Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 10, 2020
Securities Act Registration No. xxx-xxxxx
Investment Company Act Registration No. 811-23556
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 |
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Pre-Effective Amendment No. |
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Post-Effective Amendment No. |
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and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 |
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Amendment No. |
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(Check appropriate box or boxes.)
DATUM ONE SERIES TRUST
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
50 S. LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL 60603
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)
(312) 557-4100
Registrants Telephone Number, including Area Code:
Name and Address of Agent for Service
Barbara J. Nelligan
The Northern Trust Company
50 S. LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL 60603
With copy to:
John Loder
Jessica Reece
Ropes & Gray LLP
800 Boylston Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02199
Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: As soon as practicable after the effectiveness of this registration statement.
The Registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to CompletionDated March 10, 2020
DATUM ONE SERIES TRUST
PROSPECTUS
[DATE]
Polar Capital Emerging Market Stars Fund
[TICKER]
Institutional Class Shares
(the Fund)
Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the SEC, paper copies of the Funds annual and semi-annual shareholder reports will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports from the Fund or your financial intermediary. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Funds website [(____________)], and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.
If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Fund electronically anytime by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank) or, if you are a direct investor, by calling [xxx-xxx-xxxx] or by sending an email request to [____________].
You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you can contact your financial intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports. If you invest directly with the Fund, you can contact the Fund to let the Fund know you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all funds held in your account if you invest through your financial intermediary or all funds held with the Trust if you invest directly with the Fund.
Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this Prospectus is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FUND SUMMARY
Polar Capital Emerging Market Stars Fund
Investment Objective
The Funds investment objective is to achieve long term capital growth.
Fees and Expenses
These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. The tables and example below do not reflect commissions that a shareholder may be required to pay directly to a broker or other financial intermediary when buying or selling shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases
|
None | |
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC) (Load)
|
None | |
Redemption Fee
|
None |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Management Fees |
1.00% | |
Other Expenses (1) |
5.58% | |
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses |
6.58% | |
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement (2) |
(5.58%) | |
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement |
1.00% |
(1) |
Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. |
(2) |
Polar Capital LLP (the Manager), the Funds investment adviser, has contractually agreed to waive Management Fees and to reimburse Other Expenses to the extent Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (exclusive of brokerage costs, interest, taxes, dividends, litigation and indemnification expenses, expenses associated with the investments in underlying investment companies and extraordinary expenses) exceed 1.00% of the average daily net assets of the Fund through [March 31, 2022]. Amounts waived or reimbursed in a particular contractual period may be recouped by the Manager within three fiscal years following the fiscal year in which the expenses occurred, however, such recoupment will be limited to the lesser of any expense limitation in place at the time of recoupment or the expense limitation in place at the time of waiver or reimbursement. This agreement may only be terminated earlier by the Funds Board of Directors (the Board) or upon termination of the Investment Management Agreement. This expense reimbursement has been restated to better reflect anticipated reimbursement to the Fund. |
Example. This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated. The Example shows costs [if you sold (redeemed) your shares at the end of the period or continued to hold them]. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Funds operating expenses remain the same. The Example reflects applicable expense limitation agreements and/or waivers in effect, if any, for the one-year period and the first year of the three-year period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
One year | Three years | |||
$ 102 |
$ | 1,449 |
Portfolio Turnover. The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or turns over its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Funds performance.
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Since the Fund had not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus, there is no annual portfolio turnover rate information included.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund will seek to achieve its investment objective by primarily investing in a diversified portfolio of equity securities and equity related securities of, or relating to, issuers which are domiciled, or exercise the predominant part of their economic activity, in Emerging Markets. The Fund is not expected to invest more than 20% of its net assets in securities issued by issuers outside of the Emerging Markets. Emerging Markets are defined as those countries listed in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index and other countries that the portfolio managers consider to have emerging market characteristics.
The securities in which the Fund will invest will include shares, equities, equity warrants, preferred shares, shares in collective investment schemes with investment policies that are consistent with the Funds investment objective and securities convertible into shares.
The Fund may invest in and have direct access to China A shares listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange via the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect and Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect Schemes. The Fund may indirectly gain access to China A Shares by purchasing equity-related instruments, participation notes and participatory certificates.
The Fund may also invest in Global, American and European depository receipts for the purpose of gaining exposure to underlying equity securities.
The Fund may utilize various derivative instruments and related strategies to gain exposure to one or more issuers or other assets. The Fund may utilize derivatives of all types and may invest in futures, forwards, options, contracts for difference, swaps and securities with embedded derivatives or elements of derivative exposure including, but not limited to, equity warrants and structured notes, such as P-Notes (which will not be leveraged).
The Fund expects to primarily use derivatives for hedging or efficient portfolio management purposes or to reduce portfolio risk. The Fund may also use them to increase the Funds investment exposure beyond that which it could achieve by investing directly in more conventional securities.
Futures, forwards, options, contracts for difference and swaps may be used to hedge against downward movements in the value of the Funds portfolio, either by reference to specific securities (i.e. equity or equity related securities) or markets to which the Fund may be exposed. These derivative instruments may also be used to gain or reduce the Funds exposure to equity or equity related securities or markets on a short or medium term basis where the portfolio manager believes it is more efficient to use derivatives for this purpose, or to gain indirect exposure to equity or equity related securities where the portfolio manager feels that such use of financial derivative instruments is in the best interests of the Fund.
Securities with embedded derivatives or elements of derivative exposure, such as equity warrants and structured notes such as P-Notes (which will not be leveraged) may be used to gain exposure to underlying equity or equity related securities as a more efficient and cheaper alternative to direct investment in that security.
The Fund observes a policy to normally invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings made for investment purposes) in equity securities and other equity-related investments in Emerging Markets. The Funds investments in derivatives and other synthetic instruments that have economic characteristics similar to these investments will be counted toward satisfaction of the Funds 80% investment policy.
Principal Risks
It is possible to lose money on an investment in the Fund. The Fund will be affected by the investment decisions, techniques and risk analyses of the Funds Manager and there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. Any of the following risks, among others, could affect Fund performance or cause the Fund to lose money or to underperform market averages of other funds.
Credit Risk. The Fund will be exposed to credit risk relating to parties with whom it trades and may also bear the risk of settlement default. In the event of a bankruptcy or other default, the Fund could experience both delays in liquidating the underlying securities and losses including a possible decline in value of the underlying securities during the period when the Fund seeks to enforce its rights thereto. This will have the effect of reducing levels of capital and income in the Fund and lack of access to income during this period together with the expense of enforcing the Funds rights.
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Risks Associated with Investing in Equities. The Fund may invest in equity and equity-related securities traded on recognized stock exchanges and over-the-counter markets. Equity securities will be subject to risks associated with such investments, including fluctuations in market prices, adverse issuer or market information and the fact that equity and equity-related interests are subordinate in the right of payment to other corporate securities, including debt securities. The value of these securities varies with the performance of the respective issuers and movements in the equity markets generally. As a result, the Fund may suffer losses if it invests in equity securities of issuers where performance falls below market expectations or if equity markets in general decline or the Fund has not hedged against such a general decline. Futures and options on futures on equity securities and indices are subject to all the foregoing risks, in addition to the risks particularly associated with futures and derivative contracts.
Risks Associated with Investing in Emerging Markets. In investing the Funds assets, the portfolio managers focus on countries with established rules of law and political systems that allow for transparent and unbiased enforcement of those laws, although there can be no assurance that the Funds assets will in all cases be invested in countries that offer such protections, and such investments may be subject to heightened risk. The Funds investments in non-U.S. issuers in developing or emerging market countries may involve increased exposure to changes in economic, social and political factors as compared to investments in more developed countries. The economies of most emerging market countries are in the early stage of capital market development and may be dependent on relatively fewer industries. As a result, their economic systems are still evolving. Their legal and political systems may also be less stable than those in developed economies. Securities markets in these countries can also be smaller, and there may be increased settlement risks. Emerging market countries often suffer from currency devaluation and higher rates of inflation. Due to these risks, securities issued in developing or emerging countries may be more volatile, less liquid, and harder to value than securities issued in more developed countries.
Investment in Russia: While fundamental reforms relating to securities investments and regulations in Russia have been initiated in recent years, there may still be certain ambiguities in interpretation and inconsistencies in their application. Monitoring and enforcement of applicable regulations remains uncertain.
Some equity securities in Russia are dematerialized and the only evidence of ownership is entry of the shareholders name on the share register of the issues. The concept of fiduciary duty is not well established and shareholders may, therefore, suffer dilution or loss of investment due to the actions of management without satisfactory legal remedy. Rules regulating corporate governance are undeveloped and therefore may offer little protection to minority shareholders.
Investment in China: Investing in securities of Chinese issuers, including by investing in A Shares, involves certain risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. issuers, including, among others, (i) more frequent (and potentially widespread) trading suspensions and government interventions with respect to Chinese issuers, resulting in a lack of liquidity and in price volatility, (ii) currency revaluations and other currency exchange rate fluctuations or blockage, (iii) the nature and extent of intervention by the Chinese government in the Chinese securities markets, whether such intervention will continue and the impact of such intervention or its discontinuation, (iv) the risk of nationalization or expropriation of assets, (v) the risk that the Chinese government may decide not to continue to support economic reform programs, (vi) potentially higher rates of inflation, (vii) the unavailability of consistently-reliable economic data, (viii) the relatively small size and absence of operating history of many Chinese companies, (ix) accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards in China are different from U.S. standards and, therefore, disclosure of certain material information may not be available, (x) greater political, economic, social, legal and tax-related uncertainty, (xi) higher market volatility caused by any potential regional territorial conflicts or natural disasters, (xii) higher dependence on exports and international trade, (xiii) the risk of increased trade tariffs, embargoes and other trade limitations, (xiv) restrictions on foreign ownership, and (xv) custody risks associated with investing through programs to access Chinese securities. Significant portions of the Chinese securities markets may become rapidly illiquid, as Chinese issuers have the ability to suspend the trading of their equity securities, and have shown a willingness to exercise that option in response to market volatility and other events. The liquidity of Chinese securities may shrink or disappear suddenly and without warning as a result of adverse economic, market or political events, or adverse investor perceptions, whether or not accurate.
Stock Connect Investing Risk. China A Shares are equity securities of issuers incorporated in mainland China that are denominated and currently traded in RMB on the Shanghai or Shenzhen Stock Exchanges. Subject to minor exceptions, under current regulations in China, foreign investors, such as the Fund, can invest in A Shares only (i) through certain
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institutional investors that have obtained a license and quota from the Chinese regulators or (ii) through the Hong Kong-Shanghai Stock Connect or Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect programs. The Fund may invest in A Shares listed and traded on the Shanghai Stock Exchange or Shenzhen Stock Exchange through the Stock Connect program, or on such other stock exchanges in China which participate in the Stock Connect program from time to time. The Funds investments in Stock Connect A Shares are generally subject to Chinese securities regulations and listing rules, among other restrictions that may affect the Funds investments and returns, including daily limits on net purchases and transfer restrictions. In addition, the Stock Connect programs trading, clearance and settlement procedures are relatively untested in China, which could pose risks to the Fund. While overseas investors currently are exempt from paying capital gains or value added taxes on income and gains from investments in Stock Connect A Shares, these Chinese tax rules could be changed, which could result in unexpected tax liabilities for the Fund.
The Stock Connect program will only operate on days when both the Chinese and Hong Kong markets are open for trading and when banks in both markets are open on the corresponding settlement days. There may be occasions when the Fund may be subject to the risk of price fluctuations of A Shares during the time when the Stock Connect program is not trading. Because of the way in which China A shares are held in Stock Connect, the Fund may not be able to exercise the rights of a shareholder and may be limited in its ability to pursue claims against the issuer of a security, and may suffer losses in the event the depository of the Shanghai or Shenzhen Stock Exchanges becomes insolvent. Only certain China A shares are eligible to be accessed through the Stock Connect program. Such securities may lose their eligibility at any time, in which case they presumably could be sold but could no longer be purchased through the Stock Connect program. The Stock Connect program is a relatively new program. Further developments are likely and there can be no assurance as to the programs continued existence or whether future developments regarding the program may restrict or adversely affect the Funds investments or returns. In addition, the application and interpretation of the laws and regulations of Hong Kong and China, and the rules, policies or guidelines published or applied by relevant regulators and exchanges in respect of the Stock Connect program are uncertain, and they may have a detrimental effect on the Funds investments and returns.
Derivatives Risk. The use of derivatives involves the risk that their value may not move as expected relative to the value of the relevant underlying assets, rates, or indices. Derivatives also present other risks, including market risk, liquidity risk, and counterparty risk.
Market Risk. The value of securities and instruments owned by the Fund may rise and fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries or geographic areas.
Liquidity Risk. In some circumstances, investments may be relatively illiquid making it difficult to acquire or dispose of them at the prices quoted on the various exchanges. Accordingly, the Funds ability to respond to market movements may be impaired and the Fund may experience adverse price movements upon liquidation of its investments. Settlement of transactions may be subject to delay and administrative uncertainties.
Management Risk. The Fund is subject to management risk as an actively managed investment portfolio. The portfolio managers will apply investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but there can be no guarantee that these will produce the desired results. The portfolio managers opinion about the intrinsic worth or creditworthiness of a company or security may be incorrect, the portfolio managers may not make timely purchases or sales of securities for the Fund, the Funds investment objective may not be achieved, or the market may continue to undervalue the Funds securities. In addition, the Fund may not be able to quickly dispose of certain securities holdings. Moreover, there can be no assurance that the personnel of Polar Capital LLP (the Manager) will continue to be associated with the Manager for any length of time, and the loss of services of one or more key employees of the Manager, including the portfolio managers, could have an adverse impact on the Funds ability to achieve its investment objective. Certain securities or other instruments in which the Fund seeks to invest may not be available in the quantities desired. In such circumstances, the portfolio managers may determine to purchase other securities or instruments as substitutes. Such substitute securities or instruments may not perform as intended, which could result in losses to the Fund.
Because of these and other risks, you could lose money by investing in the Fund.
An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
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PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
Because the Fund had not commenced operations as of the calendar year ended December 31, 2019, there is no annual performance information included.
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
Investment Manager
Polar Capital LLP (Polar Capital) is the Funds investment manager.
Portfolio Manager
Jorry Rask Nøddekær is a Lead Fund Manager with Polar Capital and has served as the lead portfolio manager of the Fund since its inception.
PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES
Shares of the Fund may be purchased or sold on any business day (normally any day when the New York Stock Exchange opens for regular trading). You can buy or sell shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary; [by visiting our website at [WEBSITE];] by writing to us at [ADDRESS]; or by calling us at [PHONE NUMBER].
Purchase Minimums
Minimum Initial Investment |
$ | 1,000,000 | ||
Minimum Additional Investment (1) |
No minimum |
The Fund reserves the right to waive or lower purchase and investment minimums in certain circumstances. For example, the minimums listed above may be waived or lowered for investors who are customers of certain financial intermediaries that hold the Funds shares in certain omnibus accounts, at the discretion of the officers of the Fund. In addition, financial intermediaries may impose their own minimum investment and subsequent purchase amounts.
Tax Information
The Funds distributions are generally taxable to you as ordinary income, capital gains, or a combination of the two, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as an IRA or 401(k) plan. If you are investing through a tax advantaged arrangement, you may be taxed upon withdrawals from that arrangement.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
Shareholders may be required to pay a commission directly to their broker or other financial intermediary when buying or selling shares of the Fund. Shareholders and potential investors may wish to contact their broker or other financial intermediary for information regarding applicable commissions, transaction fees or other charges associated with transactions in shares of the Fund.
In addition, brokers, dealers, banks, trust companies and other financial intermediaries may receive compensation from the Fund and/or its related companies for providing a variety of services, which may include recordkeeping, transaction processing for shareholders accounts and certain shareholder services not currently offered to shareholders that deal directly with the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediarys website for more information.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENTS AND STRATEGIES OF THE FUND
This section, together with the sections entitled Additional Information about the Funds Principal Risks and Information about the Funds Non-Principal Investment Strategies provides more detailed information regarding Polar Capital Emerging Market Stars Fund (the Fund), including the Funds investment strategies and principal risks.
The Fund has its own investment objective and strategies for reaching that objective as discussed in the Summary Section of this prospectus. The investment objective of the Fund is not fundamental and may be changed at any time by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. The Fund has adopted an 80% investment policy under Rule 35d-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act) and will not change such policy as it is stated in the Funds Fund Summary unless it provides shareholders with the notice required by Rule 35d-1, as it may be amended or interpreted by the SEC from time to time.
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Investing in the Fund involves risk and there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its objective. The portfolio managers judgments about the markets, the economy, or companies may not anticipate actual market movements, economic conditions, or company performance, and these judgments may affect the return on your investment.
This section provides additional information about the principal investment strategies utilized by the Fund. Pending investment in securities and other investments that meet the Funds investment objective and policies, the proceeds of the offering of shares of the Fund, including from large subscriptions, may be invested in high quality, short-term securities, including liquidity and cash management funds, or may remain un-invested temporarily, potentially limiting the Funds total return and its ability to achieve its investment objective.
Investment Process for the Fund
The portfolio managers investment approach focuses primarily on fundamental bottom-up stock selection with top-down macro-economic research and analysis.
Top down analysis. The portfolio manager seeks to identify growth opportunities by looking at global growth expectations, demand drivers, supply drivers (including those which impact changes in supply), macroeconomic trends (such as social demographic trends, monetary and fiscal policy, government models, and competitiveness) and factors impacting company valuations to establish a dynamic understanding of the economic backdrop to the investment universe.
Bottom up analysis. The portfolio managers research efforts are directed towards detailed analysis of a companys specific strategic position and opportunities within its industry with a view to establishing its potential for future Economic Value Add (EVA). The portfolio manager looks to identify companies that, in their view, have the capability to generate a high, and growing, level of EVA in the future (identified over the medium to long term investment horizon).
Having assessed a companys opportunity for growth, its competitive position and its potential to create EVA, the portfolio manager uses a proprietary valuation model to identify its expected level of future EVA creation and its expected market value in relation to its current price.
The portfolio managers process incorporates quantitative and qualitative analysis of environmental, societal and governance policies, performance, practices and impacts. The portfolio manager uses a quantitative analysis (exclusionary screening) to avoid certain companies involved in activities deemed unacceptable or controversial from an environmental, societal and governance perspective, and uses qualitative methods (external research and internal analysis) to identify companies which can demonstrate continual improvement from an environmental, societal and governance perspective.
Sell Disciplines. While the portfolio managers investment philosophy dictates a long-term investment horizon, the reasons for holding a stock are constantly reviewed and the portfolio manager maintains a strict sell discipline in order to manage overall Fund risk. The portfolio manager typically looks to sell stocks primarily for one of the following reasons: (i) valuation has become extended; (ii) management disappointment either in terms of poor results or a change in strategy; (iii) changes in fundamentals either at corporate, sector or country level; or (iv) better opportunities identified elsewhere on a relative basis.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
Temporary Investments and Other Measures. The investments and strategies described in this prospectus are those that are used under normal circumstances. During unusual economic, market, political or other circumstances, or during periods of significant shareholder redemptions, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its total assets in short-term, high quality debt instruments, such as U.S. government securities. These instruments would not ordinarily be consistent with the Funds principal investment strategies, and may prevent the Fund from achieving its investment objective. The Fund will use a temporary strategy if the portfolio managers believe that pursuing the Funds investment objective will subject the Fund to a significant risk of loss. When the portfolio managers pursue a temporary defensive strategy, the Fund may not profit from favorable developments that it would have otherwise profited from if it were pursuing its normal strategies.
As part of its normal operations, the Fund may hold cash or invest a portion of its portfolio in short-term interest-bearing U.S. dollar denominated securities pending investments or to provide for possible redemptions. Investments in such short-term debt securities can generally be sold easily and have limited risk of loss, but earn only limited returns. The Fund may increase its cash holdings and/or such short-term investments in anticipation of a greater than normal number of shareholder redemptions.
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Percentage Investment Limitations. Unless otherwise stated, all percentage limitations on Fund investments listed in this Prospectus will apply at the time of purchase. The Fund would not violate these limitations unless an excess or deficiency occurs or exists immediately after and as a result of an investment.
Other Investments and Techniques. The Fund may invest in other types of securities and use a variety of investment techniques and strategies which are not principal investment strategies and are not described in this prospectus. These securities and techniques may subject the Fund to additional risks. Please see the Statement of Additional Information (the SAI) for additional information about the securities and investment techniques described in this prospectus and about additional securities and techniques that may be used by the Fund.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS PRINCIPAL RISKS
Many of the investment techniques and strategies discussed in this Prospectus and in the SAI are discretionary, which means that the portfolio managers can decide whether to use them. The Fund may invest in these securities or use these techniques as part of the Funds principal investment strategies. However, the portfolio managers may also use investment techniques or make investments in securities that are not a part of the Funds principal investment strategies.
The value of your investment in the Fund changes with the values of the Funds investments. Many factors can affect those values. The factors that are most likely to have a material effect on the Funds portfolio as a whole are called principal risks. The discussions below expand on the risks identified in the Funds summary section of the Prospectus as principal risks. Please see the SAI for a further discussion of the principal and other investment strategies employed by the Fund. It is possible to lose part or all of your money on an investment in the Fund.
Risks Associated with Investing in Emerging Markets.
Economic and Political Factors: Investments in securities of issuers located in emerging market countries involve special considerations and risks, including the risks associated with high rates of inflation, the limited liquidity and relatively small market capitalization of the securities markets in emerging market countries, relatively higher price volatility and large amounts of external debt and political, economic and social uncertainties, including the possible imposition of exchange controls or other foreign governmental laws or restrictions which may affect investment opportunities. In addition, with respect to certain emerging market countries there is the possibility of political or social instability or diplomatic developments that could affect investments in those countries. Moreover, individual emerging market country economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the economies of developed nations in such respects as growth of gross national product, rates of inflation, capital investments resources and self-sufficiency and the balance of payments position.
The economies of some emerging market countries have experienced considerable difficulties in the past. Although in certain cases there have been significant improvements in recent years, many such economies continue to experience significant problems, including high inflation and interest rates. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in interest rates have had and may continue to have very negative effects on the economies and securities markets of certain emerging market countries. The development of certain emerging market economies and securities markets will require continued economic and fiscal discipline, which has been lacking at times in the past, as well as stable political and social conditions. Recovery may also be influenced by international economic conditions, particularly those in the U.S. and by world prices for oil and other commodities. There is no assurance that economic initiatives will be successful. Certain of the risks associated with international investments and investing in smaller capital markets are heightened for investments in emerging market countries.
Market Liquidity and Volatility: The securities markets in emerging market countries are substantially smaller, less liquid and more volatile than the major securities markets in the United States and Europe. A limited number of issuers in most, if not all, securities markets in emerging market countries may represent a disproportionately large percentage of market capitalization and trading volume. Such markets may in certain cases, be characterized by relatively few market makers, participants in the market being mostly institutional investors including insurance companies, banks, other financial institutions and investment companies. The listed equity securities of many companies in many emerging markets are accordingly materially less liquid, subject to greater dealing spreads and experience materially greater volatility than those of OECD countries. Government supervision and regulation of many emerging markets and of quoted companies is also less developed than in many OECD countries. In addition, there may be a high measure of legal uncertainty concerning the rights and duties of market participants as compared to investments made through securities systems of established markets.
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The combination of price volatility and the less liquid nature of securities markets in emerging market countries may, in certain cases, affect the Funds ability to acquire or dispose of securities at the price and time it wishes to do so, and consequently may have an adverse impact on the investment performance of the Fund.
Information Standards: In addition to their smaller size, lesser liquidity and greater volatility, securities markets in emerging markets are less developed than the securities markets in the U.S. and Europe with respect to disclosure, reporting and regulatory standards are less publicly available information about the issuers of securities in these markets than is regularly published by issuers in the United States and Europe. Further, corporate laws regarding fiduciary responsibility and protection of stockholders may be considerably less developed than those in the United States and Europe. Issuers in emerging market countries may not be subject to the same accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards.
Custody Risk: In a limited number of markets, particularly in emerging economies, where a no failed trade policy is standard market practice, assets may be assigned, transferred, exchanged or delivered without the prior approval of the Depositary or its agent. Once a sale order is placed in relation to assets of the Fund, by virtue of the operation of the settlement system within those markets, those assets will automatically move from custody of the Depositary without the need for the prior approval of the Depositary. Where this occurs the consideration for those assets is remitted to the entity releasing the assets.
Currency Risk: the currencies in which investments are denominated may be unstable, may be subject to significant depreciation and may not be freely convertible.
Risks associated with Investments in the Peoples Republic of China (China)
Political and/or Regulatory Risk: The value of the Funds assets may be affected by political and regulatory uncertainties such as international and Chinese political developments and changes in governmental policies in areas including taxation, foreign investment, currency repatriation, currency fluctuation and foreign exchange control. In addition, there is a greater degree of governmental involvement in and control over the economy in mainland China than in more developed markets. The Chinese Government exerts considerable influence on the development of the Chinese stock market. From time to time, official measures may be taken that affect listed companies and their market prices in China and overseas. In addition, the fiscal and monetary system of China is underdeveloped relative to Western countries and this may affect the stability of the economy and its financial markets.
Legal and/or Accounting Risk: The legal system in mainland China is still in a developmental stage. Although a legal framework is in place to govern companies and the securities markets, the interpretation and enforcement of laws involve significant uncertainty. It should be noted that the legal infra-structure and accounting, auditing and reporting standards in China and other markets in which the Fund may invest may not provide the same degree of investor protection or information to investors as would generally apply in more developed countries. In particular, the laws governing insolvency and shareholder protection in mainland China are significantly less developed than in established jurisdictions.
Liquidity Risk: The substantially smaller size and lower trading volumes of the markets for Chinese equity and debt securities compared to equity and debt securities in companies on more developed securities markets may result in a potential lack of liquidity and increased volatility.
This may affect the price at which the Fund may liquidate positions to meet redemption requests or other funding requirements. In particular, investors should expect that investment in Chinese companies registered with the SSE and the SZSE may be highly volatile.
Market Risk: Investors should be aware of the risks associated with investing in emerging markets such as mainland China. The securities of companies in which the Fund may invest are exposed to the risks of high rates of inflation, high interest rates, currency depreciation and fluctuation and also changes in taxation legislation and interpretation that may affect the Funds income and the value of investments.
Many of the PRC economic reforms are unprecedented or experimental and are subject to adjustment and modification, and such adjustment and modification may not always have a positive effect on foreign investment.
PRC Tax: As a result of investing in securities of Chinese companies, the Fund may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by the PRC government. Under the prevailing PRC tax policy, there are certain tax incentives available to foreign investment. There can be no assurance, however, that the aforesaid tax incentives will not be abolished in the future.
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It is possible that the current tax laws, regulations and practice in the PRC will change, including the possibility of taxes being applied retrospectively, and that such changes may result in higher or lower taxation on PRC investments than currently contemplated.
Developmental State of the Chinese Stock Markets: China A shares are securities that are listed and traded on the SSE and/or the Shenzhen Stock Exchange and are denominated and traded in RMB. The Shenzhen and Shanghai stock markets were established in April 1991 and July 1991 respectively and should be regarded as developing stock markets. The Shanghai stock market may be subject to periods of high price volatility, illiquidity, settlement problems and changes in government policy or regulation.
The Chinese government has issued rules allowing qualified foreign institutional investors to invest in China A shares, government bonds, convertible bonds, corporate bonds that are listed on the stock exchanges in the PRC and other financial instruments approved by the China Securities Regulatory Commission. Due to regulatory restraints, the Fund is not currently permitted to invest in China A shares (other than via the Connect Scheme) but it may invest indirectly in the China A share market by purchasing equity-related instruments, participation notes and participatory certificates. Indirect investments in China A shares markets by purchasing equity-related instruments will usually be made in US Dollars and not in RMB. The Fund will be exposed to fluctuations in the exchange rate between U.S. Dollars and RMB.
Accuracy of Information: The quality and limited availability of official data published by the PRC government and government agencies and information on PRC businesses and industries are generally not equivalent to that of more developed countries. Given the inherent uncertainty of the source material, investors should be aware that the accuracy and completeness of statistical data and other factual statements relevant to the PRC contained herein, including information concerning actual and proposed macro-economic, fiscal, legal and other matters, cannot be guaranteed.
Currency Risk: The Net Asset Value per Share will be computed in US Dollars, whereas the Fund will invest some of its assets in securities denominated in RMB. The Net Asset Value of the Fund as expressed in US Dollars will fluctuate in accordance with the changes in the foreign exchange rate between the US Dollar and the RMB. It may not be possible or practicable to hedge against the consequent currency risk exposure and in most instances the Fund will not hedge against such risk. It is not the present intention of the Fund to hedge the currency exposure of the Fund but the Fund reserves the right to do so in the future if it is desirable or practicable.
Custody Risk in respect of Chinese Securities: The custodial and/or settlement systems of some of the Chinese markets or exchanges on which the Fund may invest may not be fully developed, and therefore the assets of the Fund which are traded in such markets and which have been entrusted to sub-custodians, in circumstances where the use of such sub-custodians is necessary, may be exposed to risks in circumstances whereby the Custodian will have no liability. Such risks include (but are not limited to): (a) a non-true delivery versus payment settlement; (b) a physical market, and as a consequence the circulation of forged securities; (c) poor information in regards to corporate actions; (d) registration process that impacts the availability of the securities; (e) lack of appropriate legal/fiscal infrastructure devices; and (f) lack of compensation/risk fund with the central depository.
As mentioned above, custodians or sub-custodians may be appointed in the Chinese market for the purpose of safekeeping assets in the market. The assets of the Fund may be exposed to custodial risk. For example, in case of the liquidation, bankruptcy or insolvency of a custodian or sub-custodian, the Fund may take a longer time to recover its assets. In circumstances such as the retroactive application of legislation of and fraud or improper registration of title, the Fund may even be unable to recover all of its assets. The costs borne by the Fund in investing and holding investments in such markets will be generally higher than in organized securities markets.
Risks associated with the Connect Scheme
The Fund may invest in China A shares via the Connect Scheme. The Connect Scheme is subject to quota limitations which may restrict the Funds ability to invest in China A shares through the Connect Scheme on a timely basis and as a result, the Funds ability to access the China A share market may be adversely affected.
Trading under the Connect Scheme is subject to the Daily Quota. The Daily Quota may change and consequently affect the number of permitted buy trades on the Northbound Trading Link. The Fund does not have exclusive use of the Daily Quota and such quota is utilized on a first come first served basis. Therefore, quota limitations may restrict the Funds ability to invest in or dispose of SSE Securities and SZSE Securities (together China Connect Securities) through the Connect Scheme on a timely basis.
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Clearing and Settlement Risk: The HKSCC and ChinaClear have established the clearing links and each becomes a participant of each other to facilitate clearing and settlement of cross-border trades. For cross-border trades initiated in a market, the clearing house of that market will on one hand clear and settle with its own clearing participants, and on the other hand undertake to fulfil the clearing and settlement obligations of its clearing participants with the counterparty clearing house.
The Funds rights and interests in China Connect Securities will be exercised through HKSCC exercising its rights as the nominee holder of China Connect Securities credited to HKSCCs omnibus account with ChinaClear. The relevant measures and rules in relation to the Connect Scheme generally provide for the concept of a nominee holder and recognize the investors including the Fund as the beneficial owners of China Connect Securities.
However, the precise nature and rights of an investor as the beneficial owner of China Connect Securities through HKSCC as nominee is less well defined under PRC law. There is lack of a clear definition of, and distinction between, legal ownership and beneficial ownership under PRC law. Therefore, the Funds assets held by HKSCC as nominee (via any relevant brokers or custodians accounts in CCASS) may not be as well protected as they would be if it were possible for them to be registered and held solely in the name of the Fund.
