-1.
Some elements of the Code also constitute part of Nuveens response to Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) requirements that apply to registered personnel of Nuveen Securities, LLC, and National Futures Association (NFA) requirements that apply to personnel affiliated with Nuveen Commodities Asset Management, LLC or Nuveen Asset Management, LLC.
Effective March 1, 2017
CODE OF ETHICS AND CONDUCT
T. ROWE PRICE GROUP, INC.
AND ITS AFFILIATES
CODE OF ETHICS AND CONDUCT
OF
T. ROWE PRICE GROUP, INC.
AND ITS AFFILIATES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
GENERAL POLICY STATEMENT |
1-1 | |||
Purpose of Code of Ethics and Conduct |
1-1 | |||
Persons and Entities Subject to the Code |
1-2 | |||
Definition of Supervised Persons |
1-2 | |||
Status as a Fiduciary |
1-2 | |||
Adviser Act Requirements for Supervised Persons |
1-3 | |||
NASDAQ Requirements |
1-4 | |||
What the Code Does Not Cover |
1-4 | |||
Sarbanes-Oxley Codes |
1-4 | |||
Compliance Procedures for Funds and Federal Advisers |
1-4 | |||
Compliance with the Code |
1-4 | |||
Questions Regarding the Code |
1-5 | |||
STANDARDS OF CONDUCT OF PRICE GROUP AND ITS PERSONNEL |
2-1 | |||
Allocation of Brokerage Policy |
2-1 | |||
Annual Compliance Certification |
2-1 | |||
Anti-Bribery Laws and Prohibitions Against Illegal Payments |
2-1 | |||
Antitrust |
2-2,7-1 | |||
Anti-Money Laundering |
2-2 | |||
Appropriate Conduct |
2-2 | |||
Charitable Contributions |
2-2 | |||
Systems Security |
2-4,6-1 | |||
Conflicts of Interest |
2-4 | |||
Relationships with Profitmaking Enterprises |
2-4 | |||
Service with Nonprofitmaking Organizations |
2-5 | |||
Relationships with Financial Service Firms |
2-6 |
i-1
Relationships with a Bank |
2-6 | |||
Existing Relationships with Potential Vendors |
2-6 | |||
Investment in Client/Vendor Company Stock |
2-6 | |||
Confidentiality |
2-7 | |||
Internal Operating Procedures and Planning |
2-7 | |||
Clients, Fund Shareholders, and TRP Brokerage Customers |
2-8 | |||
Third Parties |
2-8 | |||
Investment Advice |
2-8 | |||
Investment Research |
2-9 | |||
Employee Information |
2-9 | |||
Information About the Price Funds |
2-9 | |||
Understanding as to Clients Accounts and Company Records at Time of Termination of Association |
2-9 | |||
Health insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) |
2-9 | |||
Expense Payments and Reimbursements |
2-9 | |||
Financial Reporting |
2-10 | |||
Gifts and Business Entertainment |
2-10 | |||
Human Resources |
2-10 | |||
Equal Opportunity |
2-10 | |||
Drug and Alcohol Policy |
2-10 | |||
Policy Against Harassment and Discrimination |
2-11 | |||
Health and Safety in the Workplace |
2-11 | |||
Use of Employee Likenesses and Information |
2-11 | |||
Employment of Former Government and Self-Regulatory Organization Employees |
2-11 | |||
Inside Information |
2-11,4-1 | |||
Investment Clubs |
2-12 | |||
Marketing and Sales Activities |
2-12 | |||
Outside Business Activities |
2-12 | |||
Past and Current Litigation and Inquiries from Regulators or Governmental Organizations |
2-12 | |||
Political Activities and Contributions |
2-13 | |||
Lobbying |
2-14 |
i-2
Professional Designations |
2-15 | |||
Protection of Corporate Assets |
2-15 | |||
Quality of Services |
2-15 | |||
Record Retention and Destruction |
2-15 | |||
Referral Fees |
2-16 | |||
Release of Information to the Press |
2-16 | |||
Responsibility to Report Violations |
2-16 | |||
General Obligation |
2-16 | |||
Sarbanes-Oxley Whistleblower Procedures |
2-17 | |||
Sarbanes-Oxley Attorney Reporting Requirements |
2-17 | |||
Circulation of Rumors |
2-17 | |||
Service as Trustee, Executor or Personal Representative |
2-17 | |||
Speaking Engagements and Publications |
2-17 | |||
Social Media |
2-18 | |||
APPENDIX A |
2-A | |||
STATEMENT OF POLICY ON GIFTS AND BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT |
3-1 | |||
STATEMENT OF POLICY ON MATERIAL, INSIDE (NON-PUBLIC) INFORMATION |
4-1 | |||
STATEMENT OF POLICY ON SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS |
5-1 | |||
STATEMENT OF POLICY WITH RESPECT TO SYSTEMS SECURITY AND RELATED ISSUES |
6-1 | |||
STATEMENT OF POLICY ON COMPLIANCE WITH ANTITRUST LAWS |
7-1 | |||
STATEMENT OF POLICY ON PRIVACY |
8-1 |
i-3
CODE OF ETHICS AND CONDUCT
OF
T. ROWE PRICE GROUP, INC.
AND ITS AFFILIATES
GENERAL POLICY STATEMENT
Purpose of Code of Ethics and Conduct . As a global investment management firm, we are considered a fiduciary to many of our clients and owe them a duty of undivided loyalty. Our clients entrust us with their financial well-being and expect us to always act in their best interests. Over the course of our Companys history, we have earned a reputation for fair dealing, honesty, candor, objectivity and unbending integrity. This has been possible by conducting our business on a set of shared values and principles of trust.
In order to educate our personnel, protect our reputation, and ensure that our tradition of integrity remains as a principle by which we conduct business, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. ( T. Rowe Price, TRP, Price Group or Group ) has adopted this Code of Ethics and Conduct (Code). Our Code establishes standards of conduct that we expect each associate to fully understand and agree to adopt. As we are in a highly regulated industry, we are governed by an ever-increasing body of federal, state, and international laws as well as countless rules and regulations which, if not observed, can subject the firm and its employees to regulatory sanctions. All associates are expected to comply with all laws and regulations applicable to T. Rowe Price business. In total, our Code contains 31 separate Standards of Conduct as well as the following six separate Statements of Policy:
1. | Statement of Policy on Gifts and Business Entertainment |
2. | Statement of Policy on Material, Inside (Non-Public) Information |
3. | Statement of Policy on Securities Transactions |
4. | Statement of Policy with Respect to Systems Security and Related Issues |
5. | Statement of Policy on Compliance with Antitrust Laws |
6. | Statement of Policies and Procedures on Privacy |
A copy of this Code will be retained by the Code Administration and Regulatory Reporting Group in Baltimore ( Code Compliance Section ) for five years from the date it is last in effect. While the Code is intended to provide you with guidance and certainty as to whether or not certain actions or practices are permissible, it does not cover every issue that you may face. The firm maintains other compliance-oriented manuals and handbooks that may be directly applicable to your specific responsibilities and duties. Nevertheless, the Code should be viewed as a guide for you and the firm as to how we jointly must conduct our business to live up to our guiding tenet that the interests of our clients and customers must always come first.
Each new employee will be provided with a copy of the current Code and all employees have access to the current Code, which is posted on the intranet. Each employee will be required to provide Price Group with a written acknowledgement of his or her understanding of the Code and its amendments on at least an annual basis. All written acknowledgements will be retained as required by the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the Advisers Act ).
1-1
Please read the Code carefully and observe and adhere to its guidance.
Persons and Entities Subject to the Code . Unless otherwise determined by the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee, the following entities and individuals are subject to the Code:
| Price Group |
| The subsidiaries and affiliates of Price Group |
| The officers, directors and employees of Group and its affiliates and subsidiaries |
Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms T. Rowe Price, Price Group and Group refer to Price Group and all its affiliates and subsidiaries.
In addition, the following persons are subject to the Code:
1. | All temporary workers hired on the Price Group payroll ( TRP Temporaries ); |
2. | All agency temporaries whose assignments at Price Group exceed four weeks or whose cumulative assignments exceed eight weeks over a twelve-month period; |
3. | All independent or agency-provided consultants whose assignments exceed four weeks or whose cumulative assignments exceed eight weeks over a twelve-month period and whose work is closely related to the ongoing work of Price Group employees (versus project work that stands apart from ongoing work); and |
4. | Any contingent worker whose assignment is more than casual in nature or who will be exposed to the kinds of information and situations that would create conflicts on matter covered in the Code. |
The independent directors of Price Group and the Price Funds are subject to the principles of the Code generally and to specific provisions of the Code as noted.
Definition of Supervised Persons . Under the Advisers Act, the officers, directors (or other persons occupying a similar status or performing similar functions) and employees of the Price Advisers, as well as any other persons who provide advice on behalf of a Price Adviser and are subject to the Price Advisers supervision and control are Supervised Persons .
Status as a Fiduciary . Several of Price Groups subsidiaries are investment advisers registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ( SEC ). These include T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. ( TRPA ), T. Rowe Price International Ltd. ( TRPIL ), T. Rowe Price Advisory Services, Inc. ( TRPAS ), T. Rowe Price (Canada), Inc. ( TRP Canada ), T. Rowe Price Singapore Private Ltd. ( TRPSING ) and T. Rowe Price Hong Kong Limited ( TRPHK ).
1-2
TRPIL is also registered with the United Kingdoms Financial Conduct Authority ( FCA ).
TRPIL is also subject to regulation by the Financial Services Association/Kanto Local Finance Bureau ( KLFB ) (Japan) as well as the Dubai Financial Services Authority (in respect of its DFIC Representative Office.
TRPHK is also registered with the Securities and Futures Commission ( SFC ) (Hong Kong).
TRPSING is also registered with the Monetary Authority of Singapore ( MAS ) (Singapore).
TRP Canada is also registered with the Ontario Securities Commission, the Manitoba Securities Commission, the British Columbia Securities Commission, the Saskatchewan Financial Services Commission, the Nova Scotia Securities Commission, the New Brunswick Securities Commission, the Financial Markets Authority (Quebec) and the Alberta Securities Commission.
All advisers affiliated with Group will be referred to collectively as the Price Advisers unless the context otherwise requires. The Price Advisers will register with additional securities regulators as required by their respective businesses. The primary responsibility of the Price Advisers is to render to their advisory clients on a professional basis unbiased advice regarding their clients investments. As investment advisers, the Price Advisers have a fiduciary relationship with all of their clients, which means that they have an absolute duty of undivided loyalty, fairness and good faith toward their clients and mutual fund shareholders and a corresponding obligation to refrain from taking any action or seeking any benefit for themselves which would, or which would appear to, prejudice the rights of any client or shareholder or conflict with his or her best interests.
Adviser Act Requirements for Supervised Persons . The Advisers Act requires investment advisers to adopt codes that:
| establish a standard of business conduct, applicable to Supervised Persons, reflecting the fiduciary obligations of the adviser and its Supervised Persons; |
| require Supervised Persons to comply with all applicable securities laws, including: |
| Securities Act of 1933 |
| Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
| Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 |
| Investment Company Act of 1940 |
| Investment Advisers Act of 1940 |
| Gramm-Leach-Bliley Privacy Act |
| Any rules adopted by the SEC under any of the foregoing Acts; and |
| Bank Secrecy Act as it applies to mutual funds and investment advisers and any |
rules adopted under that Act by the SEC or the United States Department of the Treasury;
| require Supervised Persons to report violations of the code promptly to the advisers Chief Compliance Officer or his or her designee if the Chief Compliance Officer also receives reports of all violations; and |
| require the adviser to provide each Supervised Person with a copy of the code and any amendments and requiring Supervised Persons to provide the adviser with written acknowledgement of receipt of the code and any amendments. |
1-3
Price Group applies these requirements to all persons subject to the Code, including all Supervised Persons.
NASDAQ Requirements . Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. ( NASDAQ ) rules require listed companies to adopt a Code of Conduct for all directors, officers, and employees. Price Group is listed on NASDAQ. This Code is designed to fulfill this NASDAQ requirement. A waiver of this Code for an executive officer or director of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. must be granted by Groups Board of Directors and reported as required by the pertinent NASDAQ rule.
What the Code Does Not Cover . The Code was not written for the purpose of covering all policies, rules and regulations to which personnel may be subject. For example, T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc. ( Investment Services ) is regulated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ( FINRA ) and, as such, is required to maintain written supervisory procedures to enable it to supervise the activities of its registered representatives and associated persons to ensure compliance with applicable securities laws and regulations and with the applicable rules of FINRA. In addition, TRPIL and TRP Canada are subject to several non-U.S. regulatory authorities as described on page 1-3 of this Code.
Sarbanes-Oxley Codes . The principal Executive and Senior Financial Officers of Price Group and the Price Funds are also subject to codes (collectively the S-O Codes ) adopted to bring these entities into compliance with the applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 ( Sarbanes-Oxley Act ). These S-O Codes, which are available along with this Code on the firms intranet site, are supplementary to this Code, but administered separately from it and each other.
Compliance Procedures for Funds and Federal Advisers . Under rule 38a-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, each fund board is required to adopt written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent the fund from violating federal securities laws. These procedures must provide for the oversight of compliance by the funds advisers, principal underwriters, administrators and transfer agents. Under Rule 206(4)-7 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, it is unlawful for an investment adviser to provide investment advice unless it has adopted and implemented policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violations of federal securities laws by the adviser and its supervised persons.
Compliance with the Code . Strict compliance with the provisions of this Code is considered a basic condition of employment or
association with the firm. An employee may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination, for refusing to cooperate with an internal or external investigation. An employee may be required to surrender any profit realized from a transaction that is deemed to be in violation of the Code. In addition, a breach of the Code may constitute grounds for disciplinary action, including fines and dismissal from employment. Employees may appeal to the Management Committee any ruling or decision rendered with respect to the Code. The names of the members of the Management Committee are included in Appendix A to this Code.
1-4
Questions Regarding the Code . Questions regarding the Code should be referred as follows:
1. | Standards of Conduct of Price Group and Its Personnel: the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee, the Director of Human Resources, or the TRP International Compliance Team. |
2. | Statement of Policy on Gifts and Business Entertainment: the Legal Department or the TRP International Compliance Team. |
3. | Statement of Policy on Material, Inside (Non-Public) Information: the Legal Department or the TRP International Compliance Team. |
4. | Statement of Policy on Securities Transactions: For U.S. personnel: the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee or his or her designee; for International personnel: the TRP International Compliance Team. |
5. | Statement of Policy with Respect to Systems Security and Related Issues: Enterprise Security, the Legal Department or the TRP International Compliance Team. |
6. | Statement of Policy on Compliance with Antitrust Laws: Legal Department. |
7. | Statement of Policies and Procedures on Privacy: Legal Department or the TRP International Compliance Team. |
For additional information, consult Appendix A following the Standards of Conduct section of the Code.
1-5
STANDARDS OF CONDUCT OF PRICE GROUP AND ITS PERSONNEL
Allocation of Brokerage Policy . The policies of each of the Price Advisers with respect to the allocation of client brokerage are set forth in Part 2A of Form ADV of each of the Price Advisers. The Form ADV is each Price Advisers registration statement filed with the SEC. It is imperative that all employees, especially those who are in a position to make recommendations regarding brokerage allocation or who are authorized to select brokers that will execute securities transactions on behalf of our clients, read and become fully knowledgeable concerning our policies in this regard. Any questions regarding any of the Price Advisers allocation policies for client brokerage should be addressed to the designated contact person of the Equity or Fixed Income Committee, as appropriate (s ee APPENDIX A).
Annual Compliance Certification . Each year, each person subject to the Code ( see page 1-2) is required to complete an Annual Compliance Certification (ACC) regarding his or her compliance with various provisions of this Code, including its policies on personal securities transactions and material, inside information. In addition, the ACC asks a variety of questions regarding potential conflicts of interests relating to relationships of each person and their family members with various entities, including but not limited to, clients, broker-dealers, non-profit organizations, and vendors. Please notify Code Compliance (via the Code of Ethics mailbox) should any responses to these questions change during the subsequent calendar year. Each Access Person (defined on page 5-3), except the independent directors of the Price Funds, must file an Initial Holdings Report ( see page 5-30) as well as complete the ACC which will include a reporting and certification of securities accounts and holdings.
Anti-Bribery Laws and Prohibitions Against Illegal Payments . State, United States, and international laws prohibit the payment of bribes, kickbacks, inducements or other illegal gratuities or payments by or on behalf of Price Group. Price Group, through its policies and practices, is committed to comply fully with these laws. T. Rowe Price prohibits its employees as well as anyone acting on its behalf from making any type of illegal payment. The U.S Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ( FCPA ) makes it a crime to directly or indirectly pay, promise to pay, offer to pay or authorize the payment of any money or anything of value to any government official in connection with obtaining or retaining business or influencing such official in order to secure an improper advantage. The term government official is broadly defined to include any officer or employee of a government or any department, agency, or instrumentality thereof, or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any such government or department, agency, or instrumentality thereof, or for or on behalf of any such public international organization, and any political party, party official or candidate for public office.
Additionally, the U.K Bribery Act 2010 ( the Bribery Act ) contains wide prohibitions on illegal payments and specifically prohibits bribery between private parties. Also, the Bribery Act provides for severe civil and criminal penalties against individuals and corporations.
Under these Anti-bribery laws, actions constituting a bribe or illegal payment are interpreted broadly and could include excessive, repeated or lavish entertainment and/or gifts. Associates must adhere to the guidelines of gift and business entertainment policies and, if required by the applicable policy, indicate in the reporting process whether a recipient of a gift or business entertainment is a government official.
2-1
If you are solicited to make or receive an illegal payment or have any questions about this section of the Code, you should contact the Legal Department. Also, an anonymous Hotline (888-651-6223) has been established for employees to report any concerns they have regarding illegal payments, including potential violations of the FCPA and the Bribery Act.
Antitrust . The United States antitrust laws are designed to ensure fair competition and preserve the free enterprise system. The United Kingdom and the European Union have requirements based on similar principals. Some of the most common antitrust issues with which an employee may be confronted are in the areas of pricing (adviser fees) and trade association activity. To ensure its employees understanding of these laws, Price Group has adopted a Statement of Policy on Compliance with Antitrust Laws. All employees should read and understand this Statement ( see page 7-1).
Anti-Money Laundering . Certain subsidiaries of Price Group are subject to the laws and regulations of the United States, United Kingdom and the other jurisdictions in which they do business regarding the prevention and detection of money laundering. For example, under the U.S. Patriot Act, the affected subsidiaries must develop internal policies, procedures and controls to combat money laundering, designate a Compliance Officer for the anti-money laundering program, implement employee training in this area, and ensure that an independent review of the adequacy of controls and procedures in this area occurs annually. In addition, the anti-money laundering program must include a Customer Identification Program ( CIP ). Each of these entities has specific procedures in this area, by which its employees must abide.
Appropriate Conduct . Associates are expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate and responsible manner in the workplace, when on company business outside the office, and at company-sponsored events. Inappropriate behavior reflects poorly on the associate and may impact TRP. Supervisors should be especially mindful that they should set the standard for appropriate behavior.
Charitable Contributions . Employees should be sensitive to a possible perception of undue influence before making or requesting charitable contributions to or from a client, prospect, vendor, or other business contact. Under certain Anti-bribery laws, regulators may consider charitable contributions to be improper payments, even when the person who has requested that the contribution be made receives no direct monetary benefit. Accordingly, when making charitable contributions in response to requests from business contacts, associates must be mindful of how Anti-bribery laws could be implicated. In no case should charitable contributions be made on a quid pro quo basis.
Supervision of Charitable Contribution Requests. Supervisors, managers and, as appropriate, Division Heads are responsible for ensuring that responses to requests from clients, vendors, and other business contact and our requests to clients, vendors, and other business contacts for charitable contributions comply with these guidelines as well as respective departmental policies. Charitable contributions should be considered as separate and distinct from marketing and advertising expenditures. If you have any questions about a proposed charitable contribution, you should contact the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee before proceeding.
2-2
Requests Received from Clients, Vendors or Other Business Contacts for Corporate Charitable Contributions. On occasion, a T. Rowe Price entity may be asked by an employee of a client, vendor, or other business contact to make a charitable donation. In those instances where the T. Rowe Price Foundation does not make the contribution, the decision about the charitable contribution is made by the T. Rowe Price entity, subject to the following conditions:
| the amount of charitable contribution may not be linked to the actual or anticipated level of business with the client, vendor or other business contact whose employee is soliciting the charitable contribution; |
| there is no reason to believe that the employee requesting the contribution will derive an improper economic or pecuniary benefit as a result of the proposed contribution; |
| if the T. Rowe Price entity considering the contribution is unfamiliar with the charity, its personnel should confirm with the Central Control Group that the charity does not appear on the Office of Foreign Assets Controls Specially Designated Nationals List; |
| the contribution should be made payable directly to the charity; and |
| the personnel of the T. Rowe Price entity considering the contribution should check with Finance to determine the appropriate T. Rowe Price entity to make the contribution. |
In addition, if the requested amount exceeds $1,000 the request must be referred to the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee for prior approval.
Some broker/dealers sponsor days, often referred to as miracle days, where they pledge that proceeds received on that day will be donated to a specific charity. Because of fiduciary and best execution obligations, the Price Advisers cannot agree to direct trades to a broker/dealer in support of such an event at either a clients or the broker/dealers request. The Price Advisers are not prohibited, however, from placing trades for best execution that happen to occur on a miracle day or similar time and thus benefit a charity.
Requests Received from Clients, Vendors or Other Business Contacts for Personal Charitable Contributions. On occasion, a T. Rowe Price employee may be asked by an employee of a client, vendor or other business contact to make a charitable contribution. If the employee makes a contribution directly to the charity and the contribution is not made in the name of or for the benefit of the business contact, no Code of Ethics and Conduct or FINRA issues arise. For example, a plan fiduciary might mention that her husband has recently recovered from a heart problem and that she is raising funds for a charity that supports cardiac research. The T. Rowe Price employee can make a personal contribution to that charity and if the contribution is not tied to the name of the business contact and does not create a benefit for her, the employee does not need to request prior clearance of or notify T. Rowe Price about the contribution.
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However, personal charitable contributions, made in the name of and for the benefit of a business contact should be treated as gifts to the business contact. For example, if the business contact raises a certain amount of money, he or she gets a tangible award or opportunity like the chance to participate in a marathon. For business contacts related to T. Rowe Price fund business or other broker/dealer-related business, contributions of the latter type are subject to FINRAs $100 limit. For other business activities not regulated by FINRA, contributions in excess of $100 must be approved by the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee before they are given.
Requests to Clients, Vendors, or Other Business Contacts for Charitable Contributions. Employees should be sensitive to a possible perception of undue influence before requesting a client, vendor, or other business contact or an employee of such an entity to make a charitable contribution. In no case should such a request be made on a quid pro quo basis. If you have any questions about requesting a charitable contribution, you should contact the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee before proceeding.
NASDAQ Listing Rules. Under the NASDAQ listing rules, specific restrictions may apply to contributions to a charitable organization for which an independent director of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. serves as an officer. Specifically, contributions to such organizations during a fiscal year may not exceed the higher of five percent of the organizations revenues or $200,000. Contributions in excess of these thresholds may invalidate a directors independent classification.
Systems Security . Computer systems and programs play a central role in Price Groups operations. To establish appropriate systems security to minimize potential for loss or disruptions to our computer operations, Price Group has adopted a Statement of Policy with Respect to Systems Security and Related Issues. You should read and understand this Statement ( see page 6-1).
Conflicts of Interest . All employees must avoid placing themselves in a compromising position where their interests may be in conflict with those of Price Group or its clients.
Relationships with Profitmaking Enterprises . Depending upon the circumstances, an employee may be prohibited from creating or maintaining a relationship with a profitmaking enterprise. In all cases, written approval must be obtained as described below.
General Prohibitions . Employees are generally prohibited from serving as officers or directors of any issuer (company) that is approved or likely to be approved for purchase in our firms client accounts. In addition, an employee may not accept or continue outside employment that will require him or her to become registered (or duly registered) as a representative of an unaffiliated broker/dealer, investment adviser or insurance broker or company unless approval to do so is first obtained in writing from the Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) of the broker/dealer. An employee also may not become independently registered as an investment adviser.
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Approval Process . Any outside business activity, which may include a second job, appointment as an officer or director of or a member of an advisory board to a for-profit enterprise, or self-employment, must be approved in writing by the employees supervisor. If the employee is a registered representative of T. Rowe Price Investment Services (TRPIS), he or she must provide the Legal Registration Group with written notice. Any reported outside business activity of a registered representative is reviewed by the TRPIS Chief Compliance Officer, or designee, in order to determine if disclosure to FINRA is required.
Review by Ethics Committee . If an employee contemplates obtaining an interest or relationship that might conflict or appear to conflict with the interest of Price Group, he or she must also receive the prior written approval of the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee or his or her designee and, as appropriate, the Ethics Committee itself. Examples of relationships that might create a conflict or appear to create a conflict of interest may include appointment as a director, officer or partner of or member of an advisory board to an outside profitmaking enterprise, employment by another firm in the securities industry, or self-employment in an investment capacity. Decisions by the Ethics Committee regarding such positions in outside profitmaking enterprises may be reviewed by the Management Committee before becoming final. See below for a discussion of relationships with financial services firms.
Approved Service as Director or Similar Position . Certain employees may serve as directors or as members of creditor committees or in similar positions for non-public, for-profit entities in connection with their professional activities at the firm. An employee must receive the written permission of the Management Committee before accepting such a position and must relinquish the position if the entity becomes publicly held, unless otherwise determined by the Management Committee.
Service with Nonprofitmaking Organizations . Price Group encourages its employees to become involved in community programs and civic affairs. However, employees should not permit such activities to affect the performance of their job responsibilities.
Approval Process . The approval process for service with a non-profitmaking organization varies depending upon the activity undertaken.
By Supervisor . An employee must receive the approval of his or her supervisor in writing before accepting a position as an officer, trustee, or member of the Board of Directors of any non-profit organization.
By Ethics Committee Chairperson . If there is any possibility that the organization will issue and/or sell securities, the employee must also receive the written approval of the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee or his or her designee and, as appropriate, the Chief Compliance Officer of the broker/dealer before accepting the position.
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Although individuals serving as officers, Board members or trustees for non-profitmaking entities that will not issue or sell securities do not need to receive this additional approval, they must be sensitive to potential conflict of interest situations ( e.g., the entity is considering entering a business relationship with a T. Rowe Price entity) and must contact the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee for guidance if such a situation arises.
Relationships with Financial Service Firms . In order to avoid any actual or apparent conflicts of interest, employees are prohibited from investing in or entering into any relationship, either directly or indirectly, with corporations, partnerships, or other entities that are engaged in business as a broker, a dealer, an underwriter, and/or an investment adviser. As described above, this prohibition generally extends to registration and/or licensure with an unaffiliated firm. This prohibition, however, is not meant to prevent employees from purchasing publicly traded securities of broker/dealers, investment advisers or other companies engaged in the mutual fund industry. Of course, all such purchases are subject to prior transaction clearance and reporting procedures, as applicable. This policy also does not preclude an employee from engaging an outside investment adviser to manage his or her assets.
If any member of employees immediate family is employed by, or has a partnership interest in a broker/dealer, investment adviser, or other entity engaged in the mutual fund industry, the relationship must be reported to the Ethics Committee.
An ownership interest of 0.5% or more in any entity, including a broker/dealer, investment adviser or other company engaged in the mutual fund industry, must be reported to the Code Compliance Section ( see page 5-29).
Relationships with a Bank . In order to avoid any regulatory conflicts of interests associated with an outside business activity associated with a bank, employees are required to obtain prior written approval before engaging in any outside business activity with a bank.
Approval Process. Any outside business activity with a bank, such as a second job, must be approved in writing by the employees supervisor and by the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee, or his designee.
Existing Relationships with Potential Vendors . If an employee is going to be involved in the selection of a vendor to supply goods or services to the firm, he or she must disclose the existence of any on-going personal or family relationship with any principal of the vendor to the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee in writing before becoming involved in the selection process.