In the event of a default, insolvency or bankruptcy of a custodian or broker, the Fund may be delayed or prevented from recovering its assets from the custodian or broker, or its estate, and may have only a general unsecured claim against the custodian or broker for those assets.
In the remote event of any settlement default by HKSCC, and a failure by HKSCC to designate securities or sufficient securities in an amount equal to the default such that there is a shortfall of securities to settle any China Connect Securities trades, ChinaClear may deduct the amount of that shortfall from HKSCCs omnibus account with ChinaClear, such that the Fund may share in any such shortfall.
As previously discussed, HKSCC is the nominee holder of the China Connect Securities acquired by investors. As a result, in the remote event of a bankruptcy or liquidation of HKSCC, the China Connect Securities may not be regarded as the general assets of HKSCC under the laws of Hong Kong, and will not be available to the general creditors of HKSCC on its insolvency. In addition, as a Hong Kong incorporated company, any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings against HKSCC will be initiated in Hong Kong and be subject to Hong Kong law. In such circumstances, ChinaClear and the courts of mainland China will regard the liquidator of HKSCC appointed under Hong Kong law as the entity with the power to deal with the China Connect Securities in place of HKSCC.
Should the remote event of ChinaClear default occur and ChinaClear be declared as a defaulter, HKSCCs liabilities in Northbound trades under its market contracts with clearing participants will be limited to assisting clearing participants in pursuing their claims against ChinaClear. HKSCC will in good faith, seek recovery of the outstanding China Connect Securities and monies from ChinaClear through available legal channels or through ChinaClears liquidation. In that event, the Fund may suffer delay in the recovery process or may not be able to fully recover its losses from ChinaClear.
No Protection by Hong Kong Investor Compensation Fund: The Funds investments through the Connect Scheme will not be covered by Hong Kongs Investor Compensation Fund. Therefore, the Fund is exposed to the risks of default of the broker(s) it engages in its trading in China Connect Securities through the Connect Scheme.
Short Swing Profit Rule: According to the PRC Securities Law, a shareholder of 5% or more of the total issued shares of a PRC listed company (major shareholder) has to return any profits obtained from the purchase and sale of shares of such PRC listed company if both transactions occur within a six-month period. In the unlikely event that the Fund becomes a major shareholder of a PRC listed company by investing in China Connect Securities via the Connect Scheme, the profits that the Fund may derive from such investments may be limited, and thus the performance of the Fund may be adversely affected depending on the Funds size of investment in China Connect Securities through the Connect Scheme.
Participation in Corporate Actions and Shareholders Meetings: HKSCC will keep CCASS participants informed of corporate actions of China Connect Securities. Hong Kong and overseas investors (including the Fund) will need to comply with the arrangement and deadline specified by their respective brokers or custodians (i.e. CCASS participants). The time for them to take actions for some types of corporate actions of China Connect Securities may be as short as one business day only. Therefore, the Fund may not be able to participate in some corporate actions in a timely manner.
Hong Kong and overseas investors (including the Fund) may hold China Connect Securities traded via the Connect Scheme through their brokers or custodians. Where the appointment of proxy/multiple proxies by a shareholder is prohibited by the articles of association of the China Connect Securities, the Fund may not be able to appoint a proxy/multiple proxies to attend or participate in shareholders meetings in respect of China Connect Securities
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Regulatory Risk and Other China Specific Investment Requirements: Any investments of the Fund through the Connect Scheme will be subject to rules and regulations promulgated by regulatory authorities and implementation rules made by the stock exchanges in the PRC and Hong Kong as well as other regulations applicable to the Connect Scheme including but not limited to trading restrictions, disclosure requirements and foreign ownership limits. The Fund may also be impacted by the right to suspend Northbound Trading Link if necessary for ensuring an orderly and fair market and that risks are managed prudently.
Further, new regulations may be promulgated from time to time by the regulators in connection with operations and cross-border legal enforcement in connection with cross-border trades under the Connect Scheme, which may affect the Funds investments in China Connect Securities.
The rules and regulations, in connection with the Connect Scheme, including the taxation of transactions involving China Connect Securities (see the section entitled PRC Tax above), are subject to change which may have potential retrospective effect. There can be no assurance that the Connect Scheme will not be abolished. A fund investing in the PRC markets through the Connect Scheme may be adversely affected as a result of such changes.
Front-End Monitoring: PRC regulations require that before an investor sells any shares, there should be sufficient shares in the investors account; otherwise SSE or SZSE will reject the sell order concerned. SEHK will carry out pre-trade checking on China Connect Securities sell orders of its exchange participants (i.e. the stock brokers) to ensure there is no over-selling. If the Fund desires to sell China Connect Securities it holds, it will be required to transfer those China Connect Securities to the respective accounts of its brokers before the market opens on the day of selling (trading day) unless its brokers can otherwise confirm that the Fund has sufficient shares in its account. If it fails to meet this deadline, it will not be able to sell those shares on the trading day. Because of this requirement, the Fund may not be able to dispose of its holdings of China Connect Securities in a timely manner.
Alternatively, if the Fund maintains its China A shares with a custodian which is a custodian participant or general clearing participant participating in the CCASS, the Fund may request such custodian to open a special segregated account (SPSA) in CCASS to maintain its holdings in China A shares under the enhanced pre-trade checking model. Each SPSA will be assigned a unique Investor ID by CCASS for the purpose of facilitating the Connect Scheme system to verify the holdings of an investor such as the Fund. Provided that there is sufficient holding in the SPSA when a broker inputs the Funds sell order, the Fund will only need to transfer China A shares from its SPSA to its brokers account after execution and not before placing the sell order and the Fund will not be subject to the risk of being unable to dispose of its holdings of China A shares in a timely manner due to failure to transfer China A shares to its brokers in a timely manner.
Differences in Trading Day: The Connect Scheme only operates on days when both the PRC and the Hong Kong stock markets are open for trading and when banks in both markets are open on the corresponding settlement days. It is therefore possible that there are occasions when it is a normal trading day for the PRC stock markets but the Fund cannot carry out any trading of the China Connect Securities. The Fund may be subject to a risk of price fluctuations in China Connect Securities during the time when the Connect Scheme is not trading as a result.
Recalling of Eligible Stocks: When a stock is recalled from the scope of eligible stocks for trading via the Connect Scheme, the stock can only be sold but will be restricted from being bought. This may affect the investment portfolio or strategies of the Fund, for example, when the Fund wishes to purchase a stock which has been recalled from the scope of eligible stocks.
Risks associated with the Small and Medium Enterprise Board of the SZSE (SME Board) and/or the ChiNext Board: The Fund may invest in the SME Board and/or the ChiNext Board via the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect scheme. Investments in the SME board and/or ChiNext Board may result in significant losses for the Fund and its investors. The following additional risks apply:
Higher fluctuation on stock prices: Listed companies on the SME Board and/or ChiNext Board are usually of emerging nature with smaller operating scale. Hence, they are subject to higher fluctuation in stock prices and liquidity and have higher risks and turnover ratios than companies listed on the Main Board of the SZSE (Main Board).
Over-valuation risk: Stocks listed on SME Board and/or ChiNext Board may be overvalued and such exceptionally high valuation may not be sustainable. Stock price may be more susceptible to manipulation due to fewer circulating shares.
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Differences in regulation: The rules and regulations regarding companies listed on ChiNext Board are less stringent in terms of profitability and share capital than those in the Main Board and SME Board.
Delisting risk: It may be more common and faster for companies listed on the SME Board and/or ChiNext Board to delist. This may have an adverse impact on the Fund if the companies that it invests in are delisted.
Risks Associated with Investing in Smaller-Cap and Mid-Cap Companies. The prices of securities of smaller-cap and mid-cap companies tend to fluctuate more widely than those of larger, more established companies. Smaller-cap and mid-cap companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources or may depend on the expertise of a few people and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than securities of larger, more established companies or market averages in general. In addition, these companies often have shorter operating histories and are more reliant on key products or personnel than larger companies. The securities of smaller- or medium-sized companies are often traded over-the-counter, and may not be traded in volumes typical of securities traded on a national securities exchange. Securities of such issuers may lack sufficient market liquidity to effect sales at an advantageous time or without a substantial drop in price.
Derivative Instruments.
The use of Derivative Instruments for the Fund may expose the Fund to a number of specific risks, depending on the nature of the individual transaction, such as the following:
Correlation: Derivatives prices may be imperfectly correlated to the prices of the underlying securities, for example, because of transaction costs and interest rate movements. The prices of exchange traded derivatives may also be subject to changes in price due to supply and demand factors.
Loss of Favorable Performance: The use of derivatives to hedge or protect against market risk or to generate additional revenue by writing covered call options may reduce the opportunity to benefit from favorable market movements.
Counterparty exposure and legal risk: The use of OTC derivatives, such as forward contracts, swap agreements and contracts for differences, will expose the Fund to credit risk with respect to the counterparty involved and the risk that the legal documentation of the contract may not accurately reflect the intention of the parties.
Liquidity: Futures positions may be illiquid or difficult to close out because of limits imposed by the relevant exchange on daily price movements. The portfolio manager will only enter into OTC transactions with counterparties which are contractually obliged to close out a position on request.
Margin: The Fund will be obliged to pay margin deposits and option premiums to brokers in relation to futures and option contracts entered into for the Fund. While exchange traded contracts are generally guaranteed by the relevant exchange, the Fund may still be exposed to the fraud or insolvency of the broker through which the transaction is undertaken. The portfolio manager will seek to minimize this risk by trading only through high quality names.
Market risk: When the portfolio manager purchases a security or an option, the risk of the Fund is limited to the loss of its investment. In the case of a transaction involving futures, forwards, swaps, contracts for differences or writing options, the Funds liability may be potentially unlimited until the position is closed.
Currency Hedging: Currency hedging, which may be undertaken using derivatives, may protect the Fund from adverse currency movements, but may also release or eliminate the benefit of favorable currency movements. These can also be no guarantee that a decision to hedge any currency exposure will be effective or that the portfolio manager will exercise its discretion to hedge any particular currency exposure. In addition, it may be difficult to effectively hedge exposures in certain currencies either at a reasonable cost or on a practical basis.
Conflicts of Interest: Conflicts of interest may arise as a result of the Funds trading with counterparties. Such parties may obtain information regarding the Funds activities and strategies that could be used by such third parties to the detriment of the Fund.
Tax Risk: The Funds use of derivatives may be subject to one or more special tax rules and could generate additional taxable income for shareholders.
Risks Associated with Investing in Non-U.S. Securities. Since the Fund principally invests in non-U.S. securities, the Fund will be subject to risks not typically associated with domestic securities. Non-U.S. investments involve special risks not present in U.S. investments that can increase the chances that the Fund will lose money.
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Certain of the risks noted below may also apply to securities of U.S. issuers with significant non-U.S. operations. Investments in non-U.S. securities involve the following risks:
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The economies of some non-U.S. markets often do not compare favorably with that of the U.S. in areas such as growth of gross domestic product, reinvestment of capital, resources, and balance of payments. Some of these economies may rely heavily on particular industries or non-U.S. capital. They may be more vulnerable to adverse diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against a country, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. |
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Governmental actionssuch as the imposition of capital controls, nationalization of companies or industries, expropriation of assets or the imposition of punitive taxesmay adversely affect investments in non-U.S. markets. Such governments may also participate to a significant degree, through ownership or regulation, in their respective economies. |
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The governments of certain countries may prohibit or substantially restrict foreign investing in their capital markets or in certain industries. This could severely affect security prices. This could also impair the Funds ability to purchase or sell non-U.S. securities or transfer its assets or income back to the U.S. or otherwise adversely affect the Funds operations. |
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Other non-U.S. market risks include foreign exchange controls, difficulties in pricing securities, defaults on non-U.S. government securities, difficulties in enforcing favorable legal judgments in non-U.S. courts, and political and social instability. Legal remedies available to investors in some non-U.S. countries are less extensive than those available to investors in the U.S. Many non-U.S. governments supervise and regulate stock exchanges, brokers and the sale of securities to a lesser extent than the U.S. government does. Corporate governance may not be as robust as in more developed countries. As a result, protections for minority investors may not be strong, which could adversely affect the Funds non-U.S. holdings or exposures. |
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Accounting standards in other countries are not necessarily the same as in the U.S. If the accounting standards in another country do not require as much disclosure or detail as U.S. accounting standards, it may be harder for the portfolio managers to completely and accurately determine a companys financial condition or otherwise assess a companys creditworthiness. |
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Because there may be fewer investors on non-U.S. exchanges and smaller numbers of shares traded each day, it may be difficult for the Fund to buy and sell securities on those exchanges. In addition, prices of non-U.S. securities may be more volatile than prices of securities traded in the U.S. |
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Non-U.S. markets may have different clearance and settlement procedures. In certain markets, settlements may not keep pace with the volume of securities transactions. If this occurs, settlement may be delayed, and the Funds assets may be uninvested and may not be earning returns. The Fund also may miss investment opportunities or not be able to sell an investment or reduce its exposure because of these delays. |
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Changes in currency exchange rates will affect the value of the Funds non-U.S. holdings or exposures. |
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The costs of non-U.S. securities transactions tend to be higher than those of U.S. transactions, increasing the transaction costs paid directly or indirectly by the Fund. |
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International trade barriers or economic sanctions against non-U.S. countries may adversely affect the Funds non-U.S. holdings or exposures. |
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Global economies are increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact a different country, region or financial market. |
The severity or duration of these conditions may be affected if one or more countries leave the European Union, the euro currency or if other policy changes are made by governments or quasi-governmental organizations.
The Fund may invest in depositary receipts, including American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), European Depositary Receipts (EDRs), Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) and Global Depositary Notes (GDNs), which are certificates evidencing ownership of securities of a non-U.S. issuer. Depositary receipts may be sponsored by the non-U.S. issuer or unsponsored. Depositary receipts are subject to the risks of changes in currency or exchange rates and the risks of investing
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in non-U.S. securities that they evidence or into which they may be converted. The issuers of unsponsored depositary receipts are not obligated to disclose information that would be considered material in the U.S., or to pass through to shareholders any voting rights with respect to the deposited securities. Therefore, there may be less information available regarding these issuers, and there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the depositary receipts.
Market Risk. The market price of investments owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. Fund investments may decline in value due to factors affecting the overall markets, or particular industries or sectors. The value of a holding may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular issuer, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for an issuers financial condition, changes in interest or currency rates, domestic or international monetary policy or adverse investor sentiment generally. The value of a holding may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as competitive conditions within an industry or government regulations. The Fund may experience heavy redemptions, which could cause the Fund to liquidate its assets at inopportune times or at a loss or depressed value, which could cause the value of an investment in the Fund to unexpectedly decline. In addition, the Fund may rely on various third-party sources to calculate its net asset value. Errors or systems failures and other technological issues may adversely impact the Funds calculation of its net asset value, and such net asset value calculation issues may result in inaccurately calculated net asset values, delays in net asset value calculation and/or the inability to calculate net asset values over extended periods. The Fund may be unable to recover any losses associated with such failures.
Equity Securities Risk. Equity securities represent an ownership interest, or the right to acquire an ownership interest, in an issuer. Equity securities may take the form of shares of common stock of a corporation, membership interests in a limited liability company, limited partnership interests, or other forms of ownership interests. Equity securities also include, among other things, preferred stocks, convertible securities and warrants. The value of a companys equity securities may fall as a result of factors directly relating to that company, such as decisions made by its management or lower demand for the companys products or services. The value of an equity security may also fall because of factors affecting not just the company, but also companies in the same industry or in a number of different industries, such as increases in production costs. The value of a companys equity securities may also be affected by changes in financial markets that are relatively unrelated to the company or its industry, such as changes in interest rates or currency exchange rates or adverse circumstances involving the credit markets. In addition, because a companys equity securities rank junior in priority to the interests of bond holders and other creditors, a companys equity securities will usually react more strongly than its bonds and other debt to actual or perceived changes in the companys financial condition or prospects. To the extent the Fund invests in equity-related instruments it will also be subject to these risks.
The Fund may invest in equity securities of companies that the portfolio manager believes will experience relatively rapid earnings growth (growth securities) or that the portfolio manager believes are selling at a price lower than their true value (value securities). Growth securities typically trade at higher multiples of current earnings than other securities. Therefore, the value of growth securities may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the value of other securities. Companies that issue value securities may have experienced adverse business developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused their securities to be out of favor. If the portfolio managers assessment of a companys prospects is wrong, or if the market does not recognize the value of the company, the price of its securities may decline or may not approach the value that the portfolio manager anticipates.
Counterparty and Third-Party Risk. Transactions involving a counterparty to a derivative or other instrument or transaction (e.g., repurchase agreement or securities loan), or a third party responsible for servicing the instrument or transaction, are subject to the credit risk of the counterparty or third party, and to the counterpartys or third partys ability to perform in accordance with the terms of the transaction. This is the risk that the issuer, guarantor, counterparty or third party to a particular instrument, investment or transaction becomes unable or unwilling to make timely principal, interest, or settlement payments or otherwise to honor its obligations. This risk is particularly acute in environments (like those experienced recently) in which financial services firms are exposed to systemic risks.
If a counterparty defaults, the Fund may have contractual remedies, but the Fund may be unable to enforce them. The obligations of counterparties are subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors. If a counterparty defaults, the Fund may have to participate in legal proceedings involving the counterparty. This could increase the Funds operating expenses and decrease its net asset value. If a counterpartys obligation to the Fund is not collateralized, then the Fund is essentially an unsecured creditor of the counterparty. Counterparty risk is still present even if a counterpartys obligations are secured by collateral because, for example, the Funds interest in collateral may not be perfected or additional collateral may not be promptly posted as required.
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The Fund is also subject to counterparty risk to the extent it executes a significant portion of its securities transactions through a single broker, dealer, or counterparty to a derivatives transaction, such as a futures commission merchant. If the broker, dealer or other counterparty fails to meet its contractual obligations, goes bankrupt, or otherwise experiences a business interruption, the Fund could miss investment opportunities or be unable to dispose of investments it would prefer to sell at favorable times or prices, resulting in losses for the Fund.
Derivatives transactions, especially over-the-counter derivatives, involve significant counterparty risk. Those derivative instruments involving high amounts of counterparty risk, include, among others, swaps (including interest rate swaps, total return swaps and credit default swaps), structured notes, forward currency contracts, and over-the-counter options contracts.
Currency Risk. The Funds shares are priced (purchased and redeemed) in U.S. dollars and the distributions paid by the Fund are paid in U.S. dollars. However, a substantial portion of the Funds assets may be denominated in foreign (non-U.S.) currencies and income received by the Fund from many of its investments may be paid in foreign currencies. Foreign currencies may decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar and adversely affect the value of the Funds investments in foreign currencies, securities denominated in foreign currencies, derivatives that provide exposure to foreign currencies, and the Funds income available for distribution. The values of foreign currencies, securities denominated in foreign currencies or derivatives that provide exposure to foreign currencies may be adversely affected by currency exchange rates, currency exchange control regulations, foreign withholding or other taxes, restrictions or prohibitions on the repatriation of foreign currencies, changes in supply and demand in the currency exchange markets, actual or perceived changes in interest rates, intervention (or the failure to intervene) by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks, or supranational agencies such as the International Monetary Fund, and currency controls or other political and economic developments in the U.S. or abroad. The local emerging market currencies in which the Fund may be invested from time to time may experience substantially greater volatility against the U.S. dollar than the major convertible currencies of developed countries. To the extent the Fund has invested in debt instruments of companies located or doing business in foreign markets and that have issued debt instruments denominated in U.S. dollars or another non-local currency, fluctuations in currency exchange rates could also negatively impact such investments. For example, increases in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to its value at the time the debt was issued can increase the costs of interest and repayment to the issuer and could result in defaults on an issuers debt obligations.
Officials in foreign countries may from time to time take actions in respect of their currencies which could significantly affect the value of the Funds assets denominated in those currencies or the liquidity of such investments. For example, a foreign government may unilaterally devalue its currency against other currencies, which would typically have the effect of reducing the U.S. dollar value of investments denominated in that currency. A foreign government may also limit the convertibility or repatriation of its currency or assets denominated in its currency, which would adversely affect the U.S. dollar value and liquidity of investments denominated in that currency. In addition, although at times most of the Funds income may be received or realized in these currencies, the Fund will be required to compute and distribute its income in U.S. dollars. As a result, if the exchange rate for any such currency declines after the Funds income has been earned and translated into U.S. dollars but before payment to shareholders, the Fund could be required to liquidate portfolio securities to make such distributions. Similarly, if the Fund incurs an expense in U.S. dollars and the exchange rate declines before the expense is paid, the Fund would have to convert a greater amount to U.S. dollars to pay for the expense at that time than it would have had to convert at the time the Fund incurred the expense.
Some of the local currencies in which the Fund may invest are neither freely convertible into one of the major currencies nor internationally traded. The local currencies may be convertible into other currencies only inside the relevant emerging market where the limited availability of such other currencies may tend to inflate their values relative to the local currency in question. Such internal exchange markets can therefore be said to be neither liquid nor competitive. In addition, many of the currencies of Emerging Markets in which the Fund may invest have experienced steady devaluation relative to freely convertible currencies.
The portfolio manager may, but is not required to, attempt to mitigate (or hedge) the risks associated with currency fluctuations by entering into forward, futures and options or other contracts to purchase or sell the currency of denomination of any investment held by the Fund and any other currencies held by the Fund. Such contracts may not be available on favorable terms or in all of the currencies in which the Fund may invest from time to time. In the case of hedging positions, currency risk includes the risk that the currency to which the Fund has obtained exposure declines in value relative to the foreign currency being hedged. In such event, the Fund may realize a loss on the hedging.
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Valuation Risk. Certain securities and instruments may be difficult to value, and to the extent the Fund sells a security or instrument at a price lower than that used to value the security, the Funds net asset value will be adversely affected. A portion of the Funds assets may be valued by the portfolio manager at fair value pursuant to guidelines established by the Board of Trustees. The Funds assets may be valued using prices provided by a pricing service or, alternatively, a broker-dealer or other market intermediary (sometimes just one broker-dealer or other market intermediary) when other reliable pricing sources may not be available. To the extent the Fund relies on a pricing service to value some or all of its portfolio securities, it is possible that the pricing information provided by the service will not reflect the actual price the Fund would receive upon sale of a security. When the Fund invests in other mutual funds or investment pools, it will generally value its investments in those funds or pools based on the valuations determined by the funds or pools, which may not be precisely the same as if the net assets of the funds or pools had been valued using the procedures employed by the Fund to value its own assets. Valuation risks may be heightened to the extent that the Fund invests in high yield securities, illiquid securities and derivative instruments because there may be less liquid markets for these instruments or market quotations may not be readily available for them.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS NON-PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
Cyber Security Risk. The Fund and its service providers are susceptible to operational and information security and related risks of cyber security incidents. In general, cyber incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. Cyber security attacks include, but are not limited to, gaining unauthorized access to digital systems (e.g., through hacking or malicious software coding) for purposes of misappropriating assets or sensitive information, corrupting data or causing operational disruption. Cyber-attacks also may be carried out in a manner that does not require gaining unauthorized access, such as causing denial-of-service attacks on websites (i.e., efforts to make services unavailable to intended users). Cyber security incidents affecting the Fund, Manager, Custodian or Administrator or other service providers such as financial intermediaries have the ability to cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, including by interference with the Funds ability to calculate its NAV; impediments to trading for the Funds portfolio; the inability of Shareholders to transact business with the Fund; violations of applicable privacy, data security or other laws; regulatory fines and penalties; reputational damage; reimbursement or other compensation or remediation costs; legal fees; or additional compliance costs. Similar adverse consequences could result from cyber security incidents affecting issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, counterparties with which the Fund engages in transactions, governmental and other regulatory authorities, exchange and other financial market operators, banks, brokers, dealers, insurance companies and other financial institutions and other parties. While information risk management systems and business continuity plans have been developed which are designed to reduce the risks associated with cyber security, there are inherent limitations in any cyber security risk management systems or business continuity plans, including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified.
Risks Associated with Collateral Management. Where the Fund enters into an OTC derivative contract or a securities financing transaction, it may be required to pass collateral to the relevant counterparty or broker. Collateral that the Fund posts to a counterparty or a broker that is not segregated with a third-party custodian may not have the benefit of customer-protected segregation of such assets. Therefore in the event of the insolvency of a counterparty or a broker, the Fund may become subject to the risk that it may not receive the return of its collateral or that the collateral may take some time to be returned if the collateral becomes available to the creditors of the relevant counterparty or broker. In addition, the Fund is subject to the risk that it will be unable to liquidate collateral provided to it to cover the costs incurred as a result of the counterparty default. The Fund is also subject to the risk of loss resulting from inadequate or failed internal processes, people and systems or from external events.
Where cash collateral received by the Fund is re-invested, the Fund will be exposed to the risk of a failure or default of the issuer of the relevant security in which the cash collateral has been invested.
Where collateral is posted to a counterparty or broker by way of a title transfer collateral arrangement or where the Fund grants a right of re-use under a security collateral arrangement which is subsequently exercised by the counterparty, the Fund will only have an unsecured contractual claim for the return of equivalent assets. In the event of the insolvency of a counterparty, the Fund shall rank as an unsecured creditor and may not receive equivalent assets or recover the full value of the assets. Investors should assume that the insolvency of any counterparty would result in a loss to the Fund, which could be material. In addition, assets subject to a right of re-use by a counterparty may form part of a complex chain of transactions over which the Fund or its delegates will not have any visibility or control.
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Because the passing of collateral is effected through the use of standard contracts, the Fund may be exposed to legal risks such as the contact may not accurately reflect the intentions of the parties or the contract may not be enforceable against the counterparty in its jurisdiction of incorporation.
Because of these and other risks, you could lose money by investing in the Fund. For more information about the Fund and its investments, please see the Funds Statement of Additional Information (SAI).
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
A description of the Funds policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Funds portfolio securities is available in the Funds SAI. For instructions on how to obtain the SAI, please refer to the back cover of this prospectus. [Portfolio holdings information can be reviewed online at [website].]
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees of the Datum One Series Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the Trust), of which the Fund is a separate series, has responsibility for the general oversight of the management of the Fund, including the general supervision of the Manager and the Funds other service providers. The Board of Trustees is not involved in the day-to-day management of the Trust. A list of the Trustees and the Trusts officers, and their present positions and principal occupations, is provided in the SAI.
Investment Manager
Polar Capital LLP is the Funds investment manager and has served as the Funds investment manager since its inception. The Manager manages assets of approximately $18.5bn as of December 31, 2019 and serves as the investment manager for seven investment companies, including Polar Capital Funds plc, Polar Capital Technology Trust plc, Polar Capital Global Healthcare Trust plc, Polar Capital Global Financials Trust plc and Polar Capital European Forager Fund Ltd. The Manager is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom and is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The Manager is headquartered at 16 Palace Street, London, SW1E 5JD, United Kingdom. The portfolio managers, who are affiliated with the Manager, select investments for the Fund.
Portfolio Manager
The individual manager at Polar Capital LLP with prime responsibility for the Fund is Jorry Rask Nøddekær.
Mr. Nøddekær joined Polar Capital in June 2018. Prior to joining Polar Capital, he worked at various firms including Nordea Investment Management, Danske Capital, F&C Investment Management, New Star Asset Management and BankInvest Asset Management. Jorry studied at Aarhus University in Denmark where he gained an MSc in Economics and Finance.
The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, and the portfolio managers ownership of shares of the Fund.
INVESTING WITH THE FUND
Management Fees
The Manager receives an annual fee for its services to the Fund. The fee is payable in monthly installments based on the average daily net assets of the Fund.
The Manager is responsible for all of its own costs, including costs of the personnel required to carry out its duties.
The following table shows the management fee rate to be paid by the Fund as a percentage of the Funds average daily net assets.
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Management Fee Rate
Polar Capital Emerging Market Stars Fund | 1.00% |
For information regarding the basis for the Boards approval of the investment advisory relationship of the Fund, please refer to the Funds [semi-]annual shareholder report to be dated [_____, 2020].
Expense Limitations and Waivers
The Manager has contractually agreed to waive its fees or reimburse the Fund for certain other expenses (including, but not limited to, organizational and offering costs), to the extent that the Funds Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (exclusive of brokerage costs, interest, taxes, dividends, litigation and indemnification expenses, expenses associated with the investments in underlying investment companies and extraordinary expenses (as determined under generally accepted principles)) exceed 1.00% of the Funds average daily net assets. Under the Expense Limitation Agreement, the Manager may recoup any amounts waived or reimbursed within the three fiscal years following the fiscal year in which the expenses occurred, provided total expenses, including such recoupment, do not exceed the applicable annual expense limit, and further that prior expenses may be recouped only if and to the extent that the expense ratio at the time of such recoupment is less than the annual expense limit in place during the prior fiscal year when such prior years expenses were waived or reimbursed. The contractual expense limitation arrangement is expected to continue until at least [March 31, 2022]. The arrangement may be terminated by the Trust, subject to approval by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, upon [ninety (90)] days written notice to the Manager. The expense limitation arrangement may be terminated before [March 31, 2022] only by the Board of Trustees.
Administrator, Distributor, Transfer Agent and Custodian
The Northern Trust Company, 50 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603, serves as the Funds Administrator and Fund Accounting Agent, Transfer Agent, and Custodian. Foreside Fund Officer Services, LLC, 690 Taylor Road, Suite 210, Gahanna, Ohio 43230, provides compliance services and financial controls services to the Fund.
Foreside Financial Services, LLC (the Distributor), 3 Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101 is the principal underwriter and distributor of the Fund. It is a Delaware limited liability company [ADD relevant information re: parent]. See Principal Underwriter in the SAI. The Distributor is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA). To obtain information about FINRA member firms and their associated persons, you may contact FINRA at www.finra.org or the Public Disclosure Hotline at 800-289-9999.
Contractual Arrangements
The Trust enters into contractual arrangements with various service providers, which may include, among others, investment advisers, distributors, custodians, transfer agents, shareholder service providers and accountants, who provide services to the Fund. Shareholders are not parties to any such contractual arrangements and are not intended (third party) beneficiaries of those contractual arrangements. The Trusts and the Funds contractual arrangements are not intended to create any shareholder rights to enforce such contracts directly against the service providers or to seek any remedy under those contracts against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the Fund.
This prospectus has been designed to meet the regulatory purpose of providing information concerning the Trust and the Fund that you should consider carefully in determining whether to purchase shares of the Fund. Neither this prospectus, the SAI, nor the Funds registration statement, is intended, or should be read, to be or to give rise to an agreement or contract between the Trust or the Fund and any shareholder, or to give rise to any rights in any shareholder or other person other than any rights under federal or state law that may not be waived. This paragraph is not intended to limit any rights granted to shareholders under federal or state securities laws.
The Fund is open for business every day the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) opens for regular trading (each such day, a Business Day). When you buy and sell shares of the Fund, the price of the shares is based on the Funds net asset value (NAV) per share next determined after the order is received.
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SHARES
Calculating the Funds Net Asset Value (NAV)
The NAV per share of the Funds shares is determined by dividing the total value of the Funds portfolio investments and other assets, less any liabilities, by the total number of shares outstanding of the Fund. The NAV per share is calculated at the close of trading of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time (ET)/3:00 p.m. Central time (CT), on each day that the NYSE is open for business.
The Fund reserves the right to change the time its NAV is calculated under certain unusual circumstances, including, for example, in the event of an unscheduled halt or early close of trading on the NYSE. Your order to purchase or sell shares is priced at the next NAV calculated after your order is received in good order by the Fund or a financial intermediary. Only purchase orders received in good order by the Fund before 4:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. CT will be effective at that days NAV. On occasion, the NYSE will close before 4:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. CT. When that happens, purchase requests received by the Fund or a financial intermediary after the NYSE closes will be effective the following business day. The NAV of the Fund may change every day.
A purchase or redemption is considered to be in good order when all necessary information is provided and all required documents are properly completed, signed, and delivered. Requests must include the following:
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The account number (if issued) and Fund name; |
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The amount of the transaction, in dollar amount or number of shares; |
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For redemptions and exchanges (other than online, telephone or wire redemptions), the signature of all account owners exactly as they are registered on the account; |
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Required signature guarantees, if applicable; and |
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Other supporting legal documents and certified resolutions that might be required in the case of estates, corporations, trusts and other entities or forms of ownership. [Call [phone number] (toll free)] for more information about documentation that may be required of these entities. |
Additionally, a purchase order initiating the opening of an account is not considered to be in good order unless you have provided all information required by the Funds Customer Identification Program as described below.
Valuing the Funds Assets
The market value of the Funds investments is determined primarily on the basis of readily available market quotations. The Fund generally uses pricing services to determine the market value of securities. Foreign securities, currencies and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate of such currencies against the U.S. Dollar as provided by an independent pricing service approved by the Board of Trustees.
If market quotations for a security are not readily available or market quotations or a price provided by a pricing service do not reflect fair value, or if an event occurs after the close of trading on the domestic or foreign exchange or market on which the security is principally traded (but prior to the time the NAV is calculated) that materially affects fair value, the Fair Value Committee, established by the Board of Trustees, will value the Funds assets at their fair value according to policies approved by the Board of Trustees.
Other fair value situations could include, but are not limited to: (1) extremely illiquid securities in which there is no trading market and no broker coverage; (2) stale priced securities; (3) securities that may be defaulted or de-listed from an exchange and are no longer trading; or (4) any other security in which the Manager or Fair Value Committee identify that the current price may not be reliable. If it has been determined that a fair value situation has taken place, the Fair Value Committee will make a determination of the fair price for the impacted securities according to policies approved by the Board.
Without a fair value price, short-term investors could take advantage of the arbitrage opportunity and dilute the NAV of long-term investors. Foreign markets in which the Fund buys securities may be open on days the U.S. markets are closed, causing the Funds NAV to change even though the Fund is closed. While fair valuation of the Funds portfolio securities can serve to reduce arbitrage opportunities, there is no assurance that fair value pricing policies will prevent dilution of the NAV by short-term investors. Fair valuation involves subjective judgments, and it is possible that the fair value determined for a security may differ materially from the value that could be realized upon the sale of the security.
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HOW TO BUY SHARES
You may purchase shares directly from the Fund or through your broker or financial intermediary on any business day the Fund is open, subject to certain restrictions described below. Generally, the Fund does not accept purchase orders from foreign investors; however, the Fund reserves the ability to change this practice without prior notice. The Fund may accept or reject any purchase order. Your financial consultant, financial intermediary, or institution may charge a fee for its services, in addition to the fees charged by the Fund.
Investors may purchase Fund shares by written request, check, wire, ACH (Automated Clearing House), telephone, or through dealers as further described in this prospectus. You may conduct transactions by mail ([ADDRESS]), by wire, or by telephone at [PHONE NUMBER]. Purchases and redemptions by telephone are only permitted if you previously established this option in your account. You can use the Account Application for initial purchases.
Investors can purchase shares by contacting any investment dealer authorized to sell the Funds shares. The minimum initial investment is $1,000,000. There is no minimum for subsequent investments. All purchases made by check should be in U.S. dollars and made payable to[_____]. Third party, starter or counter checks will not be accepted. A charge may be imposed if a check does not clear. The Fund reserves the right to waive or lower purchase and investment minimums in certain circumstances. For example, the minimums listed above may be waived or lowered for (i) investors who are customers of certain financial intermediaries that hold the Funds shares in certain omnibus accounts, (ii) current and former Trustees of the Trust; and (iv) officers, directors and employees of the Trust, the Investment Manager and the Investment Managers affiliates, in each case at the discretion of the officers of the Fund. In addition, financial intermediaries may impose their own minimum investment and subsequent purchase amounts.
Subsequent investments can be made directly to [_____].
Purchase requests received in good order by the Fund or a financial intermediary before 4:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. CT (or before the NYSE closes, if it closes before 4:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. CT) will be effective at that days share price. Purchase requests received by the Fund in good order or a financial intermediary after the close of trading on the NYSE are processed at the share price determined on the following business day. You may invest any amount you choose, as often as you wish, subject to the minimum initial and minimum additional investment as stated above. The Fund reserves the right to waive the initial investment minimum.
Customer Identification Program: Important Information About Procedures for Opening an Account
Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. When you open an account, we will ask for your name, residential address, date of birth, government identification number and other information that will allow us to identify you. For legal entity customers, we will also ask that any individual(s) who, directly or indirectly, owns 25% or more of the entity and one individual who has significant responsibility to control, manage, or direct the legal entity be identified. We also may ask to see your drivers license or other identifying documents.
If we do not receive the required information, there may be a delay in processing your investment request, which could subject your investment to market risk. If we are unable to immediately verify your identity, the Fund may restrict further investment until your identity is verified. However, if we are unable to verify your identity, the Fund reserves the right to close your account without notice and return your investment to you at the NAV determined on the day in which your account is liquidated. If we close your account because we are unable to verify your identity, your investment will be subject to market fluctuation, which could result in a loss of a portion of your principal investment. If your account is closed at the request of governmental or law enforcement authorities, the Fund may be required by the authorities to withhold the proceeds.
Purchases Through Financial Intermediaries
You may make initial and subsequent purchases of shares of the Fund through a financial intermediary, such as an investment adviser or broker-dealer, bank or other financial institution that purchases shares for its customers. The Fund may authorize certain financial intermediaries to receive purchase and sale orders on its behalf. Before investing in the Fund through a financial intermediary, you should read carefully any materials provided by the intermediary together with this prospectus.
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When shares are purchased this way, the financial intermediary may:
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charge a fee for its services; |
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act as the shareholder of record of the shares; |
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set different minimum initial and additional investment requirements; |
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impose other charges, commissions or restrictions; |
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designate intermediaries to accept purchase and sale orders on the Funds behalf; or |
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impose an earlier cut-off time for purchase and redemption requests. |
The Fund considers a purchase or sale order as received when a financial intermediary receives the order in proper form before 4:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. CT. These orders will be priced based on the Funds NAV next computed after such order is received by the financial intermediary.
Shares held through an intermediary may be transferred into your name following procedures established by your intermediary and the Fund. Certain intermediaries may receive compensation from the Fund, the Manager, or their affiliates.
Fund Direct Purchases
You also may open a shareholder account directly with the Fund. You can obtain a copy of the New Account Application by calling the Fund at [PHONE] on days the Fund is open for business. You may invest in the following ways:
By Wire
To Open a New Account:
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Complete a New Account Application and send it to: |
Polar Capital Emerging Market Stars Fund
c/o The Northern Trust Company
P.O. Box 4766 Chicago,
Illinois 60680-4766
Overnight Address:
Polar Capital Emerging Market Stars Fund
c/o The Northern Trust Company
333 S. Wabash Avenue
Attn: Funds Center, Floor 38
Chicago, IL 60604
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[You must also call [NUMBER] (toll free) on days the Fund is open for business to place an initial purchase via phone or provide an initial purchase Letter of Instruction.] |
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Wire funds for your purchase. A wire will be considered made when the money is received and the purchase is accepted by the Fund. Any delays that may occur in receiving money, including delays that may occur in processing by the bank, are not the responsibility of the Fund or the Transfer Agent. Wires must be received prior to 4:00pm ET to receive the current days NAV. |
To Add to an Existing Account:
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Call [NUMBER] (toll free) on days the Fund is open for business or provide a subsequent purchase Letter of Instruction. |
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Have your bank wire federal funds or an ACH transfer to: |
The Northern Trust Company
Chicago, Illinois
ABA Routing No. 0710-00152
Northern Trust Account #5201682700
Shareholder Account # (ex. AIT10541234567)
Shareholder Name:
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By Directed Reinvestment
Your dividend and capital gain distributions will be automatically reinvested unless you indicate otherwise on your application.
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Complete the Choose Your Dividend and Capital Gain Distributions section on the New Account Application. |
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Reinvestments can only be directed to an existing Fund account. |
Other Purchase Information
The Fund reserves the right to limit the amount of purchases and to refuse to sell to any person or intermediary. If your wire does not clear, you will be responsible for any loss incurred by the Fund. If you are already a Fund shareholder, the Fund reserves the right to redeem shares from any identically registered account in the Fund as reimbursement for any loss incurred or money owed to the Fund. You also may be prohibited or restricted from making future purchases in the Fund.
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES
You may redeem all or part of your investment in the Fund on any day that the Fund is open for business, subject to certain restrictions described below. Redemption requests received by the Fund or a financial intermediary before 4:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. CT (or before the NYSE closes if it closes before 4:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. CT) will be effective that day. Redemption requests received by the Fund or a financial intermediary after the close of trading on the NYSE are processed at the NAV determined on the following business day.
The price you will receive when you redeem your shares will be the NAV next determined after the Fund receives your properly completed order to sell. You may receive proceeds from the sale by check, bank wire transfer or direct deposit into your bank account and in certain cases, payment may be made in securities of the Fund as described in [Additional Information About Redemptions.] The proceeds may be more or less than the purchase price of your shares, depending on the market value of the Funds securities at the time your redemption request is received. A financial intermediary may charge a transaction fee to redeem shares. In the event that a wire transfer is impossible or impractical, the redemption check will be sent by mail to the designated account.
Redemptions Through a Financial Intermediary
If you purchased shares from a financial intermediary, you may sell (redeem) shares by contacting your financial intermediary.
Redeeming Directly from the Fund
If you purchased shares directly from the Fund and you appear on Fund records as the registered holder, you may redeem all or part of your shares using one of the methods described below.
By Mail
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Send a written request to: |
Polar Capital Emerging Market Stars Fund
c/o The Northern Trust Company
P.O. Box 4766
Chicago, Illinois 60680-4766
Overnight Address:
Polar Capital Emerging Market Stars Fund
c/o The Northern Trust Company
333 S. Wabash Avenue
Attn: Funds Center, Floor 38
Chicago, IL 60604
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The redemption request must include: |
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The number of shares or the dollar amount to be redeemed; |
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The Fund account number; and |
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The signatures of all account owners signed in the exact name(s) and any special capacity in which they are registered. |
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A Medallion Signature Guarantee (see below) also is required if: |
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The proceeds are to be sent elsewhere than the address of record, or |
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The redemption is requested in writing and the amount is greater than $100,000. |
By Wire
If you authorized wire redemptions on your New Account Application, you can redeem shares and have the proceeds sent by federal wire transfer to a previously designated account.
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Call the Transfer Agent at [PHONE] (toll free) for instructions. |
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The minimum amount that may be redeemed by this method is $250. |
By Telephone
Telephone privileges are automatically established on your account unless you indicate otherwise on your New Account Application.
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Call [PHONE] (toll free) to use the telephone privilege. |
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If your account is already opened and you wish to add the telephone privilege, send a written request to: |
Polar Capital Emerging Market Stars Fund
c/o The Northern Trust Company
P.O. Box 4766
Chicago, Illinois 60680-4766
Overnight Address:
Polar Capital Emerging Market Stars Fund
c/o The Northern Trust Company
333 S. Wabash Avenue
Attn: Funds Center, Floor 38
Chicago, IL 60604
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The written request to add the telephone privilege must be signed by each owner of the account and must be accompanied by signature guarantees. |
Neither the Fund, the Transfer Agent, nor their respective affiliates will be liable for complying with telephone instructions that they reasonably believe to be genuine or for any loss, damage, cost, or expenses in acting on such telephone instructions. You will bear the risk of any such loss. The Fund, the Transfer Agent, or both, will employ reasonable procedures to determine that telephone instructions are genuine. If the Fund and/or the Transfer Agent do not employ such procedures, they may be liable for losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. Such procedures may include, among others, requiring forms of personal identification before acting upon telephone instructions, providing written confirmation of the transactions, and/or digitally recording telephone instructions. The Fund may terminate the telephone procedures at any time. During periods of extreme market activity it is possible that you may encounter some difficulty in telephoning us. If you are unable to reach us by telephone, you may request a sale by mail.
Medallion Signature Guarantee
Some circumstances require that your request to redeem shares be made in writing accompanied by an original Medallion Signature Guarantee. A Medallion Signature Guarantee helps protect you against fraud. You can obtain a Medallion Signature Guarantee from most banks or securities dealers, but not from a notary public. You should verify with the institution that it is an eligible guarantor prior to signing. The recognized medallion program is Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program. SIGNATURE GUARANTEES RECEIVED FROM INSTITUTIONS NOT PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROGRAM WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. The Medallion Signature Guarantee must cover the amount of the requested transaction. There are several different guarantee amounts, so it is important to acquire a guarantee amount equal to or greater than the amount of the transaction. If the surety bond of the Medallion Guarantee is less than the transaction amount, your request may be rejected.
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An original Medallion Signature Guarantee is required if any of the following applies:
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the redemption is requested in writing and the amount redeemed is greater than $100,000; |
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the name(s) or the address on your account or the name or address of a payee has been changed within 30 days of your redemption request; |
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information on your investment application has been changed within the last 30 days (including a change in your name or your address); |
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proceeds or shares are being sent/transferred from a joint account to an individuals account; or |
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proceeds are being sent via wire or ACH and bank instructions have been added or changed within 30 days of your redemption request. |
If your written request is for redemption greater than $5 million, call [PHONE] (toll free) for Medallion Signature Guarantee requirements.
Additional Information About Redemptions
The Fund typically expects that it will pay redemption proceeds by check or electronic transfer within seven (7) calendar days after receipt of a proper redemption request, although proceeds normally are paid within four (4) business days. If you are redeeming shares that have been purchased via ACH, the Fund may hold proceeds until the purchase amount has been collected, which may be as long as five (5) business days after purchase date. To eliminate this delay, you may purchase shares of the Fund by wire. Also, when the NYSE is closed (or when trading is restricted) for any reason other than its customary weekend or holiday closing or under any emergency circumstances, as determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund may suspend redemptions or postpone payment of redemption proceeds. The Fund typically expects to pay redemptions from cash, cash equivalents, proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, any lines of credit, and then from the sale of portfolio securities. These redemption payment methods will be used in both regular and stressed market conditions.
At the discretion of the Fund or the Transfer Agent, corporate investors and other associations may be required to furnish an appropriate certification authorizing redemptions to ensure proper authorization.
Generally, all redemptions will be for cash. [However, if you redeem shares worth the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the NAV of the Fund, the Fund reserves the right to pay part or all of your redemption proceeds in readily marketable securities instead of cash at the discretion of the Fund.] Shareholders may incur brokerage charges on the sale of any securities distributed in lieu of cash and will bear market risk until the security is sold. Redemption-in-kind proceeds are distributed to the redeeming shareholder based on a weighted-average pro rata basis of a funds holdings. If payment is made in securities, the Fund will value the securities selected in the same manner in which it computes its NAV. This process minimizes the effect of large redemptions on the Fund and its remaining shareholders. As with any security, a shareholder will bear taxes on any capital gains from the sale of a security redeemed in kind.
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income as dividends to its shareholders on an annual basis. The Fund intends to distribute any net realized long-term capital gains and its net realized short-term capital gains at least once a year. The Fund may distribute income dividends and capital gains more frequently, if necessary, in order to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the Fund. The amount of any distribution varies and there is no guarantee the Fund will pay either income dividends or capital gain distributions.
Income dividends and capital gain distributions are automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Fund at the applicable NAV on the distribution date unless you request cash distributions on your application or through a written request. If cash payment is requested, a check normally will be mailed within five business days after the payable date.
If you elect to receive income dividends and capital gain distributions in cash and the payment is returned and marked as undeliverable or is not cashed for six months, your cash election may be changed automatically and future dividends will be reinvested in the Fund at the NAV determined as of the date of payment. In addition, any undeliverable checks or checks that are not cashed for six months may be cancelled and the proceeds reinvested in the Fund at the NAV determined as of the date of cancellation.
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FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS OF FUND SHARES
The Fund is intended to be a long-term investment. Excessive purchases and redemptions of shares of the Fund in an effort to take advantage of short-term market fluctuations, known as market timing, can interfere with long-term portfolio management strategies and increase the expenses of the Fund, to the detriment of long-term investors. Because the Fund will invest its assets in foreign securities, investors may seek to take advantage of time zone differences between the foreign markets on which the Funds portfolio securities trade and the time at which the NAV is calculated. For example, a market-timer may purchase shares of the Fund based on events occurring after foreign market closing prices are established but before the NAV calculation, that are likely to result in higher prices in foreign markets the next day. The market-timer would then redeem the Funds shares the next day when the Funds share price would reflect the increased prices in foreign markets, realizing a quick profit at the expense of long-term Fund shareholders.
Excessive short-term trading may (1) require the Fund to sell securities in the Funds portfolio at inopportune times to fund redemption payments, (2) dilute the value of shares held by long-term shareholders, (3) cause the Fund to maintain a larger cash position than would otherwise be necessary, (4) increase brokerage commissions and related costs and expenses, and (5) generate additional tax liability. Accordingly, the Board of Trustees has adopted policies and procedures that seek to restrict market timing activity. Under these policies, the Fund periodically examines transactions that exceed monetary thresholds or numerical limits within certain time periods. If the Fund believes, in its sole discretion, that an investor is engaged in excessive short-term trading or is otherwise engaged in market timing activity, the Fund may, with or without prior notice to the investor, reject further purchase orders from that investor, and disclaim responsibility for any consequent losses that the investor may incur related to the rejected purchases. Alternatively, the Fund may limit the amount, number or frequency of any future purchases and/or the method by which an investor may request future purchases and redemptions. The Funds response to any particular market timing activity will depend on the facts and circumstances of each case, such as the extent and duration of the market timing activity and the investors trading history in the Fund. While the Fund cannot assure the prevention of all excessive trading and market timing, by making these judgments, the Fund believes it is acting in a manner that is in the best interests of shareholders.
Financial intermediaries may establish omnibus accounts with the Fund. Omnibus accounts include multiple investors and typically provide the Fund with a net purchase or redemption. The identity of individual investors ordinarily are not known to or tracked by the Fund. The Fund will enter into information sharing agreements with certain financial intermediaries under which the financial intermediaries are obligated to: (1) enforce during the term of the agreement, a market-timing policy, the terms of which are acceptable to the Fund; (2) furnish the Fund, upon request, with information regarding customer trading activities in shares of the Fund; and (3) enforce the Funds market-timing policy with respect to customers identified by the Fund as having engaged in market timing.
The Fund applies these policies and procedures to all shareholders believed to be engaged in market timing or excessive trading. While the Fund may monitor transactions at the omnibus account level, the netting effect makes it more difficult to identify and eliminate market-timing activities in omnibus accounts. The Fund has no arrangements to permit any investor to trade frequently in shares of the Fund, nor will it enter into any such arrangements in the future.
Financial intermediaries maintaining omnibus accounts with the Fund may impose market timing policies that are more restrictive than the market timing policy adopted by the Board of Trustees. For instance, these financial intermediaries may impose limits on the number of purchase and sale transactions that an investor may make over a set period of time and impose penalties for transactions in excess of those limits. Financial intermediaries also may exempt certain types of transactions from these limitations. If you purchased your shares through a financial intermediary, you should read carefully any materials provided by the financial intermediary together with this prospectus to fully understand the market timing policies applicable to you.
PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES
The Manager may, at its own expense and out of its own profits, provide additional cash payments to financial intermediaries who sell shares of the Fund and/or whose clients or customers hold shares of the Fund. These additional payments generally are made to financial intermediaries that provide shareholder or administrative services, or distribution related services. Payments generally are based on either (1) a percentage of the average daily net assets of clients serviced by such financial intermediary, or (2) the number of accounts serviced by such financial intermediary. These additional cash payments also may be made as an expense reimbursement in cases where the financial intermediary provides shareholder services to Fund shareholders.
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TAXES
[The tax discussion in this Prospectus is only a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax issues generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders. The following assumes that the Funds shares will be capital assets in the hands of a shareholder. Circumstances among investors may vary, so you are encouraged to discuss investment in the Fund with your tax advisor.
The Fund will distribute all, or substantially all, of its net investment income and net capital gains (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses, in each case determined with reference to any loss carryforwards) to its shareholders each year. Although the Fund will not be taxed on amounts it distributes, most shareholders will be taxed on amounts they receive.
Distributions, whether received as cash or reinvested in additional shares, may be subject to federal income taxes and may also be subject to state or local taxes. For mutual funds generally, dividends from net investment income (other than qualified dividend income and capital gain dividends) and distributions of net short-term capital gains are taxable to you as ordinary income under federal income tax laws whether paid in cash or in additional shares. Distributions properly reported as capital gain dividends are taxable as long-term capital gains regardless of the length of time you have held the shares and whether you were paid in cash or additional shares.
Distributions made to a non-corporate shareholder out of qualified dividend income, if any, received by the Fund will be subject to tax at the lower rates applicable to net capital gains, provided that the shareholder meets certain holding period and other requirements with respect to its shares.
Selling or exchanging your Fund shares is a taxable event and may result in capital gain or loss. A capital gain or capital loss may be realized from an ordinary redemption of shares or an exchange of shares between two mutual funds. Any capital loss incurred on the sale or exchange of Fund shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of long-term capital gain dividends received with respect to such shares. Additionally, any loss realized on a sale, redemption or exchange of shares of the Fund may be disallowed under wash sale rules to the extent the shares disposed of are replaced with other shares of the Fund within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the shares are disposed of, such as pursuant to a dividend reinvestment in shares of the Fund. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an adjustment to the tax basis of the shares acquired. You are responsible for any tax liabilities generated by your transactions.
You will be notified annually of the amount of income, dividends and net capital gains distributed. If you purchase shares of the Fund through a financial intermediary, that entity will provide this information to you.
The Fund intends to qualify and be eligible for treatment each year as a regulated investment company. A regulated investment company generally is not subject to tax at the fund level on income and gains from investments that are distributed to shareholders. However, the Funds failure to qualify as a regulated investment company would result in fund level taxation and therefore, a reduction in income available for distribution.
An additional 3.8% Medicare tax is imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from the Fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of Fund shares) of U.S. individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that such persons modified adjusted gross income (in the case of an individual) or adjusted gross income (in the case of an estate or trust) exceeds certain threshold amounts.
The Fund is required to withhold a portion, currently 28%, of all taxable dividends, distributions, and redemption proceeds payable to any non-corporate shareholder that does not provide the Fund with the shareholders correct taxpayer identification number or certification that the shareholder is not subject to backup withholding. This is not an additional tax but can be credited against your tax liability.
Shareholders that invest in the Fund through a tax advantaged account, such as a qualified retirement plan, generally will not have to pay tax on dividends until they are distributed from the account. These accounts are subject to complex tax rules, and you should consult your tax advisor about investing through such an account.
Foreign shareholders invested in the Fund should consult with their tax advisors as to if and how the U.S. federal income tax law and its withholding requirements apply to them. Generally, the Fund will withhold 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) on distributions to foreign shareholders.
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[Foreign Income Taxes. Investment income and proceeds received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign income taxes withheld at the source. The United States has entered into tax treaties with many foreign countries which may entitle the Fund to a reduced rate of such taxes or exemption from taxes on such income or proceeds. It is impossible to determine the effective rate of foreign tax for the Fund in advance since the amount of the assets to be invested within various countries is not known.
If more than 50% in value of the Funds total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of stock or securities of foreign corporations, or if at least 50% of the value of the Funds total assets at the close of each quarter of its taxable year is represented by interests in other regulated investment companies, the Fund may elect (the Foreign Election) to pass through to its shareholders the amount of foreign income and similar foreign taxes paid or deemed paid by it. If the Fund so elects, each of its shareholders would be required to include in gross income, even though not actually received, its pro rata share of such foreign taxes paid or deemed paid by the Fund, but would be treated as having paid its pro rata share of such foreign taxes and would therefore be allowed to either deduct such amount in computing taxable income or use such amount (subject to various limitations) as a foreign tax credit against federal income tax (but not both). It is anticipated that the Fund will qualify to make the Foreign Election; however, the Fund cannot be certain that it will be eligible to make such an election or that you will be eligible for the foreign tax credit.]
Cost Basis Reporting. The Internal Revenue Service requires mutual fund companies and brokers to report on Form 1099-B the cost basis on the sale or exchange of Fund shares acquired on or after January 1, 2012 (covered shares). If you acquire and hold shares directly through the Fund and not through a financial intermediary, the Fund will use an average cost single category methodology for tracking and reporting your cost basis on covered shares, unless you request, in writing, another cost basis reporting methodology.
Please see the SAI for further information regarding tax matters.]
ACCOUNT POLICIES
Important Notice Regarding Delivery of Shareholder Documents. The Fund will send one copy of prospectuses and shareholder reports to households containing multiple shareholders with the same last name. This process, known as householding, reduces costs and provides a convenience to shareholders. If you share the same last name and address with another shareholder and you prefer to receive separate prospectuses and shareholder reports, call the Fund at [PHONE NUMBER] (toll free) and we will begin separate mailings to you within 30 days of your request. If you or others in your household invest in the Fund through a broker or other financial intermediary, you may receive separate prospectuses and shareholder reports, regardless of whether or not you have consented to householding on your investment application.
Notice Regarding Unclaimed Property. It is important that the Fund maintains a correct address for each shareholder. An incorrect address may cause a shareholders account statements and other mailings to be returned to the Fund. Based upon statutory requirements for returned mail, the Fund will attempt to locate the shareholder or rightful owner of the account. If the Fund is unable to locate the shareholder, then they will determine whether the shareholders account can legally be considered abandoned. Your mutual fund account may be transferred to the state government of your state of residence if no activity occurs within your account during the inactivity period specified in your states abandoned property laws. The Fund is legally obligated to escheat (or transfer) abandoned property to the appropriate states unclaimed property administrator in accordance with statutory requirements. The shareholders last known address of record determines which state has jurisdiction. Please proactively contact the Transfer Agent at [PHONE NUMBER] (toll free) at least annually to ensure your account remains in active status.
[If you are a resident of the state of Texas, you may designate a representative to receive notifications that, due to inactivity, your mutual fund account assets may be delivered to the Texas Comptroller. Please contact the Transfer Agent if you wish to complete a Texas Designation of Representative form.]
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Because the Fund had not commenced operations as of the fiscal year ended [ ], financial highlights are not presented.
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OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS
Investment Manager
Polar Capital LLP
16 Palace Street
London, SW1E 5JD
United Kingdom
Custodian
The Northern Trust Company
50 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60603
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
[NAME]
[ADDRESS]
Legal Counsel
Ropes & Gray LLP
800 Boylston Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02199
Distributor
Foreside Financial Services, LLC
3 Canal Plaza, Suite 100
Portland, Maine 04101
For Additional Information, call
[PHONE NUMBER] (toll free)
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DATUM ONE SERIES TRUST
Polar Capital Emerging Market Stars Fund
The Statement of Additional Information (SAI), incorporated into this prospectus by reference, contains detailed information on Fund policies and operations. Additional information about the Funds investments is available in the Funds annual and semi-annual report to shareholders. In the Funds annual and semi-annual reports, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Funds performance during their last fiscal year. The SAI is incorporated by reference into this prospectus, which means its is a part of this prospectus for legal purposes. You may get free copies of these materials, request other information about the Fund, or make shareholder inquiries by calling [xxx-xxx-xxxx]. The Funds SAI and annual and semiannual report (when available) are available at: [WEBSITE].
You may access reports and other information about the Fund on the SEC Internet site at www.sec.gov. You may get copies of this information, with payment of a duplication fee, by electronic request to the following e-mail address: [publicinfo@sec.gov.] You may need to refer to the Trusts file number under the 1940 Act, which is: [________].
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STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
[DATE]
Polar Capital Emerging Market Stars Fund
Class: Institutional
[TICKER]
(the Fund)
This Statement of Additional Information (SAI) is not a prospectus. The Fund is the sole series of Datum One Series Trust (the Trust). The Fund is offered through a Prospectus, dated [DATE], as amended or supplemented from time to time.
Information for the Fund is as of the date noted. Investors may obtain free copies of the Prospectus by calling the Fund at [xxx-xxx-xxxx]. This SAI contains information that may be useful to investors but which is not included in the Prospectus.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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TRUST HISTORY
This SAI describes the Fund, which is a series of Datum One Series Trust (the Trust). The Trust is a Massachusetts business trust organized under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts on [DATE] that currently consists of one separate investment series. The Trusts Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended (the Declaration of Trust), which is governed by Massachusetts law, is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Polar Capital LLP (the Manager) serves as investment manager to the Fund.
The Trust may, from time to time, create additional series offered through new, revised or supplemented prospectuses or private placement memoranda and statements of additional information.
FUND CLASSIFICATION
The Fund is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act). The Fund is a diversified investment company under the 1940 Act.
CAPITALIZATION AND SHARE CLASSES
The Trust has an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest that may, without shareholder approval, be divided into an unlimited number of series of such shares, which, in turn, may be divided into an unlimited number of classes of such shares. The Fund described in this SAI currently offers one class of shares. Generally, expenses and liabilities incurred by or arising in connection with a particular series of the Trust or class of shares are allocated only to that series of the Trust or class of shares. Expenses and liabilities not incurred by or arising in connection with a particular class of a series of the Trust or series of the Trust are allocated in relation to the respective net asset value of each series of the Trust or on such other basis as the Trustees may in their discretion determine.
Shares of each series of the Trust entitle their holders to one vote per share, with fractional shares voting proportionally; however, a separate vote will be taken by each series of the Trust or class of shares when required by the 1940 Act or when the Trustees of the Trust have determined that the matter affects one or more series of the Trust or classes of shares materially differently. When a matter affects only the interests of one or more series of the Trust or classes of shares, only shareholders of those series of the Trust or classes of shares shall be entitled to vote on the matter. Shares have noncumulative voting rights in the election of Trustees. Shareholders have the right to call a meeting to remove Trustees. Shares have no preemptive or subscription rights, and are transferable. Shares are entitled to dividends as declared by the Trust and approved by the Trustees of the Trust, and if the Fund were liquidated, holders of each class of shares of that Fund would receive the net assets of that Fund attributable to the class of shares.
Pursuant to the Trusts Declaration of Trust, the Trust has the right, at its option, to redeem Fund shares held by a shareholder at any time at the net asset value thereof: (i) if at such time such shareholder owns fewer shares of any series or class than, or shares having an aggregate net asset value of less than, an amount determined from time to time by the Trustees; (ii) to the extent that such shareholder owns shares of a particular series equal to or in excess of a percentage of the outstanding shares of that series determined from time to time by the Trustees; (iii) to the extent that such shareholder owns shares of the Trust representing a percentage equal to or in excess of such percentage of the aggregate number of outstanding shares of the Trust or the aggregate net asset value of the Trust determined from time to time by the Trustees; (iv) if such shareholder fails to supply appropriate personal and tax identification information requested by the Trust; (v) if such Shareholder fails to meet or maintain the qualifications for ownership of a particular series or class; or (vi) if the Trustees determine for any other reason, in their sole discretion, that the ownership of shares by a shareholder is not in the best interests of the remaining shareholders of the Trust or of the applicable series or class.