Investment in Client/Vendor Company Stock . In some instances, existing or prospective clients ( e.g ., clients with full-service relationships with T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services, Inc.) or vendors ask to speak to our portfolio managers and/or analysts who have responsibility for a Price Fund or other managed account in an effort to promote investment in their securities. While these meetings present an opportunity to learn more about the client/vendor and may therefore be helpful to Price, employees must be aware of the potential conflicts presented by such meetings. In order to avoid any actual or apparent conflicts of interest:
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| employees are prohibited from providing any internal information ( e.g , internal ratings or plans for future Price fund or other client account purchases) to the client or vendor regarding the securities, except to the extent specifically authorized by the Legal Department or otherwise allowed by the Code under the sections entitled Investment Research and Information about the Price Funds ( see page 2-9), and |
| investment decisions of employees regarding a clients or vendors securities must be made independently of the client or vendor relationship and cannot be based on any express or implied quid pro quo. If a situation arises where a client has suggested that it is considering either expanding or eliminating its relationship with Price (or, in the case of a vendor, offering a more or less favorable pricing structure) based upon whether Price increases purchases of the clients or vendors securities, the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee should be consulted immediately for guidance. |
In addition, the use of information derived from such meetings with existing or prospective clients or vendors must conform to the Statement of Policy on Material, Inside (Non-Public) Information , which is part of this Code ( see page 4-1).
Conflicts in Connection with Proxy Voting . If a portfolio manager or analyst with the authority to vote a proxy or recommend a proxy vote for a security owned by a Price Fund or a client of a Price Adviser has an immediate family member who is an officer or director or has a material business relationship with the issuer of the security, the portfolio manager or analyst should inform the Proxy Committee of the relationship so that the Proxy Committee can assess any conflict of interest that may affect whether the proxy should or should not be voted in accordance with the firms proxy voting policies.
Confidentiality . The exercise of confidentiality extends to the major areas of our operations, including internal operating procedures and planning; clients, fund shareholders and TRP Brokerage customers; investment advice; investment research; employee information and contractual obligations to protect third party confidential information. The duty to exercise confidentiality applies not only while an individual is associated with the firm, but also after he or she terminates that association.
Internal Operating Procedures and Planning . During the years we have been in business, a great deal of creative talent has been used to develop specialized and unique methods of operations and portfolio management. In many cases, we feel these methods give us an advantage over our competitors and we do not want these ideas disseminated outside our firm. Accordingly, you should be guarded in discussing our business practices with outsiders. Any requests from outsiders for specific information of this type should be cleared with the appropriate supervisor before it is released.
Also, from time to time management holds meetings in which material, non-public information concerning the firms future plans is disclosed. You should never discuss confidential information with, or provide copies of written material concerning the firms internal operating procedures or projections for the future to, unauthorized persons outside the firm.
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Clients, Fund Shareholders, and TRP Brokerage Customers . In many instances, when clients subscribe to our services, we ask them to fully disclose their financial status and needs. This is done only after we have assured them that every member of our organization will hold this information in strict confidence. It is essential that we respect their trust. A simple rule for you to follow is that the names of our clients, fund shareholders, or TRP Brokerage customers or any information pertaining to their investments must never be divulged to anyone outside the firm, not even to members of their immediate families, without appropriate authorization, and must never be used as a basis for personal trades over which you have beneficial interest or control.
Third Parties . In contracts with vendors and other third parties with which we have business dealings, the firm may enter into obligations to protect the confidentiality of information received from third parties. Such information may include software, business information concerning the third party or the terms and pricing of the contractual arrangement. This information must be protected in the same manner that the firms own confidential information is protected.
In addition, the firm has adopted a specific Statement of Policies and Procedures on Privacy , which is part of this Code ( see page 8-1).
Investment Advice . Because of the fine reputation our firm enjoys, there is a great deal of public interest in what we are doing in the market. There are two major considerations that dictate why we must not provide investment tips:
| From the point of view of our clients, it is not fair to give other people information which clients must purchase. |
| From the point of view of the firm, it is not desirable to create an outside demand for a stock when we are trying to buy it for our clients, as this will only serve to push the price up. The reverse is true if we are selling. Therefore, disclosure of our trading interests could have a negative impact on the firms ability to execute trades at the best price. |
In light of these considerations, you must never disclose to outsiders our buy and sell recommendations, current orders or recent transactions, securities we are considering for future investment, or the portfolio holdings of our clients or mutual funds without specific firm authorization.
The practice of giving investment advice informally to members of your immediate family should be restricted to very close relatives. Any transactions resulting from such advice are subject to the prior transaction clearance (Access persons only except for Price Group stock transactions, which require prior transaction clearance by all personnel) and reporting requirements (Access Persons and Non-Access Persons) of the Statement of Policy on Securities Transactions. Under no circumstances should you receive compensation directly or indirectly (other than from a Price Adviser or an affiliate) for rendering advice to either clients or non-clients.
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Investment Research . Any report circulated by a research analyst is confidential in its entirety and should not be reproduced or shown to anyone outside of our organization, except our clients where appropriate. If a circumstance arises where it may be appropriate to share this information otherwise, the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee should be consulted first.
Employee Information . For business and regulatory purposes, the firm collects and maintains information ( e.g., social security number, date of birth, home address) about its employees, temporaries and consultants. You may not use such information for any non-business or non-regulatory purpose or disclose it to anyone outside the firm without specific authorization from the Legal Department or the TRP International Compliance Team.
Information About the Price Funds . The Price Funds have adopted policies and procedures with respect to the selective disclosure of information about the Price Funds and their portfolio holdings. These are set forth on the firms intranet under Departments/Corporate/Legal/TRP Policy and Procedures Documents/Legal/Mutual Funds/Portfolio Information Release Policy and Matrix of Supplementary Fund Data. All Associates are charged with informing themselves of, and adhering to, these Policies and Procedures and may not release any information about the Price Funds that would be harmful to the Price Funds or their shareholders.
Understanding as to Clients Accounts and Company Records at Time of Termination of Association . The accounts of clients, mutual fund shareholders, and TRP Brokerage customers are not the property of any employee; they are accounts of one of Price Groups affiliates. This includes the accounts of clients for which one or more of the Price Advisers acts as investment adviser, regardless of how or through whom the client relationship originated and regardless of who may be the counselor for a particular client. At the time of termination of association with Price Group, you must: (1) surrender to Price Group in good condition all materials, reports or records (including all copies in your possession or subject to your control) developed by you or any other person that are considered confidential information of Price Group; and (2) refrain from communicating, transmitting or making known to any person or firm any information relating to any materials or matters whatsoever that are considered by Price Group to be confidential.
HIPAA . The firms Flexible Benefits Plan has adopted a specific Privacy Notice regarding the personal health information of participants in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). A copy of the HIPAA Privacy Notice can be found on the firms intranet under Departments/Corporate/Human Resources/Benefits/HIPAA Privacy Notice.
Expense Payments and Reimbursements . As a general rule, T. Rowe Price will not pay or reimburse expenses, such as travel, accommodation and meals, to a business contact and will not accept payment or reimbursement from a business contact for those types of expenses. Exceptions may only be granted with approval of the employees supervisor and Division Head and the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee. Business units may adopt policies and procedures that permit T. Rowe Price to pay or reimburse expenses incurred by business contacts for attendance at certain T. Rowe Price sponsored events. Such policies and procedures must
contain provisions that describe the circumstances in which such payments are allowed and the controls and conditions that will apply. Additionally, the policies and procedures must be approved by the Division Head and the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee. This general rule does not apply to business entertainment which is covered in the Statement of Policy on Gifts and Business Entertainment beginning on page 3-1.
Financial Reporting . Price Groups records are maintained in a manner that provides for an accurate record of all financial transactions in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. No false or deceptive entries may be made and all entries must contain an appropriate description of the underlying transaction. All reports, vouchers, bills, invoices, payroll and service records and other essential data must be accurate, honest and timely and should provide an accurate and complete representation of the facts. The Audit Committee of Price Group has adopted specific procedures regarding the receipt, retention and treatment of certain auditing and accounting complaints. Refer to Responsibility to Report Violations on page 2-16.
Gifts and Business Entertainment . The firm has adopted a comprehensive policy on providing and receiving gifts and business entertainment, which is found in the Code in the Statement of Policy on Gifts and Business Entertainment. All employees should read and understand this Statement ( see page 3-1).
Human Resources . You should consult the appropriate Associate Handbook for more information on the policies discussed in this section and other Human Resources policies.
Equal Opportunity . Price Group is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity (EEO) and the maximum optimization of our associates abilities. We believe our continued success depends on the equal treatment of all employees and applicants without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship status, veteran status, pregnancy, or any other classification protected by federal, state or local laws.
This commitment to Equal Opportunity covers all aspects of the employment relationship including recruitment, application and initial employment, promotion, transfer, training and development, compensation, and benefits.
All associates of T. Rowe Price are expected to comply with the spirit and intent of our Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.
If you feel you have not been treated in accordance with this policy, contact your immediate supervisor, the appropriate Price Group manager or a Human Resources representative. No retaliation will be taken against you if you report an incident of alleged discrimination in good faith.
Drug and Alcohol Policy . Price Group is committed to providing a drug-free workplace and preventing alcohol abuse in the workplace. Drug and alcohol misuse and abuse affect the health, safety, and well-being of all Price Group employees and customers and restrict the firms ability to carry out its mission. Personnel must perform job duties unimpaired by illegal drugs or the improper use of legal drugs or alcohol.
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Policy Against Harassment and Discrimination . Price Group is committed to providing a safe working environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. Associates have the right to enjoy a workplace that is conducive to high performance, promotes equal opportunity, and prohibits discrimination and harassment.
Price Group will not tolerate harassment, discrimination, or other types of inappropriate behavior directed by or toward an associate, supervisor/manager, contractor, vendor, customer, visitor, or other business partner. Accordingly, the firm will not tolerate harassment or intimidation of any associate based on race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship status, veteran status, pregnancy, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. In addition, Price Group does not tolerate slurs, threats, intimidation, or any similar written, verbal, physical, or computer-related conduct that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward any individual. Harassment will not be tolerated on our property or in any other work-related setting such as business-sponsored social events or business trips.
If you are found to have engaged in conduct inconsistent with this policy, you will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including, termination of employment.
Health and Safety in the Workplace . Price Group recognizes its responsibility to provide personnel a safe and healthful workplace and proper facilities to help them perform their jobs effectively.
Use of Employee Likenesses and Information . Employees consent to the use of their names, biographical information, images, job descriptions and other relevant business data for any work-related purpose. A work-related purpose includes any T. Rowe Price sponsored community or charitable event.
Employment of Former Government and Self-Regulatory Organization Employees . United States laws and regulations govern the employment of former employees of the U.S. Government and its agencies, including the SEC. In addition, certain states have adopted similar statutory restrictions. Finally, certain states and municipalities that are clients of the Price Advisers have imposed contractual restrictions in this regard. Before any action is taken to discuss employment by Price Group of a former government or regulatory or self-regulatory organization employee, whether in the United States or internationally, guidance must be obtained from the Legal Department.
Inside Information . The purchase or sale of securities while in possession of material, inside information is prohibited by U.S., U.K., and other international, state and other governmental laws and regulations. Information is considered inside and material if it has not been publicly disclosed and is sufficiently important that it would affect the decision of a reasonable person to buy, sell or hold securities in an issuer, including Price Group. Under no circumstances may you transmit such information to any other person, except to Price Group personnel who are required to be kept informed on the subject. You should read and understand the Statement of Policy on Material, Inside (Non-Public) Information ( see page 4-1).
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Investment Clubs . The following discussion of obligations of Access Persons does not apply to the independent directors of the Price Funds. Access Persons must receive the prior clearance of the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee or his or her designee before forming or participating in a stock or investment club. Transactions in which Access Persons have beneficial ownership or control ( see page 5-4) through investment clubs are subject to the firms Statement of Policy on Securities Transactions. As described on page 5-3, approval to form or participate in a stock or investment club may permit the execution of securities transactions without prior transaction clearance by the Access Person, except transactions in Price Group stock, if the Access Person has beneficial ownership solely by virtue of his or her spouses participation in the club and has no investment control or input into decisions regarding the clubs securities transactions. Non-Access Persons (defined on page 5-4) do not have to receive prior clearance to form or participate in a stock or investment club and need only obtain prior clearance of transactions in Price Group stock.
Marketing and Sales Activities . All written and oral marketing materials and presentations (including performance data) (e.g., advertisements; sales literature) must be in compliance with applicable SEC, FINRA, Global Investment Performance Standards ( GIPS ), FCA, and other applicable international requirements. All such materials (whether for the Price Funds, non-Price funds, or various advisory or Brokerage services) must be reviewed and approved by the Legal Department or the TRP International compliance Team, as appropriate, prior to use. All performance data distributed outside the firm, including total return and yield information, must be obtained from databases sponsored by the Performance Group.
Outside Business Activities . Please refer to the Conflicts of Interest section ( see page 2-4) cited earlier in this Standards of Conduct section of the Code.
Past and Current Litigation and Inquiries from Regulators or Governmental Organizations . As a condition of employment, each new employee is required to answer a questionnaire regarding past and current civil (including arbitrations) and criminal actions and certain regulatory matters. Price Group uses the information obtained through these questionnaires to answer questions asked on governmental and self-regulatory organization registration forms and for insurance and bonding purposes.
Each employee is responsible for keeping questionnaire responses pertaining to past and current civil (including arbitrations) and criminal actions and certain regulatory matters updated (notify Legal Compliance). An employee should notify Human Resources and either the Legal Department or the TRP International Compliance Team promptly if he or she:
| Becomes the subject of any proceeding or is convicted of or pleads guilty or no contest to or agrees to enter a pretrial diversion program relating to any felony or misdemeanor or similar criminal charge in a United States (federal, state, or local), foreign or military court, or |
| Becomes the subject of a Regulatory Action, which includes any action by the SEC, the FCA, the SFC, the MAS, the KLFB, The Netherland Authority for the Financial Markets, the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority, the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority, the CSSF, and the Ontario, Manitoba, British Columbia and Alberta Securities Commissions, a state, a foreign government, a federal, state or foreign regulatory agency or any domestic or foreign self-regulatory organization relating to securities or investment activities, dishonesty, breach of trust, or money laundering as well as any court proceeding that has or could result in a judicial finding of a violation of statutes or regulations related to such activities or in an injunction in connection with any such activities, |
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| Receives an inquiry from any regulator or governmental authority. |
Political Activities and Contributions . Price Group and its subsidiaries as well as their employees are subject to various federal, state and local laws regarding political contributions. These regulations can restrict the ability of the firm and its employees to make political contributions. In particular, the SEC has adopted Rule 206(4)-5 of the Advisers Act, known as the Pay to Play rule. The rule was adopted to address pay-to-play practices under which direct or indirect payments by investment advisers, and certain of their executive or employees, to state and local government officials in the United States may be perceived to improperly influence the award of government investment business. Generally, the Rule prohibit an investment adviser from providing advisory services for compensation to a government entity client for two years after the adviser or certain of its executives or employees make a contribution over a de minimis amount to certain elected officials or candidates. The Rule affects T. Rowe Price and its employees because government entities use the firms advisory services and also invest in T. Rowe Price mutual funds.
The firm has adopted a Statement of Policy Regarding Political Contributions (the Political Contributions Policy or Policy ) to comply with the SEC rule and other applicable laws and requirements. Under the Policy, all T. Rowe Price associates globally are required to prior clear proposed political contributions, as defined in the Policy, to any candidate, officeholder, political party, Political Action Committee ( PAC ), political organization, or bond ballot campaign in the United States. Additionally, associates are generally prohibited from coordinating, or soliciting third parties to make, a contribution or payment to any candidate, officeholder, political party, PAC, political organization, or bond ballot campaign in the United States. Additionally, associates are prohibited from doing anything indirectly that, if done directly, would violate this Policy.
Any questions about the Political Contributions Policy should be directed to the Political Contribution Requests mailbox.
In addition to the requirements imposed by the SEC rule, all U.S.-based officers and directors of Price Group and its subsidiaries are required to disclose certain Maryland local and state political contributions on a semi-annual basis and certain Pennsylvania political contributions on an annual basis. Certain employees associated with Investment Services are subject to limitations on and additional reporting requirements about their political contributions under Rule G-37 of the United States Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board ( MSRB ). Furthermore, the firm and/or some employees are subject to additional restrictions because of client contractual stipulations.
United States law prohibits corporate contributions to campaign elections for federal office ( e.g., U.S. Senate and House of Representatives). The SEC rule effectively prohibits corporate contributions by the firm to state and local elections.
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No political contribution of corporate funds, direct or indirect, to any political candidate or party, or to any other program that might use the contribution for a political candidate or party, or use of corporate property, services or other assets may be made without the written prior approval of the Legal Department. These prohibitions cover not only direct contributions, but also indirect assistance or support of candidates or political parties through purchase of tickets to special dinners or other fundraising events, or the furnishing of any other goods, services or equipment to political parties or committees. Neither Price Group nor its employees or independent directors may make a political contribution for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business with government entities.
T. Rowe Price does not reimburse employees for making contributions to individual candidates or committees. Additionally, the firm cannot provide paid leave time to employees for political campaign activity. However, employees may use personal time or paid vacation or may request unpaid leave to participate in political campaigning.
T. Rowe Price does not have a PAC. However, T. Rowe Price has granted permission to the Investment Company Institutes PAC ( ICI PAC ), which serves the interests of the Investment company industry, to solicit T. Rowe Prices senior management on an annual basis to make contributions to ICI PAC or candidates designated by ICI PAC. Contributions to ICI PAC are entirely voluntary. Additionally, proposed contributions to the ICI PAC must go through the prior clearance process.
As noted above, the SEC rule prohibits most solicitation activities. To the extent the Legal Department approves solicitation activities in accordance with applicable rules or other requirements employees, officers, and directors of T. Rowe Price may not solicit campaign contributions from employees without adhering to T. Rowe Prices policies regarding solicitation. These include the following:
| It must be clear that the solicitation is personal and is not being made on behalf of T. Rowe Price. |
| It must be clear that any contribution is entirely voluntary . |
| T. Rowe Prices stationery and email system may not be used. |
An employee who wants to participate in political campaigns or run for political office should consult with his or her immediate supervisor to make sure that this activity does not conflict with his or her job responsibilities. Also, the employee should contact the Legal Department to discuss any activities which may be prohibited.
Lobbying . It is important to realize that under some state laws, even limited contact, either in person or by other means, with public officials in that state may trigger that states lobbying laws. For example, in Maryland, if $2,500 of a persons compensation can be attributed to face-to-face contact with legislative or executive officials in a six-month reporting period, he or she may be required to register as a Maryland lobbyist subject to a variety of restrictions and requirements. Therefore, it is imperative that you avoid any lobbying on behalf of the firm, whether in-person or by other means (e.g., telephone, letter) unless the activity is cleared first by the Legal Department, so that you do not inadvertently become subject to regulation as a lobbyist. If you have any question whether your contact with a states officials may trigger lobbying laws in that state, please contact the Legal Department before proceeding.
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Professional Designations . It is the supervisors responsibility to confirm that any designation (CFA, CFP, etc.) used by his or her direct reports in connection with T. Rowe Price business, including its use on a business card or letterhead, is a valid designation issued by a reputable credentialing organization. In addition, the supervisor must take reasonable steps to confirm that the associate has earned the designation; it is relevant to his or her job and is authorized to use it. Any questions should be directed to the Legal Department.
Protection of Corporate Assets . All personnel are responsible for taking measures to ensure that Price Groups assets are properly protected. This responsibility not only applies to our business facilities, equipment and supplies, but also to intangible assets such as proprietary research or marketing information, corporate trademarks and service marks, copyrights, client relationships, and business opportunities. Accordingly, you may not solicit for your personal benefit clients or utilize client relationships to the detriment of the firm. Similarly, you may not solicit co-workers to act in any manner detrimental to the firms interests.
Quality of Services . It is a continuing policy of Price Group to provide investment products and services that: (1) meet applicable laws, regulations and industry standards; (2) are offered to the public in a manner that ensures that each client/shareholder understands the objectives of each investment product selected; and (3) are properly advertised and sold in accordance with all applicable SEC, FCA, FINRA, and other international, state and self-regulatory rules and regulations.
The quality of Price Groups investment products and services and operations affects our reputation, productivity, profitability, and market position. Price Groups goal is to be a quality leader and to create conditions that allow and encourage all employees to perform their duties in an efficient, effective manner.
Record Retention and Destruction . Under various U.S., U.K., other international state, and other governmental laws and regulations, certain of Price Groups subsidiaries are required to produce, maintain and retain various records, documents and other written (including electronic) communications. For example, U.S. law generally requires an investment adviser to retain required records in a readily accessible location for not less than five years from the end of the fiscal year during which the record was made (the current year and the two immediately preceding years in an appropriate office of the adviser), although some records may be required to be retained longer depending on their nature. Any questions regarding retention requirements should be addressed to the Legal Department or the TRP International Compliance Team.
You must use care in disposing of any confidential records or correspondence. Confidential material that is to be discarded should be placed in designated bins or should be torn up or shredded, as your department requires. If a quantity of material is involved, you should contact Document Management for instructions regarding proper disposal. Documents stored off-site are destroyed on a regular basis if the destruction is approved by the appropriate business contact.
The firm is legally prohibited from destroying any existing records that may be relevant to any current, pending or threatened litigation, or regulatory investigation or audit. These records would include emails, calendars, memoranda, board agendas, recorded conversations, studies, work papers, computer notes, handwritten notes, telephone records, expense reports, or similar material. If your business area is affected by litigation or an investigation or audit, you can expect to receive instructions from the Legal Department on how to proceed. Regardless of whether you receive such instructions, you should be prepared to secure relevant records once you become aware that they are subject to litigation or regulatory investigations or audits.
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All personnel are responsible for adhering to the firms record maintenance, retention, and destruction policies.
In addition, the firm has adopted a specific Statement of Policy on Privacy , which is part of this Code ( see page 8-1).
Referral Fees . United States securities laws strictly prohibit the payment of any type of referral fee unless certain conditions are met. This would include any compensation to persons who refer clients or shareholders to us ( e.g., brokers, registered representatives, consultants, or any other persons) either directly in cash, by fee splitting, or indirectly by the providing of gifts or services (including the allocation of brokerage). FCA also prohibits the offering of any inducement likely to conflict with the duties of the recipient. No arrangements should be entered into obligating Price Group or any
employee to pay a referral fee unless approved first by the Legal Department.
Release of Information to the Press . All requests for information from the media concerning T. Rowe Price Groups corporate affairs, mutual funds, investment services, investment philosophy and policies, and related subjects should be referred to the appropriate Corporate Communications/Public Relations contact for reply. Investment professionals who are contacted directly by the press concerning a particular funds investment strategy or market outlook may use their own discretion, but are advised to check with the appropriate Corporate Communications/Public Relations contact if they do not know the reporter or feel it may be inappropriate to comment on a particular matter. Corporate Communications/Public Relations contact persons are listed in Appendix A. Please refer to the Global Media Engagement Guidelines located on the Exchange for additional information.
Responsibility to Report Violations . The following is a description of reporting requirements and procedures that may or do arise if an officer or employee becomes aware of material violations of the Code or applicable laws or regulations.
General Obligation . If an officer or employee becomes aware of a material violation of the Code or any applicable law or regulation, he or she must report it to the Chief Compliance Officer of the applicable Price Adviser ( Chief Compliance Officer ) or his or her designee, provided the designee provides a copy of all reports of violations to the Chief Compliance Officer. Reports submitted in paper form should be sent in a confidential envelope. Any report may be submitted anonymously; anonymous complaints must be in writing and sent in a confidential envelope to the Chief Compliance Officer. Officers and employees may also contact any governmental and/or regulatory authority (e.g. SEC and FINRA in the U.S., FCA in the U.K., SFC in Hong Kong, etc.). Refer to Appendix A regarding the Chief Compliance Officer to whom reports should be made.
It is Price Groups policy that no adverse action will be taken against any person as a result of that person becoming aware of a violation of the Code and reporting the violation in good faith.
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Sarbanes-Oxley Whistleblower Procedures . Pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Audit Committee of Price Group has adopted procedures ( Procedures ) regarding the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by Price Group regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of Price Group or any of its affiliates of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. All employees should familiarize themselves with these Procedures, which are posted in the repository of the firms policies and procedures ( Repository ) on the intranet.
Under the Procedures, complaints regarding certain auditing and accounting matters should be sent to Chief Legal Counsel, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., The Legal Department either through interoffice mail in a confidential envelope or by mail marked confidential to P.O. Box 37283, Baltimore, Maryland 21297-3283, or a report may be made by calling the toll-free hotline at 888-651-6223.
Sarbanes-Oxley Attorney Reporting Requirements . Attorneys employed or retained by Price Group or any of the Price Funds are also subject to certain reporting requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The relevant procedures are posted in the firms Repository.
Circulation of Rumors . Individuals subject to the Code shall not originate or circulate in any manner a rumor concerning any security which the individual knows or has reasonable grounds for believing is false or misleading or would improperly influence the market price of that security. You must promptly report to the Legal Department any circumstance which would reasonably lead you to believe that such a rumor might have been originated or circulated.
Service as Trustee , Executor or Personal Representative . You may serve as the trustee, co-trustee, executor or personal representative for the estate of or a trust created by close family members. You may also serve in such capacities for estates or trusts created by nonfamily members. However, if an Access Person expects to be actively involved in an investment capacity in connection with an estate or trust created by a nonfamily member, he or she must first be granted permission by the Ethics Committee. If you serve in any of these capacities, securities transactions affected in such accounts will be subject to the prior transaction clearance (Access Persons only, except for Price Group stock transactions, which require prior transaction clearance by all personnel) and reporting requirements (Access Persons and Non-Access Persons) of our Statement of Policy on Securities Transactions. If you presently serve in any of these capacities for nonfamily members, you should report the relationship in writing to the Ethics Committee.
Speaking Engagements and Publications . Employees are often asked to accept speaking engagements on the subject of investments, finance, or their own particular specialty with our organization. This is encouraged by the firm, as it enhances our public relations, but you should obtain approval from your supervisor and the head of your Division, if different, before you accept such requests. You may also accept an offer to teach a course or seminar on investments or related topics (for example, at a local college) in your individual capacity with the approval of your supervisor and the head of your Division, if different, and provided the course is in compliance with the Guidelines found in Investment Services Compliance Manual.
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Before making any commitment to write or publish any article or book on a subject related to investments or your work at Price Group, approval should be obtained from your supervisor and the head of your Division, if different.
Social Media . Social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn have experienced significant growth during the past few years. While T. Rowe Price does not discourage its associates from using social media for personal use on their personal time, it is important to understand what is expected and required when associates use social media, especially in regards to topics relating to the firm.
Associates may not discuss the business of T. Rowe Price, including our products and services, on social networking channels unless authorized to do so. If a social media site is used for business purposes, by designated T. Rowe Price associates, communications posted through it are subject to the same regulatory and other restrictions as communications sent by more traditional methods, such as email, printed letters, or advertisements. Therefore, such sites may only be used for business-related purposes with approval from the Legal Department. T. Rowe Price regularly monitors online discussions and entries that might involve or mention T. Rowe Price.
Associates are directed to the Social Media Policy located on the T. Rowe Price Exchange to understand their responsibilities with respect to social media. The policy applies whenever using social media, whether in a personally identifiable way or anonymously.
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APPENDIX A TO THE T. ROWE PRICE GROUP, INC.
CODE OF ETHICS AND CONDUCT
| Brokerage and Trading Control Committees . There are two Brokerage and Trading Control Committees which set the policy regarding the allocation of client brokerage. For more information contact Thea Williams of the Fixed Income Committee or Clive Williams of the Equity Committee. |
| Chief Compliance Officer . The Chief Compliance Officer of the U.S. Price Advisers (i.e., TRPA, TRPAS,) is John Gilner. The Chief Compliance Officer of TRP Canada is Ryan Nolan. The Chief Compliance Officer of our outside North America Price Advisers (i.e., TRPIL, TRPHK, TRPSING) is Jeremy Fisher. The Chief Compliance Officer of the broker/dealer, T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc., is Stephanie Mumford. |
| Ethics Committee . Justin Thomson, David Oestreicher, Andy Brooks, Greg McCrickard, Justin Gerbereux, John Gilner, Deanna Fidler, and David Wallack. |
| Chairperson of the Ethics Committee . The Chairperson of the Ethics Committee is John Gilner. Requests regarding IPOs and private placement investments should be directed to Gary Greb. |
| Code Compliance Team . Gary Greb and Cody Potter. |
| TRP International Compliance Team . Jeremy Fisher, Carol Bambrough, Lucy Harding, Andrea Osborne, Sam Crowther, Florence Ibiam, James Lawson, Hector Thompson, and Louise Johnson in London; Kitty Chau, Dolby Chan, Iris Yeung in Hong Kong; and Tateomi Fujino in Tokyo. |
| Designated Person, TRP International Compliance Team . Louise Johnson, Sam Crowther, Florence Ibiam, Lucy Harding and Jeremy Fisher in London. Kitty Chau, Dolby Chan, and Larry Siu in Hong Kong. |
| Designated Person, Regulatory Reporting Section . Gary Greb and Mike Noppinger. |
| Management Committee . Christopher Alderson, Edward Bernard, Scott David, Nigel Faulkner, Deanna Fidler, Robert Higginbotham, Sebastien Page, Rob Sharps, William Stromberg, Eric Veiel, and Ted Wiese. |
| Corporate Communications/Public Relations Contacts . Edward Giltenan (Head), Bill Benintende, Thomasin Mullen, Bill Weeks, and Anne Read in London. |
| Social Media Contacts . Danielle Nicholson Smith for legal and advertising regulatory matters. Meara Ranadive for policy and/or permissible activity matters. |
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T. ROWE PRICE GROUP, INC.
STATEMENT OF POLICY
ON
GIFTS AND BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT
T. Rowe Price adopted this policy to govern the receipt and giving of gifts and business entertainment by all employees of T. Rowe Price globally (Associates). The giving and receiving of gifts and business entertainment must be carefully considered by Associates to avoid even the appearance of conflicts of interest.
Associates are encouraged to ask for guidance about how to apply this policy in advance of giving or receiving a gift or business entertainment. Questions can
be directed to your manager or to the Legal Department.
The Code and laws in numerous jurisdictions regulate gifts and entertainment to ensure that such practices do not constitute the direct or indirect provision or receipt of bribes, kickbacks, quid pro quos, or other corrupt practices. Please refer to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Other Illegal Payments section of the Code and the firms Compliance Policy and Program Statement Relating To Anti-Bribery Laws and Prohibitions Against Illegal Payments.
Specific controls are applicable to ERISA plans and certain other regulatory regimes see Jurisdictions and Specific Requirements section.
Gifts
The term gift has a broad meaning, including merchandise, gratuities and the use of property or facilities for weekends, vacations, and trips, including transportation and lodging costs, but does not include items of nominal value (defined later in this policy).
General rules for all Associates:
| You may not give gifts in excess of US$100 (aggregate annual limit per business contact). You may not receive gifts in excess of US$100 (aggregate annual limit per organization). Please note that gifts given to a business contacts family member (e.g., spouse or children) will count towards the US$100 annual gift limit for that business contact. |
| You may not accept gifts from broker-dealers. |
| You may not give gifts to or receive gifts from a vendor, client, prospect, or a lead manager of a consultant who has active negotiations or Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for services or products. |
| Any gift, given or received, must be reported. |
| Gifts may never be given or received in consideration of any business or transaction, or in connection with the purchase or sale of client securities or other investments. |
| Gifts of cash or cash equivalents may not be given or received. |
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Items of Nominal Value
Other than as noted in the Jurisdictions and Specific Requirements section of this policy, the term gift as described in this policy does not include an item of nominal value. Items with a value of US$50 or less are regarded as nominal items. For example, items such as pens, notepads, modest desk ornaments, or items that display the giving firms logo, which are typically given out at conferences or elsewhere, would generally fall within this exclusion. If an item is to be given in connection with the broker/dealers business, its value must not exceed US$50 and the item must have the TRP corporate logo permanently affixed to be exempt from the definition of gift.
Personal Gift Exclusion
A personal gift given or received in recognition of a life event, such as a baby or wedding gift, does not fall within this policy provided the gift is not in relation to the business of the employer of the recipient. There should be a pre-existing personal or family relationship between the giver and the recipient. The giver, not the firm, should pay for the gift. In addition, if an Associate is giving a gift in recognition of a life event, the giver must obtain prior approval from his/her supervisor, Business Unit Head if different, and the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee. If these conditions are met, the recordkeeping requirements and the US$100 limit do not apply.
Gifts Received By Attendees at An Event
Any gift or gifts received by Associates at an event (e.g., industry conference, vendor user conference, investor relations event, etc.), other than nominal gifts (see above), must be reported and the total value cannot exceed the US$100 gift limit. If an event provides a gift or gifts with a value greater than US$100, Associates may decline to accept the gift, donate it to charity or, with the approval of the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee, present the gift to the Associates Business Unit for a random draw of an identified group of associates of an appropriate size.
Group Gifts
When a group gift valued at up to US$100 (e.g., chocolate assortment) is sent by a T. Rowe Price Associate, the gift report must identify the name of at least one business contact at the receiving organization. If an Associate or a T. Rowe Price department receives a gift that is valued in excess of the US$100 limit, it can be shared amongst Associates provided no single Associates share of the gift exceeds the US$100 limit. Alternatively, with the approval of the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee, the gift can be awarded to the winner of a random draw of an identified group of associates of an appropriate size or donate it to charity.
Recurring Gifts
Tickets or other gifts (including nominal value gifts) may not be given nor accepted from a business contact or firm on a standing, recurring, or ongoing basis. Supervisors are responsible for monitoring how frequently their Associates receive and give gifts to/from specific business contacts to avoid potential conflicts of interest.
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Calculation of Value
Gifts should be valued at the cost paid by the giver. Associates and Managers should be mindful that if the market value of a gift is materially greater than the cost, consultation with the Legal Department may be appropriate to determine if another value should be used.
Business Entertainment
Entertainment must serve a legitimate and appropriate business purpose (Business Entertainment). Generally, business entertainment includes meals and sporting events with business contacts (e.g., clients or vendors). Associates should be mindful that business entertainment should generally not be solicited and only accepted after an invitation from your host. Both the Associate and the business contact must be in attendance for an event to be classified as business entertainment. Business entertainment should not be so frequent or so lavish with the same business contact or client, that when viewed in its entirety, it could be viewed as a potential conflict of interest. See Jurisdictions and Specific Requirements for additional restrictions on Business Entertainment.
Reporting and Prior Clearance
1. | Business entertainment valued above US$100 per person must be reported. |
2. | Business entertainment that exceeds US$250 per person requires prior approval by the Associates Manager and either the Business Unit Head or Region/Segment Head (as determined by the Business Unit). |
3. | Broker-dealer provision : All meal business entertainment received from broker-dealers above US$100 per person requires prior approval by the Associates Manager and must be reported. All non-meal business entertainment received from broker-dealers, regardless of value, requires prior approval by the Associates Manager and must be reported. T. Rowe Price (or in some cases, the Associate) will pay or reimburse the broker-dealer for such reported business entertainment. |
4. | Business entertainment that includes a guest (e.g., spouse or child) requires prior approval by the Associates Manager and either the Business Unit Head or Region/Segment Head (as determined by the Business Unit). Keep in mind that the Associate may need to pay for the cost of the guest. |
5. | Business entertainment that does not occur in the normal course of business or is an event of national prominence requires prior approval by the Associates Manager and either the Business Unit Head or Region/Segment Head (as determined by the Business Unit). |
6. | Business entertainment may never be given or received in consideration of any business or transaction, or in connection with the purchase or sale of client securities or other investments. |
Each Business Unit will implement procedures to assess and consider relevant factors when determining if approval should be granted in the circumstances requiring prior approval. For example, factors may include the purpose of the meeting, the nature of the event being conducive to conversation, the exclusivity of the event, the frequency of interaction with the business contact and whether T. Rowe Price or the Associate should be bearing some portion or all of the associated cost.
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Post-Event Approval
In certain situations, an Associate may not be able to ascertain the cost of an event until after its conclusion, such as business dinners. In the event the business entertainment was expected to be within these reporting thresholds (e.g., less than US$250 per person) but unexpectedly exceeds them, the Associate must promptly report such entertainment to his/her Manager for further discussion. In these limited circumstances and after review by the Associates Manager, post-event approval by a Region/Segment Head or Business Unit Head (as determined by the Business Unit) will be considered to be in compliance with this policy.
Transportation and Lodging
Generally, the cost of transportation and lodging expenses associated with business entertainment should be borne by the party using the transportation or lodging. Ordinary ground transportation such as a taxi ride or a courtesy shuttle is not subject to this restriction.
Active RFPs/Business Transactions
Associates may not entertain key decision makers of a vendor, prospect or current client (or their lead manager consultant) with an active RFP or where material negotiations of specific business or transactions are taking place. Key decision makers are those individuals who have significant influence on the decision related to the RFP or transaction which would include an ERISA plan fiduciary representative. However, meals closely associated with substantive business meetings (i.e., plan reviews, due diligence visits, investment reviews, educational sessions) are permitted.
Large-Scale Events
The cost-per-individual at an event (e.g., industry conference, vendor user conference, investor relations event) is not counted towards US$250 prior approval threshold provided that the conference has a reasonable relationship to the duties of the attending Associate(s) and the expenses for attendance are reasonable in light of the benefits afforded to the firm by such attendance. Associates should keep in mind that if there are separate excursions or other entertainment connected with the large-scale event (e.g., golf outings, boating trips etc.) then the reporting and prior clearance requirements will apply to these separate events.
Calculation of Value
Business entertainment should be valued at the cost paid by the giver. Associates and Managers should be mindful that if the market value of an event is materially greater than the cost, consultation with the Legal Department may be appropriate to determine if another value should be used.
Jurisdictions and Specific Requirements
In addition to the general gift and entertainment rules in this policy, certain jurisdictions or regulators may impose restrictions that are more stringent than the general provisions of this policy. The following sets forth a summary of those restrictions.
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U.S.ERISA Covered Plans: US$250 Annual Limit
In accordance with guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor, the annual limit on gifts and business entertainment provided to an ERISA plan fiduciary representative (including plan advisers serving in a fiduciary capacity) is US$250. All gifts and business entertainment provided to a business contact count towards this US$250 limit except as provided below, and must be prior approved by the Associates Manager or Region/Segment Head (as determined by the Business Unit).
1. | Meals provided to business contacts at educational conferences, including T. Rowe Price hosted conferences; do not count towards the US$250 annual limit. |
2. | Meals provided to business contacts and closely associated with substantive business meetings (e.g., plan reviews, due diligence visits, investment reviews, educational sessions) do not count towards the US$250 annual limit, but are subject to this policys reporting and prior clearance rules. |
3. | Items of nominal value are not subject to this policys reporting requirements and do not count towards the US$250 annual limit. Generally, items that are less than US$10 are deemed to have nominal value. For the avoidance of doubt, any item that has a value greater than US$10, including items with a corporate logo permanently affixed, count towards the US$250 annual limit and must be reported. |
Note that all gifts, business entertainment, and meals given to or attended by guests of the business contact(s) (including in the context of an educational conference) count towards the US$250 annual limit and are subject to this policys reporting and prior clearance rules.
In certain circumstances, the Legal Department may grant an exception to the T. Rowe Price annual limit subject to compliance with the U.S. Department of Labor limits.
Country and U.S. State Specific Requirements
Countries and U.S. states may adopt rules that govern the provision of gifts and business entertainment. Such rules may impose strict dollar limits or prohibitions on providing gifts and business entertainment which may be more restrictive than this policy. Additionally, these rules may impose increased reporting requirements on Associates. The Legal Department will work with business units to inform them of these jurisdictions specific rules.
Reporting
It is ultimately the Associates responsibility to properly report gifts and business entertainment, whether given or received, in accordance with each business units reporting procedures. All gifts must be reported within ten business days. All business entertainment must be reported promptly.
All gifts and business entertainment reports will be available for review by Legal/Compliance, including International Compliance, in conjunction with their responsibility to oversee our firm-wide compliance.
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The U.S. Department of Labor has established strict gift and entertainment reporting rules relative to ERISA clients. All gifts and business entertainment of US$10 or more accepted from, provided to, or in relation to ERISA clients should be reported under the Associates business units procedures.
Chair of the Ethics Committee
Special circumstances may arise that would require the review of the Chair of the Ethics Committee and may result in exceptions being granted to part or all of this policy.
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T. ROWE PRICE GROUP, INC.
STATEMENT OF POLICY
ON
MATERIAL, INSIDE (NON-PUBLIC) INFORMATION
Policy of Price Group on Insider Trading. It is the policy of Price Group and its affiliates to forbid any of their officers, directors, employees, or other personnel ( e.g., consultants) while in possession of material, non-public information, from trading securities or recommending transactions, either personally or in their proprietary accounts or on behalf of others (including mutual funds and private accounts) or communicating material, non-public information to others in violation of securities laws of the United States, the United Kingdom, or any other country that has jurisdiction over its activities. Material, non-public information includes not only certain information about issuers, but also certain information about T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. and its operating subsidiaries as well as information pertaining to Price Funds and clients ( see page 4-8).
Purpose of Statement of Policy. As a global firm, Price Group is subject to a wide array of laws and regulations that prohibit the misuse of inside information. The purpose of this Statement of Policy ( Statement ) is to describe and explain: (i) the general legal prohibitions and sanctions regarding insider trading under both U.S. and U.K. law and how they are applicable across the firm globally; (ii) the meaning of the key concepts underlying the prohibitions; (iii) your obligations in the event you come into possession of material, non-public information; and (iv) the firms educational program regarding insider trading. Additionally, the United States Insider Trading and Securities Fraud Enforcement Act ( Act ) requires Price Group to establish, maintain, and enforce written procedures designed to prevent insider trading.
Many jurisdictions, including Honk Kong, Singapore, Japan, Australia and most European countries, have laws and regulations prohibiting the misuse of inside information. While this Statement does not make specific reference to these laws and regulations, the Statement provides general guidance regarding appropriate activities that is applicable to all employees globally. There is, however, no substitute for knowledge of local laws and regulations. Employees are expected to understand the relevant local requirements where they work and comply with them. Any questions regarding the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction should be directed to the Legal Department or the TRP International Compliance Team.
Price Group has also adopted a Statement of Policy on Securities Transactions ( see page 5-1), which requires both Access Persons (see page 5-3) and Non-Access Persons ( see page 5-4) to obtain prior transaction clearance with respect to their transactions in Price Group stock and requires Access Persons to obtain prior transaction clearance with respect to all pertinent securities transactions. In addition, both Access Persons and Non-Access Persons are required to report covered securities transactions on a timely basis to the firm. The independent directors of the Price Funds, although Access Persons, are not subject to prior transaction clearance requirements and are subject to modified reporting as described on pages 5-21 to 5-23.
The Basic Insider Trading Prohibition. The insider trading doctrine under United States securities laws generally prohibits any person (including investment advisers) from:
| trading in a security while in possession of material, non-public information regarding the issuer of the security; |
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| tipping such information to others; |
| recommending the purchase or sale of securities while in possession of such information; |
| assisting someone who is engaged in any of the above activities. |
Thus, insider trading is not limited to insiders of the issuer whose securities are being traded. It can also apply to non-insiders, such as investment analysts, portfolio managers, consultants and stockbrokers. In addition, it is not limited to persons who trade. It also covers persons who tip material, non-public information or recommend transactions in securities while in possession of such information. A security includes not just equity securities, but any security ( e.g., corporate and municipal debt securities, including securities issued by the federal government).
Need to Know Policy. All information regarding planned, prospective or ongoing securities transactions must be treated as confidential. Such information must be confined, even within the firm, to only those individuals and departments that must have such information in order for the respective entity to carry out its engagement properly and effectively. Ordinarily, these prohibitions will restrict information to only those persons who are involved in the matter.
Transactions Involving Price Group Stock . You are reminded that you are an insider with respect to Price Group since Price Group is a public company and its stock is traded on the NASDAQ Stock market. It is therefore important that you not discuss with family, friends or other persons any matter concerning Price Group that might involve material, non-public information, whether favorable or unfavorable. You are prohibited from trading Price Group stock (TROW) if you are privy to material, non-public information.
Sanctions. Penalties for trading on material, non-public information are severe, both for the individuals involved in such unlawful conduct and for their firms. A person or entity that violates the insider trading laws can be subject to some or all of the penalties described below, even if he/she/it does not personally benefit from the violation:
| Injunctions; |
| Treble damages; |
| Disgorgement of profits; |
| Criminal fines; |
| Jail sentences; |
| Civil penalties for the person who committed the violation (which would, under normal circumstances, be the employee and not the firm); and |
| Civil penalties for the controlling entity ( e.g ., Price Associates) and other persons, such as managers and supervisors, who are deemed to be controlling persons. |
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In addition, any violation of this Statement can be expected to result in serious sanctions being imposed by Price Group, including dismissal of the person(s) involved. The provisions of U.S. and U.K. law discussed below and the laws of other jurisdictions are complex and wide ranging. If you are in any doubt about how they affect you, you must consult the Legal Department or the TRP International Compliance Team, as appropriate.
U.S LAW AND REGULATION REGARDING INSIDER TRADING PROHIBITIONS
Introduction. Insider trading is a top enforcement priority of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The Insider Trading and Securities Fraud Enforcement Act has far-reaching impact on all public companies and especially those engaged in the securities brokerage or investment advisory industries, including directors, executive officers and other controlling persons of such companies. Specifically, the Insider Trading and Securities Fraud Enforcement Act:
Written Procedures . Requires SEC-registered brokers, dealers and investment advisers to establish, maintain and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent the misuse of material, non-public information by such persons.
Penalties. Imposes severe civil penalties on brokerage firms, investment advisers, their management and advisory personnel, and other controlling persons who fail to take adequate steps to prevent insider trading and illegal tipping by employees and other controlled persons. Additionally, the Act contains substantial criminal penalties, including monetary fines and jail sentences.
Private Right of Action. Establishes a statutory private right of action on behalf of contemporaneous traders against insider traders and their controlling persons.
Bounty Payments . Authorizes the SEC to award bounty payments to persons who provide information leading to the successful prosecution of insider trading violations. Bounty payments are at the discretion of the SEC, but may not exceed 10 30% of the penalty imposed.
The Act has been supplemented by three SEC rules, 10b5-1, 10b5-2 and Fair Disclosure, which are discussed later in this Statement.
Basic Concepts of Insider Trading . The four critical concepts under United States law in insider trading cases are: (1) fiduciary duty/misappropriation, (2) materiality, (3) non-public and (4) use/possession. Each concept is discussed below.
Fiduciary Duty/Misappropriation . In two decisions, the United States Supreme Court outlined when insider trading and tipping violate the federal securities law if the trading or tipping of the information results in a breach of duty of trust or confidence.
A typical breach of duty arises when an insider, such as a corporate officer, purchases securities of his or her corporation on the basis of material, non-public information. Such conduct breaches a duty owed to the corporations shareholders. The duty breached, however, need not be to shareholders to support liability for insider trading; it could also involve a breach of duty to a client, an employer, employees, or even a personal acquaintance. For example, courts have held that if the insider receives a personal benefit (either direct or indirect) from the disclosure, such as a pecuniary gain or reputational benefit; that would be enough to find a fiduciary breach.
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The concept of who constitutes an insider is broad. It includes officers, directors, and employees of an issuer. In addition, a person can be a temporary insider if he or she enters into a confidential relationship in the conduct of an issuers affairs and, as a result, is given access to information solely for the issuers purpose. A temporary insider can include, among others, an issuers attorneys, accountants, consultants, and bank lending officers, as well as the employees of such organizations. In addition, any person may become a temporary insider of an issuer if he or she advises the issuer or provides other services, provided the issuer expects such person to keep any material, non-public information disclosed confidential.
Court decisions have held that under a misappropriation theory, an outsider (such as an investment analyst) may be liable if he or she breaches a duty to anyone by: (1) obtaining information improperly, or (2) using information that was obtained properly for an improper purpose. For example, if information is given to an analyst on a confidential basis and the analyst uses that information for trading purposes, liability could arise under the misappropriation theory. Similarly, an analyst who trades in breach of a duty owed either to his or her employer or client may be liable under the misappropriation theory. For example, the Supreme Court upheld the misappropriation theory when a lawyer received material, non-public information from a law partner who represented a client contemplating a tender offer, where that lawyer used the information to trade in the securities of the target company.
SEC Rule 10b5-2 provides a non-exclusive definition of circumstances in which a person has a duty of trust or confidence for purposes of the misappropriation theory of insider trading. It states that a duty of trust or confidence exists in the following circumstances, among others:
(1) | Whenever a person agrees to maintain information in confidence; |
(2) | Whenever the person communicating the material nonpublic information and the person to whom it is communicated have a history, pattern, or practice of sharing confidences, that resulted in a reasonable expectation of confidentiality; or |
(3) | Whenever a person receives or obtains material non-public information from his or her spouse, parent, child, or sibling unless it is shown affirmatively, based on the facts and circumstances of that family relationship, that there was no reasonable expectation of confidentiality. |
The situations in which a person can trade while in possession of material, non-public information without breaching a duty are so complex and uncertain that the only safe course is not to trade, tip or recommend securities while in possession of material, non-public information.
Materiality. Insider trading restrictions arise only when the information that is used for trading, tipping or recommendations is material. The information need not be so important that it would have changed an investors decision to buy or sell; rather, it is enough that it is the type of information on which reasonable investors rely in making purchase, sale, or hold decisions.
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Resolving Close Cases. The United States Supreme Court has held that, in close cases, doubts about whether or not information is material should be resolved in favor of a finding of materiality. You should also be aware that your judgment regarding materiality may be reviewed by a court or the SEC with the 20-20 vision of hindsight.
Effect on Market Price. Any information that, upon disclosure, is likely to have a significant impact on the market price of a security should be considered material.
Future Events . The materiality of facts relating to the possible occurrence of future events depends on the likelihood that the event will occur and the significance of the event if it does occur.
Illustrations . The following list, though not exhaustive, illustrates the types of matters that might be considered material: a joint venture, merger or acquisition; the declaration or omission of dividends; the acquisition or loss of a significant contract; a change in control or a significant change in management; a call of securities for redemption; the borrowing of a significant amount of funds; the purchase or sale of a significant asset; a significant change in capital investment plans; a significant labor dispute or disputes with subcontractors or suppliers; an event requiring an issuer to file a current report on Form 8-K with the SEC; establishment of a program to make purchases of the issuers own shares; a tender offer for another issuers securities; an event of technical default or default on interest and/or principal payments; advance knowledge of an upcoming publication that is expected to affect the market price of the stock.
Non-Public vs. Public Information. Any information that is not public is deemed to be non-public. Just as an investor is permitted to trade on the basis of information that is not material, he or she may also trade on the basis of information that is public. Information is considered public if it has been disseminated in a manner making it available to investors generally. An example of non-public information would include material information provided to a select group of analysts but not made available to the investment community at large. Set forth below are a number of ways in which non-public information may be made public.
Disclosure to News Services and National Papers. The U.S. stock exchanges require exchange-traded issuers to disseminate material, non-public information about their companies to: (1) the national business and financial newswire services (Dow Jones and Reuters); (2) the national service (Associated Press); and (3) The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.
Local Disclosure. An announcement by an issuer in a local newspaper might be sufficient for an issuer that is only locally traded, but might not be sufficient for an issuer that has a national market.
Information in SEC Reports . Information contained in reports filed with the SEC will be deemed to be public.
If Price Group is in possession of material, non-public information with respect to a security before such information is disseminated to the public ( i.e ., such as being disclosed in one of the public media described above), Price Group and its personnel must wait a sufficient period of time after the information is first publicly released before trading or initiating transactions to allow the information to be fully disseminated. Price Group may also follow Information Barrier procedures, as described on page 4-9 of this Statement.
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Concept of Use/Possession . It is important to note that the SEC takes the position that the law regarding insider trading prohibits any person from trading in a security in violation of a duty of trust and confidence while possession of material, non-public information regarding the security. This is in contrast to trading on the basis of the material, non-public information. To illustrate the problems created by the use of the possession standard, as opposed to the caused standard, the following three examples are provided:
First, if the investment committee to a Price mutual fund were to obtain material, non-public information about one of its portfolio companies from a Price equity research analyst, that fund would be prohibited from trading in the securities to which that information relates. The prohibition would last until the information is no longer material or non-public.
Second, if the investment committee to a Price mutual fund obtained material, non-public information about a particular portfolio security but continued to trade in that security, then the committee members, the applicable Price Adviser, and possibly management personnel might be liable for insider trading violations.
Third, even if the investment committee to the Fund does not come into possession of the material, non-public information known to the equity research analyst, if it trades in the security, it may have a difficult burden of proving to the SEC or to a court that it was not in possession of such information.
The SEC has expressed its view about the concept of trading on the basis of material, non-public information in Rule 10b5-1. Under Rule 10b5-1, and subject to the affirmative defenses contained in the rule, a purchase or sale of a security of an issuer is on the basis material non-public information about that security or issuer if the person making the purchase or sale was aware of the material, non-public information when the person made the purchase or sale.
A persons purchase or sale is not on the basis of material, non-public information if he or she demonstrates that:
(A) Before becoming aware of the information, the person had:
(1) Entered into a binding contract to purchase or sell the security;
(2) Instructed another person to purchase or sell the security for the instructing persons account, or
(3) Adopted a written plan for trading securities.
When a contract, instruction or plan is relied upon under this rule, it must meet detailed criteria set forth in Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(i)(B) and (C).
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Under Rule 10b5-1, a person other than a natural person ( e.g., one of the Price Advisers) may also demonstrate that a purchase or sale of securities is not on the basis of material, non-public information if it demonstrates that:
| The individual making the investment decision on behalf of the person to purchase or sell the securities was not aware of the information; and |
| The person had implemented reasonable policies and procedures, taking into consideration the nature of the persons business, to ensure that individuals making investment decisions would not violate the laws prohibiting trading on the basis of material, non-public information. These policies and procedures may include those that restrict any purchase, sale, and causing any purchase or sale of any security as to which the person has material, non-public information, or those that prevent such individuals from becoming aware of such information. |
Tender Offers. Tender offers are subject to particularly strict regulation under the securities laws. Specifically, trading in securities that are the subject of an actual or impending tender offer by a person who is in possession of material, non-public information relating to the offer is illegal, regardless of whether there was a breach of fiduciary duty. Under no circumstances should you trade in securities while in possession of material, non-public information regarding a potential tender offer.
Selective Disclosure of Material, Non-Public Information by Public Companies. The SEC has adopted Regulation FD to prohibit certain issuers from selectively disclosing material, nonpublic information to certain persons who would be expected to trade on it. The rule applies only to publicly-traded domestic (U.S.) companies, not to foreign government or foreign private issuers.
Under this rule, whenever:
An issuer, or person acting on its behalf,
discloses material, non-public information,
to securities professionals, institutional investors, broker-dealers, and holders of the issuers securities,
the issuer must make public disclosure of that same information,
simultaneously (for intentional disclosures), or
promptly within 24 hours after knowledge of the disclosure by a senior official (for non-intentional disclosures)
Regulation FD does not apply to all of the issuers employees; rather only communication by an issuers senior management (executive officers and directors), its investor relations professionals, and others who regularly communicate with market professionals and security holders are covered. Certain recipients of information are also excluded from the Rules coverage, including persons who are subject to a confidentiality agreement, credit rating agencies, and temporary insiders, such as the issuers lawyers, investment bankers, or accountants.
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Expert Network Services. Expert networks may be used by approved investment staff to supplement the investment process. Expert networks provide investors with access to individuals having a particular expertise or specialization, such as industry consultants, vendors, doctors, attorneys, suppliers, or past executives of particular companies. Expert network services can be an important component of the investment research process, and Price Group has implemented various controls to govern these interactions. A strict approval process is in place for utilizing a new expert network service. Also, a reporting and oversight process exists in the Equity Division to ensure that the services are being used properly by only appropriate investment staff.
Information Regarding Price Group.
The illustrations of material information found on page 4-5 of this Statement are equally applicable to Price Group as a public company and should serve as examples of the types of matters that you should not discuss with persons outside the firm. Remember, even though you may have not intent to violate any federal securities law, an offhand comment to a friend might be used unbeknownst to you by such friend to effect purchases or sales of Price Group stock. If such transactions were discovered and your friend was prosecuted, your status as an informant or tipper would directly involve you in the case. If you have concerns or questions about whether certain information constitutes material, non-public information pertaining to Price Group you should contact the Legal Department.
Information Regarding T. Rowe Price Funds and Subadvised Funds.