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND STRATEGIES
In addition to the principal investment strategies and the principal risks of the Fund described in the Prospectus, the Fund may employ other investment practices and may be subject to additional risks, which are described below. The Fund is not required to engage in any particular transaction or purchase any particular type of securities or investment even if to do so might benefit the Fund. Unless otherwise stated herein, all investment policies and restrictions of the Fund may be changed
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by the Board of Trustees without notice to shareholders or shareholder approval. In addition, the Fund may be subject to restrictions on its ability to utilize certain investments or investment techniques. Unless otherwise noted, these additional restrictions may be changed with the consent of the Board of Trustees but without approval by or notice to shareholders.
Cyber Security Risk
With the increased use of technologies such as the Internet and the dependence on computer systems to perform business and operational functions, investment companies such as the Fund and its service providers may be prone to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber-attacks and/or technological malfunctions. In general, cyber-attacks result from deliberate attacks, but unintentional events may have effects similar to those caused by cyber-attacks. Cyber-attacks include, among others, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, preventing legitimate users from accessing information or services on a website, releasing confidential information without authorization and causing operational disruption. Successful cyber-attacks against, or security breakdowns of, the Fund or its adviser, custodians, transfer agent, and/or other third-party service providers may adversely impact the Fund and its shareholders. For instance, cyber-attacks may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the Funds ability to calculate its net asset value, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential Fund information, impede trading, cause reputational damage, and subject the Fund to regulatory fines, penalties or financial losses, reimbursement or other compensation costs, and/or additional compliance costs. Cyber-attacks may render records of Fund assets and transactions, shareholder ownership of Fund shares, and other data integral to the functioning of the Fund inaccessible or inaccurate or incomplete. The Fund also may incur substantial costs for cyber security risk management in order to guard against any cyber incidents in the future. The Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result. While the Fund or its service providers may have established business continuity plans and systems designed to guard against such cyber-attacks or adverse effects of such attacks, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified, in large part because different unknown threats may emerge in the future. Similar types of cyber security risks also are present for issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers, and may cause the Funds investment in such securities to lose value.
Derivative Instruments
The portfolio manager may use financial derivative instruments and techniques for efficient portfolio management in accordance with the Funds fundamental investment strategies.
Financial derivative instruments used by the portfolio manager may include, but will not be limited to [futures, forwards, options (both writing and purchasing), swaps and contracts for differences, and will include both exchange traded and over the counter derivative instruments]. The assets or indices underlying such instruments may consist of any one or more of the following: transferable securities, money market instruments, other collective investment schemes, financial indices, interest and foreign exchange rates and currencies.
Financial derivative instruments may be used by the portfolio manager either for investment or efficient portfolio management purposes. The use of such instruments is intended to provide the portfolio manager with additional tools for managing risk and for efficient investment, which should in turn contribute to a better risk-return profile for the Fund. Examples of the way in which they may be used, which should not be taken as being exhaustive, include:
Futures. The portfolio manager may enter into single stock and index futures contracts to hedge against changes in the values of equity securities held by the Fund or markets to which the Fund is exposed or to hedge against currency and interest rate risk.
The portfolio manager may also use futures contracts to equitize cash or as a means of gaining exposure to particular securities or markets on a short to medium term basis in advance of making a decision to purchase a particular security or to reallocate assets on a longer term basis. In addition, the portfolio manager may use futures to reduce exposure to a market in advance of raising cash from asset sales to fund redemptions from the Fund.
The portfolio manager may also use futures contracts to take a directional view on particular securities or markets within the Funds investment universe where, in the their view, those securities or markets are overpriced or likely to enter into a downward phase of the investment cycle.
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Forwards. Currency forwards may be used to hedge the currency exposures of securities denominated in a currency other than the base currency of the Fund and to hedge against other changes in interest and currency rates which may have an impact on the Fund.
Options. Call options may be used to gain exposure to specific securities and put options may be used to hedge against downside risk. Options may also be purchased to hedge against currency and interest rate risk and the Manager may write put options and covered call options to generate additional revenues for the Fund. The Manager will not write uncovered call options.
Total Return Swaps. Total return swap agreements may be used to gain exposure to particular securities or markets in instances where it is not possible or not economic to do so through the underlying security or a futures contract. Swaps may also be used to hedge against currency and interest rate risk.
Contracts for Differences. Contracts for differences may be used either as a substitute for direct investment in the underlying equity security or as an alternative to and for the same purposes as futures and options, particularly in cases where there is no futures contract available in relation to a specific security, or where an option or index future represents an inefficient method of gaining exposure because of pricing risk or the risk of delta or beta mismatches.
Convertible Bonds. A convertible bond is a type of bond that the holder has the option to convert into a specified number of shares of common stock in the issuing company. It is a hybrid security with debt and equity-like features.
Repurchase and Reverse Repurchase Agreements for the purposes of Efficient Portfolio Management. The Fund may use repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements to generate additional income for the Fund. Repurchase agreements are transactions in which one party sells a security to the other party with a simultaneous agreement to repurchase the security at a fixed future date at a stipulated price reflecting a market rate of interest unrelated to the coupon rate of the securities. A reverse repurchase agreement is a transaction whereby the Fund purchases securities from a counterparty and simultaneously commits to resell the securities to the counterparty at an agreed upon date and price.
Risk of Government Regulation of Derivatives. It is possible that government regulation of various types of derivative instruments, including futures and swap agreements, may limit or prevent the Fund from using such instruments as a part of their investment strategy, and could ultimately prevent the Fund from being able to achieve its investment objective. It is impossible to predict fully the effects of legislation and regulation in this area, but the effects could be substantial and adverse.
The futures markets are subject to comprehensive statutes, regulations, and margin requirements. The SEC, the CFTC and the exchanges are authorized to take extraordinary actions in the event of a market emergency, including, for example, the implementation or reduction of speculative position limits, the implementation of higher margin requirements, the establishment of daily price limits and the suspension of trading.
The regulation of swaps and futures transactions in the U.S., the European Union, and other jurisdictions is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to modification by government and judicial action. There is a possibility of future regulatory changes altering, perhaps to a material extent, the nature of an investment in the Fund or the ability of the Fund to continue to implement its investment strategies.
Under recently adopted rules and regulations, transactions in some types of swaps (including interest rate swaps and credit default swaps on North American and European indices) are required to be centrally cleared, and additional types of swaps may be required to be centrally cleared in the future. In a transaction involving those swaps (cleared derivatives), the Funds counterparty is a clearing house, rather than a bank or broker. Since the Fund is not a member of clearing houses and only members of a clearing house (clearing members) can participate directly in the clearing house, the Fund will hold cleared derivatives through accounts at clearing members. In cleared derivatives transactions, the Fund will make payments (including margin payments) to and receive payments from a clearing house through its accounts at clearing members. Clearing members guarantee performance of their clients obligations to the clearing house.
In some ways, cleared derivative arrangements are less favorable to mutual funds than bilateral arrangements. For example, the Fund may be required to provide more margin for cleared derivatives transactions than for bilateral derivatives
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transactions. Also, in contrast to a bilateral derivatives transaction, following a period of notice to the Fund, a clearing member generally can require termination of an existing cleared derivatives transaction at any time or an increase in margin requirements above the margin that the clearing member required at the beginning of a transaction. Clearing houses also have broad rights to increase margin requirements for existing transactions or to terminate those transactions at any time. Any increase in margin requirements or termination of existing cleared derivatives transactions by the clearing member or the clearing house could interfere with the ability of the Fund to pursue its investment strategy. Further, any increase in margin requirements by a clearing member could expose the Fund to greater credit risk to its clearing member, because margin for cleared derivatives transactions in excess of a clearing houses margin requirements typically is held by the clearing member. Also, the Fund is subject to risk if it enters into a derivatives transaction that is required to be cleared (or that the Manager expects to be cleared), and no clearing member is willing or able to clear the transaction on the Funds behalf. In those cases, the transaction might have to be terminated, and the Fund could lose some or all of the benefit of the transaction, including loss of an increase in the value of the transaction and/or loss of hedging protection. In addition, the documentation governing the relationship between the Fund and clearing members is drafted by the clearing members and generally is less favorable to the Fund than typical bilateral derivatives documentation. For example, documentation relating to cleared derivatives generally includes a one-way indemnity by the Fund in favor of the clearing member for losses the clearing member incurs as the Funds clearing member and typically does not provide the Fund any remedies if the clearing member defaults or becomes insolvent. While futures contracts entail similar risks, the risks likely are more pronounced for cleared swaps due to their more limited liquidity and market history.
Some types of cleared derivatives are required to be executed on an exchange or on a swap execution facility. A swap execution facility is a trading platform where multiple market participants can execute derivatives by accepting bids and offers made by multiple other participants in the platform. While this execution requirement is designed to increase transparency and liquidity in the cleared derivatives market, trading on a swap execution facility can create additional costs and risks for the Fund. For example, swap execution facilities typically charge fees, and if the Fund executes derivatives on a swap execution facility through a broker intermediary, the intermediary may impose fees as well. Also, the Fund may indemnify a swap execution facility, or a broker intermediary who executes cleared derivatives on a swap execution facility on the Funds behalf, against any losses or costs that may be incurred as a result of the Funds transactions on the swap execution facility. If the Fund wishes to execute a package of transactions that include a swap that is required to be executed on a swap execution facility as well as other transactions (for example, a transaction that includes both a security and an interest rate swap that hedges interest rate exposure with respect to such security), it is possible the Fund could not execute all components of the package on the swap execution facility. In that case, the Fund would need to trade certain components of the package on the swap execution facility and other components of the package in another manner, which could subject the Fund to the risk that certain of the components of the package would be executed successfully and others would not, or that the components would be executed at different times, leaving the Fund with an unhedged position for a period of time.
Additionally, U.S. regulators, the European Union and certain other jurisdictions have adopted minimum margin and capital requirements for uncleared OTC derivatives transactions. These rules impose minimum margin requirements on derivatives transactions between the Fund and its swap counterparties and impose regulatory requirements on the timing of transferring margin, which may accelerate the Funds current margin process. The Fund is already subject to variation margin requirements, and the Fund may become subject to initial margin requirements under such rules in 2020. Such requirements could increase the amount of margin the Fund needs to provide in connection with uncleared OTC derivatives transactions and, therefore, make such transactions more expensive.
New requirements may also result in increased uncertainty about counterparty credit risk, and they may also limit the flexibility of the Fund to protect its interests in the event of an insolvency of a derivatives counterparty. In the event of a counterpartys (or its affiliates) insolvency, the Funds ability to exercise remedies, such as the termination of transactions, netting of obligations and realization of collateral, could be stayed or eliminated under new special resolution regimes adopted in the United States, the European Union and various other jurisdictions. Such regimes provide government authorities with broad authority to intervene when a financial institution is experiencing financial difficulty and may prohibit the Fund from exercising termination rights based on the financial institutions insolvency. In particular, with respect to
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counterparties who are subject to such proceedings in the European Union, the liabilities of such counterparties to the Fund could be reduced, eliminated, or converted to equity in such counterparties (sometimes referred to as a bail in).
In addition, the SEC has issued a proposed rule under the 1940 Act providing for the regulation of registered investment companies use of derivatives and certain related instruments. The ultimate impact, if any, of possible regulation remains unclear, but the proposed rule, if adopted, could, among other things, restrict the Funds ability to engage in derivatives transactions and/or increase the costs of such derivatives transactions such that the Fund may be unable to implement its investment strategies.
These and other new rules and regulations could, among other things, further restrict the Funds ability to engage in, or increase the cost to the Fund of, derivatives transactions, for example, by making some types of derivatives no longer available to the Fund, increasing margin or capital requirements, or otherwise limiting liquidity or increasing transaction costs. The implementation of the clearing requirement has increased the costs of derivatives transactions for the Fund, since the Fund has to pay fees to its clearing members and is typically required to post more margin for cleared derivatives than it has historically posted for bilateral derivatives. The costs of derivatives transactions are expected to increase further as clearing members raise their fees to cover the costs of additional capital requirements and other regulatory changes applicable to the clearing members. These regulations are new and evolving, so their potential impact on the Fund and the financial system are not yet known. While the new regulations and central clearing of some derivatives transactions are designed to reduce systemic risk (i.e., the risk that the interdependence of large derivatives dealers could cause them to suffer liquidity, solvency or other challenges simultaneously), there is no assurance that the new mechanisms will achieve that result, and in the meantime, as noted above, central clearing, minimum margin requirements and related requirements expose the Fund to new kinds of risks and costs.
Illiquid Securities
The Fund may invest no more than 15% of its net assets (measured at the time of investment) in illiquid investments. Under Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act, illiquid investments are defined as those investments that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven (7) calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. The Board has delegated liquidity determinations to the Manager.
Illiquid investments may include, among various other types of investments, privately placed securities, which are sold directly to a small number of investors, usually institutions. Unlike public offerings, such securities are not registered under the federal securities laws. Although certain of these securities may be readily sold, others may be illiquid, and their sale may involve substantial delays and additional costs.
In October 2016, the SEC adopted a liquidity risk management rule that requires the Fund to establish a liquidity risk management program. [The Board of Trustees has appointed the Manager to administer the Funds liquidity risk management program.]
Securities Financing Transactions and Equity Swaps
The Fund may engage in securities financing transactions (stock-lending arrangements and repurchase/ reverse repurchase agreements, SFTs) and equity swaps.
The collateral supporting SFTs will be valued daily at mark-to-market prices, and daily variation margin used if the value of collateral falls (due for example to market movements) below the required collateral coverage requirements in respect of the relevant transaction.
Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect Scheme and Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect Scheme
Stock Connect Scheme
The Fund may invest in China A shares through the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect scheme and/or the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect scheme (collectively, the Connect Scheme).
The Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect scheme is a securities trading and clearing links program developed by Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEx), Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) and China Securities Depository and
7
Clearing Corporation Limited (ChinaClear) and the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect scheme is a securities trading and clearing links program developed by HKEx, Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE) and ChinaClear. The aim of the Connect Scheme is to achieve mutual stock market access between mainland China and Hong Kong.
The Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect scheme enables Hong Kong and overseas investors (including the relevant Fund) to invest in certain eligible China A shares listed on the SSE (SSE Securities) through their Hong Kong brokers and a securities trading service company established by The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (SEHK) under the Northbound Trading Link, subject to the rules of the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect scheme.
The Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect scheme enables Hong Kong and overseas investors (including the relevant Fund) to invest in certain eligible China A shares listed on the SZSE (SZSE Securities) through their Hong Kong brokers and a securities trading service company established by SEHK under the Northbound Trading Link, subject to the rules of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect scheme.
At the initial stage of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect scheme, investors eligible to trade shares that are listed on the ChiNext Board of the SZSE (ChiNext Board) under Northbound trading will be limited to institutional professional investors (which the Fund will qualify as such) as defined in the relevant Hong Kong rules and regulations.
It is expected that the list of eligible securities will be subject to review.
Trading Quota
Trading under the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect scheme and the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect scheme is subject to a daily quota (Daily Quota). Northbound Shanghai Trading Link under the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect scheme, Northbound Shenzhen Trading Link under the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect scheme, Southbound Hong Kong Trading Link under the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect scheme and Southbound Hong Kong Trading Link under the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect are respectively subject to a separate set of Daily Quota.
The Daily Quota limits the maximum net buy value of cross-boundary trades under each of the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect scheme and the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect scheme each day. The Northbound Daily Quota is currently set at RMB13 billion for each of the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect scheme and the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect scheme.
The Daily Quota may be increased or reduced subject to the review and approval by the relevant PRC regulators from time to time.
SEHK monitors the quota and publishes the remaining balance of the Northbound Daily Quota at scheduled times on the HKExs website.
Settlement and Custody
Under the Connect Scheme, The Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company Limited (HKSCC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of HKEx, is responsible for the clearing, settlement and the provision of depository, nominee and other related services of the trades executed by Hong Kong market participants and investors.
The China A shares traded through the Connect Scheme are issued in scripless form, so investors will not hold any physical China A shares. Hong Kong and overseas investors who have acquired SSE Securities or SZSE Securities through Northbound trading should maintain the SSE Securities or SZSE Securities with their brokers or custodians stock accounts with CCASS (the Central Clearing and Settlement System operated by HKSCC for the clearing securities listed or traded on SEHK).
Corporate Actions and Shareholders Meetings
Notwithstanding the fact that HKSCC does not claim proprietary interests in the SSE Securities and SZSE Securities held in its omnibus stock account in ChinaClear, ChinaClear as the share registrar for SSE and SZSE listed companies will still treat HKSCC as one of the shareholders when it handles corporate actions in respect of such SSE Securities and SZSE Securities.
8
HKSCC will monitor the corporate actions affecting SSE Securities and SZSE Securities and keep the relevant brokers or custodians participating in CCASS (CCASS participants) informed of all such corporate actions that require CCASS participants to take steps in order to participate in them.
SSE-/SZSE-listed companies usually announce their annual general meeting/extraordinary general meeting information about two to three weeks before the meeting date. A poll is called on all resolutions for all votes. HKSCC will advise CCASS participants of all general meeting details such as meeting date, time, venue and the number of resolutions.
Currency
Hong Kong and overseas investors will trade and settle SSE Securities and SZSE Securities in RMB only. Hence, the Fund will need to use RMB to trade and settle SSE Securities and SZSE Securities.
Further information about the Connect Scheme is available online at the website:
http://www.hkex.com.hk/eng/csm/chinaConnect.asp?LangCode=en
The Fund shall be allowed to trade SSE Securities and SZSE Securities through the Northbound Trading Link of the Connect Scheme, subject to applicable rules and regulations issued from time to time.
Borrowings
The Fund may be permitted to borrow for temporary purposes, for investment purposes and to more efficiently manage the portfolio. Such a practice will result in leveraging of the Funds assets and may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it would not be advantageous to do so. This borrowing may be secured or unsecured. Provisions of the 1940 Act require the Fund to maintain continuous asset coverage (that is, total assets including borrowings, less liabilities exclusive of borrowings) of 300% of the amount borrowed from a bank, with an exception for borrowings not in excess of 5% of the Funds total assets made for temporary administrative purposes. Any borrowings for temporary administrative purposes in excess of 5% of the Funds total assets must maintain continuous asset coverage. If the 300% asset coverage should decline as a result of market fluctuations or other reasons, the Fund may be required to sell some of its portfolio holdings within three days to reduce the debt and restore the 300% asset coverage, even though it may be disadvantageous from an investment standpoint if the Fund sells holdings at that time. Borrowing, like other forms of leverage, will tend to exaggerate the effect on net asset value of any increase or decrease in the market value of the Funds portfolio. Money borrowed will be subject to interest costs, which may or may not be recovered by appreciation of the securities purchased, if any. The Fund also may be required to maintain minimum average balances in connection with such borrowing or to pay a commitment or other fee to maintain a line of credit; either of these requirements would increase the cost of borrowing over the stated interest rate.
From time to time, the Fund may enter into, and make borrowings for temporary purposes related to the redemption of shares, including under a credit agreement with third-party lenders or the custodian. Such borrowings will be allocated among the series of the Trust pursuant to guidelines approved by the Board of Trustees. In addition to borrowing money from a bank, the Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, sale-buybacks and other transactions that can be viewed as forms of borrowings, but for which the Fund does not have to have 300% asset coverage.
A reverse repurchase agreement involves the sale of a portfolio-eligible security by the Fund to another party, such as a bank or broker-dealer, coupled with its agreement to repurchase the security at a specified time and price. Under a reverse repurchase agreement, the Fund continues to receive any principal and interest payments on the underlying security during the term of the agreement. Such transactions are advantageous if the interest cost to the Fund of the reverse repurchase transaction is less than the returns it obtains on investments purchased with the cash.
The Fund also may engage in simultaneous purchase and sale transactions that are known as sale-buybacks. A sale-buyback is similar to a reverse repurchase agreement, except that in a sale-buyback, the counterparty who purchases the security is entitled to receive any principal or interest payments made on the underlying security pending settlement of the Funds repurchase of the underlying security.
The Fund will typically segregate or earmark assets determined to be liquid by the Manager and equal (on a daily mark-to-market basis) to its obligations under reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls and sale-buybacks. Reverse repurchase
9
agreements, dollar rolls and sale-buybacks involve leverage risk and the risk that the market value of securities retained by the Fund may decline below the repurchase price of the securities that the Fund sold and is obligated to repurchase. In the event the buyer of securities under a reverse repurchase agreement, dollar roll or sale-buyback files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, the Funds use of the proceeds of the agreement may be restricted pending a determination by the other party, or its trustee or receiver, whether to enforce the Funds obligation to repurchase the securities. Reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, sale-buybacks and other similar instruments and transactions will not be subject to the Funds limitations on borrowings as specified under Investment Restrictions below.
Temporary Defensive Strategies
As described in the Prospectus, the portfolio manager may at times judge that conditions in the securities markets make pursuing the Funds basic investment strategies inconsistent with the best interests of its shareholders and may temporarily use alternate investment strategies primarily designed to reduce fluctuations in the value of the Funds assets. In implementing these defensive strategies, the Fund would invest in investment grade debt securities, cash, or money market instruments to any extent the portfolio manager considers consistent with such defensive strategies. It is impossible to predict when, or for how long, the Fund will use these alternate strategies, and the Fund is not required to use alternate strategies in any case. One risk of taking such temporary defensive positions is that the Fund may not achieve its investment objective.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
Fundamental Policies: The investment restrictions numbered 1 through 7 below have been adopted as fundamental policies for the Fund.
1. |
The Fund may not issue any class of securities which is senior to the Funds shares of beneficial interest, except to the extent the Fund is permitted to borrow money and except as otherwise consistent with applicable law from time to time. |
2. |
The Fund may borrow money to the extent permitted by applicable law from time to time. |
3. |
The Fund may not act as underwriter of securities of other issuers except to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities or in connection with the purchase of securities directly from the issuer thereof, it may be deemed to be an underwriter under certain federal securities laws. |
4. |
The Fund may not purchase any security if as a result 25% or more of the Funds total assets (taken at current value) would be invested in securities of issuers in a single industry (for purposes of this restriction, (i) bank loans and loan participations will be considered investments in the industry of the underlying borrower, (ii) investment companies are not considered to constitute an industry, and (iii) derivatives counterparties are not considered to be part of any industry). |
5. |
The Fund may make loans, including to affiliated investment companies, except to the extent the Fund is prohibited from doing so by applicable law. The Fund may purchase loan participations or otherwise invest in loans or similar obligations, and may make loans directly to borrowers, itself or as part of a lending syndicate. The Fund may purchase debt obligations or other financial instruments in which the Fund may invest consistent with its investment policies, enter into repurchase agreements, or lend its portfolio securities. |
6. |
The Fund may purchase or sell commodities to the extent permitted by applicable law from time to time. |
7. |
The Fund will not purchase real estate directly, but may possess, hold, purchase and/or dispose of it in connection with managing or exercising its rights in respect of its investments. The Fund may (i) purchase interests in issuers which deal or invest in real estate, including limited partnership interests of limited partnerships that invest or deal in real estate, (ii) purchase securities which are secured by real estate or interests in real estate, including real estate mortgage loans, and (iii) acquire (by way of foreclosure or otherwise), hold and/or dispose of real estate that secured, or is otherwise related to, an investment of the Fund. (For purposes of this restriction, investments by the Fund in mortgage-backed securities and other securities representing interests in mortgage pools shall not constitute the purchase or sale of real estate.) |
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For purposes of applying the terms of the Funds fundamental policy number 4, the Manager will, on behalf of the Fund, make reasonable determinations as to the appropriate industry classification to assign to each issuer of securities in which the Fund invests. As a general matter, the Fund considers an industry to be a group of companies whose principal activities, products or services offered give them a similar economic risk profile vis à vis issuers active in other sectors of the economy. The definition of what constitutes a particular industry is therefore an evolving one, particularly for issuers in industries that are new or are undergoing rapid development. Some issuers could reasonably fall within more than one industry category. The Fund takes the position that mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities, whether government-issued or privately issued, do not represent interests in any particular industry or group of industries, and therefore the 25% concentration restrictions noted above do not apply to such securities.
For purposes of the Funds policies (including the fundamental policies discussed above), any actions taken or omitted or investments made in reliance on, or in accordance with, exemptive relief, no action relief, interpretive guidance or other regulatory or governmental action or guidance, shall be considered to have been taken, made, or omitted in accordance with applicable law.
Non-Fundamental Policies:
Except for the investment restrictions listed above as fundamental or to the extent designated as such in the Prospectus, the other investment policies described in this SAI or in the Prospectus, including the explanatory notes included above under the heading Investment Restrictions Fundamental Policies are not fundamental and may be changed by approval of the Trustees without notice to or approval by the shareholders.
Other Information Regarding Investment Restrictions and Policies:
All percentage limitations and requirements (including those set forth in the fundamental policies discussed above) as to investments will apply only at the time of an investment to which the limitation or requirement is applicable and shall not be considered violated unless an excess or deficiency occurs or exists immediately after and as a result of such investment. Accordingly, any later increase or decrease resulting from a change in values, net assets or other circumstances will not be considered in determining whether any investment complies with the Funds limitation or requirement. Such percentage limitations and requirements do not apply to the asset coverage test set forth in Section 18(f)(1) of the 1940 Act.
The 1940 Act provides that a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund means the affirmative vote of the lesser of (1) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund, or (2) 67% or more of the shares present at a meeting if more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are represented at the meeting in person.
It is contrary to the current policy of the Fund, which policy may be changed without shareholder approval, to invest more than 15% of the Funds net assets in securities which are determined to be illiquid by the Funds Board of Trustees (the Board or the Trustees), or persons designated by the Board to make such determinations (such as the Manager) in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board.
Pursuant to Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act, the Fund has adopted a liquidity risk management program to assess and manage its liquidity risk. Under its program, the Fund is required to classify its investments into specific liquidity categories and monitor compliance with limits on investments in illiquid securities. Illiquid investments are generally investments that the Fund cannot reasonably expect to be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven (7) calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the instrument. The Fund will not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. While the liquidity risk management program attempts to assess and manage liquidity risk, there is no guarantee it will be effective in its operation, and it will not reduce the liquidity risk inherent in the Funds investments.
Restrictions Pursuant to Applicable Law
The Trust is registered under the 1940 Act as an investment company and the Fund seeks to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Subchapter M).
Compliance with those laws and other applicable law may limit the Funds ability to achieve its investment objective, including by, among other things, limiting the types of investments it may make or hold from time to time and the
11
counterparties with which the Fund may trade. Other accounts managed by the Manager may invest and perform differently because they may not be subject to the same laws and restrictions as the Fund.
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
Through filings made with the SEC on Form N-CSR, the Fund makes its full portfolio holdings publicly available to shareholders on a semiannual basis. The Fund normally makes such filings on or around the sixtieth day following the end of the Funds second and fourth fiscal quarters. The Fund transmits its complete portfolio schedules as of the end of the second and fourth fiscal quarters to shareholders in the Funds semi-annual and annual reports.
In addition to filings made with the SEC, the Fund intends to make its full portfolio holdings as of the end of each calendar quarter available on the Funds website at [WEBSITE], generally no later than thirty calendar days after the end of each calendar quarter.
To the extent that the Funds portfolio holdings have previously been disclosed publicly either through a filing made with the SEC on Form N-CSR, or by being posted to the Funds website, such holdings may also be disclosed to any third party that requests them.
On a monthly basis, the complete schedule of the Funds portfolio holdings will be filed with the SEC on Form N-PORT. These schedules are available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov and on the Funds website at [WEBSITE].
Policies and Procedures. The Trust has adopted policies and procedures with respect to disclosure of the Funds portfolio holdings. The Funds may provide information regarding their portfolio holdings to their service providers where relevant to duties to be performed for the Fund. Such service providers include fund accountants, administrators, investment advisers, custodians, independent public accountants, and attorneys. Neither the Fund nor any service provider to the Fund may disclose material information about the Funds holdings, trading strategies implemented or to be implemented in the Fund or about pending transactions in the Fund to other third parties except that information about portfolio holdings may be available to such third parties: (i) by providing a copy of the Funds latest annual or semi-annual report or the Funds latest Form N-PORT; (ii) in marketing materials, provided the portfolio holdings disclosed in the materials are at least 15 days old, or (iii) when the Fund has a legitimate business purpose for doing so and the recipients are subject to a confidentiality agreement or the Board has determined that the policies of the recipient are adequate to protect the information that is disclosed. Such disclosures shall be authorized by the Funds Chief Compliance Officer and shall be reported periodically to the Board. In no event shall such information be disclosed for compensation.
Examples of instances in which selective disclosure of a Funds portfolio securities may be appropriate include disclosure for due diligence purposes to an investment adviser that is in merger or acquisition talks with the Manager, disclosure to a performance reporting bureau or to a rating agency for use in developing a rating. Examples of instances in which selective disclosure is not appropriate include disclosure to assist a party in deciding when to buy or sell or hedge a position in the Fund or in securities held or under consideration for purchase by the Fund.
The Board of Trustees reviews and reapproves the policies and procedures related to portfolio disclosure, including the list of approved recipients, as often as deemed appropriate, and may make any changes it deems appropriate.
MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST
Board Leadership Structure. The Board of Trustees consists of five Trustees, three of whom are not interested persons (within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) of the Trust (the Independent Trustees). The Chairman of the Board, Mr. Lloyd Wennlund, is an Independent Trustee. The Chairman of the Trustees presides at meetings of the Board and acts as a liaison with service providers, officers, attorneys and other Trustees generally between meetings, and performs such other functions as may be requested by the Board from time to time. The Board of Trustees will meet regularly, generally at least 4 times each year to discuss and consider matters concerning the Trust and the Fund, and may also hold special meetings to address matters arising between regular meetings. Regular meetings generally take place in-person; other meetings may take place in-person or by telephone.
The Board of Trustees has established two standing Committees to facilitate the Trustees oversight of the management of the Trust: the Audit Committee and the Governance Committee. The functions and role of each Committee are described
12
below under Committees of the Board of Trustees. The membership of each Committee consists of all of the Independent Trustees, which the Board believes allows them to participate in the full range of the Boards oversight duties.
The Board plans to review its leadership structure periodically and has determined that its leadership structure, including Committees comprised entirely of Independent Trustees, is appropriate in light of the characteristics and circumstances of the Trust. In reaching this conclusion, the Board considered, among other things, the predominant roles of the Manager and Administrator in the day-to-day management of the Funds affairs, the extent to which the work of the Board is conducted through the Committees, the asset classes in which the Fund invests, and the management and other service arrangements of the Fund. The Board also believes that its structure facilitates an efficient flow of information concerning the management of the Fund to the Independent Trustees.
Risk Oversight. The Fund has retained the Manager to provide investment advisory services, and these service providers are immediately responsible for the management of risks that may arise from the Funds investments. The Board oversees the performance of these functions by the Manager. The Board expects to receive from the Manager a wide range of reports, both on a regular and as-needed basis, relating to the Funds activities and to the actual and potential risks of the Fund and the Trust as a whole. These include reports on investment risks, compliance with applicable laws, and the Funds financial accounting and reporting. The Board also regularly receives, from the Manager and Administrator reports regarding the sale of the Funds shares, as well as related risks. In addition, the Board expects to meet periodically with the investment professionals who lead the Funds investment operations to receive reports regarding the portfolio management of the Fund, its performance, and its investment risks.
The Board has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer (the CCO). The CCO oversees the development and implementation of compliance policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to prevent violations of the federal securities laws (the Compliance Policies). The CCO reports directly to the Board. The CCO makes presentations to the Board at its quarterly meetings and provides an annual report on the application of the Compliance Policies. The Board periodically discusses relevant risks affecting the Trust with the CCO at its meetings. Further, the Board annually reviews the sufficiency of the Compliance Policies, as well as the appointment and compensation of the CCO.