Employees who possess material, non-public information pertaining to a Price Fund or subadvised fund are prohibited from trading in the shares of the fund. Associates may obtain or possess information about significant portfolio activity of a fund, such as an unscheduled disbursement or receipt that is not reflected in the funds NAV, which could be regarded as material. For example, an associate may learn of a significant tax refund or litigation recovery that a fund is entitled to but has not been entered as a receivable because the amount and timing are unknown. Such information could constitute material, non-public information. Information regarding future events that would not be expected to have a known impact on the funds NAV, such as a large subscription by an institutional shareholder or a change in the funds portfolio manager, while considered highly sensitive information (not to be shared with others outside of T. Rowe Price), would not typically constitute material, non-public information for these purposes. If you have concerns or questions about whether certain information constitutes material, non-public information pertaining to a Price Fund or subadvised fund you should contact the Legal Department.
LAWS AND REGULATIONS REGARDING INSIDER TRADING PROHIBITIONS OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES
The jurisdictions outside the United States that regulate some T. Rowe Price entities ( see pages 1-2 and 1-3 for a description of these entities and jurisdictions) have laws in this area that are based on principles similar to those of the United States described in this Statement. If you comply with the Code, then you will comply with the requirements of these jurisdictions. If you have any concerns about local requirements, please contact the TRP International Compliance Team or the Legal Department.
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PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED WHEN RECEIVING MATERIAL, NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION
Whenever you believe that you have or may have come into possession of material, non-public information, you should immediately contact the appropriate Legal Compliance person or group and refrain from disclosing the information to anyone else, including persons within Price Group, unless specifically advised to the contrary.
Specifically, you may not:
| Trade in securities to which the material, non-public information relates; |
| Disclose the information to others; |
| Recommend purchases or sales of the securities to which the information relates. |
If it is determined that the information is material and non-public, the issuer will be placed on either:
| A Restricted List ( Restricted List ) in order to prohibit trading in the security by both clients and Access Persons; or |
| A Watch List ( Watch List ), which restricts the flow of the information to others within Price Group in order to allow the Price Advisers investment personnel to continue their ordinary investment activities. This procedure is commonly referred to as an Information Barrier . |
The Watch List is highly confidential and should, under no circumstances, be disseminated to anyone except authorized personnel in the Legal Department and the Regulatory Reporting Section who are responsible for placing issuers on and monitoring trades in securities of issuers included on the Watch List. As described below, if a Designated Person on the TRP International Compliance Team believes that an issuer should be placed on the Watch List, he or she will contact the Regulatory Reporting Section. The Regulatory Reporting Section will coordinate review of trading in the securities of that issuer with the TRP International Compliance Team as appropriate.
The person whose possession of or access to inside information has caused the inclusion of an issuer on the Watch List may never trade or recommend the trade of the securities of that issuer without the specific prior approval of the Legal Department.
The Restricted List is also highly confidential and should, under no circumstances, be disseminated to anyone outside Price Group. Individuals with access to the Restricted List should not disclose its contents to anyone within Price Group who does not have a legitimate business need to know this information.
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Process for All Associates.
If an individual subject to the Code believes they may be in possession of material, non-public information (MNPI), Legal should be contacted immediately. The individual may not disclose the information or trade in the security until a determination is made by Legal. US-based personnel should contact the Legal Department in Baltimore and international personnel should contact the International Compliance Team. The respective Compliance personnel will make the determination if the information is material, non-public and if the issuer should be placed on either the Watch List or Restricted List.
When the information is no longer material or non-public, Compliance will remove the issuer from the Watch List or Restricted List.
Specific Procedures Relating to the Safeguarding of Inside Information.
To ensure the integrity of the Information Barrier, and the confidentiality of the Restricted List, it is important that you take the following steps to safeguard the confidentiality of material, non-public information:
| Do not discuss confidential information in public places such as elevators, hallways or social gatherings; |
| To the extent practical, limit access to the areas of the firm where confidential information could be observed or overheard to employees with a business need for being in the area; |
| Avoid using speaker phones in areas where unauthorized persons may overhear conversations; |
| Where appropriate, maintain the confidentiality of client identities by using code names or numbers for confidential projects; |
| Exercise care to avoid placing documents containing confidential information in areas where they may be read by unauthorized persons and store such documents in secure locations when they are not in use; and |
| Destroy copies of confidential documents no longer needed for a project. However, Record Retention and Destruction guidelines ( see page 2-15) should be reviewed before taking any action. |
ADDITIONAL PROCEDURES
Education Program. While the probability of research analysts and portfolio managers being exposed to material, non-public information with respect to issuers considered for investment by clients is greater than that of other personnel, it is imperative that all personnel understand this Statement, particularly since the insider trading restrictions also apply to transactions in the stock of Price Group.
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To ensure that all appropriate personnel are properly informed of and understand Price Groups policy with respect to insider trading, the following program has been adopted.
Initial Review and Training for New Personnel . All new persons subject to the Code, which includes this Statement, will be given a copy of it at the time of their association and will be required to certify that they have read it. In addition, each new employee is required to take web-based training promptly after his or her start date.
Revision of Statement. All persons subject to the Code will be informed whenever this Statement is materially revised.
Annual Review. All persons subject to the Code receive training on the Code annually.
Confirmation of Compliance. All persons subject to the Code will be asked to confirm their understanding of an adherence to the Code, including this Statement, on at least an annual basis.
Questions. If you have any questions with respect to the interpretation or application of this Statement, you are encouraged to discuss them with your immediate supervisor, the Legal Department, or the TRP International Compliance Team as appropriate.
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T. ROWE PRICE GROUP, INC.
STATEMENT OF POLICY
ON
SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS
BACKGROUND INFORMATION.
Legal Requirement. In accordance with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act ), the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, the Insider Trading and Securities Fraud Enforcement Act of 1988, and the various United Kingdom and other jurisdictions laws and regulations, Price Group and the mutual funds ( Price Funds ) which its affiliates manage have adopted this Statement of Policy on Securities Transactions ( Statement ).
Price Advisers Fiduciary Position . As investment advisers, the Price Advisers are in a fiduciary position which requires them to act with an eye only to the benefit of their clients, avoiding those situations which might place, or appear to place, the interests of the Price Advisers or their officers, directors and employees in conflict with the interests of clients.
Purpose of Statement of Policy . The Statement was developed to help guide Price Groups employees and independent directors and the independent directors of the Price Funds in the conduct of their personal investments and to:
| eliminate the possibility of a transaction occurring that the SEC or other regulatory bodies would view as illegal, such as Front Running ( see definition below); |
| avoid situations where it might appear that Price Group or the Price Funds or any of their officers, directors, employees, or other personnel had personally benefited at the expense of a client or fund shareholder or taken inappropriate advantage of their fiduciary positions; and |
| prevent, as well as detect, the misuse of material, non-public information. |
Those subject to the Code, including the independent directors of Price Group and the Price Funds, are urged to consider the reasons for the adoption of this Statement. Price Groups and the Price Funds reputations could be adversely affected as the result of even a single transaction considered questionable in light of the fiduciary duties of the Price Advisers and the independent directors of the Price Funds.
Front Running . Front Running is illegal. It is generally defined as the purchase or sale of a security by an officer, director or employee of an investment adviser or mutual fund in anticipation of and prior to the adviser effecting similar transactions for its clients in order to take advantage of or avoid changes in market prices effected by client transactions.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE STATEMENT . You are urged to seek the advice of the Chief Compliance Officer of TRPA, the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee (U.S.-based personnel), the TRP International Compliance Team (International personnel) or Code Compliance (all personnel regardless of office location) when you have questions as to the application of this Statement to individual circumstances.
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EXCESSIVE TRADING AND MARKET TIMING OF MUTUAL FUND SHARES. The issue of excessive trading and market timing by mutual fund shareholders is a serious one and is not unique to T. Rowe Price. Employees may not engage in trading of shares of a Price Fund that is inconsistent with the prospectus of that Fund.
Excessive or short-term trading in fund shares may disrupt management of a fund and raise its costs. The Board of Directors/Trustees of the Price Funds have adopted a policy to deter excessive and short-term trading (the Policy ), which applies to persons trading directly with T. Rowe Price and indirectly through intermediaries. Under this Policy, T. Rowe Price may bar excessive and short-term traders from purchasing shares.
This Policy is set forth in each Funds prospectus, which governs all trading activity in the Fund regardless of whether you are holding T. Rowe Price Fund shares as a retail investor or through your T. Rowe Price U.S. Retirement Program account.
Although the Fund may issue a warning letter regarding excessive trading or market timing, any trade activity in violation of the Policy will also be reviewed by the Chief Compliance Officer, who will refer instances to the Ethics Committee as he or she feels appropriate. The Ethics Committee, based on its review, may take disciplinary action, including suspension of trading privileges, forfeiture of profits or the amount of losses avoided, and termination of employment, as it deems appropriate.
Employees are also expected to abide by trading restrictions imposed by other funds as described in their prospectuses. If you violate the trading restrictions of a non-Price Fund, the Ethics Committee may impose the same penalties available for violation of the Price Funds excessive trading Policy.
PERSONS SUBJECT TO STATEMENT. The provisions of this Statement apply as described below to the following persons and entities. Each person and entity (except the independent directors of Price Group) is classified as either an Access Person or a Non-Access Person as described below. The provisions of this Statement may also apply to an Access Persons or Non-Access Persons spouse, minor children, and certain other relatives, as further described on page 5-5 of this Statement. All Access Persons except the independent directors of the Price Funds are subject to all provisions of this Statement except certain restrictions on purchases in initial public offerings that apply only to Investment Personnel. The independent directors of the Price Funds are not subject to prior transaction clearance requirements and are subject to modified reporting as described on page 5-21. Non-Access Persons are subject to the general principles of the Statement and its reporting requirements, but are only required to receive prior transaction clearance for transactions in Price Group stock. The persons and entities covered by this Statement are:
Price Group. Price Group, each of its subsidiaries and affiliates, and their retirement plans.
Employee Partnerships. Partnerships such as Pratt Street Ventures.
Personnel. Each officer, inside director and employee of Price Group and its subsidiaries and its affiliates.
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Certain Contingent Workers/Contractors. These workers include:
| All temporary workers hired on the Price Group payroll ( TRP Temporaries ); |
| All agency temporaries whose assignments at Price Group exceed four weeks or whose cumulative assignments exceed eight weeks over a twelve-month period; |
| All independent or agency-provided consultants whose assignments exceed four weeks or whose cumulative assignments exceed eight weeks over a twelve-month period and whose work is closely related to the ongoing work of Price Groups employees (versus project work that stands apart from ongoing work); and |
| Any contingent worker whose assignment is more than casual in nature or who will be exposed to the kinds of information and situations that would create conflicts on matters covered in the Code. |
Retired Employees. Retired employees of Price Group who receive investment research information from one or more of the Price Advisers will be subject to this Statement.
Independent Directors of Price Group and the Price Funds . The independent directors of Price Group include those directors of Price Group who are neither officers nor employees of Price Group or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates. The independent directors of the Price Funds include those directors of the Price Funds who are not deemed to be interested persons of Price Group.
Although subject to the general principles of this Statement, including the definition of beneficial ownership, independent directors are subject only to modified reporting requirements (s ee pages 5-21 to 5-23). The trades of the independent directors of the Price Funds are not subject to prior transaction clearance requirements. The trades of the independent directors of Price Group are not subject to prior transaction clearance requirements except for transactions in Price Group stock.
ACCESS PERSONS . Certain persons and entities are classified as Access Persons under the Code. The term Access Persons means:
| the Price Advisers; |
| any officer or director of any of the Price Advisers or the Price Funds (except the independent directors of the Price Funds are generally not subject to prior transaction clearance and have modified reporting requirements, as described as follows); |
| any person associated with any of the Price Advisers or the Price Funds who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes, participates in, or obtains or has access to non-public information regarding the purchase or sale of securities by a Price Fund or other advisory client, or to non-public information regarding any securities holdings of any client of a Price Adviser, including the Price Funds, or whose functions relate to the making of any recommendations with respect to the purchases or sales; or |
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| any person in a control relationship to any of the Price Advisers or a Price Fund who obtains or has access to information concerning recommendations made to a Price Fund or other advisory client with regard to the purchase or sale of securities by the Price Fund or advisory client. |
All Access Persons are notified of their status under the Code. Although a person can be an Access Person of one or more Price Advisers and one or more of the Price Funds, the independent directors of the Price Funds are only Access Persons of the applicable Price Funds; they are not Access Persons of any of the Price Advisers.
Investment Personnel. An Access Person is further identified as Investment Personnel if, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, he or she makes or participates in making recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of securities by a Price Fund or other advisory client.
The term Investment Personnel includes, but is not limited to:
| those employees who are authorized to make investment decisions or to recommend securities transactions on behalf of the firms clients (investment counselors and members of the mutual fund advisory committees); |
| research and credit analysts; and |
| traders who assist in the investment process |
All Investment Personnel are deemed Access Persons under the Code. All Investment Personnel are notified of their status under the Code. Investment Personnel are generally prohibited from investing in initial public offerings ( see page 5-15).
NON-ACCESS PERSONS . Persons who do not fall within the definition of Access Persons are deemed Non-Access Persons. If a Non-Access Person is married to an Access Person, then the non-Access Person is deemed to be an Access Person under the beneficial ownership provisions described below. However, the independent directors of Price Group are not included in this definition.
TRANSACTIONS SUBJECT TO STATEMENT. Except as provided below, the provisions of this Statement apply to transactions that fall under either one of the following two conditions:
First , you are a beneficial owner of the security under the Rule 16a-1 of the Exchange Act, defined as follows; or
Second , if you control or direct securities trading for another person or entity, those trades are subject to this Statement even if you are not a beneficial owner of the securities. For example, if you have an exercisable trading authorization ( e.g., a power of attorney to direct transactions in another persons account) of an unrelated persons or entitys brokerage account, or are directing another persons or entitys trades, those transactions will usually be subject to this Statement to the same extent your personal trades would be as described below.
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Definition of Beneficial Owner . A beneficial owner is any person who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship, or otherwise, has or shares in the opportunity, directly or indirectly, to profit or share in any profit derived from a transaction in the security.
A person has beneficial ownership in:
| securities held by members of the persons immediate family sharing the same household , although the presumption of beneficial ownership may be rebutted; |
| a persons interest in securities held by a trust, which may include both trustees with investment control and, in some instances, trust beneficiaries; |
| a persons right to acquire securities through the exercise or conversion of any derivative security, whether or not presently exercisable; |
| a general partners proportionate interest in the portfolio securities held by either a general or limited partnership; |
| certain performance-related fees other than an asset-based fee, received by any broker, dealer, bank, insurance company, investment company, investment adviser, investment manager, trustee or person or entity performing a similar function; and |
| a persons right to dividends that is separated or separable from the underlying securities. Otherwise, right to dividends alone shall not represent beneficial ownership in the securities. |
A shareholder shall not be deemed to have beneficial ownership in the portfolio securities held by a corporation or similar entity in which the person owns securities if the shareholder is not a controlling shareholder of the entity and does not have or share investment control over the entitys portfolio.
Requests for Clarifications or Interpretations Regarding Beneficial Ownership or Control. If you have beneficial ownership of a security, any transaction involving that security is presumed to be subject to the relevant requirements of this Statement, unless you have no direct or indirect influence or control over the transaction. Such a situation may arise, for example, if you have delegated investment authority to an independent investment adviser or your spouse has an independent trading program in which you have no input. Similarly, if your spouse has investment control over, but not beneficial ownership in, an unrelated account, the Statement may not apply to those securities and you may wish to seek clarification or an interpretation.
If you are involved in an investment account for a family situation, trust, partnership, corporation, etc., which you feel should not be subject to the Statements relevant prior transaction clearance and/or reporting requirements, you should submit a written request for clarification or interpretation to either the Code Compliance Section (via the Legal Compliance Employee Trading mailbox) or the TRP International Compliance Team. Any such request for
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clarification or interpretations should name the account, your interest in the account, the persons or firms responsible for its management, and the specific facts of the situation. Do not assume that the Statement is not applicable; you must receive a clarification or interpretation about the applicability of the Statement. Clarifications and interpretations are not self-executing; you must receive a response to a request for clarification or interpretation directly from the Code Compliance Team or the TRP International Compliance Team before proceeding with the transaction or other action covered by this Statement.
PRIOR TRANSACTION CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS GENERALLY. As described, certain transactions require prior clearance before execution. Receiving prior transaction clearance does not relieve you from conducting your personal securities transactions in full compliance with the Code, including its prohibition on trading while in possession of material, inside information, and the 60-Day Rule, and with applicable law, including the prohibition on Front Running ( see page 5-1 for definition of Front Running).
TRANSACTIONS IN STOCK OF PRICE GROUP. Because Price Group is a public company, ownership of its stock subjects its officers, inside and independent directors, employees and all others subject to the Code to special legal requirements under the United States securities laws. You are responsible for your own compliance with these requirements. In connection with these legal requirements, Price Group has adopted the following rules and procedures:
Independent Directors of Price Funds. The independent directors of the Price Funds are prohibited from owning the stock or other securities of Price Group.
Quarterly Earnings Report. Generally, all Access Persons and Non-Access Persons and the independent directors of Price Group must refrain from initiating transactions in Price Group stock in which they have a beneficial interest from the second trading day after quarter end (or such other date as management shall from time to time determine) through the day after the filing of the firms earnings release with the SEC on Form 10-Q or Form 8-K. You will be notified by the Management Committee from time to time as to the controlling dates.
Prior Transaction Clearance of Price Group Stock Transactions Generally. Access Persons and Non-Access Persons and the independent directors of Price Group are required to obtain clearance prior to effecting any proposed transaction (including gifts and transfers of beneficial ownership) involving shares of Price Group stock owned beneficially, including any Price Group stock owned in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan ( ESPP ). Moving shares of Price Group stock (held outside of the ESPP) between securities firms or to/from street name accounts with the same registration does not have to receive prior clearance, but must be reported.
Prior Transaction Clearance Procedures for Price Group Stock. Requests for prior transaction clearance must be processed by using the online request form. This online form can be accessed through the TROW Employee Stock Transactions tool located on the TRP Exchange. The Payroll and Stock Transaction Group is responsible for processing and maintaining the records of all such requests. This includes not only market transactions, but also sales of stock purchased either through the ESPP or through a securities account if shares of Price Group stock are transferred there from the ESPP. Purchases effected through the ESPP are automatically reported to the Payroll and Stock Transaction Group.
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Gifts . The giving of or receipt of Price Group stock (TROW) must be prior cleared. This includes donation transactions into donor-advised funds such as the T. Rowe Price Program for Charitable Giving, as well as any other charitable gifting.
Prohibition Regarding Transactions in Price Group Options . Transactions in options (other than stock options granted to T. Rowe Price associates) on Price Group stock are not permitted.
Prohibition Regarding Short Sales of Price Group Stock. Short sales of Price Group stock are not permitted.
Hedging Transactions in Price Group Stock. Entering into any contract or purchasing any instrument designed to hedge or offset any decrease in the market value of Price Group stock is not permitted.
Applicability of 60-Day Rule to Price Group Stock Transactions. Transactions in Price Group stock are subject to the 60-Day Rule except for transactions effected through the ESPP, the exercise of employee stock options granted by Price Group and the subsequent sale of the derivative shares, and shares obtained through an established dividend reinvestment program. Refer to page 5-28 for a full description of the 60-Day Rule.
Only Price Group stock that has been held for at least 60 days may be gifted. You must receive prior clearance before gifting shares of Price Group stock.
Purchases of Price Group stock in the ESPP through payroll deduction are not considered in determining the applicability of the 60-Day Rule to market transactions in Price Group stock ( see page 5-29).
To avoid issues with the 60-day rule, shares may not be transferred out of or otherwise removed from the ESPP if the shares have been held for less than 60 days.
Access Persons and Non-Access Persons and the independent directors of Price Group must obtain prior transaction clearance of any transaction involving Price Group stock, (unless specifically exempted, such as transfers of form of ownership) from the Payroll and Stock Transaction Group.
Initial Disclosure of Holdings of Price Group Stock. Each new employee must report to the Payroll and Stock Transaction Group any shares of Price Group stock of which he or she has beneficial ownership no later than ten business days after his or her starting date.
Dividend Reinvestment Plans for Price Group Stock. Purchases of Price Group stock owned outside of the ESPP and effected through a dividend reinvestment plan need not receive prior transaction clearance. Reporting of transactions effected through that plan need only be made quarterly through statements provided to the Code Compliance Team or by the financial institution ( e.g. broker/dealer) where the account is maintained, except in the case of employees who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, who must report such transactions immediately.
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Effectiveness of Prior Clearance. Prior transaction clearance of transactions in Price Group stock is effective for three United States business days from and including the date the clearance is granted, unless (i) advised to the contrary by the Payroll and Stock Transaction Group prior to the proposed transaction, or (ii) the person receiving the clearance comes into possession of material, non-public information concerning the firm. If the proposed transaction in Price Group stock is not executed within this time period, a new clearance must be obtained before the individual can execute the proposed transaction.
Reporting of Disposition of Proposed Transaction. You must use the form returned to you by the Payroll and Stock Transaction Group to notify them of the disposition (whether the proposed transaction was effected or not) of each transaction involving shares of Price Group stock owned directly. The notice must be returned within two business days of the trades execution or within five business days of the date of prior transaction clearance if the trade is not executed.
Insider Reporting and Liability. Under current SEC rules, certain officers directors and 10% stockholders of a publicly traded company ( Insiders ) are subject to the requirements of Section 16. Insiders include the directors and certain executive officers of Price Group. The Payroll and Stock Transaction Group informs all those who are Insiders of their obligations under Section 16.
SEC Reporting. There are three reporting forms which Insiders are required to file with the SEC to report their purchase, sale and transfer transactions in, and holdings of, Price Group stock. Although the Payroll and Stock Transaction Group will provide assistance in complying with these requirements as an accommodation to Insiders, it remains the legal responsibility of each Insider to ensure that the applicable reports are filed in a timely manner.
| Form 3. The initial ownership report by an Insider is required to be filed on Form 3. This report must be filed within ten days after a person becomes an Insider ( i.e., is elected as a director or appointed as an executive officer) to report all current holdings of Price Group stock. Following the election or appointment of an Insider, the Payroll and Stock Transaction Group will deliver to the Insider a Form 3 for appropriate signatures and will file the form electronically with the SEC. |
| Form 4. Any change in the Insiders ownership of Price Group stock must be reported on a Form 4 unless eligible for deferred reporting on year-end Form 5. The Form 4 must be filed electronically before the end of the second business day following the day on which a transaction resulting in a change in beneficial ownership has been executed. Following receipt of the Notice of Disposition of the proposed transaction, the Payroll and Stock Transaction Group will deliver to the Insider a Form 4, as applicable, for appropriate signatures and will file the form electronically with the SEC. |
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| Form 5. Any transaction or holding that is exempt from reporting on Form 4, such as small purchases of stock, gifts, etc. may be reported electronically on a deferred basis on Form 5 within 45 calendar days after the end of the calendar year in which the transaction occurred. No Form 5 is necessary if all transactions and holdings were previously reported on Form 4. |
Liability for Short-Swing Profits. Under the United States securities laws, profit realized by certain officers, as well as directors and 10% stockholders of a company (including Price Group) as a result of a purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) of stock of the company within a period of less than six months must be returned to the firm or its designated payee upon request.
PRIOR TRANSACTION CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS (OTHER THAN PRICE GROUP STOCK) FOR ACCESS PERSONS . {XE Reporting, Securities Transactions (other than Price Group stock) (not Independent Directors)}
Access Persons, unless otherwise provided for as follows, must obtain prior transaction clearance before directly or indirectly initiating, recommending, or in any way participating in, the purchase or sale of a security in which the Access Person has, or by reason of such transaction may acquire, any beneficial interest or which he or she controls. This includes the writing of an option to purchase or sell a security and the acquisition of any shares in an Automatic Investment Plan through a non-systematic investment. Following are exceptions to the prior transaction clearance requirement:
| the independent directors of the Price Funds are generally not required to receive prior transaction clearance so long as they have no knowledge of trades being transacted for the Price Funds; |
| and, any Price Adviser is not required to receive prior transaction clearance when T. Rowe Price seed money is deployed to establish a client/product strategy. |
Non-Access Persons are not required to obtain prior clearance before engaging in any securities transactions, except for transaction in Price Group stock.
Access Persons and Non-Access Persons and the independent directors of Price Group must obtain prior transaction clearance of any transaction involving Price Group stock, (unless specifically exempted, such as transfers of form of ownership) from the Payroll and Stock transaction Group.
Where required, prior transaction clearance must be obtained regardless of whether the transaction is effected through TRP Brokerage (generally available only to U.S. residents) or through an unaffiliated broker/dealer or other entity. Please note that the prior clearance procedures do not check compliance with the 60-Day Rule ( see page 5-28); you are responsible for ensuring your compliance with this rule.
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TRANSACTIONS (OTHER THAN IN PRICE GROUP STOCK) THAT DO NOT REQUIRE EITHER PRIOR TRANSACTION CLEARANCE OR REPORTING UNLESS THEY OCCUR IN A REPORTABLE FUND. The following transactions do not require either prior transaction clearance or reporting:
Mutual Funds and Variable Insurance Products. The purchase or redemption of shares of any open-end investment companies and variable insurance products, except that Access Persons must report transactions in Reportable Funds ( see page 5-12).
Undertakings for Collective Investments in Transferrable Securities (UCITS). The purchase or redemption of shares in an open-ended European investment fund established in accordance with the UCITS Directive provided that a Price Adviser does not serve as an adviser to the fund.
Automatic Investment Plans. Transactions through 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. However, the initial automatic investment does require prior clearance. An automatic investment plan includes a dividend reinvestment plan. An Access Person must report any securities owned as a result of transactions in an Automatic Investment Plan on his or her Annual Report. Any transaction that overrides the pre-set schedule or allocations of an automatic investment plan (a non-systematic transaction) must be reported by both Access Persons and non-Access Persons and Access Persons must also receive prior transaction clearance for such a transaction if the transaction would otherwise require prior transaction clearance.
Donor-Advised Funds. Transactions within donor-advised funds, such as the T. Rowe Price Program for Charitable Giving, do not require prior clearance or reporting. A gift of Price Group stock into a donor-advised fund is required to be prior cleared and reported.
U.S Government Obligations. Purchases or sales of direct obligations of the U.S Government.
Certain Commodity Futures Contracts . Purchases or sales of commodity futures contracts for tangible goods ( e.g., corn, soybeans, wheat) if the transaction is regulated solely by the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission ( CFTC ). Futures contracts for financial instruments, however, must receive prior clearance and be reported.
Commercial Paper and Similar Instruments. Bankers acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements.
Certain Unit Investment Trusts. Shares issued by unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or more open-end funds, if none of the underlying funds is a Reportable Fund.
Currency. Direct foreign currency transactions (spot and forward trades) in the Japanese Yen or British Pound, for example. However, securitized or financial instruments used for currency exposure ( e.g. ProShares Ultra Yen ETF), must receive prior clearance and be reported.
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TRANSACTIONS (OTHER THAN PRICE GROUP STOCK) THAT DO NOT REQUIRE PRIOR TRANSACTION CLEARANCE BUT MUST BE REPORTED BY BOTH ACCESS PERSONS AND NON-ACCESS PERSONS. The following transactions do not require prior transaction clearance but must be reported:
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs). Purchases or sales of the following ETFs only:
| SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF ( DIA ) |
| SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust ( SPY ) |
| PowerShares QQQ Trust, Series 1 (ETF) ( QQQ ) |
| iShares MSCI EAFE ETF ( EFA ) |
| iShares Core S&P 500 ETF ( IVV ) |
| iShares Russell 2000 ETF ( IWM ) |
| iShares MSCI Emerging Market ETF ( EEM ) |
| iShares FTSE 100 UCITS ETF ( GB/ISF ) |
Transactions by Access Persons in all other ETFs, including ETFs authorized as UCITS, must receive prior clearance and these transactions must be reported by both Access Persons and Non-Access Persons.
Unit Investment Trusts. Purchases or sales of shares in unit investment trusts registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, unless the unit investment trust is an ETF, in which case it must comply with the specific restrictions on ETFs described immediately above.
National Government Obligations (other than U.S.). Purchases or sales of direct obligations of national (non-U.S.) governments.
Variable Rate Demand Notes. This financial instrument is an unsecured debt obligation of a corporate entity. These instruments generally pay a floating interest rate slightly above the prevailing money market rates and include check-writing capabilities. It is not a money market fund nor is it equivalent to a bank deposit or bank account, therefore the instrument is not protected by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation or Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Pro Rata Distributions. Purchases effected by the exercise of rights issued pro-rata to all holders of a class of securities or the sale of rights so received.
Tender Offers. Purchases and sales of securities pursuant to a mandatory ( e.g., the holder has no choice or elections regarding the offer) tender offer. Merger elections, however, that presents holders of acquired securities, with exchange options that typically include cash or securities of the acquiring company and/or a combination thereof, must be prior cleared.
Exercise of Stock Option of Corporate Employer by Spouse. Transactions involving the exercise by an Access Persons spouse of a stock option issued by the corporation employing the spouse. However, a subsequent sale of the stock obtained by means of the exercise, including sales effected by a cash-less transactions, must receive prior transaction clearance.
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Restricted Stock Plan Automatic Sales for Tax Purposes by Spouse . Transactions commonly called net sales whereby upon vesting of restricted shares, a portion of the shares are automatically sold in order to cover the tax obligation.
Inheritances. The acquisition of securities through inheritance.
Gifts. The giving of or receipt of a security as a gift. However a gift of or receipt of Price Group stock must be prior cleared.
Stock Splits, Reverse Stock Splits, and Similar Acquisitions and Dispositions. The mandatory acquisition of additional shares or the disposition of existing corporate holdings through stock splits, reverse stock splits, stock dividends, exercise of rights, exchange or conversion. Reporting of such transactions must be made within 30 days of the end of the quarter in which they occurred. Reporting is deemed to have been made if the acquisition or disposition is reported on a confirmation, statement or similar document sent to Code Compliance.
Spousal Employee-Sponsored Payroll Deduction Plans. Purchases, but not sales, by an Access Persons spouse pursuant to an employee-sponsored payroll deduction plan ( e.g., a 401(k) plan or employee stock purchase plan), provided the Code Compliance Section has been previously notified by the Access Person that the spouse will be participating in the payroll deduction plan. Reporting of such transactions must be made within 30 days of the end of the quarter in which they occurred. A sale or exchange of stock held in such a plan is subject to the prior transaction clearance requirements for Access Persons.
Partial Shares Sold. Partial shares held in an account that are sold when the account is transferred to another broker/dealer or to new owner or partial shares sold automatically by the broker/dealer.
TRANSACTIONS (OTHER THAN PRICE GROUP STOCK) THAT DO NOT REQUIRE PRIOR TRANSACTION CLEARANCE BUT MUST BE REPORTED BY ACCESS PERSONS ONLY.
Reportable Funds Not Held On A T. Rowe Price Platform . Access Persons must report the purchases and sales of shares of Reportable Funds. A Reportable Fund is any open-end investment company, including money market funds and UCITS, for which any of the Price Advisers serves as an investment adviser. This includes not only the Price Funds, SICAVs, OEICs, and any Price-advised investment products, but also any fund managed by any of the Price Advisers either through sub-advised relationships, including any fund holdings offered through retirement plans ( e.g., 401(k) plans) other than the T. Rowe Price U.S. Retirement Plan, or as an investment option offered as part of a variable annuity. Code Compliance maintains a listing of sub-advised Reportable Funds on the TRP Exchange.
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Access Persons must inform the Code Compliance Team about ownership of shares of Price Funds. Once this notification has been given, if the Price Fund is held on a T. Rowe Price platform, in a TRP Brokerage Account, or in the T. Rowe Price U.S. Retirement Plan, the Access Person need not report these transactions directly ( see page 5-20).
In instances where Price Funds are held through an intermediary, transactions in shares of those Price Funds must be reported as described on page 5-20.
Interests in Section 529 College Savings Plans not held on the T. Rowe Price Platform . Access Persons must report the purchase and sale of interests in any Section 529 College Savings Plan for which any Price Adviser serves as an adviser or subadviser to the plan.
Access Persons must inform the Code Compliance Team about ownership of interests in the Maryland College Investment Plan, the T. Rowe Price College Savings Plan and the University of Alaska College Savings Plan. For these specific plans only, once this notification has been given, an Access Person need not report transactions directly ( see page 5-20).
In instances where ownership interests in 529 College Savings Plans that are advised or subadvised by a Price Adviser are held through an intermediary, transactions must be reported as described on page 5-20.
The independent directors of the Price Funds are subject to modified reporting requirements.
The Chief Compliance Officer or his or her designee reviews at a minimum the transaction reports for all securities required to be reported under the Advisers Act or the Investment Company Act for all employees, officers, and inside directors of Price Group and its affiliates and for the independent directors of the Price Funds.
TRANSACTIONS (OTHER THAN PRICE GROUP STOCK) THAT REQUIRE PRIOR TRANSACTION CLEARANCE BY ACCESS PERSONS. If the transaction or security is not subject to prior transaction clearance, you should assume that it is subject to this requirement unless specifically informed otherwise by the Code Compliance Team or the TRP International Compliance Team. The only Access Persons not subject to the prior transaction clearance requirements are the independent directors of the Price Funds.
Among the transactions for which you must receive prior transaction clearance are:
| Non-systematic transactions in a security that is not exempt from prior transaction clearance; |
| Close-end fund transactions, including U.K, Canadian, and other non-U.S. investment trusts, and ETFs not specifically exempted from prior clearance ( see page 5-11) ; and |
| Transactions in sector index funds that are closed-end or exchange-traded funds. |
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OTHER TRANSACTION REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. Any transaction that is subject to the prior transaction clearance requirements on behalf of an Access Person (except the independent directors of the Price Funds), including purchases in initial public offerings and private placement transactions, must be reported. Although Non-Access Persons are not required to receive prior transaction clearance for securities transactions (other than Price Group stock), they must report any transaction that would require prior transaction clearance by an Access Person. The independent directors of Price Group and the Price Funds are subject to modified reporting requirements.
PROCEDURES FOR OBTAINING PRIOR TRANSACTION CLEARANCE (OTHER THAN PRICE GROUP STOCK) FOR ACCESS PERSONS. Unless prior transaction clearance is not required as described above or the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee or his or her designee has otherwise determined that prior transaction clearance is not required, Access Persons, other than the independent directors of the Price Funds, must receive prior transaction clearance for all securities transactions.
Access Persons should follow the procedures set forth below before engaging in the transactions described. If an Access Person is not certain whether a proposed transaction is subject to the prior transaction clearance requirements, he or she should contact the Code Compliance Team before proceeding.
Procedures For Obtaining Prior Transaction Clearance For Initial Public Offerings (IPOs):
Non-Investment Personnel. Access Persons who are not Investment Personnel ( Non-Investment Personnel ) may purchase securities that are the subject of an IPO only after receiving prior transaction clearance in writing from the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee or his or her designee ( Designee ). An IPO would include, for example, an offering of securities registered under the Securities Act of 1933 when the issuer of the securities, immediately before the registration, was not subject to certain reporting requirements of the Exchange Act. This requirement applies to all IPOs regardless of market.
In considering such a request for prior transaction clearance, the Chairperson or his or her Designee will determine whether the proposed transaction presents a conflict of interest with any of the firms clients or otherwise violates the Code. The Chairperson or his or her Designee will also consider whether:
1. | The purchase is made through the Non-Investment Personnels regular broker; |
2. | The number of shares to be purchased is commensurate with the normal size and activity of the Non-Investment Personnels account; and |
3. | The transaction otherwise meets the requirements of the FINRA restrictions, as applicable, regarding the sale of a new issue to an account in which a restricted person, as defined in FINRA Rule 5130, has a beneficial interest. |
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Non-Investment Personnel will not be permitted to purchase shares in an IPO if any of the firms clients are prohibited from doing so because of affiliated transaction restrictions. This prohibition will remain in effect until the firms clients have had the opportunity to purchase in the secondary market once the underwriting is completed commonly referred to as the aftermarket. The 60-Day Rule applies to transactions in securities purchased in an IPO.
Investment Personnel . Investment Personnel may not purchase securities in an IPO.
Non-Access Persons. Although Non-Access Persons are not required to receive prior transaction clearance before purchasing shares in an IPO, any Non-Access Person who is a registered representative or associated person of Investment Services is reminded that FINRA Rule 5130 may restrict his or her ability to buy shares in a new issue in any market.
Procedures For Obtaining Prior Transaction Clearance For Private Placements . Access Persons may not invest in a private placement of securities, including the purchase of limited partnership interests, unless prior transaction clearance in writing has been obtained from the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee or his or her Designee. This prior clearance provision includes situations involving investment transactions made in small businesses typically sourced through family or friends as well as any other referral source.
A private placement is generally defined by the SEC as an offering that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act. Private placement investments generally require the investor to complete a written questionnaire or subscription agreement.
Crowdfunding. Investments made through crowdfunding sites that serve to match entrepreneurs with investors, through which investors receive an equity stake in the business, are generally considered to be private placements and would require prior clearance. In contrast, providing funding through crowdfunding sites that serve to fund projects or philanthropic ventures are not considered private placements and therefore would not require prior clearance.
If an Access Person has any questions about whether a transaction is, in fact, a private placement, he or she should contact the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee or his or her designee.
In considering a request for prior transaction clearance for a private placement, the Chairperson will determine whether the investment opportunity (private placement) should be reserved for the firms clients, and whether the opportunity is being offered to the Access Person by virtue of his or her position with the firm. The Chairperson will also secure, if appropriate, the approval of the proposed transaction from the chairperson of the applicable investment steering committee. These investments may also have special reporting requirements, as discussed under Procedures for Reporting Transactions, at page 5-19.
Continuing Obligation. An Access Person who has received prior transaction clearance to invest and does invest in a private placement of securities and who, at a later date, anticipates participating in the firms investment decision process regarding the purchase or sale of securities of the issuer of that private placement on behalf of any client, must immediately disclose his or her prior investment in the private placement to the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee and to the chairperson of the appropriate investment steering committee.
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Registered representatives of Investment Services are reminded that FINRA rules may restrict investment in a private placement in certain circumstances.
Procedures For Obtaining Prior Transaction Clearance For All Other Securities Transactions. Requests for prior transaction clearance by Access Persons for all other securities transactions requiring prior transaction clearance should generally be made via myTRPcompliance on the firms intranet. The myTRPcompliance system automatically sends any request for prior transaction approval that requires manual intervention to the Code Compliance team. If you cannot access myTRPcompliance, requests may be made by email to the Legal Compliance Employee Trading mailbox. All requests must include the name of the security, a definitive security identifier ( e.g., CUSIP, ticker, or Sedol), the number of shares or amount of bond involved, and the nature of the transaction, i.e., whether the transaction is a purchase, sale, short sale, or buy to cover. Responses to all requests will be made by myTRPcompliance or the Code Compliance Team, documenting the request and whether or not prior transaction clearance has been granted. The myTRPcompliance system maintains the record of all approval and denials, whether automatic or manual.
Requests will normally be processed on the same day; however, additional time may be required for prior transaction clearance for certain securities, including non-U.S. securities.
Effectiveness of Prior Transaction Clearance. Prior transaction clearance of a securities transaction is effective for three United States business days from and including the date the clearance is granted, regardless of the time of day when clearance is granted. If the proposed securities transaction is not executed within this time, a new clearance must be obtained. For example, if prior transaction clearance is granted at 2:00 pm Monday, the trade must be executed by Wednesday. In situations where it appears that the trade will not be executed within three business days even if the order is entered in that time period ( e.g., certain transactions through transfer agents or spousal employee-sponsored payroll deduction plans), please notify the Code Compliance Team after prior clearance has been granted, but before entering the order with the executing agent.
Reminder. If you are an Access Person and become the beneficial owner of anothers securities ( e.g., by marriage to the owner of the securities) or begin to direct trading of anothers securities, then transactions in those securities also become subject to the prior transaction clearance requirements. You must also report acquisition of beneficial ownership or control of these securities within ten business days of your knowledge of their existence.
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REASONS FOR DISALLOWING ANY REQUESTED TRANSACTION. Prior transaction clearance will usually not be granted if:
Pending Client Orders. Orders have been placed by any of the Price Advisers to purchase or sell the security unless certain size or volume parameters as described (on page 5-25) under Large Issuer/Volume Transactions are met.
Purchases and Sales Within Seven Calendar Days. The security has been purchased or sold by any client of a Price Adviser within seven calendar days immediately prior to the date of the proposed transaction, unless certain size or volume parameters as described (on page 5-25) under Large Issuer/Volume Transactions are met.
For example, if a client transaction occurs on Monday, prior transaction clearance is not generally granted to An Access Person to purchase or sell that security until Tuesday of the following week. Transactions in securities in pure as opposed to enhanced index funds are not considered for this purpose.
If all clients have eliminated their holdings in a particular security, the seven calendar day restriction is not applicable to an Access Persons transactions in that security.
Approved Company Rating Changes. A change in the rating of an approved company has occurred within seven calendar days immediately prior to the date of the proposed transaction. Accordingly, trading would not be permitted until the eighth calendar day.
Securities Subject to Internal Trading Restrictions. The security is limited or restricted by any of the Price Advisers as to purchase or sale by Access Persons.
Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) Restrictions. Transaction requests in narrow, inverse (also known as short or inverse-leveraged) ETFs will be denied. Narrow, inverse ETFs include, but are not limited to, those focused on the commodities, currencies and specific market sectors. Short sale transaction requests of narrow, long ETFs will also be denied. A list of eligible, to be approved for trading broad, inverse ETFs will be maintained on the Exchange.
Requests for Reconsideration of Prior Transaction Clearance Denials. If an Access Person has not been granted a requested prior transaction clearance, he or she may apply to the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee or his or her designee for reconsideration. Such a request must be in writing and must fully describe the basis upon which the reconsideration is being requested. As part of the reconsideration process, the Chairperson or his or her designee will determine if any client of any of the Price Advisers may be disadvantaged by the proposed transaction by the Access Person. The factors the Chairperson or his or her designee may consider in making this determination include:
| the size of the proposed transaction; |
| the nature of the proposed transaction ( i.e., buy or sell) and of any recent, current or pending client transactions; |
| the trading volume of the security that is the subject of the proposed Access Person transaction; |
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| the existence of any current or pending order in the security for any client of a Price Adviser; |
| the reason the Access Person wants to trade ( e.g., to provide funds for the purchase of a home); and |
| the number of times the Access Person has requested prior transaction clearance for the proposed trade and the amount of time elapsed between each prior transaction clearance request. |
TRANSACTION CONFIRMATIONS AND PERIODIC ACCOUNT STATEMENTS. All Access Persons (except the independent directors of the Price Funds) and Non-Access Persons must request broker-dealers, investment advisers, banks, or other financial institutions executing their transactions to send a duplicate confirmation or contract note with respect to each and every reportable transaction, including Price Group stock, and a copy of all periodic statements for all securities accounts in which the Access Person or Non-Access Person is considered to have beneficial ownership and/or control (see discussion of beneficial ownership and control concepts on page 5-4) to Code Compliance, Legal Department, T. Rowe Price, P.O. Box 17218, Baltimore, Maryland 21297-1218. T. Rowe Price has established relationships and processes with many broker-dealers for purposes of obtaining duplicate confirmations and contract notes as well as periodic statements. Certain broker-dealers require employee consent before sending such confirmations, contract notes, and statements to T. Rowe Price. In those cases, Code Compliance will contact the employee and obtain the required authorization.
The independent directors of Price Group and the Price Funds are subject to modified reporting requirements described at pages 5-21 to 5-23.
If transaction or statement information is provided in a language other than English, the employee should provide a translation into English of the documents.
NOTIFICATION OF SECURITIES ACCOUNTS. All persons (except the independent directors of the Price Funds) and all entities subject to this Statement must report their securities accounts upon joining the firm as well as report any new securities accounts opened while employed by the firm. myTRPcompliance (located on the Exchange) is the tool that must be used to report and maintain (open or close) accounts holding securities subject to this Statement of Policy.
The independent directors of Price Group and the Price Funds are not subject to this requirement.
New Personnel Subject to the Code. A person subject to the Code must give written notice as directed above of any existing securities accounts maintained with any broker, dealer, investment adviser, bank or other financial institution within ten business days of association with the firm.
You do not have to report accounts at transfer agents or similar entities if the only securities in those accounts are variable insurance products or open-end mutual funds if these are the only types of securities that can be held or traded in the accounts. If other securities can be held or traded, the accounts must be reported. For example, if you have an account at a transfer agent that can only hold shares of a mutual fund; that account does not have to be reported. If, however, you have a brokerage account it must be reported even if the only securities currently held or traded in it are mutual funds.
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Officers, Directors and Registered Representatives of Investment Services. FINRA requires each associated person of T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc. to:
| Obtain approval for a securities account from Investment Services (whether the registered person is based in the United States or internationally); the request for approval should be in writing, directed to the Code Compliance Section, and submitted before opening or placing the initial trade in the securities account; and |
| If the securities account is with a broker/dealer, provide the broker/dealer with written notice of his or her association with Investment Services. |
Annual Statement by Access Persons. Each Access Person, except an Access person who is an independent director of the Price Funds, must also file with the firm a statement of his or her accounts as of year-end in January of the following year.
Reminder. If you become the beneficial owner of anothers securities ( e.g., by marriage to the owner of the securities) or begin to direct trading of anothers securities, then the associated securities accounts become subject to the account reporting requirements.
PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING TRANSACTIONS . The following requirements apply both to Access Persons and Non-Access Persons except the independent directors of Price Group and the Price Funds, who are subject to modified reporting requirements:
Report Form. If the executing firm provides a confirmation, contract note or similar document directly to the firm, you do not need to make a further report. The date this document is received by the Code Compliance Team will be deemed the date the report is submitted for purposes of SEC compliance. The Code Compliance Team must receive the confirmation or similar document no later than 10 days after the end of the calendar quarter in which the transaction occurred. You must report all other transactions using the Securities Transaction Report form which is available in the myTRPcompliance system.
What Information Is Required. Each transaction report must contain, at a minimum, the following information about each transaction involving a reportable security in which you had, or as a result of the transaction acquired, any direct or indirect beneficial ownership:
| the date of the transaction |
| the title of the security |
| the ticker symbol or CUSIP number, as applicable |
| the interest rate and maturity date, as applicable |
| the number of shares, as applicable |
| the principal amount of each reportable security involved, as applicable |
| the nature of the transaction ( i.e. purchase, sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition) |
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| the price of the security at which the transaction was effected |
| the name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through which the transaction was effected; and |
| the date you submit the report |
When Reports are Due. You must report a securities transaction (other than a transaction in a Reportable Fund or Section 529 College Savings Plan [Access Persons only] or a spousal payroll deduction plan or a stock split or similar acquisition or disposition) within ten business days after the trade date or within ten business days after the date on which you first gain knowledge of the transaction (for example, a bequest) if this is later. A transaction in a Reportable Fund, a Section 529 College Savings Plan, a spousal payroll deduction plan or a stock split or similar acquisition or disposition must be reported within 30 days of the end of the quarter in which it occurred.
Access Person Reporting of Reportable Funds and Section 529 College Savings Plan Interests held on the T. Rowe Price Platform or held by the TRP UK Retirement Plan. You are required to inform the Code Compliance Section about Reportable Funds and/or Section 529 College Savings Plan interests ( i.e., the Maryland College Investment Plan, the T. Rowe Price College Savings Plan and the University of Alaska College Savings Plan) held on the T. Rowe Price Platform or held by the TRP UK Retirement Plan. Once you have done this, you do not have to report any transactions in those securities. Your transactions and holdings will be updated and reported automatically to Code Compliance on a periodic basis. You should report your new account via myTRPcompliance (located on the Exchange) when you first establish an account in a Reportable Fund or invest in Section 529 College Savings Plan Interests held on a T. Rowe Price Platform or held by the TRP UK Retirement Plan.
Access Person Reporting of Reportable Funds and Section 529 TRP-advised College Savings Plan Interests NOT held on the T. Rowe Price Platform. You must notify the Code Compliance Team of any Reportable Fund or Section 529 TRP-advised College Savings Plan interests that you beneficially own or control that are held at any intermediary. This would include, for example, a Price Fund held in your spouses retirement plan, even if T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services, Inc. acts as the administrator or record-keeper of that plan. Any transaction in a Reportable Fund or in interests in a Section 529 TRP-advised College Savings Plan must be reported by duplicate transaction confirmations and statements sent directly by the intermediary to the Code Compliance Team or by the Access Person directly using the Securities Transactions form (located in myTRPcompliance) within 10 days of the end of the quarter in which the transaction occurred.
Reporting Certain Private Placement Transactions. If your investment requires periodic capital calls ( e.g., in a limited partnership) you must report each capital call. This is required even if you are an Access Person and you received prior transaction clearance for a total cumulative investment. In addition, you must report any distributions you receive in the form of securities.
Reminder. If you become the beneficial owner of anothers securities ( e.g., by marriage to the owner of the securities) or begin to direct trading of anothers securities, the transactions in these securities become subject to the transaction reporting requirements.
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REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS OF THE PRICE FUNDS.
Transactions in Publicly Traded Securities. An independent director of the Price Funds must report transactions in publicly-traded securities where the independent director controls or directs such transactions. These reporting requirements apply to transactions the independent director effects for his or her own beneficial ownership as well as the beneficial ownership of others, such as a spouse or other family member. An independent director does not have to report securities transactions in accounts over which the independent director has no direct or indirect influence such as an account over which the independent director has granted full investment discretion to a financial adviser. The independent director should contact the Legal Department to request approval to exempt any such accounts from this reporting requirement.
Transactions in Non-Publicly Traded Securities. An independent director does not have to report transactions in securities which are not traded on an exchange ( i.e., non-publicly traded securities), unless the independent director knew, or in the ordinary course of fulfilling his or her official duties as a Price Funds independent director, should have known that during the 15-day period immediately before or after the independent directors transaction in such non-publicly traded security, a Price Adviser purchased, sold or considered purchasing or selling such security for a Price Fund or Price advisory client.
Methods of Reporting. An independent director has the option to satisfy his or her obligation to report transactions in securities via a Quarterly Report or by arranging for the executing brokers of such transactions to provide duplicate transaction confirmations directly to the Code Compliance Team.
Quarterly Reports. If a Price Fund independent director elects to report his or her transactions quarterly: (1) a report for each securities transaction must be filed with the Code Compliance Team no later than thirty days after the end of the calendar quarter in which the transaction was effected; and (2) a report must be filed for each quarter, regardless of whether there have been any reportable transactions. The Code compliance Team will send to each independent director of the Price Funds who chooses to report transactions on a quarterly basis a reminder letter and reporting form approximately ten days before the end of each calendar quarter.
Duplicate Confirmation Reporting. An independent director of the Price Funds may also instruct his or her broker to send duplicate transaction confirmations directly to the Code Compliance Team. An independent director who chooses to have his or her broker send duplicate account information to the Code Compliance Team in lieu of directly reporting broker-executed transactions must nevertheless provide Quarterly Reports for any securities transactions for which a broker confirmation is not generated.
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Among the types of transactions that are commonly not reported through a broker confirmation and may therefore have to be reported directly to T. Rowe Price are:
| Exercise of Stock Options of a Corporate Employer; |
| Inheritance of a Security |
| Gift of a Security; and |
| Transactions in Certain Commodities Futures Contracts ( e.g., financial indices). |
An independent director of the Price Funds must include any transactions listed above, as applicable, in his or her Quarterly Reports if not otherwise contained in a duplicate broker confirmation. The Code Compliance Team will send to each independent director of the Price Funds who chooses to report transactions through broker confirmations a reminder letter approximately ten days before the end of each calendar quarter so that transactions not reported by broker confirmations can be reported.
Reporting of Officership, Directorship, General Partnership or Other Managerial Positions Apart from the Price Funds. An independent director of the Price Funds shall report to the Code Compliance Team any officership, directorship, general partnership, or other managerial position which he or she holds with any public, private, or governmental issuer other than the Price Funds.
Reporting of Significant Ownership.
Issuers (Other than Non-Public Investment partnerships, Pools or Funds). If an independent director of the Price Funds owns more than 1 ⁄ 2 of 1% of the total outstanding shares of a public or private issuer (other than a non-public investment partnership, pool or fund), he or she must immediately report this ownership in writing to the Code Compliance Team, providing the name of the issuer and the total number of the issuers shares beneficially owned.
Non-Public Investment Partnerships, Pools or Funds. If an independent director of the Price Funds owns more than 1 ⁄ 2 of 1% of the total outstanding shares or units of a non-public investment partnership, pool or fund over which the independent director exercises control or influence, the independent director must report such ownership in writing to the Code Compliance Team. For non-public investment partnerships, pools or funds where the independent director does not exercise control or influence, the independent director need not report such ownership to the Code Compliance Section unless and until such ownership exceeds 4% of the total outstanding shares or units of the entity.
Investments in Price Group. An independent director of the Price Funds is prohibited from owning the common stock or other securities of Price Group.
Investments in Non-Listed Securities Firms. An independent director of the Price Funds may not purchase or sell the shares of a broker/dealer, underwriter or federally registered investment adviser unless that entity is traded on an exchange or the purchase or sale has otherwise been approved by the Price Fund Boards.
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Dealing with Clients . Aside from market transactions effected through securities exchanges, an independent director of the Price Funds may not, directly or indirectly, sell to or purchase any security from a client. This prohibition does not preclude the purchase or redemption of shares of any open-end mutual fund that is a client of any of the Price Advisers.
Prior Transaction Clearance Requirements. The independent directors of the Price Funds are generally not required to receive prior transaction clearance so long as they have no knowledge of trades being transacted for the Price Funds.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS OF PRICE GROUP OR ITS SUBSIDIARIES.
Reporting of Personal Securities Transactions. An independent director is not required to report his or her personal securities transactions (other than transactions in Price Group stock) as long as the independent director does not obtain information about the Price Advisers investment research, recommendations, or transactions. However, each independent director is reminded that changes to certain information reported by the respective independent director in the Annual Questionnaire for Independent Directors are required to be reported to Corporate Records ( e.g., changes in holdings of stock of financial institutions or financial institution holding companies).
Reporting of Officership, Directorship, General Partnership or Other Managerial Positions Apart from Price Group. An independent director shall report to the Code Compliance Team any officership, directorship, general partnership or other managerial position which he or she holds with any public, private, or governmental issuer other than Price Group or any of its subsidiaries.
Reporting of Significant Ownership.
Issuers (Other than Non-Public Investment Partnerships, Pools or Funds). If an independent director owns more than 1 ⁄ 2 of 1% of the total outstanding shares of a public or private issuer (other than a non-public investment partnership, pool or fund), he or she must report this ownership in writing to the Code Compliance Team, providing the name of the issuer and the total number of the issuers shares beneficially owned.
Non-Public Investment Partnerships, Pools or Funds. If an independent director owns more than 1 ⁄ 2 of 1% of the total outstanding shares or units of a non-public investment partnership, pool or fund over which the independent director exercises control or influence, the independent director must report such ownership in writing to the Code Compliance Team. For non-public investment partnerships, pools or funds where the independent director does not exercise control or influence, the independent director need not report such ownership to the Code Compliance Team unless and until such ownership exceeds 4% of the total outstanding shares or units of the entity.
Investments in Non-Listed Securities Firms. An independent director should be mindful of potential conflicts of interest associated with transactions and/or ownership of a broker/dealer, underwriter or federally registered investment adviser that is not publicly traded. Directors should consult with the T. Rowe Price Chief Legal Counsel regarding such matters.
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MISCELLANEOUS RULES REGARDING PERSONAL SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS. These rules vary in their applicability depending upon whether you are an Access Person.
The following rules apply to all Access Persons, except the independent directors of the Price Funds, and to all Non-Access Persons:
Dealing with Clients. Access Persons and Non-Access Persons may not, directly or indirectly, sell to or purchase from a client any security. Market transactions are not subject to this restriction. This prohibition does not preclude the purchase or redemption of shares of any open-end mutual fund that is a client of any of the Price Advisers and does not apply to transactions in a spousal employer-sponsored payroll deduction plan or spousal employer-sponsored stock option plan.
Investment Clubs. These restrictions vary depending upon the persons status, as follows:
Non-Access Persons. A Non-Access Person may form or participate in a stock or investment club without prior clearance from the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee (U.S.-based personnel) or the TRP International Compliance Team (international personnel). Only transactions in Price Group stock are subject to prior transaction clearance. Club transactions must be reported just as the Non-Access Persons individual trades are reported.