The function of the Board with respect to risk management is one of periodic oversight and not active involvement in, or coordination of, day-to-day risk management activities for the Fund. The Board recognizes, however, that not all risks that may affect the Fund can be identified, that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve the Funds goals, and that the processes, procedures, and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. Moreover, reports received by the Trustees that may relate to risk management matters are typically summaries of the relevant information. There is no assurance that the Board of Trustees operations or leadership structure will identify, prevent, or mitigate risks in actual practice. The Fund is designed for investors that are prepared to accept investment risk, including the possibility that as yet unforeseen risks may emerge in the future.
The Trustees and executive officers of the Trust, their age, the position they hold with the Trust, their term of office and length of time served, a description of their principal occupations during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the fund complex that the Trustees oversee and other directorships held by the Trustees of the Trust are listed in the following tables.
Except as shown, each Trustees and officers principal occupation and business experience for the last five years have been with the employer(s) indicated, although in some cases the Trustee may have held different positions with such employer(s). Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of the persons listed below is Datum One Series Trust c/o The Northern Trust Company, 50 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603, Attn: Board of Trustees, Datum One Series Trust.
Independent Trustees
The following table sets forth certain information concerning the Independent Trustees of the Trust:
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Name, Address* and Year
of Independent Trustee |
Positions(s) Held with Trust |
Term of Office and Length of Time Served |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years |
Number of
Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee During the Past 5 Years |
|||||
JoAnn S. Lilek Year of Birth: 1956 |
Trustee |
Indefinite/ March, 2020 to present |
Advisory Board Member, Miltons Distributing, 2019 to present; Advisory Board Member, Gordon Logistics, 2019 to present; Independent Contractor, Self Employed, 2018 to present; Chief Financial Officer, Accretive Solutions, Inc, 2010 to 2018; Chief Operating Officer, Accretive Solutions, Inc, 2016 to 2018; Board Director, Hinsdale Bank and Trust Company, 2011 to 2016. | 1 | None | |||||
Patricia A. Weiland Year of Birth: 1959 |
Trustee |
Indefinite/ March, 2020 to present |
Consultant, PAW Consulting LLC, 2014 to present. | 1 | None | |||||
Lloyd A. Wennlund Year of Birth: 1957 |
Trustee |
Indefinite/ March, 2020 to present |
Independent Contractor, June 2017; Executive Vice President, The Northern Trust Company, 1989 to 2017. | 1 | Calamos Funds, 2018 to present. |
* |
Each Trustee may be contacted at 50 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603. |
Interested Trustees
The following table sets forth certain information concerning the Trustees who are interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (each, an Interested Trustee):
Name, Address* and Year of
|
Positions(s)
|
Term of Office
|
Principal Occupation(s)
|
Number of
Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee |
Other Directorships
|
|||||
Ryan D. Burns Year of Birth: 1976 |
Trustee |
Indefinite/ March, 2020 to present |
Senior Vice President, The Northern Trust Company, 1998 to present. | 1 | None | |||||
David M. Whitaker Year of Birth: 1971 |
Trustee |
Indefinite/ March, 2020 to present |
President, Foreside Financial Group, 2007 to present. | 1 | Advisers Investment Trust, 2018 to present. |
* |
Each Trustee may be contacted at 50 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603. |
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Officers
The following table sets forth certain information concerning the Trusts officers. The officers of the Trust are employees of the Trusts Administrator or Distributor and certain of their affiliates:
Name, Address* and Year of Birth of Officer |
Positions(s) Held
|
Term of Office and
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years |
|||
Barbara J. Nelligan Year of Birth: 1969 |
President |
Indefinite/ March, 2020 to present |
Senior Vice President, Global Fund Services Fund Governance Solutions, The Northern Trust Company 2018 to Present; Senior Vice President, Global Fund Services Product Management, The Northern Trust Company 2007 to 2018; Vice President of Advisers Investment Trust 2012 to 2017. | |||
Jack P. Huntington Year of Birth: 1970 |
Chief Compliance Officer and AML Officer |
Indefinite/ March, 2020 to present |
Director, Foreside Fund Officer Services, LLC, 2015 to present; Senior Vice President, Citi Fund Services, 2008 to 2015. | |||
Tracy L. Dotolo Year of Birth: 1976 |
Treasurer |
Indefinite/ March, 2020 to present |
Director, (Foreside Fund Officer Services, LLC, 2016 to present; JPMorgan Chase & Co., Vice President of Global Fund Services, 2009 to 2016. | |||
Toni M. Bugni Year of Birth: 1973 |
Secretary |
Indefinite/ March, 2020 to present |
Senior Vice President, Global Fund Services Fund Governance Solutions, The Northern Trust Company 2011 to present. | |||
Matthew J. Broucek Year of Birth: 1988 |
Assistant Secretary |
Indefinite/ March, 2020 to present |
Second Vice President, Global Fund Services Fund Governance Solutions, The Northern Trust Company 2018 to present; Officer, Global Fund Services Fund Governance Solutions, The Northern Trust Company 2016 to 2018; Associate, RSM US LLP, 2015 to 2016. |
* |
Each Officer may be contacted at 50 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603. |
Trustee Qualifications. The Board has determined that each Trustee should serve as such based on several factors (none of which alone is decisive). Among the factors the Board considered when concluding that an individual should serve on the Board were the following: (i) the individuals business and professional experience and accomplishments, including those enumerated in the table above; (ii) the individuals ability to work effectively with other members of the Board; (iii) the individuals prior experience, if any, serving on the boards of public companies and other complex enterprises and organizations; and (iv) how the individuals skills, experiences and attributes would contribute to an appropriate mix of relevant skills and experience on the Board.
In respect of each current Trustee, the individuals substantial professional accomplishments and prior experience, including, in some cases, in fields related to the operations of the Fund, were a significant factor in the determination that the individual should serve as a Trustee of the Trust. Following is a summary of various qualifications, experiences and skills of each Trustee that contributed to the Boards conclusion that an individual should serve on the Board:
Independent Trustees:
JoAnn Lilek Ms. Lilek is an experienced corporate board director and executive for both private and public companies. She also brings substantial experience in the finance industry, having served as the Audit Chair to a publicly traded mutual fund.
15
Patricia Weiland Ms. Weiland brings substantial experience in the financial services industry, having served as an executive officer to a financial services firm. She has experience with mutual funds, banking, wealth management, and trust services working in an executive capacity.
Lloyd Wennlund Mr. Wennlund is a financial services executive with expertise in all aspects of asset management and broker-dealer functions. He brings extensive experience with respect to the operation of investment funds. He has served in key leadership roles, including as an independent director to a global asset management firm.
Interested Trustees:
Ryan Burns Mr. Burns brings substantial experience in the financial services industry. He currently serves as the Head of Global Fund Services (Americas) for The Northern Trust Company.
David Whitaker Mr. Whitaker brings significant experience in the financial services industry. He is the President of Foreside Financial Group, a position he has held for more than 10 years. He also serves as a trustee to another mutual fund series trust.
References to the experience, qualifications, attributes, and skills of Trustees are pursuant to requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, do not constitute holding out of the Board of Trustees or any Trustee as having any special expertise or experience, and shall not impose any greater responsibility or liability on such person or on the Board of Trustees by reason thereof.
Committees of the Board of Trustees
Audit Committee. The Board of Trustees has a separately-designated standing Audit Committee composed of all of the Independent Trustees of the Trust and chaired by Ms. JoAnn Lilek. The Audit Committee provides oversight with respect to the internal and external accounting and auditing procedures of the Fund and, among other things, considers the selection of the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund and the scope of the audit, approves all audit and permitted non-audit services proposed to be performed by those accountants on behalf of the Fund, and considers other services provided by those accountants to the Fund and the Manager and its affiliates and the possible effect of those services on the independence of those accountants.
Governance Committee. The Governance Committee is composed of all of the Independent Trustees of the Trust and is responsible for oversight of the governance of the Fund. The Governance Committee will make nominations for independent trustee membership on the Board when necessary and consider nominees for election to the Board made by shareholders if the nomination is made in accordance with the Trusts policies regarding shareholder nominations, which are attached to this SAI as Appendix A, review periodically Board governance practices and procedures and, as well as, the responsibilities and charters of each committee of the Board. Ms. Patricia Weiland serves as Chair of the Nominating Committee.
Securities Ownership
Because the Trust and the Fund are newly formed and have yet to commence operations, no Trustees currently hold any equity securities in the Fund or in any registered investment companies overseen by the Trustee within the Funds family of investment companies.
To the Trusts knowledge as of a recent date, the Independent Trustees and their immediate family members do not beneficially own any securities in an investment manager or principal underwriter of the Trust, or a person (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with an investment manager or principal underwriter of the Trust.
Trustees Compensation
The Trustees who are not employees of the Manager or its affiliates receive an annual retainer of $45,000 divided into four quarterly payments for their services as Trustees of the Trust.
16
The following table sets forth approximate information regarding compensation expected to be received by Trustees from the Fund Complex for the Trusts first year of operations. (Interested Trustees who are employees of the Manager or its affiliates and officers of the Trust receive no compensation from the Trust and are compensated in their capacities as employees of the Manager and its affiliates.)
Name of Trustee |
Aggregate
Compensation from the Trust |
Total Compensation
from Trust and Fund Complex to be Paid to Trustee |
||||||
Ryan D. Burns |
$ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||
JoAnn S. Lilek |
$ | 45,000 | $ | 45,000 | ||||
Patricia A. Weiland |
$ | 45,000 | $ | 45,000 | ||||
Lloyd A. Wennlund |
$ | 45,000 | $ | 45,000 | ||||
David M. Whitaker |
$ | 0 | $ | 0 |
The Declaration of Trust provides that the Trust shall indemnify each of its Trustees and officers (including persons who serve at the Trusts request as directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise) against all liabilities and expenses, including but not limited to, amounts reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or disposition of any threatened, pending or contemplated action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative or investigative and whether formal or informal before any court or administrative or legislative or other body, in which they may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise, while in office or thereafter, by reason of any alleged act or omission as a Trustee or officer or by reason of their offices with the Trust, except if it is determined in the manner specified in the Trusts Declaration of Trust, that they (i) have not acted in good faith, (ii) not to have acted in the reasonable belief that their actions were in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust (iii) in the case of a criminal proceeding, to have had reasonable cause to believe his or her action was unlawful or (iv) to be liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such persons office. The Trust, at its expense, provides liability insurance for the benefit of its Trustees and officers.
Additional Information
The Trustees of the Trust oversee generally the operations of the Fund and the Trust. The Trust enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including among others the Funds Manager, custodian, transfer agent and accountants, who provide services to the Fund. Shareholders are not parties to any such contractual arrangements and are not intended third party (or other form of) beneficiaries of those contractual arrangements. The Trusts and the Funds contractual arrangements are not intended to create any shareholder rights to enforce such contracts directly against the service providers or to seek any remedy under those contracts directly against the service providers.
This SAI has been designed to meet the regulatory purpose of providing information concerning the Trust and the Fund that you should consider carefully in determining whether to purchase shares of the Fund. Neither the Prospectus, this SAI, nor the Funds registration statement, is intended, or should be read, to be or to give rise to an agreement or contract between the Trust or the Fund and any shareholder, or to give rise to any rights in any shareholder or other person other than any rights under federal or state law that may not be waived.
THE INVESTMENT MANAGER
Under the terms of an Investment Management Agreement between the Trust and the Manager with respect to the Fund (the Investment Management Agreement) and subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees, Polar Capital LLP (Polar or the Manager) serves as the Funds investment manager and is responsible for managing, either directly or through
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others selected by it, the investments of the Fund. The Managers principal business address is 16 Palace Street, London, SW1E5JD, United Kingdom. Polar Capital LLP is a wholly owned subsidiary of Polar Capital Holdings plc.
Investment Management Agreement. Under an Investment Management Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, and the Manager (the Investment Management Agreement), the Manager, at its expense, provides the Fund with investment advisory and related services and, together with the Administrator (as defined below), advises and assists the officers of the Trust in taking such steps as are necessary or appropriate to carry out the decisions of its Board of Trustees regarding the conduct of business of the Trust and the Fund, and in addition, at its expense, provides the Fund with certain services necessary for the operation of the Fund.
The Investment Management Agreement has been approved by the Board, including the non-interested Trustees and by the initial shareholder of the Fund.
Management Fees. Under the Investment Management Agreement, the Manager is required to provide the Fund with a continuous investment program, including investment research and management with respect to all securities and investments and cash equivalents, in the Fund, in accordance with the investment objective, policies and restrictions of the Fund, and to determine, for the Fund, what securities and other investments shall be purchased, retained or sold, subject always to the provisions of the Trusts Declaration of Trust and By-laws, and of the 1940 Act, and to such policies and instructions as the Trustees may from time to time establish.
For the services provided to the Fund under the Investment Management Agreements, the Fund will pay the Manager a monthly fee based on the Funds average daily net assets of 1.00%.
Expense Limitations and Waivers. The Manager has contractually agreed to waive its fees or reimburse the Fund for certain other expenses (including, but not limited to, organizational and offering costs), to the extent that the Funds Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (exclusive of brokerage costs, interest, taxes, dividends, litigation and indemnification expenses, expenses associated with the investments in underlying investment companies and extraordinary expenses (as determined under generally accepted principles)) exceed (other than Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, interest expense, taxes, custodial credits, transfer agency credits, expense offset arrangements, and extraordinary expenses, which may include non-recurring expenses such as, for example, litigation expenses and shareholder meeting expenses) for the Funds Shares exceed 1.00% of the Funds average daily net assets. Under the Expense Limitation Agreement, the Manager may recoup amounts waived or reimbursed within the three fiscal years following the fiscal year in which the expenses occurred, provided total expenses, including such recoupment, do not exceed the applicable annual expense limit, and further that prior expenses may be recouped only if and to the extent that the expense ratio at the time of such recoupment is less than the annual expense limit in place at the time such expenses were waived or reimbursed. The contractual expense limitation arrangement is expected to continue until at least [March 31, 2022, after which the contractual agreement will be automatically extended for one year periods unless the Manager provides written notice of its intention to terminate the contractual arrangement at least thirty days prior to the end of a one year period. The arrangement may be terminated by the Trust, subject to approval by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, upon ninety days written notice.
The Manager makes available to the Trust, without additional expense to the Trust, investment advisory research and statistical facilities and all clerical services relating to such research, statistical, and investment work.
[Under the Investment Management Agreement, the Trust is responsible for all of its other expenses, which may include clerical salaries not related to investment activities; fees and expenses incurred in connection with membership in investment company organizations; brokers commissions; payment for portfolio pricing services to a pricing agent, if any; legal expenses; auditing expenses; accounting expenses; payments under any distribution plan; shareholder servicing payments; taxes and governmental fees; fees and expenses of the transfer agent and investor servicing agent of the Trust; any expenses, including clerical expenses, incurred in connection with the issue, sale, underwriting, redemption, or repurchase of shares; the expenses of and fees for registering or qualifying securities for sale; the fees and expenses of the Trustees of the Trust who are not affiliated with the Manager; the cost of preparing and distributing reports and notices to shareholders; public and investor relations expenses; and fees and disbursements of custodians of the Funds assets. The Trust is also responsible for its expenses incurred in connection with litigation, proceedings, and claims and the legal obligation it may have to indemnify its officers and Trustees with respect thereto.]
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The Investment Management Agreement provides that the Manager shall not be subject to any liability to the Trust or to any shareholder for any act or inaction of the Manager relating to any event whatsoever, in the absence of bad faith, willful misfeasance or negligence, in the performance of, or the reckless disregard of, its duties or obligations.
The Investment Management Agreement may be terminated as to the Fund at any time (i) on 60 days written notice or (ii) upon material breach by a party of any representations or warranties set forth in the Investment Management Agreement, if such breach has not been cured within 20 days after written notice of such breach, in each case without the payment of any penalty, by the Trust (by vote of the Trusts Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund) or by the Manager. The Trust may terminate the Investment Management Agreement immediately if, in the reasonable judgment of the Trust, the Manager becomes unable to discharge its duties and obligations under the agreement, including circumstances such as insolvency of the Manager or other circumstances that could adversely affect the Fund.
Administrative Services. The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has entered into a Fund Administration and Accounting Services Agreement with The Northern Trust Company (the Administrator), under which the Administrator provides fund accounting and administrative services necessary for the operation of the Fund. The Administrator provides the Fund with office space. The Fund Administration and Accounting Services Agreement is terminable by any party at the end of its initial term or thereafter, at any time, by either party upon at least ninety days prior written notice to the other party.
Under the Administration and Accounting Services Agreement, the Fund will pay the Administrator out of its assets an annual fee as a function of the Funds aggregate net assets. On the first $200 million, a 0.775% fee shall apply; on the next $300 million, a 0.675% fee shall apply; on the next $500 million, a 0.575% fee shall apply, and over $1 billion, a 0.475% fee shall apply.
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
Other Accounts Managed. The following tables provide information about funds and accounts, other than the Fund, for which the Funds portfolio managers are primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management as of [DATE].
Registered Investment
|
Other Pooled Investment
|
Other Accounts |
||||||||||
Number
|
Total Assets |
Number
|
Total Assets |
Number
|
Total Assets |
|||||||
[NAME] |
[ ] | $ [ ] | [ ] | $ [ ] | [ ] | $ [ ] | ||||||
[ ] | $ [ ] | [ ] | $ [ ] | [ ] | $ [ ] | |||||||
(1) |
[ ] | $ [ ] | [ ] | $ [ ] | [ ] | $ [ ] | ||||||
(2) |
[ ] | $ [ ] | [ ] | $ [ ] | [ ] | $ [ ] |
Accounts and Assets for which the Advisory Fee is Based on Performance
Registered Investment
|
Other Pooled Investment
|
Other Accounts |
||||||||||
Number
|
Total Assets |
Number
|
Total Assets |
Number
|
Total Assets |
|||||||
[NAME] |
[ ] | $ [ ] | [ ] | $ [ ] | [ ] | $ [ ] | ||||||
[ ] | $ [ ] | [ ] | $ [ ] | [ ] | $ [ ] | |||||||
[ ] | $ [ ] | [ ] | $ [ ] | [ ] | $ [ ] |
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Material Conflicts of Interest. The following summarizes the policies of the Manager for managing conflicts of interest. It is not intended to provide a comprehensive account of the processes and procedures the Manager has adopted in connection with the management of conflicts of interest, but is instead intended to be a statement of principles through which the Manager seeks to manage such potential conflicts.
Conflicts of interest can arise where: (i) the interests of the Manager conflicts with those of a client (firm vs. client conflicts) and (ii) the interests of one client of the Manager conflicts with those of another of the Managers clients (client vs. client conflicts). The Manager has policies and arrangements in place to identify and manage conflicts of interest that may arise between the Manager and its clients or between the Managers different clients. The Manager has a policy of independence that requires the Managers staff to disregard any personal interest, relationship or arrangement which gives rise to a conflict of interest and to ensure that the interests of clients prevail.
The Manager places significant emphasis on its strong compliance culture, and the efficient operation of systems and controls, to manage issues such as conflicts of interest. The compliance department of the Manager conducts regular monitoring checks to confirm that internal policies and procedures are followed.
Firm vs. client conflicts
Connected entity investment decisions The Manager acts as manager, investment manager, advisor, general partner or subadviser to and may receive different rates of remuneration, including investment management/advisory fees and performance fees from multiple client accounts. While the Manager may make decisions to buy or sell securities or other investments for one account and not another account, which may affect relative performance and hence the value of the Managers remuneration based thereon, the Manager will at all times have regard to its obligations to each client, taking into account such clients investment restrictions and other relevant factors.
Investment as principal The Manager may from time to time take a long-term or short-term position in a client fund, in some cases to provide initial capital and establish a solid platform for the future growth of such client fund. The Manager may also co-invest in an investment alongside a client or client fund, either directly or indirectly, or invest in any entity which forms part of a client funds assets. The Managers return on investment in a client fund will be determined by reference to the investment decisions the Manager makes for such client fund, and in the case of co-investment or other investment, by reference to the change in value of such investment. The Managers policies require that all personal interests, relationships or arrangements, including those of its affiliated companies must be disregarded to ensure that the best interests of all clients are served.
Staff personal investments Certain directors and employees of the Manager or of an affiliated company may hold or deal for their personal account in securities of a client or of any issuer in which securities or investments are held or dealt in on behalf of a client. They may also deal, outside closed periods, in the securities of the ultimate holding company, or, in the case of joint ventures, hold shares or other investments in an affiliated company.
Client vs. client conflicts
Aggregation of transactions in investments The Manager may aggregate purchase and sale transactions in investments (and associated transaction costs) for applicable clients. The applicable clients may have different or similar investment strategies, objectives and restrictions, and they may be structured differently (such as redemption and subscription (or analogous) terms). Accordingly, aggregation may result in different outcomes for certain such clients, for instance in respect of the holding period for an investment, the size of a clients exposure to such investment, and the price at which an investment may be acquired or disposed of. Depending on the circumstances, aggregation may be advantageous or disadvantageous to the client.
Allocation of transactions in investments Aggregated transactions as referred to above, including costs and expenses thereof, are allocated to ensure that the Managers clients have broadly equal access to a similar quality and quantity of suitable investment transactions, taking into account the factors mentioned above, amongst others. The Managers policies further require all allocations to be effected at the same price, but in very limited instances this may not be achievable due to the mechanics of certain markets.
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Transactions between clients The Manager may make decisions for one client to buy or sell units, shares or other investments in other funds, investment companies or other entities to which the Manager or an affiliated company is the manager or investment manager (for example for a fund of fund).
The Manager may in certain circumstances effect a transaction between clients whereby one client buys an asset from another client for reasons that are beneficial to each client, on arms length terms. For example, a transaction between clients may be appropriate when a client fund has an obligation to meet applicable investment restrictions or investor redemption requirements, and where the Manager determines that the investment continues to represent a valid opportunity to generate added value for one or more other clients to acquire the investment.
The Manager has adopted certain compliance procedures that are designed to address these, and other, types of conflicts. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation where a conflict arises.
Notice In providing the above set of principles through which the Manager intends to manage any potential conflicts of interest, the Manager intends that this disclosure should be for guidance only. Accordingly, this disclosure is being provided (to the extent permitted by law) without liability, and in publishing this disclosure the Manager makes no representation or warranty as to how they may act in connection with any particular situation or set of circumstances that may arise in relation to a conflict. This disclosure is not intended to create third party rights or duties that would not already exist if the policy had not been made available, nor is it intended to form part of any contract between the Manager and any client.
Compensation. The Portfolio Managers are compensated by the Manager through salary, healthcare coverage, income protection, death service protection as well gym membership and travel assistance. Salaries are capped and compensation is designed to be variable in nature, rewarding individuals for team, performance and AUM gathering success. Such a mechanism, linking variable compensation to economic success, performance and the value of the assets managed, is designed to align the interests of such investment professionals with those of the Fund and its shareholders and to avoid conflicts. Non-salary benefits are designed to be in the top tier of benefits available. [The determination of a portfolio managers total compensation involves a thorough and on-going assessment of the individuals performance and contribution to the Managers results. This assessment is performed on a continuous basis, as well as through a formal annual review.]
Ownership of Securities. The Fund is a newly-organized investment company. Accordingly, as of the date of this SAI, the Portfolio Managers did not beneficially own any securities issued by the Fund.
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICE
Selection of Brokers. The Manager, in selecting brokers to effect transactions on behalf of the Fund, seeks to obtain the best execution available.
Allocation. The Manager may deem the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interests of the Fund as well as other clients of the Manager. In such cases, the Manager may, but is under no obligation to, aggregate all such transactions in order to seek the most favorable price or lower brokerage commissions and efficient execution. Orders are normally allocated on a pro rata basis, except that in certain circumstances, such as the small size of an issue, orders will be allocated among clients in a manner believed by the Manager to be fair and equitable over time.
Brokerage and Research Services. Certain transactions involve the payment by the Fund of negotiated brokerage commissions. The Manager may determine to pay a particular broker varying commissions according to such factors as the difficulty and size of the transaction. Transactions in foreign securities often involve the payment of fixed brokerage commissions, which are generally higher than those in the United States, and therefore certain portfolio transaction costs may be higher than the costs for similar transactions executed on U.S. securities exchanges. There is generally no stated commission in the case of debt securities or securities traded in the over-the-counter markets, but the price paid by the Fund usually includes an undisclosed dealer commission or mark-up. In underwritten offerings, the price paid by the Fund includes a disclosed, fixed commission or discount retained by the underwriter or dealer.
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The Manager places all orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities and buys and sells securities through a substantial number of brokers and dealers. In so doing, it uses its best efforts to obtain the best execution available. In seeking the best price and execution, the Manager considers all factors it deems relevant, including price, the size of the transaction, the nature of the market for the security, the amount of the commission, the timing of the transaction (taking into account market prices and trends), the reputation, experience and financial stability of the broker-dealer involved, and the quality of service rendered by the broker-dealer in other transactions.
It has for many years been a common practice in the investment advisory business for advisers of investment companies and other institutional investors to receive research, statistical, and quotation services from several broker-dealers that execute portfolio transactions for the clients of such advisers. Consistent with this practice, the Manager receives research, statistical and quotation services from many broker-dealers with which it places the Funds portfolio transactions. These services, which in some cases may also be purchased for cash, include such matters as general economic and security market reviews, industry and company reviews, evaluations of securities and recommendations as to the purchase and sale of securities. Some of these services are of value to the Manager and its affiliates in advising various of their clients (including the Trust), although not all of these services are necessarily useful and of value in managing to every client, including the Fund. The investment advisory fee paid by the Fund is not reduced because the Manager and its affiliates receive such services.
As permitted by Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Securities Exchange Act), and by the Investment Management Agreement, the Manager may cause the Fund to pay a broker that provides brokerage and research services to the Manager an amount of disclosed commission for effecting a securities transaction for the Fund in excess of the commission that another broker would have charged for effecting that transaction. The Managers authority to cause the Fund to pay any such greater commissions is also subject to such policies as the Trustees may adopt from time to time.
The amount of brokerage commissions and fees paid by the Fund may vary substantially from year to year due to differences in shareholder purchase and redemption activity, portfolio turnover rates and other factors.
DISTRIBUTION OF TRUST SHARES
Distributor and Distribution Contract
The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has entered into a distribution agreement (the Distribution Agreement) under which Foreside Financial Services, LLC (FFS or the Distributor)], with principal offices at Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101, as agent, distributes the shares of the Fund on a continuous basis. FFS continually distributes shares of the Fund on a best efforts basis. FFS has no obligation to sell any specific quantity of Fund shares. FFS and its officers have no role in determining the investment policies or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Trust. The Manager pays the cost of printing and distributing prospectuses to persons who are not shareholders of the Trust (excluding preparation and typesetting expenses) and of certain other distribution efforts. No compensation is payable by the Trust to FFS for such distribution services. However, the Manager has entered into an agreement (the Distribution Services Agreement) with FFS under which it makes payments to FFS in consideration for certain distribution related services. The payments made by the Manager to FFS under the Distribution Services Agreement do not represent an additional expense to the Trust or its shareholders. The Distribution Agreement provides that the Trust will indemnify FFS against certain liabilities relating to untrue statements or omissions of material fact except those resulting from the reliance on information furnished to the Trust by FFS, or those resulting from the willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence of FFS, or FFSs breach of confidentiality.
SHARE PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS
The Trust reserves the right, on 30 days written notice, to redeem the shares held in any account if at the time of redemption, the NAV of the remaining shares in the account falls below $1,000. Such involuntary redemptions will not be made if the value of shares in an account falls below the minimum solely because of a decline in the Funds NAV. The Trust also may involuntarily redeem shares held by any shareholder who provides incorrect or incomplete account information or when such redemptions are necessary to avoid adverse consequences to the Fund and its shareholders or the Transfer Agent.
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Additionally, subject to applicable law, the Trust reserves the right to involuntarily redeem an account at the Funds then current NAV, in cases of disruptive conduct, suspected fraudulent or illegal activity, inability to verify the identity of an investor, or in other circumstances where redemption is determined to be in the best interest of the Trust and its shareholders.
The Trust, Northern Trust and their agents also reserve the right, without notice, to freeze any account and/or suspend account services when: (i) notice has been received of a dispute regarding the assets in an account, or a legal claim against an account; (ii) upon initial notification to Northern Trust of a shareholders death until Northern Trust receives required documentation in correct form; or (iii) if there is reason to believe a fraudulent transaction may occur or has occurred.
Other Information Regarding Purchases and Redemptions
The Distributor does not provide investment advice and will not accept any responsibility for your selection of investments in the Fund as it does not have access to the information necessary to assess your financial situation.
Pursuant to provisions of agreements between the Distributor and participating brokers, introducing brokers, service organizations and other financial intermediaries (together, intermediaries) that offer and sell shares and/or process transactions in shares of the Fund, intermediaries are required to engage in such activities in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and in accordance with the terms of the Prospectus and this SAI. Among other obligations, to the extent an intermediary has actual knowledge of violations of Fund policies (as set forth in the then current Prospectus and this SAI) regarding (i) the timing of purchase or redemption orders and pricing of Fund shares, or (ii) market timing or excessive short-term trading, the intermediary is required to report such known violations promptly to the Trust by calling [PHONE NUMBER].
Shares of the Fund may not be qualified or registered for sale in all States. Prospective investors should inquire as to whether shares of the Fund, or class of shares thereof, are available for offer and sale in their State of domicile or residence. Shares of the Fund may not be offered or sold in any State unless registered or qualified in that jurisdiction, unless an exemption from registration or qualification is available.
Share purchases are accepted subject to collection of checks at full value and conversion into federal funds. Payment by a check drawn on any member of the Federal Reserve System can normally be converted into federal funds within five business days after receipt of the check. Checks drawn on a non-member bank may take up to 15 days to convert into federal funds. In all cases, the purchase price is based on the net asset value next determined after the purchase order and check are accepted, even though the check may not yet have been converted into federal funds.
The Trust reserves the right to require payment by wire or official U.S. bank check. The Trust generally does not accept payments made by cash, money order, temporary/starter checks, credit cards, travelers checks, credit card checks, or checks drawn on non-U.S. banks even if payment may be effected through a U.S. bank.
You may connect your Fund account(s) with a bank account for subsequent purchases, redemptions and other transactions in Fund shares. Such arrangements must be requested on your Account Application. To link to your bank account, you may need to have all shareholders of record sign the Account Application and have those signatures guaranteed. See Signature Guarantee below. Trading privileges will apply to each shareholder of record for the account unless and until the transfer agent receives written instructions from a shareholder of record canceling such privileges. Changes of bank account information must be made by completing a new application signed by all owners of record of the account, with all signatures guaranteed. The Trust and the transfer agent may rely on any telephone instructions believed to be genuine and will not be responsible to shareholders for any damage, loss or expenses arising out of such instructions. The Trust reserves the right to amend, suspend or discontinue any such arrangements at any time without prior notice. You cannot link your bank account if you hold your shares of the Fund through a broker in a street name account or in other omnibus accounts.
Signature Guarantee. When a signature guarantee is called for as described in the Prospectus, a medallion signature guarantee will be required. The Stamp 2000 Medallion Guarantee is the only acceptable form of guarantee. Signature guarantees from financial institutions that are not participating in the Stamp 2000 Medallion Guarantee program will not be accepted. A shareholder can obtain this signature guarantee from a commercial bank, savings bank, credit union, or broker-dealer that participates in this program. The Trust reserves the right to modify its signature guarantee standards at any time upon notice to shareholders, which may, but is not required to, be given by means of a new or supplemented Prospectus.