Access Persons. An Access Person may not form or participate in a stock or investment club unless prior written clearance has been obtained from the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee (U.S.-based personnel) or the TRP International Compliance Team (international personnel). Generally, transactions by such a stock or investment club in which an Access Person has beneficial ownership or control are subject to the same prior transaction clearance and reporting requirements applicable to an individual Access Persons trades. If, however, the Access Person has beneficial ownership solely by virtue of his or her spouses participation in the club and has no investment control or input into decisions regarding the clubs securities transactions, the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee or the TRP International Compliance Team may, as appropriate as part of the prior clearance process, require the prior transaction clearance of Price Group stock transactions only.
Margin Accounts. While margin accounts are discouraged, you may open and maintain margin accounts for the purchase of securities provided such accounts are with firms with which you maintain a regular securities account relationship.
Limit Orders. While limit orders are permitted, Access Persons must be careful using good until cancelled orders keeping in mind that prior clearance is valid for three business days. Use of day limit orders is encouraged.
Trading Activity. You are discouraged from engaging in a pattern of securities transactions that either:
| is so excessively frequent as to potentially impact your ability to carry out your assigned responsibilities, or |
| involves securities positions that are disproportionate to your net assets. |
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At the discretion of the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee, written notification of excessive trading may be sent to you and/or the appropriate supervisor if ten or more reportable trades occur in your account or accounts in a month, or if circumstances otherwise warrant this action.
The following rules apply only to Access Persons other than the independent directors of the Price Funds:
Large Issuer/Volume Transactions . Although subject to prior transaction clearance, transactions involving securities of certain large issuers or of issuers with high trading volumes, within the parameters set by the Ethics Committee (the Large Issuer/Volume List ), will be permitted under normal circumstances, as follows:
Transactions involving no more than U.S $50,000 (all amounts are in U.S. dollars) or the nearest round lot (even if the amount of the transaction marginally exceeds $50,000) per security per seven (7) calendar-day period in securities of:
| issuers with market capitalizations of $7.5 billion or more, or |
| U.S. issuers with an average daily trading volume in excess of 750,000 shares over the preceding 90 trading days in the U.S. |
are usually permitted, unless the rating on the security has been changed within the seven calendar days immediately prior to the date of the proposed transaction.
These parameters are subject to change by the Ethics Committee. An Access Person should be aware that if prior transaction clearance is granted for a specific number of shares lower than the number requested, he or she may not be able to receive permission to buy or sell additional shares of the issuer for the next seven calendar days.
Small Cap Issuer Transactions. Although subject to prior transaction clearance, transactions involving securities of certain small cap issuers may not be approved if there was a ratings change or ratings initiation in the previous 14 calendar days. Small cap issuers are defined as issuers with a market capitalization of $2.0 billion or less.
Transactions Involving Options on Large Issuer/Volume List Securities. Access Persons may not purchase uncovered put options or sell uncovered call options unless otherwise permitted under the Options and Futures discussion that follows. Otherwise, in the case of options on an individual security on the Large Issuer/Volume List (if it has not had a rating change), an Access Person may trade the greater of five contracts or sufficient option contracts to control $50,000 in the underlying security; thus an Access Person may trade five contracts even if this permits the Access Person to control more than $50,000 in the underlying security. Similarly, the Access Person may trade more than five contracts as long as the number of contracts does not permit him or her to control more than $50,000 in the underlying security.
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Transactions Involving Exchange-Traded Index Options. Generally, an Access Person may trade the greater of five contracts or sufficient contracts to control $50,000 in the underlying securities; thus an Access Person may trade five contracts even if this permits the Access Person to control more than $50,000 in the underlying securities. Similarly, the Access person may trade more than five contracts as long as the number of contracts does not permit him or her to control more than $50,000 in the underlying securities. Options on any of the Exchange-Traded Funds identified on page 5-11 do not require prior clearance but must be reported. These parameters are subject to change by the Ethics Committee.
Please note that an option on a Unit Investment Trust is not an exchange-traded index option and does not fall under this provision. See the discussion under General Information on Options and Futures below.
Client Limit Orders. Although subject to prior transaction clearance, an Access Persons proposed trade in a security is usually permitted even if a limit order has been entered for a client for the same security, if:
| The Access Persons trade will be entered as a market order; and |
| The clients limit order is 10% or more away from the market price at the time the Access Person requests prior transaction clearance. |
Japanese New Issues. All Access Persons are prohibited from purchasing a security which is the subject of an IPO in Japan.
General Information on Options and Futures (Other than Exchange-Traded Index Options). If a transaction in the underlying instrument does not require prior transaction clearance ( e.g., National Government Obligations, Unit Investment Trusts), then an options or futures transaction on the underlying instrument does not require prior transaction clearance. However, all options and futures transactions, except the commodity futures transactions described on page 5-10, must be reported even if a transaction in the underlying instrument would not have to be reported ( e.g., U.S. Government Obligations). Transactions in publicly traded options on Price Group stock are not permitted (s ee page 5-7). Please note that Contracts for Difference are treated under this Statement in the same manner as call options, and, as a result, are subject to the 60-Day Rule.
Before engaging in options and futures transactions, Access Persons should understand the impact that the 60-Day Rule and intervening client transactions may have upon their ability to close out a position with a profit (see Closing or Exercising Options Positions below).
Options and Futures on Securities and Indices Not Held by Clients of the Price Advisers. There are no specific restrictions with respect to the purchase, sale or writing of put or call options or any other option or futures activity, such as multiple writings, spreads and straddles, on a security (and options or futures on such security) or index that is not held by any of the Price Advisers clients.
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Options on Securities Held by Clients of the Price Advisers. With respect to options on securities of companies which are held by any of Price Advisers clients, it is the firms policy that an Access Person should not profit from a price decline of a security owned by a client (other than a pure Index account). Therefore, an Access Person may: (i) purchase call options and sell covered call options and (ii) purchase covered put options and sell put options. An Access Person may not purchase uncovered put options or sell uncovered call options, even if the issuer of the underlying securities is included on the Large Issuer/Volume List, unless purchased in connection with other options on the same security as part of a straddle, combination or spread strategy which is designed to result in a profit to the Access Person if the underlying security rises in or does not change in value. The purchase, sale and exercise of options are subject to the same restrictions as those set forth with respect to securities, i.e., the option should be treated as if it were the common stock itself.
Other Options and Futures Held by Clients of the Price Advisers. Any other option or futures transaction with respect to domestic or foreign securities held by any of the Price Advisers clients will receive prior transaction clearance if appropriate after due consideration is given, based on the particular facts presented, as to whether the proposed transaction or series of transactions might appear to or actually create a conflict with the interests of any of the Price Advisers clients. Such transactions include transactions in futures and options on futures involving financial instruments regulated solely by the U. S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
Closing or Exercising Option Positions . If you are the holder of an option and you intend to close (sell) the option or exercise the option, prior transaction clearance is required. However if you have written (sold) an option and the option is exercised against you, without any action on your part, no prior transaction clearance is required. A client transaction in the underlying security or any restriction associated with the underlying security may prevent any option transaction from being closed or exercised, therefore Access Persons should be cautious when transacting in options.
Short Sales. Short sales by Access Persons are subject to prior clearance unless the security itself does not otherwise require prior clearance. In addition, Access Persons may not sell any security short which is owned by any client of one of the Price Advisers unless a transaction that security would not require prior clearance. Short sales of Price Group stock are not permitted. All short sales are subject to the 60-Day Rule described below.
The 60-Day Rule . Access Persons are prohibited from profiting from the purchase and sale or sale and purchase ( e.g., short sales and certain option transactions) of the same (or equivalent) securities within 60 calendar days. An equivalent security means any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege at a price related to the subject security, or similar securities with a value derived from the value of the subject security. Thus, for example, the rule prohibits options transactions on or short sales of a security that may result in a gain within 60 days of the purchase of the underlying security. Any series of transactions made which violate (or are counter to) the spirit of the 60-Day Rule, such as the establishment of a long position and subsequent establishment of a short position (or vice versa), in the same (or equivalent) security, may be deemed a violation by the Ethics Committee. This prohibition is not intended to include legitimate hedging transactions.
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If you have questions about whether a contemplated transaction would violate the 60-Day Rule or the spirit of the Rule, you should seek an interpretation from the Code Compliance Section prior to initiating the transaction. Violations of the 60-Day Rule will be subject to a disgorgement of profit and any other applicable sanctions. The disgorgement of profit does not take into consideration any tax lot accounting associated with the security. It is simply the calculated gain as a result of the buy and sale (or sale and purchase) within the 60-day period.
In addition, the rule applies regardless of the Access Persons other holdings of the same security or whether the Access person has split his or her holdings into tax lots. For example, if an Access Person buys 100 shares of XYZ stock on March 1 and another 100 shares of XYZ stock on November 27, he or she may not sell any shares of XYZ stock at a profit for 60 days following November 27.
Similarly, an Access Person must own the underlying security for more than 60 days before entering into any options transaction on that security.
The 60-Day Rule clock restarts each time the Access person trades in that security.
The closing of a position in an option or Contract for Difference on any security other than an index will result in a 60-Day Rule violation if the position was opened within the 60-day window and the closing transaction results in a gain. Multiple positions will not be netted to determine an overall gain or loss in options on the same underlying security expiring on the same day unless the offsetting option positions were clearly part of an options strategy. Contact the Legal Compliance Employee Trading mailbox regarding the applicability of the contemplated strategy with the 60-Day Rule.
The 60-Day Rule does not apply to:
| any transaction by a Non-Access Person other than transactions in Price Group stock not excluded below; |
| any transaction which because of its nature or the nature of the security involved does not require prior transaction clearance ( e.g., if an Access Person inherits a security, a transaction that did not require prior transaction clearance, then he or she may sell the security inherited at a profit within 60 calendar days of its acquisition; other examples include the purchase or sale of a unit investment trust, the purchase or sale of the specific ETF securities that are exempted from prior clearance, the exercise of a corporate stock option by an Access Persons spouse, or pro-rata distributions ( see pages 5-9 through 5-12); |
| the purchase and sale or sale and purchase of exchange-traded index options; |
| any transaction in Price Group stock effected through the ESPP (note that the 60-Day rule does apply to shares transferred out of the ESPP to a securities account; generally, however, an employee remaining in the ESPP may not transfer shares held less than 60 days out of the ESPP); |
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| the exercise of company-granted Price Group stock options or receipt of Price Group shares through Company-based awards and the subsequent sale of the derivative shares; and |
| any purchase of Price Group stock through an established dividend reinvestment plan. |
Prior transaction clearance procedures do not check compliance with the 60-Day Rule when considering a trading request. Access Persons are responsible for checking their compliance with this rule before entering a trade. If you have any questions about whether this rule will be triggered by a proposed transaction, you should contact the Code Compliance Team or the TRP International Compliance Team before requesting prior transaction clearance for the proposed trade.
Access Persons may request in writing an interpretation from the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee that the 60-Day Rule should not apply to a specific transaction or transactions.
Expanded Holding Period Requirement for Employees in Japan. Securities owned by staff employed by the Tokyo branch of T. Rowe Price International Ltd. may be subject to a longer holding period than 60 days. If you have any questions about this restriction, you should contact the TRP International Compliance Team.
Investments in Non-Listed Securities Firms. Access Persons may not purchase or sell the shares of a broker/dealer, underwriter or federally registered investment adviser unless that entity it traded on an exchange or listed as a NASDAQ stock or prior transaction clearance is given under the private placement procedures ( see page 5-15).
REPORTING OF ONEHALF OF ONE PERCENT OWNERSHIP . If an employee owns more than 1 ⁄ 2 of 1% of the total outstanding shares of a public or private company, he or she must immediately report this in writing to the Code Compliance Team (via the Code of Ethics mailbox), providing the name of the company and the total number of such companys shares beneficially owned.
GAMBLING RELATED TO THE SECURITIES MARKETS. All persons subject to the Code are prohibited from wagering, betting or gambling related to individual securities, securities indices, currency spreads, or other similar financial indices or instruments. This prohibition applies to wagers placed through casinos, betting parlors or internet gambling sites and is applicable regardless of where the activity is initiated ( e.g., home or firm computer or telephone). This specific prohibition does not restrict the purchase or sale of securities through a securities account reporting to the Code Compliance Section even if these transactions are effected with a speculative investment objective.
INITIAL DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL SECURITIES HOLDINGS BY ACCESS PERSONS . Upon commencement of employment, appointment or promotion ( no later than 10 calendar days after the starting date), each Access Person, except an independent director of the Price Funds, is required by United States securities laws to disclose all current securities holdings in which he or she is considered to have beneficial ownership or control ( Initial Holdings Report ) ( see page 5- 5 for definition of the term Beneficial Owner) and provide or reconfirm the information regarding all of his or her securities accounts. Access Persons should
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use myTRPcompliance, located on the Exchange, to disclose and certify their Initial Holdings Report. SEC Rules require that each Securities Holding Report contain, at a minimum, the following information:
| securities title; |
| securities type; |
| exchange ticker number or CUSIP number, as applicable; |
| number of shares or principal amount of each reportable securities in which the Access Person has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership; |
| the name of any broker, dealer or both with which the Access Person maintains an account in which any securities are held for the Access Persons direct or indirect benefit; and |
| the date the Access Person submits the Securities Holding Report. |
The information provided must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date the person becomes an Access Person.
ANNUAL DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL SECURITIES HOLDINGS BY ACCESS PERSONS. Each Access Person, except an independent director of the Price Funds, is also required to file an Annual Compliance Certification as of December 31 of each year. This report can be completed by using myTRPcompliance located on the Exchange. This report is due by no later than January 31. The Chief Compliance Officer or his or her designee reviews all Annual Compliance Certifications .
ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURE OF OPEN END INVESTMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS
Should circumstances arise whereby the firm requires any person subject to the Code to provide information regarding ownership of, or transactions in, any open end investment company (mutual fund), Code Compliance may request that such person provide transaction confirmations and/or account statements in a timely manner.
CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS. Price Group makes every effort to protect the privacy of all persons and entities in connection with their Securities Holdings Reports, Reports of Securities Transactions, Reports of Securities Accounts, and Personal Securities Reports.
SANCTIONS. Strict compliance with the provisions of this Statement is considered a basic provision of employment or other association with Price Group and the Price Funds. The Ethics Committee, the Code Compliance Team, and the TRP International Compliance Team are primarily responsible for administering this Statement. In fulfilling this function, the Ethics Committee will institute such procedures as it deems reasonably necessary to monitor each persons and entitys compliance with this Statement and to otherwise prevent and detect violations.
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Violations by Access Persons, Non-Access Persons and Independent Directors of Price Group. Upon discovering a material violation of this Statement by any person or entity other than an independent director of a Price Fund, the Ethics Committee will impose such sanctions as it deems appropriate and as are approved by the Management Committee or the Board of Directors including, inter alia, a letter of censure or suspension, a fine, a suspension of trading privileges or termination of employment and/or officership of the violator. In addition, the violator may be required to forfeit to Price Group, or to the party or parties it may designate, any profit realized from any transaction that is in violation of this Statement. All material violations of this Statement shall be reported to the Board of Directors of Price Group and to the Board of Directors of any Price Fund with respect to whose securities such violations may have been involved.
Following are sanctions guidelines associated with multiple violations of this Statement. These guidelines are supplemental to the forfeiture of profit associated with certain violations where an associate economically benefited. Code Compliance will utilize a rolling two-year, look-back period in the administration of the sanctions guidelines.
1 st Violation: Notification of violation. Manager provided with summary of violation.
2 nd Violation: Notification of fine: VP* and above and all Investment Personnel$250. Below VP level$75. Manager provided with summary of violation.
3 rd Violation: Notification of fine: VP* and above and all Investment Personnel$500. Below VP level$150. 3-Month trading prohibition (sales only permissible). Manager, Business Unit Leader and CEO notified.
4 th Violation: Notification of fine: VP* and above and all Investment Personnel$1,000. Below VP level$300. Minimum 6-Month trading prohibition (sales only permissible). Manager, Business Unit Leader and CEO notified.
5th Violation: Chief Compliance Officer/Ethics Committee-imposed sanction. Manager, Business Unit Leader and CEO notified.
* Vice President of T. Rowe Price Group or any subsidiary
Violations by Independent Directors of Price Funds. Upon discovering a material violation of this Statement by an independent director of a Price Fund, the Ethics Committee shall report such violation to the Board on which the director serves. The Price Fund Board will impose such sanctions as it deems appropriate.
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T. ROWE PRICE GROUP, INC.
STATEMENT OF POLICY WITH RESPECT TO
SYSTEMS SECURITY AND RELATED ISSUES
Purpose of Statement of Policy (Statement). The central and critical role of computer systems in our firms operations underscores the importance of ensuring their confidentiality, availability, and integrity. Our data is an extremely valuable asset and should be protected by all system users. Data within the T. Rowe Price Group network should be considered proprietary and confidential and should be protected as such.
Systems activities and information will be referred to collectively in this Statement as the Systems . The Systems include all hardware, software, operating systems, and wired and wireless network resources involved in the business of T. Rowe Price; all information transmitted, received, logged or stored through the Systems including email, voice mail, messaging, and online facsimiles; and all back-ups and records retained for regulatory or other purposes including all portable and fixed storage media and locations for storage. Information also includes any work products that are created while working at or on behalf of T. Rowe Price and are the exclusive property of T. Rowe Price unless otherwise stipulated.
The Systems also include the use of computer access, data, services and equipment provided by T. Rowe Price including any access to the Internet or via Internet; access to and use of commercial and specialized software programs and systems licensed or developed for the firms use; access to and use of customer and T. Rowe Price business data; use of and data on T. Rowe Price desktop and portable computers, and other mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets. The use, access, or storage of data on non-T. Rowe Price equipment (including but not limited to personally owned or home equipment, hotel or business center-supplied devices, web and/or cloud services, and conference supplied or internet café terminals) used for T. Rowe Price business purposes is included in the definition of systems, as appropriate.
Any new device, application or methodology offered by T. Rowe Price subsequent to the date of this version of this Statement, or that comes into common use for business purposes, is also covered under this definition of T. Rowe Price Systems and Information.
This Statement establishes an acceptable use policy for all Price Group Associates and all other individuals, including vendors, cloud services, service providers and contractors, with Price Group systems access.
The Statement has been designed to give associates guidelines to:
| maintain and protect the integrity of customer, corporate, and employee confidential information |
| prevent the unauthorized use of or access to our firms computer Systems; |
| prevent breaches and the introduction of malicious software; and |
| respond to incidents and alert management in accordance with defined practices. |
Any material violation of this Statement may lead to disciplinary sanctions, up to and including dismissal of individuals involved. Additionally, actions in violation of this Statement may constitute a crime under applicable laws.
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By using the firms Systems, you agree to be bound by this Statement and consent to the access to and disclosure of all information by the firm and do not have any expectation of privacy in connection with the use of the Systems.
SECURITY PRINCIPLES. T. Rowe Price maintains a security organization, with supporting policies, to provide guidance and direction on appropriate security controls to all associates and users. Key principles for end users or associate behavior include:
| Security Responsibility . Security is everyones responsibility at T. Rowe Price. |
| Suspicious Activity . Report all suspicious activity to the Help Desk immediately. |
| Authorized System Users . Access to systems is restricted to authorized users who need access in order to support their business activities. This includes systems that are External to the T. Rowe Price environment. |
| User-IDs and Passwords. Every user is assigned a unique User-ID. Each user-ID has a password that must be kept confidential by the users. Employee IDs and easily deducible information should not be used for passwords. Users will be held accountable for work performed with their User-IDs. |
| Secure Desk / Asset. Sensitive information must be secured and/or locked appropriately when unattended. This includes electronic and physical information. |
| Mobile Assets . All portable computer equipment ( e.g., laptops, smart phones, flash drives) containing information that is sensitive must be encrypted and password protected where possible. In the event of loss or theft, contact the Help Desk immediately. |
| Incident Response. T. Rowe Price has the authority, at its own discretion, to disable any ID or activity as needed to respond to a security issue. Efforts will be made to contact presumed owners of these IDs, but, in the absence of an identifiable owner, IDs may be disabled as part of system or vulnerability management processes. |
INTERNET ACCESS AND OTHER ONLINE SERVICES. Accessing the Internet and accessing T. Rowe Price systems from the Internet presents special security considerations due to the nature of the connection and the security concerns present in Internet services. When using Internet access or other on-line services, the following policies apply:
| The use of firm Systems is intended for legitimate business purposes and individuals should limit personal use. You may not use the firms Systems in any way that might pose a business risk or data privacy risk or in a manner that violates laws. |
| Do not use firms Systems to access or send inappropriate content, including, but not limited to adult or gambling internet sites or to create or forward communications that could be offensive to others or embarrassing to you or T. Rowe Price. |
| T. Rowe Price may block access to internet sites or emails without prior notice based on potential risk to the firm or for other business reasons. |
| You may not access or download anything for installation or storage onto the firms computers for personal use including, but not limited to, streaming media, videos, music, games, or messaging and mail applications. |
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| T. Rowe Price Systems may not be used to remotely control, maintain, or service unauthorized computers or systems. T. Rowe Price systems may not be connected to non-T. Rowe Price networks, as this could lead to system attack/compromise and data loss. Wireless routers and/or hotspots may not be connected to the T. Rowe Price network. |
| No person or entity may contract for domain names for use by Price Group or for the benefit of Price Group without express authority from the Legal Department. Internet domain names are assets of the firm and are purchased and maintained centrally. This also includes free account registrations such as those on social networking sites and web email. |
| Only approved Systems and solutions may be used to conduct T. Rowe Price business. The independent use of other technologies, including peer-to-peer file sharing networks or software, web file storage, and Instant Messaging, are prohibited as they may not meet regulatory requirements to monitor and archive electronic communications. No personal email accounts may ever be used to send or receive business or client related communications. |
| Associates are prohibited from using personal mobile devices to conduct Price Group business activities except as defined in the Mobile Device Policy or as authorized by management. Nonpublic customer information may not be stored on personal mobile devices. If personal devices are used to conduct business activities, personal devices and/or content could be requested as part of an investigation or subpoena. See the Statement of Policy on Privacy on page 8-1 for additional guidance. |
| The Technology and Recovery Centers are considered sensitive locations and their location should not be publically disclosed. If asked for their location by clients or others, please direct the inquiry to your manager or the Help Desk for evaluation. |
Guidelines for Installing Software. Only approved software is authorized to be installed on Price Group systems. Any software program that is used by Price Group personnel in connection with the business of the firm must be ordered through the Help Desk. T. Rowe Price has the authority, at its own discretion; to remove any installed software, downloaded software, or any other application or executable that is not authorized for use by Price Group or may pose a security risk.
Downloading or Copying. Downloading or copying software using T. Rowe Price Systems, including documents, graphics, programs and other computer-based materials, from any outside source is not permitted unless it is authorized. Downloads and copies may introduce viruses and malicious code into Systems. Downloading or uploading copyrighted materials may violate the rights of the authors of the materials, may create a liability, privacy or security breach, or cause embarrassment to the firm.
PROTECTION FROM MALICOUS CODE . Malicious code is computer code that is designed to damage or access software or data on a computer system. T. Rowe Price manages a comprehensive malicious code prevention and control program to protect Systems and data. Introducing a virus or similar malicious code into the Price Group Systems by engaging in
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prohibited actions or by failing to implement recommended precautions may lead to disciplinary actions. Pranks, jokes, or other actions that simulate or trigger a system security event such as, but not limited to, a computer virus are prohibited. Users must comply with the following security practices:
| Contact the Help Desk. Immediately contact the Help Desk for anything that appears suspicious or is identified as malicious. The Help Desk will determine whether the device is infected, the severity of the infection, and the appropriate remedial actions. |
| Be Careful when Opening Emails. Carefully review emails, attachments, or links prior to opening or accessing them, as they may contain malicious code or viruses. Report suspicious emails as soon as feasible. |
| Approved Devices. Only connect devices issued or approved by T. Rowe Price into Systems to reduce the risk of malware infections. This includes, but is not limited to, thumb drives, mobile devices such as smart phones or tablets, and gadgets/novelties powered by USB ports. |
| Maintain Security Settings. Users should not disable virus scanning features, password settings, or other security features for any reason. Failure to maintain updated scanning files is also prohibited. |
| Keep T. Rowe Price Mobile Assets Updated. Users who receive a Price Group technology asset must install updates as instructed by the Help Desk and/or connect the asset to the Price Group network on a regular basis to receive software, application, and operating system security updates. |
| Keep Personal Computer Assets Updated. Users must maintain anti-virus software, application, and operating system security updates on all non-T. Rowe Price or personally owned assets that are used to access the T. Rowe Price network. Remote devices that do not meet these requirements may be prevented from connecting to the T. Rowe Price network. |
| Report Unauthorized Network Connections. Report any attempts to create an unauthorized or foreign connection to the network to the Help Desk. |
CONFIDENTIALITY OF SYSTEM ACTIVITIES AND INFORMATION. System activities and access on Price Group computers is subject to monitoring by firm personnel or others. All such information are records of the firm and the sole property of the firm. The firm reserves the right to monitor, access, and disclose for any purpose all information, including all messages sent, received, transmitted, or stored through the Systems.
Certain departments at T. Rowe Price record telephone conversations placed to and from the department (this includes but is not limited to the Call Centers, Investor Centers and Corporate Actions department). These recordings are made for quality purposes and to maintain records of certain instructions as well as for other business reasons. Any telephone conversations placed to and from these departments (including internal calls) will be recorded and subject to monitoring.
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Information, including electronic communications, entered into our firms computers but later deleted from the Systems may continue to be maintained permanently on our firms back-up tapes or in records retained for regulatory or other purposes.
PARTICIPATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA SITES. Associates are directed to the Social Media Policy located on the T. Rowe Price Exchange to understand their responsibilities with respect to social media.
QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS STATEMENT. Please contact the Help Desk or Legal Department if you have any questions regarding this Statement.
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T. ROWE PRICE GROUP, INC.
STATEMENT OF POLICY
ON
COMPLIANCE WITH ANTITRUST LAWS
Purpose of Statement of Policy. To protect the interests of Price Group and its personnel, Price Group has adopted this Statement of Policy on Compliance with Antitrust Laws ( Statement ) to:
| Describe the legal principles governing prohibited anticompetitive activity in the conduct of Price Groups business; and |
| Establish guidelines for contacts with other members of the investment management industry to avoid violations of the antitrust laws. |
The Basic United States Anticompetitive Activity Prohibition. Section 1 of the United States Sherman Antitrust Act (the Act ) prohibits agreements, understandings, or joint actions between companies that constitute a restraint of trade , i.e., that reduce or eliminate competition.
This prohibition is triggered only by an agreement or action among two or more companies; unilateral action never violates the Act. To constitute an illegal agreement, however, an understanding does not need to be formal or written. Comments made in conversations, casual comments at meetings, or even as little as a knowing wink, as one case says, may be sufficient to establish an illegal agreement under the Act.
The agreed-upon action must be anticompetitive. Some actions are per se anticompetitive, while others are judged according to a rule of reason.
| Some activities have been found to be so inherently anticompetitive that a court will not even permit the argument that they have a pro-competitive component. Examples of such per se illegal activities are bid-rigging; agreements between competitors to fix prices or terms of doing business; to divide up markets in any way, such as exclusive territories; or to jointly boycott a competitor or service provider. |
| Other joint agreements or activities will be examined by a court using the rule of reason approach to see if the pro-competitive results of the arrangement outweigh the anticompetitive effects. Under certain circumstances, permissible agreements among competitors may include a buyers cooperative, or a syndicate of buyers for an initial public offering of securities. The rule of reason analysis requires a detailed inquiry into market power and market conditions. |
There is also an exception for joint activity designed to influence government action. Such activity is protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. For example, members of an industry may agree to lobby Congress jointly to enact legislation that may be manifestly anticompetitive.
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Penalties for Violating the Sherman Act. A charge that the Act has been violated can be brought as a civil or a criminal action. Civil damages can include treble damages, plus attorneys fees. Criminal penalties for individuals can include fines of up to $1,000,000 and ten years in jail, and $100 million or more for corporations.
Situations in Which Antitrust Issues May Arise. To avoid violating the Act, any discussion with other members of the investment management industry regarding which securities to buy or sell and under what circumstances we buy or sell them, or about the manner in which we market our mutual funds and investment and retirement services, must be made with the prohibitions of the Act in mind. In addition, any discussion with our competitors about the use of particular vendors or service providers may implicate the Sherman Act.
Trade Association Meetings and Activities. A trade association is a group of competitors who join together to share common interests and seek common solutions to common problems. Such associations are at a high risk for anticompetitive activity and are closely scrutinized by regulators. Attorneys for trade associations, such as the Investment Company Institute, are typically present at meetings of members to assist in avoiding violations.