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Shareholders should contact the Trusts transfer agent for additional details regarding the Trusts signature guarantee requirements.
Account Registration Changes. Changes in registration or account privileges may be made in writing to the Trusts transfer agent. Signature guarantees may be required. See Signature Guarantee above. All correspondence must include the account number and must be sent to:
REGULAR MAIL
Polar Capital Emerging Market Stars Fund c/o The Northern Trust Company PO Box 4766 Chicago, IL 60680-4766 |
OVERNIGHT OR EXPRESS MAIL
Polar Capital Emerging Market Stars Fund c/o The Northern Trust Company 333 S. Wabash Avenue Attn: Funds Center, Floor 38 Chicago, IL 60604 |
Transfer on Death Registration. The Trust may accept transfer on death (TOD) registration requests from investors. The laws of a state selected by the Trust in accordance with the Uniform TOD Security Registration Act will govern the registration. The Trust may require appropriate releases and indemnifications from investors as a prerequisite for permitting TOD registration. The Trust may from time to time change these requirements (including by changes to the determination as to which states law governs TOD registration.
Special Arrangements of Financial Intermediaries. Brokers, dealers, banks and other financial intermediaries provide varying arrangements for their clients to purchase, exchange and redeem Fund shares. Some may establish higher minimum investment requirements than specified in the Prospectus or this SAI. Financial intermediaries may arrange with their clients for other investment or administrative services and may independently establish and charge transaction fees and/or other additional amounts to their clients for such services, which charges would reduce clients return. Financial intermediaries also may hold Fund shares in nominee or street name as agent for and on behalf of their customers. In such instances, the Trusts transfer agent will have no information with respect to or control over accounts of specific shareholders. Such shareholders may obtain access to their accounts and information about their accounts only from their financial intermediary. In addition, certain privileges with respect to the purchase, exchange and redemption of Fund shares or the reinvestment of dividends may not be available through such firms. Some firms may participate in a program allowing them access to their clients accounts for servicing including, without limitation, transfers of registration and dividend payee changes; and may perform functions such as generation of confirmation statements and disbursement of cash dividends.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
Equity securities (including options, rights, warrants, futures, and options on futures) traded in the over-the-counter market or on a primary exchange shall be valued at the closing price or last trade price, as applicable, as determined by the primary exchange. If no sale occurred on the valuation date, the securities will be valued at the latest quotations available from the designated pricing vendor as of the closing of the primary exchange. Securities for which quotations are either (1) not readily available or (2) determined to not accurately reflect their value are valued at their fair value using procedures set forth herein. Significant bid-ask spreads, or infrequent trading may indicate a lack of readily available market quotations. Securities traded on more than one exchange will first be valued at the last sale price on the principal exchange, and then the secondary exchange. The NASD National Market System is considered an exchange. Mutual fund investments will be valued at the most recently calculated (current day) NAV. In the event an approved pricing service is unable to provide a readily available quotation, as outlined above, the fund accountant will contact the Manager and ask them to provide an alternative source, such as a broker who covers the security and can provide a daily market quotation. The appropriateness of the alternative source, such as the continued use of the broker, will be reviewed and ratified quarterly by the Fair Value Committee (FVC). Securities for which quotations are (1) not readily available, (2) not provided by an approved pricing service or broker, or (3) determined to not accurately reflect their value, are valued by the FVC using the following procedures.
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Foreign securities, currencies and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate of such currencies against the U.S. Dollar, as of valuation time, as provided by an independent pricing service approved by the Board.
Fixed income securities will be valued at the latest quotations available from the designated pricing vendor. These quotations will be derived by an approved independent pricing service based on their proprietary calculation models. These securities are considered to be fair valued; however, because the prices are provided by an independent approved pricing service, the fair value procedures need not be applied. In the event that market quotations are not readily available for short-term debt instruments, securities with less than 61 days to maturity may be valued at amortized cost as long as there are no credit or other impairments of the issuer.
A significant event is defined as an event that has materially affected the value of a Funds securities. When determining whether a significant event has occurred, there must be a reasonably high degree of certainty that an event actually has caused the closing market price of the securities to no longer reflect their value at the time set for the Funds NAV calculation. There also should be a reasonably high degree of certainty regarding how the event has affected the value of the securities. In addition, the need to assess the impact of any significant events arises only when the event occurs after the close of the relevant market or cessation of trading in the particular security but before the Funds closing (normally 4:00pm ET). Any significant event that occurs while trading is ongoing in the affected security prior to the Funds closing will be reflected in its market price.
Once it has been determined that a significant event has taken place, the FVC will make a determination of the fair value price for the impacted securities. A list of factors that may be relevant in determining the value of securities include: type of security, financial statements, cost basis; fundamental analytical data relating to the investment and the market; nature and duration of any restrictions on disposition of the securities; forces that influence the market in which the securities are purchased or sold; discount from market value for unrestricted securities of the same class from the same issuer at the time of purchase for restricted securities; existence of registration rights on restricted securities; existence of merger proposals or tender offers or other types of exit strategies that could affect the value of the securities; volume and depth of public trading in similar securities of the issuer or similar companies; expectation of additional news about the company, expectation of court action, market activity, or government intervention; past experience and other market and industry factors/information available; conventional wisdom regarding the long-term outlook of the issuer and other relevant information.
[TAXES
The following summarizes certain additional tax considerations generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders that are not described in the Prospectus. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Fund or its shareholders, and the discussions here and in the Prospectus are not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Potential investors should consult their tax advisers with specific reference to their own tax situations.
The discussions of the federal tax consequences in the Prospectuses and this SAI are based on the Code and the regulations issued under it, and court decisions and administrative interpretations, as in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly alter the statements included herein, and any such changes or decisions may be retroactive.
FEDERALGENERAL INFORMATION
The Fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of Subtitle A, Chapter 1, of the Code. As a regulated investment company, the Fund generally is exempt from federal income tax on its net investment income and realized capital gains which it distributes to shareholders. To qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, it must meet three important tests each year.
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First, the Fund must derive with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, other income derived with respect to the Funds business of investing in stock, securities or currencies, or net income derived from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships.
Second, generally, at the close of each quarter of the Funds taxable year, at least 50% of the value of each Funds assets must consist of cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and securities of other issuers as to which (a) the Fund has not invested more than 5% of the value of its total assets in securities of the issuer and (b) the Fund does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer, and no more than 25% of the value of each Funds total assets may be invested in the securities of (1) any one issuer (other than U.S. government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies), (2) two or more issuers that the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or (3) one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships (including MLPs).
Third, the Fund must distribute an amount equal to at least the sum of 90% of its investment company taxable income (net investment income and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss), before taking into account any deduction for dividends paid, and 90% of its tax-exempt income, if any, for the year.
The Fund intends to comply with these requirements. If the Fund were to fail to make sufficient distributions, it could be liable for corporate income tax and for excise tax in respect of the shortfall or, if the shortfall is large enough, the Fund could be disqualified as a regulated investment company. If for any taxable year the Fund were not to qualify as a regulated investment company, all its taxable income would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders. In that event, taxable shareholders would recognize dividend income on distributions (including distributions attributable to tax-exempt income) to the extent of the Funds current and accumulated earnings and profits, and corporate shareholders could be eligible for the dividends-received deduction.
The Code imposes a non-deductible 4% excise tax on regulated investment companies that fail to currently distribute an amount equal to specified percentages of their ordinary taxable income with certain modifications and capital gain net income (excess of capital gains over capital losses) before taking into account any deduction for dividends paid, by the end of each calendar year. The Fund intends to make sufficient distributions or deemed distributions of its ordinary taxable income and capital gain net income each calendar year to avoid liability for this excise tax.
For federal income tax purposes, the Fund is permitted to carry forward a net capital loss to offset its own capital gains, if any, during the eight years following the year of the loss. These amounts are available to be carried forward to offset future capital gains to the extent permitted by the Code and applicable tax regulations.
STATE AND LOCAL TAXES
Although the Fund expects to qualify as a regulated investment company and to be relieved of all or substantially all federal income taxes, depending upon the extent of its activities in states and localities in which its offices are maintained, in which its agents or independent contractors are located or in which it is otherwise deemed to be conducting business, the Fund may be subject to the tax laws of such states or localities.
Many states grant tax-free status to dividends paid to shareholders of a fund from interest income earned by that fund from direct obligations of the U.S. government, subject in some states to minimum investment requirements that must be met by the fund. Investments in securities issued by Ginnie Mae or Fannie Mae, bankers acceptances, commercial paper and repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. Government securities do not generally qualify for tax-free treatment.
FOREIGN TAXES
The Fund may be subject to foreign withholding or foreign taxes on income, including dividends and interest received from sources in foreign countries or gain from certain foreign securities. If more than 50% of the value of the total assets
26
of the Fund consists of stocks and securities (including debt securities) of foreign corporations at the close of a taxable year, the Fund may elect, for federal income tax purposes, to treat certain foreign taxes paid or deemed paid by it, including generally any withholding and other foreign income taxes, as paid by its shareholders.
QUALIFIED DIVIDEND INCOME
Distributions by the Fund of investment company taxable income (excluding any short-term capital gains) whether received in cash or shares will be taxable either as ordinary income or as qualified dividend income, eligible for the reduced maximum rate to individuals of 20% to the extent the Fund receives qualified dividend income on the securities it holds and the Fund designates the distribution as qualified dividend income.
Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain foreign corporations (e.g., foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, or the stock of which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income to the extent that: (i) the shareholder has not held the shares on which the dividend was paid for more than 60 days during the 121-day period that begins on the date that is 60 days before the date on which the shares become ex dividend with respect to such dividend (and the Fund also satisfies those holding period requirements with respect to the securities it holds that paid the dividends distributed to the shareholder); (ii) the shareholder is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to substantially similar or related property; or (iii) the shareholder elects to treat such dividend as investment income under section 163(d)(4)(B) of the Code. Distributions by the Fund of its net short-term capital gains will be taxable as ordinary income. Capital gain distributions consisting of the Funds net capital gains will be taxable as long-term capital gains except to the extent of any unrecaptured section 1250 gains which are taxed at a maximum rate of 25%.
CORPORATE DIVIDENDS RECEIVED DEDUCTION
The Funds dividends that are paid to its corporate shareholders and are attributable to qualifying dividends it received from U.S. domestic corporations may be eligible, in the hands of such shareholders, for the corporate dividends received deduction, subject to certain holding period requirements and debt financing limitations.
TAXATION OF INCOME FROM CERTAIN FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND PFICS
The tax principles applicable to transactions in financial instruments, including futures contracts and options, that may be engaged in by the Fund, and investments in passive foreign investment companies (PFICs), are complex and, in some cases, uncertain. Such transactions and investments may cause the Fund to recognize taxable income prior to the receipt of cash, thereby requiring the Fund to liquidate other positions, or to borrow money, so as to make sufficient distributions to shareholders to avoid corporate-level tax. Moreover, some or all of the taxable income recognized may be ordinary income or short-term capital gain, so that the distributions may be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Additionally, they may generate items of tax preference or adjustment for the alternative minimum tax that may be allocable to the shareholder.
In addition, in the case of any shares of a PFIC in which the Fund invests, the Fund may be liable for corporate-level tax on any ultimate gain or distributions on the shares if the Fund fails to make an election to recognize income annually during the period of its ownership of the shares.]
CUSTODIAN
The Northern Trust Company (the Custodian), PO Box 4766, Chicago, IL 60680-4766, is the custodian of the assets of the Fund. The Custodians responsibilities include safeguarding and controlling the Funds cash and securities, handling the receipt and delivery of securities, and collecting interest and dividends on the Funds investments. The Custodian does not determine the investment policies of the Fund or decide which securities the Fund will buy or sell.
TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT
27
The Northern Trust Company (the Transfer Agent), PO Box 4766, Chicago, IL 60680-4766, is the Trusts registrar, transfer agent, and dividend disbursing agent. The Transfer Agent processes purchase and redemption orders, maintains records of Fund shareholders, and disburses dividends and other distributions.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
[______], the Trusts independent registered public accounting firm, provides audit services, and tax compliance and tax consulting services. Its address is [ADDRESS].
CODE OF ETHICS
The Trust, its Manager and Foreside Financial Group, LLC, on behalf of Foreside Fund Services, LLC (FFS or the Distributor), an unaffiliated principal underwriter of the Trust, have adopted codes of ethics (the Codes of Ethics) under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act. The Codes of Ethics permit personnel, subject to the Codes of Ethics and their provisions, to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Trust.
[PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures. The Fund has delegated the responsibility for voting proxies to the Manager, subject to the Boards continuing oversight. The Managers Proxy Voting Policy seeks to ensure that Fund proxies are voted consistently and in the best economic interests of the Fund. The Manager considers each proxy individually, on a case-by-case basis.
Where a proxy proposal raises a material conflict between the Managers interests and the Funds interests, the Manager will resolve the conflict as follows:
|
The Manager will convene an internal group of senior employees of the Manager who are independent from the conflict of interest at issue, and after review of the issue and any associated documentation, the internal group will propose a course of action that they determine is in the best interest of the applicable Client(s) of the Manager. |
|
For material conflicts of interest, the internal group may take, but is not limited to, the following courses of action: |
○ |
The Manager may consult with the Board of Directors for a course of action; |
○ |
The Manager may vote in accordance with the recommendation of its proxy voting service provider; |
○ |
The Manager may seek Client consent for the vote recommended by the Portfolio Manager; |
○ |
The Manager may engage an independent third party to provide a recommendation on how to vote the proxy; or |
○ |
The Manager may abstain from voting the proxy. |
In certain instances, the Manager may elect not to vote a proxy or otherwise be unable to vote a proxy on the Funds behalf. Such instances may include but are not limited to a de minimis number of shares held, potential adverse impact on the Funds portfolio of voting such proxy (e.g., share blocking or short-term prohibitions on selling the issuers shares after the vote), or logistical or other considerations related to non-U.S. issuers (e.g., where an investment companys legal structure may not be recognized in the relevant jurisdiction). In addition, the Manager generally will not seek to recall securities that are out on loan for the purpose of voting the securities unless it is in the Funds best interests to do so.]
The Fund will file Form N-PX, with the Funds complete proxy voting record for the most-recent twelve months ended [FYE]. The Funds Form N-PX is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll- free (800) 982-4372 and on the SECs web site at www.sec.gov.
LEGAL COUNSEL
Ropes & Gray LLP, Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02199-3600, serves as counsel to the Trust.
28
SHAREHOLDER LIABILITY
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust. However, the Trusts Declaration of Trust disclaims shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Trust. The Trusts Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification out of the relevant Funds property for all loss and expense of any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of such Fund. Thus, the risk of a shareholders incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which the Fund would be unable to meet its obligations.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Funds initial audited financial statements are attached as Appendix [ ].
29
PART C
OTHER INFORMATION
Item 28. Exhibits.
(a) |
Articles of Incorporation. |
(i) |
Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated February 28, 2020 which is filed herewith |
(ii) |
Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated March 3, 2020 which is filed herewith. |
(b) |
By-Laws. |
(i) |
By-Laws dated February 28, 2020 which is filed herewith. |
(c) |
Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holder. None other than in the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the Registrant. |
(i) |
Article III (Shares) and Article V (Shareholders Voting Powers and Meetings) of the Amended & Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust |
(ii) |
Article 9 (Issuance of Shares and Share Certificates) of the Amended & Restated By-laws |
(d) |
Investment Advisory Contracts. |
(i) |
Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Polar Capital LLP dated March 3, 2020 which is filed herewith. |
(e) |
Underwriting Contracts. |
(i) |
Form of Distribution Agreement between Registrant, on behalf of Polar Capital Emerging Market Stars Fund, and Foreside Financial Services, LLC and Form of Dealer Agreement which is filed herewith. |
(ii) |
Form of Distribution Services Agreement between Polar Capital LLP and Foreside Financial Services, LLC which is filed herewith. |
(f) |
Bonus or Profit Sharing Contracts. None. |
(g) |
Custodial Agreement. |
(i) |
Custody Agreement between Registrant, on behalf of Polar Capital Emerging Market Stars Fund, and The Northern Trust Company dated March 3, 2020 which is filed herewith. |
(h) |
Other Material Contracts. |
(i) |
Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between Registrant, on behalf of Polar Capital Emerging Market Stars Fund, and The Northern Trust Company dated March 3, 2020 which is filed herewith. |
(ii) |
Form of Fund Officer Agreement between Registrant, on behalf of Polar Capital Emerging Market Stars Fund, and Foreside Fund Officer Services, LLC which is filed herewith. |
(iii) |
Form of Expense Limitation Agreement between Registrant and Polar Capital LLP, on behalf of Polar Capital Emerging Market Stars Fund, which is filed herewith. |
(iv) |
Fund Administration and Accounting Services Agreement between Registrant, on behalf of Polar Capital Emerging Market Stars Fund, and The Northern Trust Company dated March 3, 2020 which is filed herewith. |
(i) |
Legal Opinion and Consent. |
(i) |
Legal Opinion of Ropes & Gray LLP to be filed by amendment. |
(ii) |
Legal Consent to be filed by amendment. |
(j) |
Other Opinions. None |
(k) |
Omitted Financial Statements. None. |
(l) |
Initial Capital Agreements. |
(i) |
Subscription Agreement between the Registrant and the Initial Investor to be filed by amendment. |
(m) |
Rule 12b-1 Plan. None. |
(n) |
Rule 18f-3 Plan. None. |
(o) |
Reserved. |
(p) |
Code of Ethics. |
(i) |
Registrants Code of Ethics dated March 3, 2020 which is filed herewith. |
(ii) |
Polar Capital LLP Code of Ethics dated January 2020 which is filed herewith. |
(iii) |
Foreside Financial Group, LLC Code of Ethics dated January 10, 2020 which is filed herewith. |
(q) |
Powers of Attorney. |
(i) |
Power of Attorney for Ryan D. Burns. |
(ii) |
Power of Attorney for JoAnn S. Lilek. |
(iii) |
Power of Attorney for Patricia A. Weiland. |
(iv) |
Power of Attorney for Lloyd A. Wennlund. |
(v) |
Power of Attorney for David M. Whitaker. |
Item 29. Control Persons. None.
Item 30. Indemnification.
Reference is made to Article VIII of the Registrants Agreement and Declaration of Trust. The application of these provisions is limited by the following undertaking set forth in the rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission:
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in such Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in such Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. The Registrant may maintain a standard mutual fund and investment advisory professional and directors and officers liability policy. The policy, if maintained, would provide coverage to the Registrant, its Trustees and officers, and could cover its advisers, among others. Coverage under the policy would include losses by reason of any act, error, omission, misstatement, misleading statement, neglect or breach of duty.
Item 31. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser.
Polar Capital LLP, 16 Palace Street, London, SW1E 5JD, United Kingdom is registered as an investment adviser. Additional information about the adviser and its officers is incorporated by reference to the Statement of Additional Information filed herewith, and the advisers Form ADV, file number 801-64644. Neither the adviser, nor its officers or directors, have engaged in another business of a substantial nature during the last two years.
Item 32. Principal Underwriter.
(a) Foreside Financial Services, LLC (the Distributor) serves as principal underwriter for the following investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended:
1. |
13D Activist Fund, Series of Northern Lights Fund Trust |
2. |
AAMA Equity Fund, Series of Asset Management Fund |
3. |
AAMA Income Fund, Series of Asset Management Fund |
4. |
Advisers Investment Trust |
5. |
BMO Funds, Inc. |
6. |
BMO LGM Frontier Markets Equity Fund |
7. |
Boston Trust Walden Funds (f/k/a The Boston Trust & Walden Funds) |
8. |
Cook & Bynum Funds Trust |
9. |
Diamond Hill Funds |
10. |
Driehaus Mutual Funds |
11. |
FlowStone Opportunity Fund |
12. |
FNEX Ventures |
13. |
Praxis Mutual Funds |
14. |
Rimrock Funds Trust |
15. |
SA Funds Investment Trust |
16. |
Sequoia Funds, Inc. |
(b) The following are the Officers and Manager of the Distributor. The Distributors main business address is Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101.
Name |
Address |
Positions and Offices with Underwriter |
Positions and Offices with Registrant |
|||
Richard J. Berthy | Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101 | President, Treasurer and Manager | None | |||
Mark A. Fairbanks | Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101 | Vice President | None | |||
Jennifer K. DiValerio | 899 Cassatt Road, 400 Berwyn Park, Suite 110, Berwyn, PA 19312 | Vice President | None | |||
Susan K. Moscaritolo | 899 Cassatt Road, 400 Berwyn Park, Suite 110, Berwyn, PA 19312 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer | None | |||
Jennifer E. Hoopes | Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101 | Secretary | None |
(c) Not applicable.
Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records.
Accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended and the Rules promulgated thereunder will be maintained by the Registrant at 50 S. LaSalle St., Chicago, IL 60603; the Registrants administrator, transfer agent, fund accounting agent, and custodian, The Northern Trust Company, 50 S. LaSalle St., Chicago, IL 60603; the Registrants compliance and financial control services service provider, Foreside Fund Officer Services, LLC, 690 Taylor Road, Suite 210, Gahanna, Ohio 43230; the Registrants distributor, Foreside Financial Services, LLC, LLC, Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101; Polar Capital LLP, 16 Palace Street, London, SW1E 5JD, United Kingdom for certain records of the Fund advised by Polar Capital LLP.
Item 34. Management Services. Not applicable.
Item 35. Undertakings. None
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this registration statement on Form N-1A to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Chicago, and State of Illinois, on the 10th day of March, 2020.
Datum One Series Trust | ||
By: |
/s/ Barbara J. Nelligan |
|
Barbara J. Nelligan, President |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By: |
/s/ Barbara J. Nelligan |
|
Barbara J. Nelligan, as Attorney-in-Fact |
* |
Pursuant to Power of Attorney. |
Exhibit Index
1. | Agreement and Declaration of Trust | Ex. (a)(i) | ||
2. | Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust | Ex. (a)(ii) | ||
3. | By-Laws | Ex. (b)(i) | ||
4. | Investment Advisory Agreement | Ex. (d)(i) | ||
5. | Form of Distribution Agreement and Form of Dealer Agreement | Ex. (e)(i) | ||
6. | Form of Distribution Services Agreement | Ex. (e)(ii) | ||
7. | Custody Agreement | Ex. (g)(i) | ||
8. | Transfer Agency and Service Agreement | Ex. (h)(i) | ||
9. | Form of Fund Officer Agreement | Ex. (h)(ii) | ||
10. | Expense Limitation Agreement | Ex. (h)(iii) | ||
11. | Fund Administration and Accounting Services Agreement | Ex. (h)(iv) | ||
12. | Code of Ethics of the Registrant | Ex. (p)(i) | ||
13. | Code of Ethics of the Adviser | Ex. (p)(ii) | ||
14. | Code of Ethics of the Distributor | Ex. (p)(iii) | ||
15. | Power of Attorney for Ryan D. Burns | Ex. (q)(i) | ||
16. | Power of Attorney for JoAnn S. Lilek | Ex. (q)(ii) | ||
17. | Power of Attorney for Patricia A. Weiland | Ex. (q)(iii) | ||
18. | Power of Attorney for Lloyd A. Wennlund | Ex. (q)(iv) | ||
19. | Power of Attorney for David M. Whitaker | Ex. (q)(v) |
Exhibit (a)(i)
DATUM ONE SERIES TRUST
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
This AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST made at Boston, Massachusetts, on this 28 day of February, 2020, by the Trustees hereunder and by the holders of shares of beneficial interest issued hereunder and to be issued hereunder as hereinafter provided:
WITNESSETH that:
WHEREAS, this Trust has been formed to carry on the business of an investment company; and
WHEREAS, the Trustees have agreed to manage all property coming into their hands as trustees of a Massachusetts voluntary association with transferable shares in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby declare that they will hold all cash, securities and other assets, which they may from time to time acquire in any manner as Trustees hereunder IN TRUST to manage and dispose of the same upon the following terms and conditions for the benefit of the holders from time to time of Shares in this Trust as hereinafter set forth.
ARTICLE I
Name and Definitions
Section 1. Name. This Trust shall be known as Datum One Series Trust and the Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under that name or any other name as they may from time to time determine.
Section 2. Definitions. Whenever used herein, unless otherwise required by the context or specifically provided:
(a) The Trust refers to the Massachusetts business trust established by this Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended or restated from time to time;
(b) Trustees refers to the Trustees of the Trust named in Article IV hereof or elected in accordance with such Article IV;
(c) Shares means the equal proportionate transferable units of interest into which the beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time or, if more than one series or class of Shares is authorized by the Trustees, the equal proportionate transferable units into which each series or class of Shares shall be divided from time to time;
(d) Shareholder means a record owner of Shares;
(e) The 1940 Act refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules and Regulations thereunder, all as amended from time to time;
1
(f) The terms Affiliated Person, Assignment, Commission, Interested Person, Principal Underwriter and Majority Shareholder Vote (the 67% or 50% requirement of the third sentence of Section 2(a)(42) of the 1940 Act, whichever may be applicable) shall have the meanings given them in the 1940 Act (as modified by any applicable exemptive order issued thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission);
(g) Declaration of Trust shall mean this Agreement and Declaration of Trust as amended or restated from time to time;
(h) Bylaws shall mean the Bylaws of the Trust as amended or restated from time to time;
(i) The term series or series of Shares refers to the one or more separate investment portfolios of the Trust into which the assets and liabilities of the Trust may be divided and the Shares of the Trust representing the beneficial interest of Shareholders in such respective portfolios; and
(j) The term class or class of Shares refers to the division of Shares representing any series into two or more classes as provided in Article III, Section 1 hereof.
ARTICLE II
Purpose of Trust
The purpose of the Trust is to provide investors a managed investment primarily in securities, debt instruments and other instruments and rights of a financial character.
ARTICLE III
Shares
Section 1. Division of Beneficial Interest. The number of Shares authorized shall be unlimited. The Shares of the Trust shall be issued in one or more series as the Trustees may, from time to time and without shareholder approval, authorize. Each series shall be preferred over all other series in respect of the assets allocated to that series within the meaning of the 1940 Act and shall represent a separate investment portfolio of the Trust. The beneficial interest in each series shall at all times be divided into Shares, without par value unless otherwise determined by the Trustees, each of which shall, except as provided in the following sentence, represent an equal proportionate interest in the series with each other Share of the same series, none having priority or preference over another. The Trustees may, from time to time and without Shareholder approval, divide the Shares of any series into two or more classes, Shares of each such class having such preferences and special or relative rights and privileges (including conversion rights, if any) as the Trustees may determine and as shall be set forth in this Declaration of Trust or in the Bylaws. The Trustees may, without Shareholder approval, from time to time divide or combine the Shares of any series or class into a greater or lesser number without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interest in the series or class. The Trustees may also, without shareholder approval, from time to time combine the Shares or two or more classes of any series into a single class, or combine the shares of two or more series into a single series.
2
Section 2. Ownership of Shares. The ownership of Shares shall be recorded on the books of the Trust or a transfer or similar agent. No certificates certifying the ownership of Shares shall be issued except as the Trustees may otherwise determine from time to time. The Trustees may make such rules as they consider appropriate for the issuance of Share certificates, the retirement of Share certificates, the transfer of Shares and similar matters. The record books of the Trust as kept by the Trust or any transfer or similar agent, as the case may be, shall be conclusive as to who are the Shareholders of each series and class and as to the number of Shares of each series and class held from time to time by each Shareholder.
Section 3. Investment in the Trust. The Trustees shall accept investments in the Trust from such persons and on such terms and for such consideration, which may consist of cash or tangible or intangible property or a combination thereof, as they or the Bylaws from time to time authorize.
Section 4. No Preemptive Rights. Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other right to subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by the Trust.
Section 5. Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability. Shares shall be deemed to be personal property giving only the rights provided in this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws. Every Shareholder by virtue of having become a Shareholder shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms of this Declaration of Trust and the Bylaws and to have become a party thereto. The death of a Shareholder during the continuance of the Trust shall not operate to terminate the same nor entitle the representative of any deceased Shareholder to an accounting or to take any action in court or elsewhere against the Trust or the Trustees, but only to the rights of said decedent under this Trust. Ownership of Shares shall not entitle the Shareholder to any title in or to the whole or any part of the Trust property or right to call for a partition or division of the same or for an accounting, nor shall the ownership of Shares constitute the Shareholders partners. Neither the Trust nor the Trustees, nor any officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall have any power to bind personally any Shareholder, nor except as specifically provided herein to call upon any Shareholder for the payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever other than such as the Shareholder may at any time personally agree to pay.
Section 6. Derivative and Direct Claims of a Shareholder. As used herein, a direct Shareholder claim shall refer to (i) a claim based upon alleged violations of a Shareholders individual rights independent of any harm to the Trust, including a Shareholders voting rights, rights to receive a dividend payment as may be declared from time to time, rights to inspect books and records, or other similar rights personal to the Shareholder and independent of any harm to the Trust; and (ii) a claim for which a direct Shareholder action is expressly provided under the U.S. federal securities laws. Any other claim asserted by a Shareholder, including without limitation any claims purporting to be brought on behalf of the Trust or involving any alleged harm to the Trust, shall be considered a derivative claim as used herein.
a) |
Derivative Claims. No Shareholder shall have the right to bring or maintain any court action, claim or other proceeding asserting a derivative claim or any claim asserted on behalf or for the benefit of the Trust or involving any alleged harm to the Trust without first making demand on the Trustees requesting the Trustees to bring or maintain such action, proceeding or claim. Such demand shall not be excused under any circumstances, |
3
including claims of alleged interest on the part of the Trustees, unless the Shareholder makes a specific showing that irreparable nonmonetary injury to the Trust would otherwise result. Such demand shall be mailed to the Secretary of the Trust at the Trusts principal office and shall set forth with particularity the nature of the proposed court action, proceeding or claim and the essential facts relied upon by the Shareholder to support the allegations made in the demand. The Trustees shall consider such demand within 90 days of its receipt by the Trust. In their sole discretion, the Trustees may submit the matter to a vote of Shareholders of the Trust or any series or class of Shares, as appropriate. Any decision by the Trustees to bring, maintain or settle (or not to bring, maintain or settle) such court action, proceeding or claim, or to submit the matter to a vote of Shareholders, shall be binding upon the Shareholders, and no suit, proceeding or other action shall be commenced or maintained after a decision to reject a demand. Any Trustee acting in connection with any demand or any proceeding relating to a claim on behalf or for the benefit of the Trust who is not an Interested Person shall be deemed to be independent and disinterested with respect to such demand, proceeding or claim. |
b) |
Direct Claims. No Shareholder shall have the right to bring or maintain a court action or other proceeding asserting a direct claim against the Trust, the Trustees or any officers or employees of the Trust predicated upon an express or implied right of action under this Declaration of Trust or U.S. federal securities laws (excepting direct shareholder actions expressly provided by U.S. federal securities laws), unless the Shareholder has obtained authorization from the Trustees to bring the action. The requirement of authorization shall not be excused under any circumstances, including claims of alleged interest on the part of the Trustees. A request for authorization shall be mailed to the Secretary of the Trust at the Trusts principal office and shall set forth with particularity the nature of the proposed court action, proceeding or claim and the essential facts relied upon by the Shareholder to support the allegations made in the request. The Trustees shall consider such request within 90 days after its receipt by the Trust. In their sole discretion, the Trustees may submit the matter to a vote of Shareholders of the Trust or of any series or class of Shares, as appropriate. Any decision by the Trustees to settle or to authorize (or not to settle or to authorize) such court action, proceeding or claim, or to submit the matter to a vote of Shareholders, shall be binding upon the Shareholder seeking authorization. |
Section 7. Forum for Adjudication of Disputes. Unless the Trust consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Trust or the Shareholders, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust to the Trust or the Trusts Shareholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of Massachusetts law or this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws, (iv) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws or any agreement contemplated by any provision of the Investment Company Act of 1940, this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, or (v) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine (each, a Covered Action) shall be within the federal or state courts in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Any person purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of beneficial interest of the Trust shall be (i) deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 7, and (ii) deemed to have waived any argument relating to the inconvenience of the forum referenced above in connection with any action or proceeding described in this Section 7.