Permissible Activities:
| Discussion of how to make the industry more competitive. |
| An exchange of information or ideas that have pro-competitive or competitively neutral effects, such as: methods of protecting the health or safety of workers; methods of educating customers and preventing abuses; and information regarding how to design and operate training programs. |
| Collective action to petition government entities. |
Activities to Avoid:
| Any discussion or direct exchange of current information about prices, salaries, fees, or terms and conditions of sales. Even if such information is publicly available, problems can arise if the information available to the public is difficult to compile or not as current as that being exchanged. |
| Discussion of specific customers, markets, or territories. |
| Negative discussions of service providers that could give rise to an inference of a joint refusal to deal with the provider (a boycott ). |
Investment-Related Discussions
Permissible Activities. Buyers or sellers with a common economic interest may join together to facilitate securities transactions that might otherwise not occur, such as the formation of a syndicate to buy in a private placement or initial public offering of an issuers stock, or negotiations among creditors of an insolvent or bankrupt company.
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Competing investment managers are permitted to serve on creditors committees together and engage in other similar activities in connection with bankruptcies and other judicial proceedings.
Activities to Avoid. It is important to avoid anything that suggests involvement with any other firm in any threats to boycott or blackball new offerings, including making any ambiguous statement that, taken out of context, might be misunderstood to imply such joint action. Avoid careless or unguarded comments that a hostile or suspicious listener might interpret as suggesting prohibited coordinated behavior between Price Group and any other potential buyer.
Example: After an Illinois municipal bond default where the state legislature retroactively abrogated some of the bondholders rights, several investment management complexes organized to protest the states action. In doing so, there was arguably an implied threat that members of the group would boycott future Illinois municipal bond offerings. Such a boycott would be a violation of the Act. The investment management firms action led to an 18-month United States Department of Justice investigation. Although the investigation did not lead to any legal action, it was extremely expensive and time consuming for the firms and individual managers involved.
If you are present when anyone outside of Price Group suggests that two or more investors with a grievance against an issuer coordinate future purchasing decisions, you should immediately reject any such suggestion. As soon as possible thereafter, notify the Legal Department, which will take whatever further steps are necessary.
Benchmarking. Benchmarking is the process of measuring and comparing an organizations processes, products and services to those of industry leaders for the purpose of adopting innovative practices for improvement.
| Because benchmarking usually involves the direct exchange of information with competitors, it is particularly subject to the risk of violating the antitrust laws. |
| The list of issues that may and should not be discussed in the context of a trade association also applies in the benchmarking process. |
| All proposed benchmarking agreements must be reviewed by the Legal Department before the firm agrees to participate in such a survey. |
Discussions With Companies
It is acceptable for Price Group personnel to have individual discussions with executives of companies whether or not Price Group advisers have invested in those companies on behalf of investment advisory clients. However, caution should be exercised when having discussions with multiple companies that are in
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the same industry. It could create legal issues if an individual or entity that speaks with competing companies passes confidential or sensitive business information between or among those companies. Such indirect exchanges of information could be evidence of collusion among the competing firms and the individual or entity passing the information could be the subject of litigation alleging industry collusion. If you have questions about the acceptable scope of discussions with companies, contact the Legal Department.
Antitrust Restrictions Related to Acquisitions, Mergers and Other Transactions
Basic Restrictions . The Clayton Act bars any corporate transaction that is likely to substantially lessen competition in a particular market. This law applies not just to mergers, but to any acquisition of stock or assets, regardless of whether it transfers ownership or control. Generally acquisitions by Price Group and similar entities do not raise issues under the Clayton Act. However, acquisitions of shares in competing companies by active investors who may seek to alter the competitive behavior of the companies they hold can be subject to challenge under the Clayton Act.
Reporting Requirements . Acquisitions of any significant size may be reportable to government antitrust authorities. In general, acquisitions by Price Group advisers on behalf of investment advisory clients are exempt from such requirements so long as the acquisitions are made solely for investment purposes. However, if any Price Group entity or employee seeks to influence the regular business decisions of a company in which Price Group advisers have holdings, the exemption from reporting may not apply. Contact the Legal Department if you have any questions.
International Requirements. The United Kingdom and the European Union ( E.U. ) have requirements based on principles similar to those of United States law. In many cases, the laws of the E.U. are stricter than the laws of the United States. If you have specific questions about United Kingdom or E.U. requirements, contact the Legal Department.
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T. ROWE PRICE GROUP, INC.
STATEMENT OF POLICY ON PRIVACY
Purpose of Statement of Policy. This Statement of Policy on Privacy ( Privacy Statement ) applies to T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively T. Rowe Price or TRP ), including its international operations. It is T. Rowe Prices policy to:
| Treat our customers personal and financial information ( Nonpublic Customer Information ) as confidential; |
| Protect Nonpublic Customer Information; |
| Not share this information with third parties unless in connection with processing customer transactions, servicing accounts, or as otherwise permitted by law; and |
| Comply with applicable federal, state, and international privacy laws and regulations. |
In the United States, the primary federal law governing customer privacy is Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, 15 U.S.C. 6801 et seq. ( Privacy Act ). The Securities and Exchange Commission ( SEC ), federal banking regulators, and others have issued regulations under the Privacy Act (e.g., the SECs Regulation S-P). For purposes of this Privacy Statement and unless otherwise specified, the term customer generally refers to individuals or entities who are current or former customers of TRP, both directly and indirectly such as those who have accounts or services established through the retail, retirement plan, separate account/institutional, broker/dealer, or Investment Counsel Group areas.
While the Privacy Act and related regulations in the privacy area apply generally only to direct customer relationships with individuals ( i.e., natural person customers) as opposed to direct customer relationships with entities or indirect relationships such as with retirement plan participants, TRP also protects and safeguards such relationships in a substantially similar manner. In the institutional arena, the contracts TRP has entered into with customers frequently contain provisions relating to the duty to keep customer information confidential and/or limiting the use of customer information. Also, the personal and financial information of employees retained on a full-time or part-time basis, and of independent contractors and temporary workers are protected and safeguarded in a substantially similar manner. Accordingly, references to customer(s) in the Privacy Statement should be understood to include such relationships, institutional customers, and other persons unless otherwise specified.
Nonpublic Customer Information comprises virtually all the information that a customer supplies to TRP and the information that TRP otherwise obtains or generates in connection with providing financial products or services to that customer. Accordingly, Nonpublic Customer Information would include personally-identifiable account balance, holdings and transactional history, as well as the existence of the customer relationship itself ( e.g., customer lists) and the contents of an account application ( e.g., a persons name in combination with taxpayer identification number or beneficiary information). 1
1 |
Nonpublic customer Information refers generally to information that can be linked to a specific customer or individual as opposed to data that is not specifically linked. For example, a listing of trades done for a particular customer or group of customers, without any indication of the customer(s) at issue, is generally not considered to be Nonpublic Customer Information in and of itself because it is not linked to an identified customer. Nevertheless, even for aggregate data, there may be corporate business reasons for safeguarding such information. |
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The privacy policy for the firms international business is posted on the TRP Institutional website. Internationally based subsidiaries and affiliates must comply with the U.K. Data Protection Act as it applies to their activities. The U.K. Data Protection Act and other international privacy regulation are beyond the scope of this Privacy Statement and for business conducted internationally, Associates should be aware of the applicable privacy regulations in the foreign jurisdiction where the business is conducted. If you have any questions in this area, please contact the TRP International Compliance Team.
INITIAL PRIVACY NOTICES
Certain regulated T. Rowe Price companies offer financial products and services directly to individuals and, consequently, are required to develop and deliver a privacy notice under the Privacy Act and related regulations.
As a means of complying with these requirements, the firm has adopted a written Privacy Policy , which is provided to such customers as required. The Privacy Policy is included with or accompanies applicable account application or other material delivered to prospective customers. A copy of the Privacy Policy is located on TRPs Internet site under the link to Privacy Policy. The contents of the Privacy Policy are contained under the sub-heading of General Privacy Policy, and it is followed by information concerning additional online privacy practices. Questions from customers concerning the Privacy Policy should be referred to the Legal Department.
The Legal Department is responsible for identifying any amendments that are required to be made to the Privacy Policy and must approve any proposed amendments. Generally, Retail Operations is responsible for the distribution of the Privacy Policy to prospective customers. Other business units ( e.g., Investment Counsel Group) not covered by Retail Operations will be notified by the Legal Department of any obligations to deliver the Privacy Policy to their respective customers.
EDUCATION ABOUT PRIVACY AND ASSOCIATE RESPONSIBILITY
Every associate should be aware of this Privacy Statement and any privacy policies and procedures applicable to their business unit (collectively Privacy Policies ), and every associate bears responsibility to protect Nonpublic Customer Information.
Managers and supervisors shall ensure that the Privacy Policies are reviewed with all new associates at T. Rowe Price. Particular attention should be given to any temporary or part-time workers and consultants to ensure that they are educated to the critical importance of protecting confidential information. Additionally, if such temporary worker is being retained independent of the on-site temporary agencies utilized by Human Resources, the supervisor must contact the
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Legal Department to verify that there are adequate contractual safeguards relative to privacy and confidentiality. Managers and supervisors also shall ensure that revisions to Privacy Policies are communicated to applicable associates as an integral part of the continuing education of such associates.
Violations of Privacy Policies may constitute grounds for disciplinary action, including fines and dismissal from employment.
METHODS BY WHICH T. ROWE PRICE PRESERVES CONFIDENTIALITY
Each Business Unit Head has responsibility with respect to his or her business unit to establish procedures whereby the confidentiality of Nonpublic Customer Information is preserved. Such procedures should address access to and safeguards for Nonpublic Customer Information based upon the business units operations, access to, and handling of such information as it exists in both hardcopy and electronic formats. The procedures should address safeguards relating to administrative, technical, and physical access to and distribution of Nonpublic Customer Information.
Access to Information
Managers and supervisors are responsible for limiting access to Nonpublic Customer Information to those Associates who require access to such information to support their respective job functions. Situations where excessive or inappropriate access to or exposure of Nonpublic Customer Information are identified require prompt remediation.
Computer Access
Business unit managers and supervisors are responsible for making judgments and decisions with regard to the use of Nonpublic Customer Information, including decisions as to who shall have computer access to such information.
In general, managers and supervisors are responsible for determining those associates that require access to systems that contain Nonpublic Customer Information in support of job functions. System access, or changes to such access, shall be submitted in the format directed by Enterprise Security and authorized by the appropriate business unit manager or supervisor. Managers and supervisors also are responsible for timely notification to Enterprise Security when an employee or consultant has left the firm or changed roles so that access may be terminated or modified. This is especially important for temporary employees who are contracted independent of Human Resources and/or one of the on-site temporary agencies.
New Business and Systems Development
All new business and systems application development that relates to or affects Nonpublic Customer Information is to be developed and reviewed with consideration to the firms Privacy Statement. Individuals at T. Rowe Price working on systems and processes dealing with Nonpublic Customer Information are responsible for evaluating the potential risks to the confidentiality of Nonpublic Customer Information and implementing safeguards that are designed to provide reasonable protection of the privacy of such information consistent with the risks identified.
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Safeguarding Nonpublic Customer Information
To safeguard the interests of our customers and to respect the confidentiality of Nonpublic Customer Information, all individuals at T. Rowe Price are responsible for taking the following precautions:
| Do not discuss Nonpublic Customer Information in public places such as elevators, hallways, lunchrooms, or social gatherings; |
| To the extent practical, access to particularly sensitive areas of the firm where Nonpublic Customer Information could be observed or overheard readily shall be provided only to Associates with a business need for being in the area; |
| Avoid using speaker phones in areas where or at times when unauthorized persons may overhear conversations; |
| Where appropriate, maintain the confidentiality of client identities by using code names or numbers for confidential projects, or use aggregate data that is not personally identifiable to any customer; |
| Exercise care to avoid placing documents with Nonpublic Customer Information in areas where they may be read by unauthorized persons and store such documents in secure locations when they are not in use (particular attention should be directed to securing the information outside of normal business hours to prevent possible misappropriation of the information); |
| Destroy copies of confidential documents no longer needed by using the secure recycling bins; |
| Lock the computer at your work-station when not in use; and |
| Sample calls or screens must be edited in advance to delete any confidential information when a prospect or consultant wishes to listen in on calls to gauge our level of service. Sample data cannot be linked to a specifically identified customer. |
From time to time, associates at T. Rowe Price may bring Nonpublic Customer Information outside of firm facilities as needed during business trips, meetings, or for work at home (whether in hard-copy or electronically). Associates are responsible for taking care to safeguard such materials and may not leave them unattended or otherwise in an unsecured situation. Encryption is required for storage of certain types of information on portable devices, such as laptops and thumb drives. See the Encryption section below for further details.
Encryption
TRP has implemented encryption of sensitive data at points which carry the highest risk. This includes various transmission methods as well as full disk encryption for laptops issued by TRP. TRP periodically evaluates additional encryption technologies for storage solutions which will meet its security, availability, and performance needs.
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While it remains critical to safeguard all types of personal and financial information, over the past several years many states have passed laws and regulations that focus particularly on data that can easily be stolen and exploited to engage in identity theft against an individual ( i.e., a natural person as opposed to an entity). As relevant to the firms business, such data that consists of an individuals first name or initial and last name in combination with one or more of the following: (i) Social Security or taxpayer identification number; (ii) drivers license or other state-issued identification number; or (iii) financial account number, such as an individuals T. Rowe Price account number or a checking account or credit card number (collectively, Identity Information ). As a financial services firm and employer, TRP has Identity Information concerning a variety of individuals, including retail customers and retirement plan participants, employees, independent contractors, and temporary workers.
In order to align our policies with state laws, we restrict certain electronic transmissions and storage of Identity Information, unless it is encrypted.
| Associates may not send an email or attachment outside of T. Rowe Price that contains Identity Information of another person unless the email/attachment is encrypted. Emails that travel through the Internet (which is the case with emails sent outside TRP) are not encrypted. Also, password protection alone of attachments is not sufficient. However, there are several types of email channels that are secure and can be used: |
| Internal emails (these go through TRPs internal network); |
| Messages that are sent and received as part of a secure online account access session ( e.g., email sent to a customers Message Center viewable during on-line access); and |
| Emails sent to a party that has enabled a domain encrypted email service with T. Rowe Price. |
| Associates may not store Identity Information of another person on an unencrypted laptop, CD, thumb drive, or other portable device. Password protection alone is not sufficient. Laptops issued by T. Rowe Price are encrypted. |
Associates should contact the Help Desk if assistance is needed with coordinating an email encryption process with a business partner, to arrange for a CD to be encrypted, to obtain encrypted thumb drives, or with other questions about these encryption requirements. Exceptions may be made only after consultation with the Legal Department.
Record Retention
TRP is required to produce, maintain and retain various records, documents, and other written (including electronic) communications pursuant to various federal and state laws and regulations, and all associates at T. Rowe Price are responsible for adhering to the firms record maintenance and retention policies.
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Destruction of Records
All associates at T. Rowe Price must use care in disposing of any Nonpublic Customer Information. Confidential paper records should be discarded using secure recycling bins. General Services should be contacted for instructions regarding proper disposal when a significant quantity of material is involved.
T. Rowe Price has set up procedures so that electronic data stored on physical equipment issued by the firm, such as computer hard drives, mobile devices, are destroyed based upon internal protocols. For example, computer hard drives are erased according to federally suggested guidelines prior to redeployment or conveyance to a third party. Non-functional hard drives are physically destroyed, rendering them useless. Tapes failing media validation routines are physically destroyed by a specialist third party organization that provides certification of destruction back to T. Rowe Price. Tapes that will be re-used are wiped of all data prior to re-use.
Data files stored on file servers are subject to standardized back-up and recovery cycles. Retention of individual files is determined by the owner of the data and also can vary depending upon the nature of the data and its regulatory requirements. For example, certain categories of emails are subject to specific regulation regarding retention and destruction and protocols designed to adhere to these standards have been implemented firm-wide.
DEALINGS WITH THIRD PARTIES
Generally, T. Rowe Price will not disclose Nonpublic Customer Information to unaffiliated third parties unless in connection with processing a transaction, servicing an account, or as otherwise permitted by law. TRP also is permitted to provide information to others as the customer has specifically directed, such as to the customers accountants or consultants. Associates will consult with managers or supervisors for any proposed disclosure which does not fall into one of the above categories. Questions will be elevated to the Legal Department as needed. Associates will not divulge any Nonpublic Customer Information or the existence of customer relationships to anyone outside of the firm, including disclosing to families or friends, except as noted above to process a transaction, service an account, or as otherwise permitted by law. For example, associates shall not supply a third party with anything showing actual customer information for the purpose of providing a sample ( e.g., for software testing or problem resolution) without explicit approval from the Legal Department.
At times, in an effort to obtain confidential information, third parties will assert that they are entitled to certain information pursuant to a subpoena or some other legal process or authority. Because there can be various issues that may affect the validity of such demands, no records or information concerning customers shall be disclosed unless specifically directed by the Legal Department. Any such demands for information should be promptly referred to the Legal Department.
RETENTION OF THIRD PARTY ORGANIZATIONS BY TRP
T. Rowe Price may on occasion use third party organizations ( Third Parties ) to provide support services to the firm ( e.g., consultants, systems vendors). Whenever T. Rowe Price hires Third Parties to provide support services, Nonpublic Customer Information may be provided to
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the third parties only for the purposes for which they are retained. Therefore, it is important that in retaining such third parties, T. Rowe Price has contractual representations from each Third Party that preserves the confidentiality of Nonpublic Customer Information and, where deemed appropriate, enables T. Rowe Price to verify compliance with contractual representations. Accordingly, no Third Parties shall be retained to deal with or have access to Nonpublic Customer Information unless the Legal Department has determined that there are adequate contractual provisions in place. All non-standard contracts relating to supplying or using Nonpublic Customer Information should be submitted to the Legal Department for review; a standard Nondisclosure Agreement is available from the Legal Department.
T. Rowe Price also utilizes a risk based process with many of its Third Parties to understand a Third partys practices to help ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place ( e.g., review of Third Party with access to significant volumes of Nonpublic Customer Information). The review of a Third Party is spearheaded by the appropriate vendor relationship manager and includes obtaining an understanding of the Third Partys control environment in protecting confidential information, following up with the Third Party to address noted concerns (if any), and ensuring that appropriate contractual standards are in place.
POTENTIAL RELEASE OF NONPUBLIC CUSTOMER INFORMATION
When there has or may have been a release of Nonpublic Customer Information to anyone not authorized to receive such information or when Nonpublic Customer Information is missing, it is important that the incidents be reported and investigated promptly. T. Rowe Price has implemented a centralized reporting and escalation process ( e.g., reporting to supervisor and specified Help Desk area). This process is designed to investigate reported incidents efficiently, recommend improvements to reduce future errors, and to communicate with customers where appropriate under the firms business practices or where required by law. In addition to utilizing the centralized reporting process, to the extent that an associates business unit has adopted additional procedures, such as reporting to specified persons in the business unit, the associate shall follow the business units procedures as well.
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CODE OF ETHICS AND CONDUCT
OF
T. ROWE PRICE GROUP, INC.
AND ITS AFFILIATES
INDEX
Access Persons | 5-3 | |||
Activities, Political | 2-13 | |||
Adviser Act Requirements for Supervised Persons | 1-3 | |||
Advisory Board Membership for Profitmaking Enterprise | 2-5 | |||
Allocation Policy | 2-1 | |||
Annual Compliance Certification | 2-1 | |||
Annual Disclosure by Access Persons | 5-30 | |||
Anti-Bribery Laws and Prohibitions Against Illegal Payments | 2-1 | |||
Anti-Money Laundering | 2-2 | |||
Antitrust | 2-2,7-1 | |||
Appropriate Conduct | 2-2 | |||
Assets, Protection of Corporate | 2-15 | |||
Beneficial Ownership, Definition of | 5-5 | |||
Charitable Contributions | 2-2 | |||
Chief Compliance Officer | Appendix A | |||
Circulation of Rumors | 2-17 | |||
Client Limit Orders | 5-26 | |||
Client/Vendor Company Stock, Investment in | 2-6 | |||
Clients, Shareholders and Brokerage Customers | 2-8 | |||
Clients Accounts and Company Records | 2-9 | |||
Code Compliance Section | 1-1 | |||
Code of Ethics and Conduct, Compliance with | 1-4 | |||
Code of Ethics and Conduct, Persons and Entities Subject to | 1-2 | |||
Code of Ethics and Conduct, Purpose of | 1-1 | |||
Code of Ethics and Conduct, Questions Regarding | 1-5 | |||
Commodity Futures Contracts | 5-10 | |||
Compliance Procedures, Funds and Federal Advisers | 1-4 | |||
Conduct, Standards of, Price Group and its Personnel | 2-1 | |||
Confidentiality/Privacy | 2-7,8-1 | |||
Conflicts of Interest | 2-4 | |||
Contracts for Difference | 5-26 | |||
Contributions, Political | 2-13 | |||
Corporate Assets, Protection of | 2-15 | |||
Crowdfunding | 5-15 | |||
Currency Trading | 5-10 | |||
Destruction of Records | 2-15 | |||
Donor-Advised Funds, Transactions in | 5-10 | |||
Drug Policy | 2-10 | |||
Employee Likenesses, and Information, Use of | 2-11 | |||
Employment of Former Government Employees | 2-11 | |||
Encryption | 8-4 | |||
Equal Opportunity | 2-10 | |||
Excessive Trading, Mutual Funds Shares | 5-2 | |||
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) | 5-11 |
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Exchange-Traded Index Options | 5-26 | |||
Executor, Service as | 2-17 | |||
Expense Payments and Reimbursements | 29 | |||
Fees, Referral | 2-16 | |||
Fiduciary, Price Advisers Status as a | 1-2,5-1 | |||
Financial Reporting | 2-10 | |||
Financial Service Firms, Relationships with | 2-6 | |||
Front Running | 5-1 | |||
Gambling Related to Securities Markets | 5-29 | |||
General Policy Statement | 1-1 | |||
Gifts and Entertainment | 2-10,3-1 | |||
Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS) | 2-12 | |||
Government Employees, Employment of Former | 2-11 | |||
Harassment and Discrimination, Policy Against | 2-11 | |||
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) | 2-9 | |||
Illegal Payments | 2-1 | |||
Independent Directors of Price Funds, Reporting | 5-21 | |||
Independent Directors of Price Group, Reporting | 5-23 | |||
Information Barrier | 4-9 | |||
Information, Release to the Press | 2-16 | |||
Initial Public Offerings | 5-14 | |||
Inside Information | 2-11,4-1 | |||
Insider Trading and Securities Fraud Enforcement Act | 4-1,5-1 | |||
Interest, Conflicts of | 2-4 | |||
Internal Operating Procedures and Planning | 2-7 | |||
Investment Advice | 2-8 | |||
Investment Clubs | 2-12,5-24 | |||
Investment Personnel | 5-4 | |||
Investment Research | 2-9 | |||
Large Issuer/Volume Transactions | 5-25 | |||
Litigation, Past and Current | 2-12 | |||
Lobbying | 2-14 | |||
Margin Accounts | 5-24 | |||
Market Timing, Mutual Fund Shares | 5-2 | |||
Marketing and Sales Activities | 2-12 | |||
Mutual Fund Shares, Excessive Trading of | 5-2 | |||
myTRPcompliance | 5-16 | |||
NASDAQ Requirements | 1-4 | |||
Non-Access Persons | 5-4 | |||
Nonprofitmaking Organizations, Service with | 2-5 | |||
Options and Futures | 5-26 | |||
Outside Business Activities | 2-12 | |||
Payments, Illegal | 2-1 | |||
Personal Representative, Service as | 2-17 | |||
Personal Securities Holdings, Disclosure of by Access Persons | 5-30 | |||
Political Action Committee (PAC) | 2-13 | |||
Political Activities and Contributions | 2-13 | |||
Press, Release of Information to the | 2-16 | |||
Price Funds Held on Price Platforms or Through TRP Brokerage | 5-13 | |||
Price Group Stock, Transactions in | 5-6 | |||
Price Group, Standards of Conduct | 2-1 | |||
Prior Transaction Clearance Denials, Requests for Reconsideration | 5-17 | |||
Prior Transaction Clearance of Securities Transactions (other than Price Group stock) | 5-13 |
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Privacy Policies and Procedures | 8-1 | |||
Private Placement, Investment In | 5-15 | |||
Professional Designations | 2-15 | |||
Profitmaking Enterprises, Relationships with | 2-4 | |||
Program for Charitable Giving, Transactions in | 5-10,5-7 | |||
Protection of Corporate Assets | 2-15 | |||
Publications | 2-17 | |||
Quality of Services | 2-15 | |||
Questions Regarding the Code | 1-5 | |||
Rating Changes on Security | 5-17,5-25 | |||
Record Destruction | 2-15 | |||
Record Retention | 2-15 | |||
Referral Fees | 2-16 | |||
Regulation FD | 4-7 | |||
Release of Information to the Press | 2-16 | |||
Reportable Funds | 5-12 | |||
Reporting by Independent Directors of Price Group | 5-23 | |||
Reporting by Independent Directors of the Price Funds | 5-21 | |||
Reporting Violations | 2-16 | |||
Reporting, Financial | 2-10 | |||
Reporting, Price Group Stock Transactions | 5-6 | |||
Reporting, Securities Transactions (other than Price Group stock) (not Independent Directors) | 5-9 | |||
Restricted List | 4-9 | |||
Retention of Code | 1-1 | |||
Retention, Record | 2-15,8-5 | |||
Rule 10b5-1 | 4-6 | |||
Rule 10b5-2 | 4-4 | |||
Sales and Marketing Activities | 2-12 | |||
Sanctions | 1-1,1-2,5-30,4-2 | |||
Sarbanes-Oxley Attorney Reporting Requirements | 2-17 | |||
Sarbanes-Oxley Codes | 1-4 | |||
Sarbanes-Oxley Whistleblower Procedures | 2-17 | |||
Section 529 College Savings Plans, Reporting | 5-13,5-20 | |||
Securities Accounts, Notifications of | 5-18 | |||
Securities Transactions, Reporting of (other than Price Group stock) (not Independent Directors) | 5-9 | |||
Services, Quality of | 2-15 | |||
Short Sales | 5-27 | |||
Sixty (60) Day Rule | 5-27 | |||
Social Media | 2-18 | |||
Speaking Engagements | 2-17 | |||
Standards of Conduct of Price Group and its Personnel | 2-1 | |||
Statement, General Policy | 1-1 | |||
Supervised Persons, Adviser Act Requirements for | 1-3 | |||
Supervised Persons, Definition of | 1-2 | |||
Supervision of Requests Regarding Charitable Contributions | 2-2 | |||
Systems Security | 2-4,6-1 | |||
Temporary Workers, Application of Code to | 1-2,5-3 | |||
Termination of Association, Understanding as to Accounts and Records | 2-9 | |||
Trading Activity, Generally | 5-25 | |||
Trading Activity, Mutual Fund Shares | 5-2 | |||
Trustee, Service as | 2-17 | |||
Use of Employees Likenesses and Information | 2-11 | |||
Vendors, Relationships with Potential | 2-6 |
ii-3
Violations, Responsibility to Report |
2-16 | |||
Waiver for Executive Officer, Reporting of |
1-4 | |||
Watch List |
4-9 | |||
Whistleblower Procedures, Sarbanes-Oxley |
2-17 |
ii-4
Code of Ethics
In accordance with Rule 204A-1 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and with Rule 17j-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P. (Westfield) has developed and implemented this Code of Ethics (the Code) to set forth standards for business conduct and personal activities. The Code serves many purposes. Among them are to:
| educate employees of Westfields expectations and the laws governing their conduct; |
| remind employees that they are in a position of trust and must act with complete propriety at all times; |
| protect the reputation of Westfield; |
| guard against violations of the securities laws; |
| protect Westfields clients by deterring misconduct; and |
| establish procedures for employees to follow so Westfield can assess whether employees are complying with our ethical principles. |
Key terms used throughout this Code are defined in Appendix A.
Persons Covered by the Code
All permanent Westfield employees are covered under the Code. Employees who have access to non-public information about Westfields securities recommendations, client holdings or transactions may be deemed as an Access Person. Any employee deemed an Access Person is subject to, at least, the reporting requirements under the Personal Trading section of this Code. Compliance will deem an Access Person also as an Investment Person if the person makes or participates in making investment recommendations for client accounts. Investment Persons may be required to provide additional information for certain personal activities and may be subject to additional transactional restrictions than non-Investment Persons. At any time, employees may check their status by contacting Compliance.