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If any Covered Action is filed in a court other than in a federal or state court sitting within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (a Foreign Action) in the name of any Shareholder, such Shareholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in connection with any action brought in any such courts to enforce the first paragraph of this Section 7 (an Enforcement Action) and (ii) having service of process made upon such Shareholder in any such Enforcement Action by service upon such Shareholders counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such Shareholder. Furthermore, except to the extent prohibited by any provision of the Massachusetts Business Corporation Law or the Declaration of Trust, if any Shareholder shall initiate or assert a Foreign Action without the written consent of the Trust, then each such Shareholder shall be obligated jointly and severally to reimburse the Trust and any officer or Trustee of the Trust made a party to such proceeding for all fees, costs and expenses of every kind and description (including, but not limited to, all reasonable attorneys fees and other litigation expenses) that the parties may incur in connection with any successful motion to dismiss, stay or transfer such Foreign Action based upon non-compliance with this Section 7.
If any provision or provisions of this Section 7 shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision(s) in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Section 7 (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Section 7 containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 8. Power of Trustees to Change Provisions Relating to Shares. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws, and without limiting the powers of the Trustees as provided herein, the Trustees shall have the power, at any time and from time to time, in such manner as the Trustees may determine in their sole discretion, without the need for Shareholder action, to add to, delete, replace or otherwise modify any provisions relating to the Shares contained in this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws for the purpose of (i) responding to or complying with any regulations, orders, rulings or interpretations of any governmental agency or any laws, now or hereafter applicable to the Trust, or (ii) designating and establishing series or classes; provided that the Trustees shall have determined that such change is consistent with the fair and equitable treatment of all Shareholders.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Trustees may, for the above-stated purposes:
a) |
create one or more series or classes of Shares (in addition to any series or classes already existing or otherwise) with such rights and preferences and such eligibility requirements for investment therein as the Trustees shall determine and reclassify any or all outstanding Shares as shares of particular series or classes in accordance with such eligibility requirements; |
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b) |
amend any of the provisions set forth in paragraphs (a) through (g) of Section 8 of this Article III; |
c) |
combine one or more series or classes of Shares into a single series or class on such terms and conditions as the Trustees shall determine; |
d) |
change or eliminate any eligibility requirements for investment in Shares of any series or class, including without limitation the power to provide for the issuance of Shares of any series or class in connection with any merger or consolidation of the Trust with another trust or company or any acquisition by the Trust of part or all of the assets of another trust or company; |
e) |
change the designation of any series or class of Shares; |
f) |
change the method of allocating dividends among the various series and classes of Shares; and |
g) |
allocate any specific assets or liabilities of the Trust or any specific items of income or expense of the Trust to one or more series or classes of Shares. |
Section 9. Rights and Preferences of Shares. Shares of each series or class established by the Trustees shall have the following rights and preferences, together with such other rights and preferences as are set forth in any resolution of the Trustees establishing and designating such class of Shares:
a) |
Assets belonging to Series. Subject to the provisions of paragraph (c) of this Section 9: |
All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of a particular series, together with all assets in which such consideration is invested or reinvested, all income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof from whatever source derived, including, without limitation, any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may be, shall irrevocably belong to that series for all purposes, subject only to the rights of creditors, and shall be so recorded upon the books of account of the Trust. Such consideration, assets, income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, from whatever source derived, including, without limitation, any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds, in whatever form the same may be, are herein referred to as assets belonging to that series. In the event that there are any assets, income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, funds or payments which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular series (collectively General Assets), the Trustees shall allocate such General Assets to, between or among any one or more of the series established and designated from time to time in such manner and on such basis as they, in their sole discretion, deem fair and equitable, and any General Asset so allocated to a particular series shall belong to that series. Each such allocation by the Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all series for all purposes.
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b) |
Liabilities Belonging to Series. Subject to the provisions of paragraph (c) of this Section 9: |
The assets belonging to each particular series shall be charged solely with the liabilities of the Trust in respect to that series, the expenses, costs, charges and reserves attributable to that series, and any general liabilities of the Trust which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular series but which are allocated and charged by the Trustees to and among any one or more of the series established and designated from time to time in a manner and on such basis as the Trustees in their sole discretion deem fair and equitable. The liabilities, expenses, costs, charges and reserves so charged to a series are herein referred to as liabilities belonging to that series. Each allocation of liabilities, expenses, costs, charges and reserves by the Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all series for all purposes.
c) |
Apportionment of Assets etc. in Case of Multi-Class Series. In the case of any series having multiple classes (a Multi-Class Series), to the extent necessary or appropriate to give effect to the relative rights and preferences of any classes of Shares of such series, (i) any assets, income, earnings, profits, proceeds, liabilities, expenses, charges, costs and reserves belonging or attributable to that series may be allocated or attributed to a particular class of Shares of that series or apportioned among two or more classes of Shares of that series; and (ii) Shares of any class of such series may have priority or preference over shares of other classes of such series with respect to dividends or distributions upon termination of the Trust or of such series or class or otherwise, provided that no Share shall have any priority or preference over any other Shares of the same class and that all dividends and distributions to Shareholders of a particular class shall be made ratably among all Shareholders of such class according to the number of Shares of such class held of record by such Shareholders on the record date for any dividend or distribution or on the date of termination, as the case may be. |
d) |
Dividends, Distributions, Redemptions and Repurchases. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration of Trust, including, without limitation, Article VI, no dividend or distribution (including, without limitation, any distribution paid upon termination of the Trust or of any series or class) with respect to, nor any redemption or repurchase of, the Shares of any series or class, shall be effected by the Trust other than from the assets belonging to such Series or attributable to such class, nor shall any Shareholder of any particular Series or class otherwise have any right or claim against the assets belonging to any other Series or attributable to any other class except to the extent that such Shareholder has such a right or claim hereunder as a Shareholder of such other Series or class. |
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e) |
Equality. Except to the extent necessary or appropriate to give effect to the relative rights and preferences of any classes of Shares of a Multi-Class Series, all the Shares of each particular series shall represent an equal proportionate interest in the assets belonging to that series (subject to the liabilities belonging to that series), and each Share of any particular series shall be equal to each other Share of that series. All the Shares of each particular class of Shares within a Multi-Class Series shall represent an equal proportionate interest in the assets belonging to such Series that are attributable to such class (subject to the liabilities attributable to such class), and each Share of any particular class within a Multi-Class Series shall be equal to each other Share of such class. |
f) |
Fractions. Any fractional Share of a series or class shall carry proportionately all the rights and obligations of a whole Share of that series or class, including rights with respect to voting, receipt of dividends and distributions, redemption of Shares and termination of the Trust or a series or class. |
ARTICLE IV
The Trustees
Section 1. Election. A Trustee may be elected either by the Trustees or by the Shareholders. The number of Trustees shall be fixed from time to time by the Trustees. Each Trustee shall serve during the continued lifetime of the Trust until he or she retires, resigns, is removed or dies or, if sooner, until the next meeting of Shareholders called for the purpose of electing Trustees and until the election and qualification of his or her successor. The Shareholders may fix the number of Trustees and elect Trustees at any meeting of Shareholders called by the Trustees for that purpose and to the extent required by applicable law, including paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 16 of the 1940 Act.
Section 2. Removal and Resignation. A Trustee may be removed with or without cause (i) by vote of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding Shares at a meeting called for the purpose or (ii) by vote of two-thirds of the Trustees.
Any Trustee may resign at any time by written instrument signed by him or her and delivered to any officer of the Trust or to a meeting of the Trustees. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless specified to be effective at some other time. Except to the extent expressly provided in a written agreement with the Trust, no Trustee resigning and no Trustee removed shall have any right to any compensation for any period following his or her resignation or removal, or any right to damages on account of such removal.
Section 3. Effect of Death, Resignation, etc. of a Trustee. The death, declination, resignation, retirement, removal or incapacity of the Trustees, or any of them, shall not operate to annul the Trust or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of this Declaration of Trust.
Section 4. Powers. Subject to the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the business of the Trust shall be managed by the Trustees, and they shall have all powers necessary or convenient to carry out that responsibility, including the power to engage in securities and other portfolio transactions of all kinds on behalf of the Trust. Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees may adopt Bylaws not inconsistent with this Declaration of Trust providing for the regulation and
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management of the affairs of the Trust and may amend and repeal them to the extent that such Bylaws do not reserve that right to the Shareholders; they may fix the number of Trustees, elect Trustees or fill vacancies in the Trustees, including vacancies arising from an increase in the number of Trustees, or remove Trustees with or without cause, and may elect and remove such officers and appoint and terminate such agents as they consider appropriate; they may appoint from their own number, and terminate, any one or more committees consisting of two or more Trustees, which may, when the Trustees are not in session, exercise some or all of the powers and authority of the Trustees to the extent that the Trustees may determine; they may employ one or more custodians of the assets of the Trust and may authorize such custodians to employ subcustodians and to deposit all or any part of such assets in a system or systems for the central handling of securities or with a Federal Reserve Bank; they may retain a transfer agent or a Shareholder servicing agent, or both; they may provide for the distribution of Shares by the Trust, through one or more principal underwriters or otherwise, set record dates for the determination of Shareholders with respect to various matters, and in general delegate such authority as they consider desirable to any officer of the Trust, to any committee of the Trustees and to any agent or employee of the Trust or to any such custodian or underwriter.
Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees shall have power and authority:
(a) To invest and reinvest cash, and to hold cash uninvested;
(b) To sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, write options on and lease with respect to or otherwise deal in any property rights relating to any or all of the assets of the Trust;
(c) To vote or give assent, or exercise any rights of ownership, with respect to stock or other securities or property; and to execute and deliver proxies or powers of attorney to such person or persons as the Trustees shall deem proper, granting to such person or persons such power and discretion with relation to securities or property as the Trustees shall deem proper;
(d) To exercise powers and rights of subscription or otherwise which in any manner arise out of ownership of securities;
(e) To hold any security or property in a form not indicating any trust, whether in bearer, unregistered or other negotiable form, or in the name of the Trustees or of the Trust or in the name of a custodian, subcustodian or other depositary or a nominee or nominees or otherwise;
(f) Subject to the provisions of Article III, Section 9, to allocate assets, liabilities, income and expenses of the Trust to a particular series of Shares or to apportion the same among two or more series, provided that any liabilities or expenses incurred by or arising in connection with a particular series of Shares shall be payable solely out of the assets of that series; and to the extent necessary or appropriate to give effect to the preferences and special or relative rights and privileges of any classes of Shares, to allocate assets, liabilities, income and expenses of a series to a particular class of Shares of that series or to apportion the same among two or more classes of Shares of that series;
(g) To consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization, consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer, of any security which is or was held in the Trust; to consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase or sale of property by such corporation or issuer, and to pay calls or subscriptions with respect to any security held in the Trust;
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(h) To join other security holders in acting through a committee, depositary, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any security with, or transfer any security to, any such committee, depositary or trustee, and to delegate to them such power and authority with relation to any security (whether or not so deposited or transferred) as the Trustees shall deem proper, and to agree to pay, and to pay, such portion of the expenses and compensation of such committee, depositary or trustee as the Trustees shall deem proper;
(i) To compromise, arbitrate or otherwise adjust claims in favor of or against the Trust or any matter in controversy, including but not limited to claims for taxes;
(j) To enter into joint ventures, general or limited partnerships and any other combinations or associations;
(k) To borrow funds or other property;
(l) To endorse or guarantee the payment of any notes or other obligations of any person; to make contracts of guaranty or suretyship, or otherwise assume liability for payment thereof; and to mortgage and pledge the Trust property or any part thereof to secure any or all of such obligations;
(m) To purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust property such insurance as they may deem necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business of the Trust, including, without limitation, insurance policies insuring the assets of the Trust and payment of distributions and principal on its portfolio investments, and insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents, investment advisers or managers, principal underwriters or independent contractors of the Trust individually against all claims and liabilities of every nature arising by reason of holding, being or having held any such office or position, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted by any such person as Shareholder, Trustee, officer, employee, agent, investment adviser or manager, principal underwriter or independent contractor, including any action taken or omitted that may be determined to constitute negligence, whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability; and
(n) To pay pensions, as deemed appropriate by the Trustees, and to adopt, establish and carry out pension, profit-sharing, share bonus, share purchase, savings, thrift and other retirement, incentive and benefit plans, trusts and provisions, including the purchasing of life insurance and annuity contracts as a means of providing such retirement and other benefits, for any or all of the Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust.
The Trustees shall not in any way be bound or limited by any present or future law or custom in regard to investments by the Trustees. The Trustees shall not be required to obtain any court order to deal with any assets of the Trust or taken any other action hereunder.
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Except as otherwise provided herein or from time to time in the Bylaws, any action to be taken by the Trustees may be taken by a majority of the Trustees present at a meeting of the Trustees (a quorum being present), within or without Massachusetts, including any meeting held by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time and participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting, or by written consents of a majority of the Trustees then in office.
Section 5. Payment of Expenses by the Trust. The Trustees are authorized to pay or to cause to be paid out of the assets of the Trust, all expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities incurred or arising in connection with the Trust, or in connection with the management thereof, including, but not limited to, the Trustees compensation and such expenses and charges for the services of the Trusts officers, employees, administrators, investment advisers or managers, principal underwriter, auditor, counsel, custodian, transfer agent, Shareholder servicing agent and such other agents or independent contractors and such other expenses and charges as the Trustees may deem necessary or proper to incur, provided, however, that all expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities incurred by or arising in connection with a particular series of Shares shall be payable solely out of the assets of that series.
Section 6. Payment of Expenses by Shareholders. The Trustees shall have the power, as frequently as they may determine, to cause each Shareholder, or each Shareholder of any particular series or class, to pay directly, in advance or arrears, for charges of the Trusts custodian or transfer, shareholder servicing or similar agent, an amount fixed from time to time by the Trustees, by setting off such charges due from such Shareholder from declared but unpaid dividends owed such Shareholder and/or by reducing the number of Shares in the account of such Shareholder by that number of full and/or fractional Shares which represents the outstanding amount of such charges due from such Shareholder.
Section 7. Ownership of Assets of the Trust. Title to all of the assets of each series of Shares and of the Trust shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trustees.
Section 8. Advisory, Management and Distribution. Subject to such requirements and restrictions as may be set forth in the Bylaws, the Trustees may, at any time and from time to time, contract for exclusive or nonexclusive advisory and/or management services for the Trust or for any series or class with any corporation, trust, association or other organization (the Manager),and any such contract may contain such other terms as the Trustees may determine, including, without limitation, authority for a Manager to determine from time to time without prior consultation with the Trustees what investments shall be purchased, held, sold or exchanged and what portion, if any, of the assets of the Trust shall be held uninvested and to make changes in the Trusts investments. The Trustees may also, at any time and from time to time, contract with the Manager or any other corporation, trust, association or other organization, appointing it exclusive or nonexclusive distributor or principal underwriter for the Shares, every such contract to comply with such requirements and restrictions as may be set forth in the Bylaws; and any such contract may contain such other terms as the Trustees may determine.
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The fact that:
(i) any of the Shareholders, Trustees or officers of the Trust is a shareholder, director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, manager, adviser, principal underwriter, distributor or affiliate or agent of or for any corporation, trust, association or other organization, or of or for any parent or affiliate of any organization, with which an advisory or management contract, or principal underwriters or distributors contract, or transfer, Shareholder servicing or other agency contract may have been or may hereafter be made, or that any such organization, or any parent or affiliate thereof, is a Shareholder or has an interest in the Trust, or that
(ii) any corporation, trust, association or other organization with which an advisory or management contract or principal underwriters or distributors contract, or transfer, Shareholder servicing or other agency contract may have been or may hereafter be made also has an advisory or management contract, principal underwriters or distributors contract or transfer, Shareholder servicing or other agency contract with one or more other corporations, trusts, associations or other organizations, or has other business or interests
shall not affect the validity of any such contract or disqualify any Shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust from voting upon or executing the same or create any liability or accountability to the Trust or its Shareholders.
ARTICLE V
Shareholders Voting Powers and Meetings
Section 1. Voting Powers. Subject to the voting powers of one or more classes of Shares as set forth elsewhere in this Declaration of Trust or in the Bylaws, the Shareholders shall have power to vote only (i) for the election of Trustees as provided in Article IV, Section 1, (ii) for the removal of Trustees as provided in Article IV, Section 2, (iii) with respect to any termination of this Trust to the extent and as provided in Article IX, Section 4, (iv) with respect to any amendment of this Declaration of Trust to the extent and as provided in Article IX, Section 8, and (v) with respect to such additional matters relating to the Trust as may be required by this Declaration of Trust, the Bylaws or any registration of the Trust with the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any successor agency) or any state, or as the Trustees may consider necessary or desirable.
Each whole Share shall be entitled to one vote as to any matter on which it is entitled to vote and each fractional Share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote. On any matter submitted to a vote of Shareholders, all Shares of the Trust then entitled to vote shall, except as otherwise provided in the Bylaws, be voted in the aggregate as a single class without regard to series or classes of shares, except (1) when required by the 1940 Act or when the Trustees shall have determined that the matter affects one or more series or classes of Shares materially differently, Shares shall be voted by individual series or class; and (2) when the Trustees have determined that the matter affects only the interests of one or more series or classes, only Shareholders of such series or classes shall be entitled to vote thereon. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of Trustees.
Shares may be voted in person or by proxy. A proxy with respect to Shares held in the name of two or more persons shall be valid if executed by any one of them unless at or prior to exercise of the proxy the Trust receives a specific written notice to the contrary from any one of them. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a Shareholder shall be deemed valid unless
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challenged at or prior to its exercise and, in the case of a challenge by any person other than the Trust, the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger. At any time when no Shares of a series or class are outstanding, the Trustees may exercise all rights of Shareholders of that series or class with respect to matters affecting that series or class and may with respect to that series or class take any action required by law, this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws to be taken by the Shareholders thereof.
Section 2. Voting Power and Meetings. Meetings of Shareholders of any or all series or classes may be called by the Trustees from time to time for the purpose of taking action upon any matter requiring the vote or authority of the Shareholders of such series or classes as herein provided or upon any other matter deemed by the Trustees to be necessary or desirable, or as may be prescribed by law. A meeting of Shareholders may be held at any place designated by the Trustees. Notice of any meeting of Shareholders, stating the time and place of the meeting, shall be given or caused to be given by the Trustees to each Shareholder entitled to vote at such meeting by mailing such notice, postage prepaid, at least seven days before such meeting to the Shareholders address as it appears on the records of the Trust, or by facsimile or other electronic transmission, at least seven days before such meeting, to the telephone or facsimile number or e-mail or other electronic address most recently furnished to the Trust (or its agent) by the Shareholder. Notice of a meeting need not be given to any Shareholder if a written waiver of notice, executed before or after the meeting by such Shareholder or his attorney thereunto authorized, is filed with the records of the meeting, or to any Shareholder who attends the meeting without protesting prior thereto or at its commencement the lack of notice to him or her.
Section 3. Quorum and Required Vote. Except when a larger quorum is required by law, by the Bylaws or by this Declaration of Trust, 30% of the Shares entitled to vote on a particular matter shall constitute a quorum at a Shareholders meeting, except that where any provision of law or of this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws requires that holders of any series or class shall vote as an individual series or class, then 30% of the aggregate number of Shares of that series or class entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by that series or class. Any lesser number shall be sufficient for adjournments. Any adjourned session or sessions may be held, within a reasonable time after the date set for the original meeting, without further notice. Except when a larger vote is required by any provision of law or of this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws, when a quorum is present at any meeting, a majority of the Shares voted shall decide any questions and a plurality shall elect a Trustee, provided that where any provision of law or of this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws requires that the holders of any series or class shall vote as an individual series or class then a majority of the Shares of that series or class voted on the matter (or a plurality with respect to the election of a Trustee) shall decide that matter insofar as that series or class is concerned.
Section 4. Action by Written Consent. Any action taken by Shareholders may be taken without a meeting if Shareholders holding a majority of the shares entitled to vote on the matter (or such larger proportion thereof as shall be required by any express provision of this Declaration of Trust or by the Bylaws) consent to the action in writing and such written consents are filed with the records of the meetings of Shareholders. Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of Shareholders.
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Section 5. Additional Provisions. The Bylaws may include further provisions, not inconsistent with this Declaration of Trust, regarding Shareholders voting powers, the conduct of meetings and related matters.
ARTICLE VI
Distributions, Redemptions and Repurchases
Section 1. Distributions. The Trustees may each year, or more frequently if they so determine, distribute to the Shareholders of each series out of the assets of such series such amounts as the Trustees may determine. Any such distribution to the Shareholders of a particular series shall be made to said Shareholders pro rata in proportion to the number of Shares of such series held by each of them, except to the extent otherwise required or permitted by the preferences and special or relative rights and privileges of any classes of Shares of that Series, and any distribution to the Shareholders of a particular class of Shares shall be made to such Shareholders pro rata in proportion to the number of Shares of such class held by each of them. Such distributions shall be made in cash, Shares or other property, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Trustees. Any such distribution paid in Shares will be paid at the net asset value thereof as determined in accordance with the Bylaws.
Section 2. Redemptions and Repurchases. The Trust shall purchase such Shares as are offered by any Shareholder for redemption, upon the presentation of a proper instrument of transfer together with a request directed to the Trust or a person designated by the Trust that the Trust purchase such Shares, or in accordance with such other procedures for redemption as the Trustees may from time to time authorize; and the Trust will pay therefor the net asset value thereof, as next determined in accordance with the Bylaws, less any redemption charge fixed by the Trustees. Payment for said Shares shall be made by the Trust to the Shareholder within seven days after the date on which the request is made. The obligation set forth in this Section 2 is subject to the provision that in the event that at any time the New York Stock Exchange is closed for other than weekends or holidays, or, if permitted by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, during periods when trading on the Exchange is restricted or during any emergency which makes it impractical for the Trust to dispose of the investments of the applicable series or to determine fairly the value of the net assets belonging to such series or attributable to any class thereof, or during any other period permitted by order of the Securities and Exchange Commission for the protection of investors, such obligations may be suspended or postponed by the Trustees. The Trust may also purchase or repurchase Shares at a price not exceeding the net asset value of such Shares in effect when the purchase or repurchase or any contract to purchase or repurchase is made.
The redemption price may in any case or cases be paid wholly or partly in kind, except to the extent prohibited by the laws of any jurisdiction in which Shares are registered for sale, if the Trustees determine that such payment is advisable in the interest of the remaining Shareholders of the series the Shares of which are being redeemed. The fair value, selection and quantity of any securities or other property so paid or delivered as all or part of the redemption price may be determined by or under authority of the Trustees. In no event shall the Trust be liable for any delay of any corporation or other person in transferring securities or other property selected for delivery as all or part of any payment in kind.
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Section 3. Redemption at the Option of the Trust. The Trust shall have the right at its option and at any time to redeem Shares of any Shareholder at the net asset value thereof as determined in accordance with the Bylaws: (i) if at such time such Shareholder owns fewer Shares of any series or class than, or Shares having an aggregate net asset value of less than, an amount determined from time to time by the Trustees, in which case the Trust may redeem all Shares owned by such Shareholder or only so many of such Shares as may be required to compensate the Trust for any fee fixed from time to time by the Trustees for the maintenance of small accounts; (ii) to the extent that such Shareholder owns Shares of a particular series of Shares equal to or in excess of a percentage of the outstanding Shares of that series determined from time to time by the Trustees; (iii) to the extent that such Shareholder owns Shares of the Trust representing a percentage equal to or in excess of such percentage of the aggregate number of outstanding Shares of the Trust or the aggregate net asset value of the Trust determined from time to time by the Trustees; (iv) if such Shareholder fails to supply appropriate personal and tax identification information requested by the Trust; (v) if such Shareholder fails to meet or maintain the qualifications for ownership of a particular series or class; or (vi) if the Trustees determine for any other reason, in their sole discretion, that the ownership of Shares by a Shareholder is not in the best interests of the remaining Shareholders of the Trust or of the applicable series or class.
ARTICLE VII
Compensation and Limitation of Liability of Trustees
Section 1. Compensation. The Trustees as such shall be entitled to reasonable compensation from the Trust; they may fix the amount of their compensation. Nothing herein shall in any way prevent the employment of any Trustee for advisory, management, legal, accounting, investment banking or other services and payment for the same by the Trust.
Section 2. Limitation of Liability. A Trustee shall be liable for his or her own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee, and for nothing else, and shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. The Trustees shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any neglect or wrongdoing of any officer, agent, employee, manager or principal underwriter of the Trust, nor shall any Trustee be responsible for the act or omission of any other Trustee. The appointment, designation or identification of a Trustee as an officer of the Trustees or of any committee of the Trustees, or as an expert with respect to certain matters (including without limitation identification of a Trustee as an audit committee financial expert) shall not impose on that person any duty, obligation or liability that is greater than the duties, obligations and liabilities imposed on that person as a Trustee in the absence of such appointment, designation or identification, and no Trustee who has special skills or expertise or who is appointed, designated or identified as aforesaid, shall be held to a higher standard of care by virtue thereof or be limited in any way with respect to any right or privilege to which such person would otherwise be entitled as a Trustee hereunder, including without limitation the right of indemnification. Nothing in this Declaration of Trust shall protect any Trustee against any liability to which such Trustee 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.
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ARTICLE VIII
Indemnification
Section 1. Trustees, Officers, etc. The Trust shall indemnify each of its Trustees and officers (including persons who serve at the Trusts request as directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise) (hereinafter referred to as a Covered Person) against all liabilities and expenses, including but not limited to amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and counsel fees reasonably incurred by any Covered Person in connection with the defense or disposition of any threatened, pending or contemplated action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative or investigative and whether formal or informal before any court or administrative or legislative or other body, in which such Covered Person may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which such Covered Person may be or may have been threatened, while in office or thereafter, 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 except with respect to any matter as to which such Covered Person shall have been finally adjudicated in any such action, suit or other proceeding (a) not to have acted in good faith, (b) not to have acted in the reasonable belief that such Covered Persons action was in (or not opposed to) the best interests of the Trust, (c) in the case of a criminal proceeding, to have had reasonable cause to believe his or her action was unlawful or (d) to be liable to the Trust 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 (each of such exceptions being referred to hereinafter as Disabling Conduct). Expenses, including counsel fees so incurred by any such Covered Person (but excluding amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines or penalties), shall be paid from time to time by the Trust in advance of the final disposition of any such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person to repay amounts so paid to the Trust if it is ultimately determined that indemnification of such expenses is not authorized under this Article, provided, however, that either (a) such Covered Person shall have provided appropriate security for such undertaking, (b) the Trust shall be insured against losses arising from any such advance payments or (c) either a majority of the disinterested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the disinterested Trustees then in office act on the matter), or independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall have determined, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial type inquiry) that there is reason to believe that such Covered Person will be found entitled to indemnification under this Article. For purposes of the determination or opinion referred to in clause (c), the majority of the disinterested Trustees acting on the matter or independent legal counsel, as the case may be, shall afford the Covered Person a rebuttable presumption that the Covered Person did not engage in Disabling Conduct.
Section 2. Compromise Payment. As to any matter disposed of (whether by a compromise payment, pursuant to a consent decree or otherwise) without an adjudication by a court, or by any other body before which the action, suit or proceeding was brought, that such Covered Person engaged in Disabling Conduct, indemnification shall be provided if (a) approved as in the best interests of the Trust, after notice that it involves such indemnification, by at least a majority of the disinterested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the disinterested Trustees then in office act on the matter) upon a determination, based upon a review of readily
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available facts (as opposed to a full trial type inquiry) that such Covered Person did not engage in Disabling Conduct, or (b) there has been obtained an opinion in writing of independent legal counsel, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial type inquiry) to the effect that such Covered Person did not engage in Disabling Conduct. Any approval pursuant to this Section shall not prevent the recovery from any Covered Person of any amount paid to such Covered Person in accordance with this Section as indemnification if such Covered Person is subsequently adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to have engaged in Disabling Conduct.
Section 3. Right Not Exclusive. The right of indemnification hereby provided shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any such Covered Person may be entitled. As used in this Article VIII, the term Covered Person shall include such persons heirs, executors and administrators and a disinterested Trustee is a Trustee who is not an interested person of the Trust as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act (or who has been exempted from being an interested person by any rule, regulation or order of the Securities and Exchange Commission) and against whom none of the actions, suits or other proceedings in question or another action, suit or other proceeding on the same or similar grounds is then or has been pending. Nothing contained in this Article shall affect any rights to indemnification to which personnel of the Trust, other than Trustees or officers, and other persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law, nor the power of the Trust to purchase and maintain liability insurance on behalf of any such person.
Section 4. Shareholders. In case any Shareholder or former Shareholder shall be held to be personally liable solely by reason of his or her being or having been a Shareholder of the Trust or of a particular series or class and not because of his or her acts or omissions or for some other reason, the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or his or her heirs, executors, administrators or other legal representative or, in the case of a corporation or other entity, its corporate or other general successor) shall be entitled out of the assets of the series (or attributable to the class) of which he or she is a Shareholder or former Shareholder to be held harmless from and indemnified against all loss and expense arising from such liability.
ARTICLE IX
Miscellaneous
Section 1. Trustees, Shareholders, etc. Not Personally Liable for Obligations of the Trust; Notice. All persons extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against the Trust or a particular series or class shall look only to the assets of the Trust or, to the extent that the liability of the Trust may have been expressly limited by contract to the assets of a particular series or attributable to a particular class, only to the assets belonging to the relevant series or attributable to the relevant class, for payment under such credit, contract or claim, and neither the Shareholders nor the Trustees, nor any of the Trusts officers, employees or agents, whether past, present or future, shall be personally liable therefor.
Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking and every other act or thing whatsoever executed or done by any Trustee, officer, employee or agent on behalf of the Trust or the Trustees or any of them in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively deemed to have been executed or done only in or with respect to such persons capacity as a Trustee, officer, employee or agent, and such person shall not be personally liable thereon.
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Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking made or issued on behalf of the Trust by any Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall give notice that this Declaration of Trust is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and shall recite that the same was executed or made by or on behalf of the Trust or by them as Trustees, officers, employees, agents of the Trust or otherwise and not individually and that the obligations of such instrument are not binding upon any of them or the Shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Trust or upon the assets belonging to the series or attributable to the class for the benefit of which the Trustees have caused the note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking to be made or issued, and may contain such further recitals as the person so executing may deem appropriate, but any omission of such notice or recitals shall not operate to bind any such Trustee, officer, employee or agent or the Shareholders individually.
Section 2. Trustees Faith Actions Binding; Expert Advice; No Bond or Surety. The exercise by the Trustees of their powers and discretions hereunder shall be binding upon everyone interested. The Trustees may take advice of counsel or other experts with respect to the meaning and operation of this Declaration of Trust, and shall be under no liability for any act or omission in accordance with such advice or for failing to follow such advice. The Trustees shall not be required to give any bond as such, nor any surety if a bond is required.
Section 3. Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustees. No person dealing with the Trustees shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction made or to be made by the Trustees or to see to the application of any payments made or property transferred to the Trust or upon its order.