Temporary employees may be subject to either all or certain provisions within the Code. Compliance may also deem a temporary employee an Access Person.
Waivers to Code
The Chief Compliance Officer (the CCO), or a designee, has the authority to grant written waivers of the provisions of this Code in appropriate instances. However, Westfield expects that waivers will be granted only in rare instances. Compliance will document any exceptions granted. Generally, no waivers shall be granted on any provisions of the Code that are mandated by the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC).
Ethical Principles
As a fiduciary for its clients, Westfield owes its clients the utmost duty of loyalty, good faith, and fair dealing. As an employee of Westfield, you are obligated to uphold these important duties. Westfield expects every employee to uphold these principles when acting on behalf of the firm or in any capacity that may affect the firms advisory business.
| Employees must act with honesty, integrity, and professionalism in all aspects of our business. |
| Employees are to place the interests of Westfields clients first, at all times. |
| Employees must not take advantage of their positions or of investment opportunities that would otherwise be available for Westfields clients. |
| Employees must treat all information concerning clients (e.g., trading, holdings, investment recommendations, and financial situations) confidential. |
| Employees must exercise independent, unbiased judgment in the investment decision-making process. |
Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P.
Date Approved: 06/09/2016
Code of Ethics
Standards of Business Conduct
The following standards govern all conduct, whether or not the conduct is covered by more specific provisions in the Code or other Westfield policies.
| Employees must comply with applicable federal securities laws. |
| Employees must not: |
| Defraud any Westfield client in any manner; |
| Mislead any client, including making a statement that omits material facts or passing along information that is baseless or suspected to be untrue; |
| Engage in any act, practice or course of conduct which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon any client (e.g., creating the false appearance of active trading in client accounts); |
| Engage in any manipulative practice with respect to any client; or |
| Engage in any manipulative practice with respect to securities, including price or market manipulation. This includes rumor mongering, which is illegal and can lead to allegations of market manipulation. |
| Employees are prohibited from inappropriately favoring the interests of one client over another as it would constitute a breach of fiduciary duty. |
| Employees must not use for their own direct or indirect benefit (or the benefit of anyone other than Westfields clients) information about: (a)Westfields trading or investment recommendations for client accounts, (b) our relationships with our clients, or (c) our relationships with the brokerage community. Personal securities transactions must be conducted in accordance with applicable provisions in the Code. |
| Employees must comply with the spirit and letter of the Code and other internal policies. Technical compliance with the requirements in the Code or other policies does not insulate you from scrutiny for any actions that can create the appearance of a violation or the appearance that you are circumventing the rules. |
| Employees must avoid any actual or potential conflicts of interest with Westfield clients. Employees may be required to complete certifications or questionnaire on such matters. It is the employees responsibility to promptly notify Compliance of any actual or potential changes to their responses. |
| Employees must ensure that any personal activities (e.g., personal trading) conducted during work hours do not interfere (or appears to interfere) with their daily work. |
| Employees must disclose any family members who are working for public companies and/or have senior level positions at private companies. |
| Employees must not accept from or give to clients or other business contacts any gifts or business entertainment that would present an actual or potential conflict of interest, or would be viewed as improper. (See Westfields policy on Gifts and Business Entertainment.) |
| Employees may not recommend, implement, or consider any securities transaction for client accounts without having disclosed any material business or personal relationship (e.g., family member is a senior employee) with or beneficial ownership or other material interest in the issuer or its affiliates, to Compliance. If Compliance deems the disclosed interest to present a material conflict, the employee may not participate in any decision-making process regarding that issuer. |
Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P.
Date Approved: 06/09/2016
Code of Ethics
| Employees must act in the best interest of Westfields clients regarding execution and other costs paid by clients for brokerage services. This includes disclosing to Compliance any personal investment in any business or personal (e.g., family member) relationship with brokers utilized by Westfield for client transactions or research services. All employees must strictly adhere to Westfields policies and procedures regarding brokerage, including those on best execution, research services, and directed brokerage. |
| Employees must disclose to Compliance any personal investments or other interests in third party service providers if the employees negotiate or make decisions on behalf of the firm with such third party service providers. If any employee has such an interest, Compliance may prohibit the person from negotiating or making decisions regarding Westfields business with those companies. |
| Employees are prohibited from making referrals to clients (e.g., attorneys, accountants) if the employee will benefit in any way. |
Reporting Unethical or Illegal Behavior
If at any time an employee has knowledge of any behavior that might be viewed as unethical, illegal or in violation of internal policies, the employee must report such behavior immediately. Reports should be made to the CCO. In the case of an actual or suspected violation by the CCO, employees should notify the Chief Executive Officer.
How to Report . To promote employee reporting, while protecting the employee and maintaining their identity in confidence, Westfield offers different methods for reporting.
| Contact the CCO |
Employees may report actual or suspected violations by contacting the CCO directly (or the CEO if the suspected violation is by the CCO). Employees are not required to report such matters to their senior managers before contacting Compliance.
| Report through Schwab Compliance Technologies |
Reports can be submitted through Schwab Compliance Technologies ( https://client.schwabct.com ) by clicking on Confidential Reporting Form (Whistleblower). Such reports are accessible by the CCO only. All reports are anonymous.
What to Report . Employees should report any: a) noncompliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, or internal policies such as the Code; b) fraud or illegal acts involving any aspect of the firms business; c) material misstatements in regulatory filings, internal books and records, client records or reports, and financial statements; d) activity that is harmful to clients; and e) material deviations from required controls and procedures that safeguard clients and the firm.
Usage of Information Provided . The CCO will take the steps deemed necessary under the circumstances to investigate relevant facts surrounding the information provided, and to take any appropriate corrective measures. Reporting employees typically will not be notified of any actions the firm is taking in response to their comments.
Guidance . Employees are encouraged to seek guidance from the CCO with respect to any violation and to refrain from any action or transaction that might lead to the appearance of a violation.
Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P.
Date Approved: 06/09/2016
Code of Ethics
Confidentiality . Any report created to satisfy the requirements of the Code shall be treated confidentially. Best efforts will be used to ensure that specific details of the report cannot be used to identify the reporting employee.
Retaliation. No employee who in good faith reports a suspected unethical or illegal business practice will be subject to retaliation or discipline for having done so, even if such reports ultimately establish that no violation had occurred.
SEC Whistleblower Program
Westfield encourages employees to report unethical or illegal behavior to the firm first, but employees also have an option of directly reporting actual or suspected violations to the SECs Whistleblower Office. The SEC offers awards and incentives to individuals who voluntarily provide original information that leads to a successful enforcement. There are very specific criteria and procedures that apply when making such a report to the SEC. Regardless of the employees reporting method, Westfield will utilize the framework described directly above with regards to reported information.
The SEC encourages individuals to submit information in writing by filling out their questionnaire at https://denebleo.sec.gov/TCRExternal/disclaimer.xhtml . Alternatively, you may submit information by mail to the Office of the Whistleblower at 100 F Street, NE, Mail Stop 5971, Washington, D.C. 20549 or by fax to (703) 813-9322.
Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P.
Date Approved: 06/09/2016
Code of Ethics
Personal Trading
(All references to Access Persons in this section include family members.)
Preclearance Requirement
Access Persons must obtain approval from Compliance prior to entering into any personal securities transactions in a Covered Security for a Covered Account, as defined in Appendix A. Written approval must be received prior to executing any personal security transaction.
With limited exceptions, approvals are valid until 4:00pm on the day they were granted. Approvals for certain transactions (e.g., private offering of securities) may be extended with the CCOs (or designees) permission. In such instances, the approval is valid until either the transaction is executed or revoked by Compliance. Access Persons are responsible for notifying Compliance when the transaction has been either completed or cancelled.
Because Westfield primarily supervises domestic growth equities, certain transactions and securities pose minimal conflicts with our clients. As such, the following securities also are exempt from the preclearance requirement. (Reporting requirements still apply). If a security or transaction is not listed directly below or excluded from the Covered Security definition in Appendix A, then it must be precleared.
| ETFs and ETNs that are not short the market, a sector, industry, etc. |
| Closed-end mutual funds |
| Gifting or transferring shares from one account to another |
| Municipal bonds |
Submitting Preclearance Requests
Preclearance requests for securities transactions should be submitted through the online personal transactions system, Schwab Compliance Technologies (the personal trading system). Compliance will set up each Access Person in the system and provide training. It is important that Access Persons not share their passwords with anyone as they are responsible for the information created, modified, and deleted from the system under their log in information.
Should an Access Person wish to make a personal security transaction but does not have access to the system, the person must contact either the Compliance Officer (CO) or the CCO for preclearance of the transaction. Compliance will enter the transaction into the system, which will send an approval or denial, via email, to the requestor. It is the Access Persons responsibility to ensure that the trade information contained in the email confirmation is complete and accurate (i.e., transaction type, shares requested, broker account, and security name) prior to entering into the transaction.
Private Offerings
Any requests to enter into private offerings of securities must be first discussed with the CCO or CO. At a minimum, Compliance will request a copy of the offering documents in order to obtain the security/issuer name, investment amount, and target investment date. If the transaction is approved, Compliance will set up the security in the personal trading system, and the employee may then submit the preclearance request. Access Persons must receive a written approval (either from the personal trading system or email from Compliance) before entering into the transaction.
Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P.
Date Approved: 06/09/2016
Code of Ethics
Reviewing Preclearance Requests
Preclearance requests are reviewed after 9:30am. Preclearance requests submitted prior to 9:30am will be placed in pending status. Preclearance requests that go into pending after 3:00pm will be reviewed on a best efforts basis. If a response is not received by 4:00pm, Access Persons are not permitted to enter into the trade and must re-enter the preclearance request the following day.
Compliance has full authority to:
| revoke a preclearance any time after it is granted; |
| require an Access Person to close out or reverse a transaction; and |
| not provide an explanation for a preclearance denial or revocation, especially when the reasons are confidential in nature. |
Restrictions to Personal Securities Transactions
The following restrictions and limitations have been placed on personal securities transactions to address actual or possible conflicts arising from personal trading activities.
| Material, Non-public Information. Access Persons who possess or have been made aware of material, non-public information regarding a security, or the issuer of a security may not engage in any transaction of such security or related security. (See Westfields policy on Insider Trading.) |
| Market Manipulation. Access Persons may not engage in any transactions intended to raise, lower, or maintain the price of any security. |
| Market Timing and Excessive Trading. Access Persons must not engage in excessive trading or market timing activities with respect to any mutual fund. When placing trades in any mutual fund, whether the trade is placed directly in a personal account, 401(k) account, deferred compensation account, account held with an intermediary or any other account, Access Persons must comply with the rules set forth in the funds prospectus and SAI regarding the frequency and timing of such trades. |
| Transactions with Clients. Access Persons are prohibited from knowingly selling to, or purchasing from, a client any security or other property, except publiclytraded securities issued by such client. |
| Transactions Likely to Raise Conflicts with Duties to Clients. Access Persons may not enter into any transactions that: a) may have a negative impact on their attention to their responsibilities to the firm or our clients (e.g., trading frequently in personal accounts), or b) overextend their financial resources or commit them to financial liability that they are unable to meet. |
| Derivatives, Warrants and Rights . Access Persons are prohibited from trading options, forwards, swaps, warrants, rights and any other similar security in their Covered Accounts. |
| Private and Limited Offerings (e.g., IPOs). Typically, if client accounts are participating in a private or limited offering, Access Persons may not participate in the same offering. With prior approval from the CCO, Access Persons may participate alongside client accounts but the clients interest will always come first. This includes Access Persons invested in Westfields LPs (e.g., Micro Cap Fund). |
| Short Selling and Short ETFs/ETNs . Access Persons are prohibited from short selling securities in their Covered Accounts. This applies to ETFs/ETNs that are short the market, a sector, industry, etc. |
Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P.
Date Approved: 06/09/2016
Code of Ethics
| 30-Day Holding Period . Covered Security investments made in Covered Accounts must be held for a minimum period of 30 calendar days after purchase (from trade date). ETFs and ETNs are not subject to the 30-day holding period. |
Investment Team Sales in Covered Securities
All analysts (defined as sector and research analysts) that own securities in their covered accounts that overlap with their sector universe and are owned in a Westfield strategy managed by Westfields Investment Committee must hold such security or securities until they have been fully liquidated from all strategies. Once the security is fully liquidated, the analyst may sell their personal shares 5 business days following the last client sale.
All individual portfolio managers that own securities in their covered accounts that overlap with the individual portfolios that they manage, must hold such security or securities until they have been fully liquidated from all client accounts under their management. Once the security is fully liquidated; the portfolio manager may sell their personal shares 5 business days following the last client sale.
The above restrictions do not apply to securities that are held due to client restrictions (e.g., tax considerations, retention for proxy voting, etc.). Any exceptions must be approved by the CCO or a designee. Analysts may continue to trim and/or sell securities for their covered accounts that are not in their sector universe. Portfolio managers may continue to trim/sell securities for their covered accounts that are not held in the portfolios they manage. Any trims/sales will still follow the above personal securities transaction restrictions, front running and blackout periods as applicable.
Front Running and Blackout Periods
Front running is an illegal practice. Access Persons should not enter into a personal security transaction when the Access Person knows, or has reason to believe, that the security or related security: a) has recently been acted upon, b) may in the near future be recommended for action, or c) may in the near future be acted upon by the firm for client accounts.
| For Covered Securities that have been traded in client accounts, the blackout period begins five business days before the client trade and ends five days after the last client trade. If the Covered Security was traded for reasons outside of an investment recommendation (e.g., cash flow, rebalancing/dispersion, etc.), the blackout period begins when the trades are placed on the blotter and ends when the trades have been completed. |
| For Covered Securities that have been recommended or are under consideration, the blackout period begins five business days before the day a security was recommended or placed under consideration and typically ends five business days thereafter. Some securities may remain on the restricted list for longer periods of time. Compliance has full discretion to decide whether a security is restricted and for how long. |
| ETFs and ETNs are not subject to the blackout periods discussed in this section. |
New Employees
All new employees will be required to be in compliance with Westfields Code within 10 calendar days from their date of hire (e.g., must cover short positions).
New investment team employees will be allowed 10 calendar days to trim/liquidate securities within their sector universe that overlap with a strategy managed by Westfields Investment Committee. However, all other provisions within the Code must be followed (e.g., must follow preclearance requirements, blackout periods apply).
Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P.
Date Approved: 06/09/2016
Code of Ethics
Reporting Requirements for Personal Securities Transactions
Unless noted in Exemptions in this section, Access Persons must file the reports described below, even if the person has had no holdings, transactions or accounts to list in the reports.
Most reports are submitted through the personal trading system, which will track the dates and times of submissions. All submissions will remain confidential and will not be accessible by anyone other than those employees in Compliance and to the extent necessary to implement and enforce the provisions of the Code or to comply with regulatory or legal requirements.
Access Persons are responsible for reviewing and verifying the information on all their reports prior to submission. You must promptly speak with Compliance about any errors, omissions or discrepancies on these reports before they are submitted.
Initial and Annual Holdings Reports. Access Persons must submit a report of their holdings in Covered Securities within 10 days after the day they become an Access Person and on an annual basis thereafter. Initial holdings information should be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the employees date of becoming an Access Person. Annual holding reports should be as of December 31 st , and submitted within 30 days after the calendar year end. For each holding, Access Persons must provide: 1) the title and type of security, 2) as applicable, the exchange ticker symbol or cusip number, 3) the number of shares and principal amount of each reportable security in which the access person has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership, 4) the name of any broker, dealer or bank with which the access person maintains an account in which any securities are held for the access persons direct or indirect benefit, and 5) the date the access person submits the report.
Quarterly Transaction Reports . Access Persons are required to report Covered Securities transactions for the most recent calendar quarter. Access Persons must review the information in the personal trading system for accuracy and completeness prior to submission. Each transaction should indicate: 1) the date of the transaction, the title, and as applicable the exchange ticker symbol or cusip number, interest rate and maturity date, number of shares, and principal amount of each reportable security involved, 2) the nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition), 3) the price of the security at which the transaction was effected, 4) the name of broker, dealer or bank with or through which the transaction was effected, and 5) the date the access person submits the report. Quarterly transaction reports are due within 30 days after the calendar quarter end.
Initial Investment Account Reports. Access Persons must submit brokerage statements for all accounts held for their direct or indirect benefit within 10 days after the day they become an Access Person. Compliance will review these statements and determine if the accounts would fall under ongoing reporting requirements (i.e., a Covered Account). Statements should be dated no later than 45 days prior to the employee becoming an Access Person.
Quarterly Investment Account Reports. Access Persons must certify to a list of their Covered Accounts (as defined in Appendix A). Quarterly account reports are due within 30 days after the calendar quarter end.
Access Persons must notify Compliance of any new and closed Covered Accounts as soon as reasonably possible. Closed accounts will remain active in the personal trading system and will be subject to applicable reporting requirements described above, unless Compliance has been notified otherwise.
Duplicate Statements or Confirms. Duplicate copies of personal transaction confirmations or account statements are required for Covered Accounts. Copies of such documents must be sent directly to Compliance or through an electronic feed into the personal trading system. Employees with accounts set up to receive
Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P.
Date Approved: 06/09/2016
Code of Ethics
electronic feeds in the personal trading system are not required to provide paper copies of confirmations or statements as transactions and positions directly feed into the system. If Compliance does not receive the appropriate electronic data or duplicate confirmations and statements, Compliance will request the documents from the Access Person. This requirement does not satisfy the quarterly or annual reporting requirements outlined above.
Private Investments. A confirmation of the investment with the invested dollar amount must be submitted to Compliance promptly after the investment is made.
Exemptions
The following transactions are exempt from the preclearance and/or reporting requirements discussed previously. Access Persons should be reminded that these exemptions do not absolve them from violations of other Westfield policies, applicable laws and regulations, as well as the spirit of the Code.
| No Knowledge or Control . Transactions where the Access Person has no influence, control or knowledge are exempt from preclearance (e.g., corporate or broker actions). |
| Subject to Compliance approval, Access Persons can omit any report with respect to securities held in accounts over which the Access Person had no direct or indirect influence or control. |
| Managed Accounts. Transactions effected in accounts managed by an external financial adviser are exempt from preclearance and reporting requirements. Access Persons may speak to their adviser about their financial goals and objectives, but they are not permitted to consult with their adviser (or be consulted) on any specific security transactions. To qualify for this exemption, Access Persons must: |
| Have their financial adviser provide an initial written certification to Westfield on the arrangement and/or provide a copy of the managed account agreement with their financial adviser. |
| Complete certifications quarterly regarding their influence or control over these accounts. |
| Annually have their financial adviser provide a written certification to Westfield that they did not consult with their adviser on any specific security transactions and that the adviser did not consult with them on any specific security transactions. |
| If requested, provide Compliance with copies of holdings and/or transactions made in their account(s). |
| 529 Plans or College Savings Plans. Transactions in 529 Plans or college savings plans are exempt from preclearance and reporting requirements. (Does not apply to Coverdell ESAs that are invested in Covered Securities.) |
| Automatic Investment Plans. Transactions effected pursuant to an automatic investment plan are exempt from preclearance and reporting requirements. |
| Prior Employers Profit Sharing or Retirement Plans. Transactions executed in a prior employers profit sharing or retirement plan are exempt from preclearance and reporting. This exemption does not apply to transactions in reportable securities or to any discretionary brokerage account option that may be available from a former employer. Such transactions/accounts are subject to preclearance and reporting requirements. |
Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P.
Date Approved: 06/09/2016
Code of Ethics
| Other. Transactions in securities determined by Compliance to present a low potential for impropriety or the appearance of impropriety may be exempt from transactional restrictions and preclearance/reporting requirements. Compliance will review these on a case-by-case basis. |
Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P.
Date Approved: 06/09/2016
Code of Ethics
Political and Charitable Contributions
Employees are prohibited from making political or charitable contributions for the purposes of obtaining or retaining advisory contracts with public clients (i.e., pay-to-play). Employees should review Westfields Anti-Corruption, Bribery, and Political Contributions Policy for more information on political contributions.
Administration
Approval and Distribution
Compliance will distribute the Code (either as a stand-alone document or as part of the firms Compliance Manual) to all employees at least annually. Employees are required to acknowledge their having received, read, and complied with the Code.
Material amendments or material revisions made to this Code will be approved by the Management Committee. Upon approval, the Code will be distributed to all employees shortly thereafter. Immaterial amendments do not require approval and will be distributed either with material amendments or during the annual distribution period. Employees are required to complete appropriate acknowledgements after distribution.
Training and Education
Compliance is responsible for coordinating the training and education of employees regarding the Code. All newly hired employees are required to complete a compliance overview session that includes a review of the Code. They also are required to acknowledge that they have attended the new employee training and have received a copy of the Code (typically as part of the firms Compliance Manual). Temporary or contract employees will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement and attend a compliance overview session.
Employees are required to attend any training sessions and read any applicable materials that Compliance deems appropriate. On occasion, it may be necessary for certain departments or individuals to receive additional training. Should this be the case, a member of Compliance will coordinate with the appropriate department managers to discuss particular topics and concerns to address at the training session.
Personal Transactions Monitoring
On at least a quarterly basis, a member of Compliance will review and monitor required reports for conformity with all applicable provisions outlined in the personal trading section. Each member of the Compliance Department will review and monitor each others reports as required by the Code.
Annual Review of Code
The CCO (or a designee) will review, at least annually, the adequacy of the Code and the effectiveness of its implementation. Such results are usually recorded in the firms annual testing program.
Reports to Management Committee
At least annually, the CCO will report material Code matters to Westfields Management Committee. On occasion, the CCO will also report immaterial items to the Management Committee in order to keep them informed of Code matters.
Recordkeeping Requirements
Westfield will maintain the following records in a readily accessible place for a period of not less than five years.
| A copy of each Code that is in effect, or at any time within the past ten years; |
| A record of any violation of the Code, and of any action taken as a result of the violation, for ten years after the end of the fiscal year in which the violation occurred; |
Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P.
Date Approved: 06/09/2016
Code of Ethics
| A copy of each report and acknowledgement made under the Code for the past ten years after the end of the fiscal year in which the report is made or information is provided; |
| A list of names of persons, currently or within the past ten years, who are or were Access Persons or Investment Persons; |
| A record of any decision, and the reasons supporting the decision, for approving the acquisition of IPOs and limited offerings for at least ten years after the end of the fiscal year in which the approval was granted; and |
| A record of any granted waivers or exceptions, and supporting reasons, to any provisions of the Code. |
Violations and Sanctions
Westfield treats violations of the Code (including violations of the spirit of the Code) very seriously. If an employee violates either the letter or the spirit of this Code, Westfield may impose disciplinary actions or fines, or it may make a civil or criminal referral to appropriate regulatory entities. (Refer to Appendix B for the sanctions table.) Code violations become a part of the employees employment history at Westfield. Multiple violations within a 12 month period will be reported to Human Resources and appropriate supervisors or managers. Employees should always consult with the CCO or CO if they are in doubt of any of the requirements or restrictions in the Code.
A member of Compliance will notify employees of any discrepancy between their personal activities and the rules outlined in this Code. Each violation and the circumstances surrounding each violation will be reviewed by a member of Compliance. Based on the review, Compliance will determine whether the policies established in this Code have been violated, and whether any action should be taken. Compliance will recommend appropriate sanctions (in accordance with Westfields sanctions guidelines) to the employees manager, supervisor or the department head. Once the sanction has been approved, Compliance will notify the employee. Compliance has the discretion of reporting material Code matters to the Operations & Risk Management Committee and/or Management Committee.
Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P.
Date Approved: 06/09/2016
Code of Ethics
Appendix A: Glossary of Terms
Access Person is any Westfield employee who meets at least one of the following conditions:
| is an officer, director, or partner |
| has access to nonpublic information about client purchases or sales of securities |
| makes or participates in making investment recommendations to clients |
| has access to client investment recommendations that are non-public |
| has access to nonpublic information regarding the portfolio holdings of affiliated mutual funds |
Beneficial Interest generally refers to the opportunity, directly or indirectly, to profit or share in any profit.
Business Day refers to every official working day of the week.
Client Account refers to any account over which Westfield has been granted authority to purchase and/or sell securities on the clients behalf).
Covered Account refers to any investment account over which an Access Person:
a. | has direct or indirect beneficial interest; or |
b. | exercises investment control, meaning he or she actually provides input into or makes the security buy and/or sell decisions for the account. The account does not need to be in an Access Persons name; if an Access Person has either joint or sole investment control over an account, it may be considered a Covered Account. |
Covered Security refers to any security or fund that does not fall under one of the following exceptions:
| Direct obligations of the Government of the United States (e.g., treasury bills, treasury bonds, U.S. savings bonds); |
| Bankers acceptances, bank certificates of deposits, commercial paper, and high-quality short term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements; |
| Shares issued by money market funds; |
| Shares issued by open-end mutual funds that are not sub-advised or advised by Westfield; |
| Shares issued by unit investment trusts (UITs) that are invested exclusively in one or more open-end mutual funds, none of which are sub-advised or advised by Westfield. |
Employee means all Westfield personnel who are not hired on a temporary or contract basis.
Family member means an employees spouse, children, step-children, grandchildren, parents, step-parents, grandparents, domestic partners, siblings, parents-in-law, children-in-law, as well as adoptive relationships sharing the same household with the employee.
Investment Person means any Access Person who makes or participates in making investment recommendations for client accounts.
Reportable Fund means any pooled fund, regardless of whether it is offered publicly or privately, for which Westfield serves as adviser or sub-adviser. This includes Westfield limited partnerships.
Short Selling means selling a security that is not owned in the account.
Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P.
Date Approved: 06/09/2016
Code of Ethics
Appendix B: Sanctions Guidelines
Sanctions can be more or less than what is indicated in the table below. In recommending sanctions, Compliance will:
| Consider an employees role and responsibilities, past trading history, facts and circumstances around the violation and other factors |
| Impose the highest of all applicable sanctions, if a violation falls within more than one category or if multiple violations occur on the same day |
| Consider additional sanctions such as disgorgement of profits (gross of any taxes or transaction costs) and reversal of trades |
| Review violations not listed in the table on a case-by-case basis |
| Consult with Management Committee or Operations & Risk Management Committee members, if needed |
Violation |
Management and Investment Committee, Research
|
All Other Employees |
||
Late Reporting or Certification
All listed fines are per day after due date and per report or certification |
First Offense : $500
Second Offense : $750 and suspension of personal securities transaction rights (up to 6 months)
Subsequent Offense : $1,500 and suspension of personal securities transaction rights (up to 12 months) |
First Offense : $100
Second Offense : $200 and suspension of personal securities transaction rights (up to 3 months)
Subsequent Offense : $300 and suspension of personal securities transaction rights (up to 6 months) |
||
Failure to Preclear |
First Offense : $2,000 per transaction and suspension of personal securities transaction rights for 30 days
Second Offense : $5,000 per transaction and suspension of personal securities transaction rights for 3 months
Subsequent Offense : $10,000 per transaction and suspension of personal securities transaction rights for 12 months |
First Offense : $500 per transaction
Second Offense : $1,000 per transaction and suspension of personal securities transaction rights for 30 days
Subsequent Offense : $2,500 per transaction and suspension of personal securities transaction rights for 6 months |
Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P.
Date Approved: 06/09/2016
Code of Ethics
Market Timing | Termination of employment and civil or criminal referral | Termination of employment and civil or criminal referral | ||
Failure to Make Accurate or Complete Reports | Monetary fines starting at $5,000; suspension of personal securities transaction rights; possible termination of employment | Monetary fines starting at $1,000; suspension of personal securities transaction rights; possible termination of employment | ||
Front Running | $2,500 per transaction; temporary or permanent suspension of personal securities transaction rights; possible termination of employment | $2,500 per transaction; temporary or permanent suspension of personal securities transaction rights; possible termination of employment | ||
30-day Holding Period |
First Offense : 2,000 per transaction
Second Offense : $5,000 per transaction; suspension of personal transaction rights (up to 6 months)
Subsequent Offense : $7,500 per transaction; suspension of personal securities transaction rights (up to 12 months) |
First Offense : $500 per transaction
Second Offense : $1,000 per transaction; suspension of personal transaction rights (up to 6 months)
Subsequent Offense : $2,500 per transaction; suspension of personal securities transaction rights (up to 12 months) |
Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P.
Date Approved: 06/09/2016