Section 4. Duration and Termination of Trust or any Series or Class. Unless terminated as provided herein, the Trust and each series and class shall continue without limitation of time. The Trust or any series or class of any series may be terminated at any time (i) by the Trustees by written notice to the Shareholders of the Trust or to the Shareholders of the particular series or class, as the case may be, or (ii) by the affirmative vote of the lesser of (1) more than 50% of the outstanding Shares of each series or class entitled to vote, or (2) 67% or more of the Shares of each series or class entitled to vote and present at a meeting called for this purpose if more than 50% of the outstanding Shares of each series or class entitled to vote are present at the meeting in person or by proxy.
Upon termination of the Trust (or of any series or class, as the case may be), after paying or otherwise providing for all charges, taxes, expenses and liabilities belonging, severally, to each series (or to the applicable series or attributable to the particular class, as the case may be), whether due or accrued or anticipated as may be determined by the Trustees, the Trust shall, in accordance with such procedures as the Trustees consider appropriate, reduce the remaining assets of the Trust, or of the particular series or class, as the case may be, to distributable form in cash or shares or other property, or any combination thereof, and distribute the proceeds to the Shareholders of the Trust, or of the particular series or class, ratably according to the number of Shares of such series or class held by the several Shareholders of such series or class on the date of termination, except to the extent otherwise required or permitted by the preferences and special or relative rights and privileges of any classes of Shares of that series or class.
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Section 5. Merger, Consolidation, Sale of Assets and Other Reorganizations. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, the Trustees may, without Shareholder approval, authorize the Trust or any series or class to merge, consolidate or reorganize with any other entity (including another series or class of the Trust), or to sell or exchange all or substantially all of the assets of the Trust or of any series or class, in each case upon such terms and for such consideration as they may determine to be in the best interests of the Trust or of the particular series or class. The authority provided by this Section shall be in addition to the powers granted to the Trustees under any other provision of this Declaration of Trust.
Section 6. Filing and Copies, References, Headings. The original or a copy of this instrument and of each amendment hereto shall be kept at the office of the Trust where it may be inspected by any Shareholder. A copy of this instrument and of each amendment hereto shall be filed by the Trust with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and with the Boston City Clerk, as well as any other governmental office where such filing may from time to time be required. Anyone dealing with the Trust may rely on a certificate by an officer of the Trust as to whether or not any such amendments have been made and as to any matters in connection with the Trust hereunder, and, with the same effect as if it were the original, may rely on a copy certified by an officer of the Trust to be a copy of this instrument or of any such amendments. In this instrument and in any such amendment, references to this instrument and all expressions like herein, hereof and hereunder shall be deemed to refer to this instrument as amended or affected by any such amendments. Headings are placed herein for convenience of reference only and shall not be taken as a part hereof or to control or affect the meaning, construction or effect of this instrument. This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original.
Section 7. Applicable Law. This Declaration of Trust is made in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and it is created under and is to be governed by and construed and administered according to the laws of said Commonwealth. The Trust shall be of the type commonly called a Massachusetts business trust and, without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers which are ordinarily exercised by such a trust.
Section 8. Amendments. This Declaration of Trust may be amended at any time by an instrument in writing signed by a majority of the then Trustees when authorized to do so by a vote of the Shareholders, provided that Shareholder authorization shall not be required in the case of any amendment (i) having the purpose of changing the name of the Trust or of any series or class of Shares or of supplying any omission, curing any ambiguity or curing, correcting or supplementing any defective or inconsistent provision contained herein or (ii) which is determined by the Trustees in their sole discretion not to have a material adverse effect on the Shareholders of any series or class of Shares.
Section 9. Addresses. The address of the Trust is c/o Ropes & Gray LLP, Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199. The address of the Trustee is c/o Ropes & Gray LLP, Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have hereunto set their hands and seals in the City of Boston, Massachusetts for themselves and for their successors and assigns, this 28 day of February, 2020.
/s/ Joshua Dulberg |
Joshua Dulberg |
Sole Initial Trustee |
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Suffolk, ss. |
Boston, Massachusetts |
On this 28th day of February 2020, before me, the undersigned notary public, personally appeared the above-named Trustee of Datum One Series Trust, proved to me though satisfactory evidence of identification to be the person whose name is signed above, and acknowledged to me that he signed it voluntarily for its stated purpose as Sole Trustee of the Datum One Series Trust.
/s/ Diana Toppi |
Notary Public Diana Toppi |
My Commission Expires 8/1/2025 |
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Exhibit (a)(ii)
DATUM ONE SERIES TRUST
AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
This AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST made this 3rd day of March, 2020, by the Trustees hereunder, and by the holders of shares of beneficial interest issued hereunder and to be issued hereunder as hereinafter provided, amending and restating the Agreement and Declaration of Trust made at Boston, Massachusetts, the 28th day of February 2020, for the purposes of eliminating references to the initial sole trustee, adding Trustees as signatories and making certain other changes hereto:
WHEREAS, pursuant to Article IX, Section 8 of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, the Trustees of the Trust have determined that the Agreement and Declaration of Trust should be amended and restated in its entirety as hereinafter set forth; and
NOW, THEREFORE, this Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust shall take effect as of the time of execution by a majority of the Trustees of the Trust and shall be filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
WITNESSETH that:
WHEREAS, this Trust has been formed to carry on the business of an investment company; and
WHEREAS, the Trustees have agreed to manage all property coming into their hands as trustees of a Massachusetts voluntary association with transferable shares in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby declare that they will hold all cash, securities and other assets, which they may from time to time acquire in any manner as Trustees hereunder IN TRUST to manage and dispose of the same upon the following terms and conditions for the benefit of the holders from time to time of Shares in this Trust as hereinafter set forth.
ARTICLE I
Name and Definitions
Section 1. Name. This Trust shall be known as Datum One Series Trust and the Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under that name or any other name as they may from time to time determine.
Section 2. Definitions. Whenever used herein, unless otherwise required by the context or specifically provided:
(a) The Trust refers to the Massachusetts business trust established by this Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended or restated from time to time;
(b) Trustees refers to the Trustees of the Trust named in Article IV hereof or elected in accordance with such Article IV;
(c) Shares means the equal proportionate transferable units of interest into which the beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time or, if more than one series or class of Shares is authorized by the Trustees, the equal proportionate transferable units into which each series or class of Shares shall be divided from time to time;
(d) Shareholder means a record owner of Shares;
(e) The 1940 Act refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules and Regulations thereunder, all as amended from time to time;
(f) The terms Affiliated Person, Assignment, Commission, Interested Person, Principal Underwriter and Majority Shareholder Vote (the 67% or 50% requirement of the third sentence of Section 2(a)(42) of the 1940 Act, whichever may be applicable) shall have the meanings given them in the 1940 Act (as modified by any applicable exemptive order issued thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission);
(g) Declaration of Trust shall mean this Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust as amended or restated from time to time;
(h) Bylaws shall mean the Bylaws of the Trust as amended or restated from time to time;
(i) The term series or series of Shares refers to the one or more separate investment portfolios of the Trust into which the assets and liabilities of the Trust may be divided and the Shares of the Trust representing the beneficial interest of Shareholders in such respective portfolios; and
(j) The term class or class of Shares refers to the division of Shares representing any series into two or more classes as provided in Article III, Section 1 hereof.
ARTICLE II
Purpose of Trust
The purpose of the Trust is to provide investors a managed investment primarily in securities, debt instruments and other instruments and rights of a financial character.
ARTICLE III
Shares
Section 1. Division of Beneficial Interest. The number of Shares authorized shall be unlimited. The Shares of the Trust shall be issued in one or more series as the Trustees may, from time to time and without shareholder approval, authorize. Each series shall be preferred over all other series in respect of the assets allocated to that series within the meaning of the 1940 Act and shall represent a separate investment portfolio of the Trust. The beneficial interest in each series shall
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at all times be divided into Shares, without par value unless otherwise determined by the Trustees, each of which shall, except as provided in the following sentence, represent an equal proportionate interest in the series with each other Share of the same series, none having priority or preference over another. The Trustees may, from time to time and without Shareholder approval, divide the Shares of any series into two or more classes, Shares of each such class having such preferences and special or relative rights and privileges (including conversion rights, if any) as the Trustees may determine and as shall be set forth in this Declaration of Trust or in the Bylaws. The Trustees may, without Shareholder approval, from time to time divide or combine the Shares of any series or class into a greater or lesser number without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interest in the series or class. The Trustees may also, without shareholder approval, from time to time combine the Shares or two or more classes of any series into a single class, or combine the shares of two or more series into a single series.
Section 2. Ownership of Shares. The ownership of Shares shall be recorded on the books of the Trust or a transfer or similar agent. No certificates certifying the ownership of Shares shall be issued except as the Trustees may otherwise determine from time to time. The Trustees may make such rules as they consider appropriate for the issuance of Share certificates, the retirement of Share certificates, the transfer of Shares and similar matters. The record books of the Trust as kept by the Trust or any transfer or similar agent, as the case may be, shall be conclusive as to who are the Shareholders of each series and class and as to the number of Shares of each series and class held from time to time by each Shareholder.
Section 3. Investment in the Trust. The Trustees shall accept investments in the Trust from such persons and on such terms and for such consideration, which may consist of cash or tangible or intangible property or a combination thereof, as they or the Bylaws from time to time authorize.
Section 4. No Preemptive Rights. Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other right to subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by the Trust.
Section 5. Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability. Shares shall be deemed to be personal property giving only the rights provided in this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws. Every Shareholder by virtue of having become a Shareholder shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms of this Declaration of Trust and the Bylaws and to have become a party thereto. The death of a Shareholder during the continuance of the Trust shall not operate to terminate the same nor entitle the representative of any deceased Shareholder to an accounting or to take any action in court or elsewhere against the Trust or the Trustees, but only to the rights of said decedent under this Trust. Ownership of Shares shall not entitle the Shareholder to any title in or to the whole or any part of the Trust property or right to call for a partition or division of the same or for an accounting, nor shall the ownership of Shares constitute the Shareholders partners. Neither the Trust nor the Trustees, nor any officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall have any power to bind personally any Shareholder, nor except as specifically provided herein to call upon any Shareholder for the payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever other than such as the Shareholder may at any time personally agree to pay.
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Section 6. Derivative and Direct Claims of a Shareholder. As used herein, a direct Shareholder claim shall refer to (i) a claim based upon alleged violations of a Shareholders individual rights independent of any harm to the Trust, including a Shareholders voting rights, rights to receive a dividend payment as may be declared from time to time, rights to inspect books and records, or other similar rights personal to the Shareholder and independent of any harm to the Trust; and (ii) a claim for which a direct Shareholder action is expressly provided under the U.S. federal securities laws. Any other claim asserted by a Shareholder, including without limitation any claims purporting to be brought on behalf of the Trust or involving any alleged harm to the Trust, shall be considered a derivative claim as used herein.
a) |
Derivative Claims. No Shareholder shall have the right to bring or maintain any court action, claim or other proceeding asserting a derivative claim or any claim asserted on behalf or for the benefit of the Trust or involving any alleged harm to the Trust without first making demand on the Trustees requesting the Trustees to bring or maintain such action, proceeding or claim. Such demand shall not be excused under any circumstances, including claims of alleged interest on the part of the Trustees, unless the Shareholder makes a specific showing that irreparable nonmonetary injury to the Trust would otherwise result. Such demand shall be mailed to the Secretary of the Trust at the Trusts principal office and shall set forth with particularity the nature of the proposed court action, proceeding or claim and the essential facts relied upon by the Shareholder to support the allegations made in the demand. The Trustees shall consider such demand within 90 days of its receipt by the Trust. In their sole discretion, the Trustees may submit the matter to a vote of Shareholders of the Trust or any series or class of Shares, as appropriate. Any decision by the Trustees to bring, maintain or settle (or not to bring, maintain or settle) such court action, proceeding or claim, or to submit the matter to a vote of Shareholders, shall be binding upon the Shareholders, and no suit, proceeding or other action shall be commenced or maintained after a decision to reject a demand. Any Trustee acting in connection with any demand or any proceeding relating to a claim on behalf or for the benefit of the Trust who is not an Interested Person shall be deemed to be independent and disinterested with respect to such demand, proceeding or claim. |
b) |
Direct Claims. No Shareholder shall have the right to bring or maintain a court action or other proceeding asserting a direct claim against the Trust, the Trustees or any officers or employees of the Trust predicated upon an express or implied right of action under this Declaration of Trust or U.S. federal securities laws (excepting direct shareholder actions expressly provided by U.S. federal securities laws), unless the Shareholder has obtained authorization from the Trustees to bring the action. The requirement of authorization shall not be excused under any circumstances, including claims of alleged interest on the part of the Trustees. A request for authorization shall be mailed to the Secretary of the Trust at the Trusts principal office and shall set forth with particularity the nature of the proposed court action, proceeding or claim and the essential facts relied upon by the Shareholder to support the allegations made in the request. The Trustees shall consider such request within 90 days after its receipt by the Trust. In their sole discretion, the Trustees may submit the matter to a vote of Shareholders of the Trust or of any series or class of Shares, as appropriate. Any decision by the Trustees to settle or to authorize (or not to settle or to authorize) such court action, proceeding or claim, or to submit the matter to a vote of Shareholders, shall be binding upon the Shareholder seeking authorization. |
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Section 7. Forum for Adjudication of Disputes. Unless the Trust consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Trust or the Shareholders, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust to the Trust or the Trusts Shareholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of Massachusetts law or this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws, (iv) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws or any agreement contemplated by any provision of the Investment Company Act of 1940, this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, or (v) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine (each, a Covered Action) shall be within the federal or state courts in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Any person purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of beneficial interest of the Trust shall be (i) deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 7, and (ii) deemed to have waived any argument relating to the inconvenience of the forum referenced above in connection with any action or proceeding described in this Section 7.
If any Covered Action is filed in a court other than in a federal or state court sitting within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (a Foreign Action) in the name of any Shareholder, such Shareholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in connection with any action brought in any such courts to enforce the first paragraph of this Section 7 (an Enforcement Action) and (ii) having service of process made upon such Shareholder in any such Enforcement Action by service upon such Shareholders counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such Shareholder. Furthermore, except to the extent prohibited by any provision of the Massachusetts Business Corporation Law or the Declaration of Trust, if any Shareholder shall initiate or assert a Foreign Action without the written consent of the Trust, then each such Shareholder shall be obligated jointly and severally to reimburse the Trust and any officer or Trustee of the Trust made a party to such proceeding for all fees, costs and expenses of every kind and description (including, but not limited to, all reasonable attorneys fees and other litigation expenses) that the parties may incur in connection with any successful motion to dismiss, stay or transfer such Foreign Action based upon non-compliance with this Section 7.
If any provision or provisions of this Section 7 shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision(s) in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Section 7 (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Section 7 containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
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Section 8. Power of Trustees to Change Provisions Relating to Shares. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws, and without limiting the powers of the Trustees as provided herein, the Trustees shall have the power, at any time and from time to time, in such manner as the Trustees may determine in their sole discretion, without the need for Shareholder action, to add to, delete, replace or otherwise modify any provisions relating to the Shares contained in this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws for the purpose of (i) responding to or complying with any regulations, orders, rulings or interpretations of any governmental agency or any laws, now or hereafter applicable to the Trust, or (ii) designating and establishing series or classes; provided that the Trustees shall have determined that such change is consistent with the fair and equitable treatment of all Shareholders.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Trustees may, for the above-stated purposes:
a) |
create one or more series or classes of Shares (in addition to any series or classes already existing or otherwise) with such rights and preferences and such eligibility requirements for investment therein as the Trustees shall determine and reclassify any or all outstanding Shares as shares of particular series or classes in accordance with such eligibility requirements; |
b) |
amend any of the provisions set forth in paragraphs (a) through (g) of Section 8 of this Article III; |
c) |
combine one or more series or classes of Shares into a single series or class on such terms and conditions as the Trustees shall determine; |
d) |
change or eliminate any eligibility requirements for investment in Shares of any series or class, including without limitation the power to provide for the issuance of Shares of any series or class in connection with any merger or consolidation of the Trust with another trust or company or any acquisition by the Trust of part or all of the assets of another trust or company; |
e) |
change the designation of any series or class of Shares; |
f) |
change the method of allocating dividends among the various series and classes of Shares; and |
g) |
allocate any specific assets or liabilities of the Trust or any specific items of income or expense of the Trust to one or more series or classes of Shares. |
Section 9. Rights and Preferences of Shares. Shares of each series or class established by the Trustees shall have the following rights and preferences, together with such other rights and preferences as are set forth in any resolution of the Trustees establishing and designating such class of Shares:
a) |
Assets belonging to Series. Subject to the provisions of paragraph (c) of this Section 9: |
All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of a particular series, together with all assets in which such consideration is invested or reinvested, all income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof from whatever source derived, including, without limitation, any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such
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assets, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may be, shall irrevocably belong to that series for all purposes, subject only to the rights of creditors, and shall be so recorded upon the books of account of the Trust. Such consideration, assets, income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, from whatever source derived, including, without limitation, any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds, in whatever form the same may be, are herein referred to as assets belonging to that series. In the event that there are any assets, income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, funds or payments which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular series (collectively General Assets), the Trustees shall allocate such General Assets to, between or among any one or more of the series established and designated from time to time in such manner and on such basis as they, in their sole discretion, deem fair and equitable, and any General Asset so allocated to a particular series shall belong to that series. Each such allocation by the Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all series for all purposes.
b) |
Liabilities Belonging to Series. Subject to the provisions of paragraph (c) of this Section 9: The assets belonging to each particular series shall be charged solely with the liabilities of the Trust in respect to that series, the expenses, costs, charges and reserves attributable to that series, and any general liabilities of the Trust which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular series but which are allocated and charged by the Trustees to and among any one or more of the series established and designated from time to time in a manner and on such basis as the Trustees in their sole discretion deem fair and equitable. The liabilities, expenses, costs, charges and reserves so charged to a series are herein referred to as liabilities belonging to that series. Each allocation of liabilities, expenses, costs, charges and reserves by the Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all series for all purposes. |
c) |
Apportionment of Assets etc. in Case of Multi-Class Series. In the case of any series having multiple classes (a Multi-Class Series), to the extent necessary or appropriate to give effect to the relative rights and preferences of any classes of Shares of such series, (i) any assets, income, earnings, profits, proceeds, liabilities, expenses, charges, costs and reserves belonging or attributable to that series may be allocated or attributed to a particular class of Shares of that series or apportioned among two or more classes of Shares of that series; and (ii) Shares of any class of such series may have priority or preference over shares of other classes of such series with respect to dividends or distributions upon termination of the Trust or of such series or class or otherwise, provided that no Share shall have any priority or preference over any other Shares of the same class and that all dividends and distributions to Shareholders of a particular class shall be made ratably among all Shareholders of such class according to the number of Shares of such class held of record by such Shareholders on the record date for any dividend or distribution or on the date of termination, as the case may be. |
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d) |
Dividends, Distributions, Redemptions and Repurchases. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration of Trust, including, without limitation, Article VI, no dividend or distribution (including, without limitation, any distribution paid upon termination of the Trust or of any series or class) with respect to, nor any redemption or repurchase of, the Shares of any series or class, shall be effected by the Trust other than from the assets belonging to such Series or attributable to such class, nor shall any Shareholder of any particular Series or class otherwise have any right or claim against the assets belonging to any other Series or attributable to any other class except to the extent that such Shareholder has such a right or claim hereunder as a Shareholder of such other Series or class. |
e) |
Equality. Except to the extent necessary or appropriate to give effect to the relative rights and preferences of any classes of Shares of a Multi-Class Series, all the Shares of each particular series shall represent an equal proportionate interest in the assets belonging to that series (subject to the liabilities belonging to that series), and each Share of any particular series shall be equal to each other Share of that series. All the Shares of each particular class of Shares within a Multi-Class Series shall represent an equal proportionate interest in the assets belonging to such Series that are attributable to such class (subject to the liabilities attributable to such class), and each Share of any particular class within a Multi-Class Series shall be equal to each other Share of such class. |
f) |
Fractions. Any fractional Share of a series or class shall carry proportionately all the rights and obligations of a whole Share of that series or class, including rights with respect to voting, receipt of dividends and distributions, redemption of Shares and termination of the Trust or a series or class. |
ARTICLE IV
The Trustees
Section 1. Election. A Trustee may be elected either by the Trustees or by the Shareholders. The number of Trustees shall be fixed from time to time by the Trustees. Each Trustee shall serve during the continued lifetime of the Trust until he or she retires, resigns, is removed or dies or, if sooner, until the next meeting of Shareholders called for the purpose of electing Trustees and until the election and qualification of his or her successor. The Shareholders may fix the number of Trustees and elect Trustees at any meeting of Shareholders called by the Trustees for that purpose and to the extent required by applicable law, including paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 16 of the 1940 Act.
Section 2. Removal and Resignation. A Trustee may be removed with or without cause (i) by vote of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding Shares at a meeting called for the purpose or (ii) by vote of two-thirds of the Trustees.
Any Trustee may resign at any time by written instrument signed by him or her and delivered to any officer of the Trust or to a meeting of the Trustees. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless specified to be effective at some other time. Except to the extent expressly provided in a written agreement with the Trust, no Trustee resigning and no Trustee removed shall have any right to any compensation for any period following his or her resignation or removal, or any right to damages on account of such removal.
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Section 3. Effect of Death, Resignation, etc. of a Trustee. The death, declination, resignation, retirement, removal or incapacity of the Trustees, or any of them, shall not operate to annul the Trust or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of this Declaration of Trust.
Section 4. Powers. Subject to the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the business of the Trust shall be managed by the Trustees, and they shall have all powers necessary or convenient to carry out that responsibility, including the power to engage in securities and other portfolio transactions of all kinds on behalf of the Trust. Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees may adopt Bylaws not inconsistent with this Declaration of Trust providing for the regulation and management of the affairs of the Trust and may amend and repeal them to the extent that such Bylaws do not reserve that right to the Shareholders; they may fix the number of Trustees, elect Trustees or fill vacancies in the Trustees, including vacancies arising from an increase in the number of Trustees, or remove Trustees with or without cause, and may elect and remove such officers and appoint and terminate such agents as they consider appropriate; they may appoint from their own number, and terminate, any one or more committees consisting of two or more Trustees, which may, when the Trustees are not in session, exercise some or all of the powers and authority of the Trustees to the extent that the Trustees may determine; they may employ one or more custodians of the assets of the Trust and may authorize such custodians to employ subcustodians and to deposit all or any part of such assets in a system or systems for the central handling of securities or with a Federal Reserve Bank; they may retain a transfer agent or a Shareholder servicing agent, or both; they may provide for the distribution of Shares by the Trust, through one or more principal underwriters or otherwise, set record dates for the determination of Shareholders with respect to various matters, and in general delegate such authority as they consider desirable to any officer of the Trust, to any committee of the Trustees and to any agent or employee of the Trust or to any such custodian or underwriter.
Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees shall have power and authority:
(a) To invest and reinvest cash, and to hold cash uninvested;
(b) To sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, write options on and lease with respect to or otherwise deal in any property rights relating to any or all of the assets of the Trust;
(c) To vote or give assent, or exercise any rights of ownership, with respect to stock or other securities or property; and to execute and deliver proxies or powers of attorney to such person or persons as the Trustees shall deem proper, granting to such person or persons such power and discretion with relation to securities or property as the Trustees shall deem proper;
(d) To exercise powers and rights of subscription or otherwise which in any manner arise out of ownership of securities;
(e) To hold any security or property in a form not indicating any trust, whether in bearer, unregistered or other negotiable form, or in the name of the Trustees or of the Trust or in the name of a custodian, subcustodian or other depositary or a nominee or nominees or otherwise;
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(f) Subject to the provisions of Article III, Section 9, to allocate assets, liabilities, income and expenses of the Trust to a particular series of Shares or to apportion the same among two or more series, provided that any liabilities or expenses incurred by or arising in connection with a particular series of Shares shall be payable solely out of the assets of that series; and to the extent necessary or appropriate to give effect to the preferences and special or relative rights and privileges of any classes of Shares, to allocate assets, liabilities, income and expenses of a series to a particular class of Shares of that series or to apportion the same among two or more classes of Shares of that series;
(g) To consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization, consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer, of any security which is or was held in the Trust; to consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase or sale of property by such corporation or issuer, and to pay calls or subscriptions with respect to any security held in the Trust;
(h) To join other security holders in acting through a committee, depositary, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any security with, or transfer any security to, any such committee, depositary or trustee, and to delegate to them such power and authority with relation to any security (whether or not so deposited or transferred) as the Trustees shall deem proper, and to agree to pay, and to pay, such portion of the expenses and compensation of such committee, depositary or trustee as the Trustees shall deem proper;
(i) To compromise, arbitrate or otherwise adjust claims in favor of or against the Trust or any matter in controversy, including but not limited to claims for taxes;
(j) To enter into joint ventures, general or limited partnerships and any other combinations or associations;
(k) To borrow funds or other property;
(l) To endorse or guarantee the payment of any notes or other obligations of any person; to make contracts of guaranty or suretyship, or otherwise assume liability for payment thereof; and to mortgage and pledge the Trust property or any part thereof to secure any or all of such obligations;
(m) To purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust property such insurance as they may deem necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business of the Trust, including, without limitation, insurance policies insuring the assets of the Trust and payment of distributions and principal on its portfolio investments, and insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents, investment advisers or managers, principal underwriters or independent contractors of the Trust individually against all claims and liabilities of every nature arising by reason of holding, being or having held any such office or position, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted by any such person as Shareholder, Trustee, officer, employee, agent, investment adviser or manager, principal underwriter or independent contractor, including any action taken or omitted that may be determined to constitute negligence, whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability; and
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(n) To pay pensions, as deemed appropriate by the Trustees, and to adopt, establish and carry out pension, profit-sharing, share bonus, share purchase, savings, thrift and other retirement, incentive and benefit plans, trusts and provisions, including the purchasing of life insurance and annuity contracts as a means of providing such retirement and other benefits, for any or all of the Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust.
The Trustees shall not in any way be bound or limited by any present or future law or custom in regard to investments by the Trustees. The Trustees shall not be required to obtain any court order to deal with any assets of the Trust or taken any other action hereunder.
Except as otherwise provided herein or from time to time in the Bylaws, any action to be taken by the Trustees may be taken by a majority of the Trustees present at a meeting of the Trustees (a quorum being present), within or without Massachusetts, including any meeting held by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time and participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting, or by written consents of a majority of the Trustees then in office.
Section 5. Payment of Expenses by the Trust. The Trustees are authorized to pay or to cause to be paid out of the assets of the Trust, all expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities incurred or arising in connection with the Trust, or in connection with the management thereof, including, but not limited to, the Trustees compensation and such expenses and charges for the services of the Trusts officers, employees, administrators, investment advisers or managers, principal underwriter, auditor, counsel, custodian, transfer agent, Shareholder servicing agent and such other agents or independent contractors and such other expenses and charges as the Trustees may deem necessary or proper to incur, provided, however, that all expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities incurred by or arising in connection with a particular series of Shares shall be payable solely out of the assets of that series.
Section 6. Payment of Expenses by Shareholders. The Trustees shall have the power, as frequently as they may determine, to cause each Shareholder, or each Shareholder of any particular series or class, to pay directly, in advance or arrears, for charges of the Trusts custodian or transfer, shareholder servicing or similar agent, an amount fixed from time to time by the Trustees, by setting off such charges due from such Shareholder from declared but unpaid dividends owed such Shareholder and/or by reducing the number of Shares in the account of such Shareholder by that number of full and/or fractional Shares which represents the outstanding amount of such charges due from such Shareholder.
Section 7. Ownership of Assets of the Trust. Title to all of the assets of each series of Shares and of the Trust shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trustees.
Section 8. Advisory, Management and Distribution. Subject to such requirements and restrictions as may be set forth in the Bylaws, the Trustees may, at any time and from time to time, contract for exclusive or nonexclusive advisory and/or management services for the Trust or for any series or class with any corporation, trust, association or other organization (the Manager),and any such contract may contain such other terms as the Trustees may determine, including, without limitation, authority for a Manager to determine from time to time without
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prior consultation with the Trustees what investments shall be purchased, held, sold or exchanged and what portion, if any, of the assets of the Trust shall be held uninvested and to make changes in the Trusts investments. The Trustees may also, at any time and from time to time, contract with the Manager or any other corporation, trust, association or other organization, appointing it exclusive or nonexclusive distributor or principal underwriter for the Shares, every such contract to comply with such requirements and restrictions as may be set forth in the Bylaws; and any such contract may contain such other terms as the Trustees may determine.
The fact that:
(i) any of the Shareholders, Trustees or officers of the Trust is a shareholder, director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, manager, adviser, principal underwriter, distributor or affiliate or agent of or for any corporation, trust, association or other organization, or of or for any parent or affiliate of any organization, with which an advisory or management contract, or principal underwriters or distributors contract, or transfer, Shareholder servicing or other agency contract may have been or may hereafter be made, or that any such organization, or any parent or affiliate thereof, is a Shareholder or has an interest in the Trust, or that
(ii) any corporation, trust, association or other organization with which an advisory or management contract or principal underwriters or distributors contract, or transfer, Shareholder servicing or other agency contract may have been or may hereafter be made also has an advisory or management contract, principal underwriters or distributors contract or transfer, Shareholder servicing or other agency contract with one or more other corporations, trusts, associations or other organizations, or has other business or interests
shall not affect the validity of any such contract or disqualify any Shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust from voting upon or executing the same or create any liability or accountability to the Trust or its Shareholders.
ARTICLE V
Shareholders Voting Powers and Meetings
Section 1. Voting Powers. Subject to the voting powers of one or more classes of Shares as set forth elsewhere in this Declaration of Trust or in the Bylaws, the Shareholders shall have power to vote only (i) for the election of Trustees as provided in Article IV, Section 1, (ii) for the removal of Trustees as provided in Article IV, Section 2, (iii) with respect to any termination of this Trust to the extent and as provided in Article IX, Section 4, (iv) with respect to any amendment of this Declaration of Trust to the extent and as provided in Article IX, Section 8, and (v) with respect to such additional matters relating to the Trust as may be required by this Declaration of Trust, the Bylaws or any registration of the Trust with the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any successor agency) or any state, or as the Trustees may consider necessary or desirable.
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Each whole Share shall be entitled to one vote as to any matter on which it is entitled to vote and each fractional Share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote. On any matter submitted to a vote of Shareholders, all Shares of the Trust then entitled to vote shall, except as otherwise provided in the Bylaws, be voted in the aggregate as a single class without regard to series or classes of shares, except (1) when required by the 1940 Act or when the Trustees shall have determined that the matter affects one or more series or classes of Shares materially differently, Shares shall be voted by individual series or class; and (2) when the Trustees have determined that the matter affects only the interests of one or more series or classes, only Shareholders of such series or classes shall be entitled to vote thereon. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of Trustees.
Shares may be voted in person or by proxy. A proxy with respect to Shares held in the name of two or more persons shall be valid if executed by any one of them unless at or prior to exercise of the proxy the Trust receives a specific written notice to the contrary from any one of them. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a Shareholder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise and, in the case of a challenge by any person other than the Trust, the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger. At any time when no Shares of a series or class are outstanding, the Trustees may exercise all rights of Shareholders of that series or class with respect to matters affecting that series or class and may with respect to that series or class take any action required by law, this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws to be taken by the Shareholders thereof.
Section 2. Voting Power and Meetings. Meetings of Shareholders of any or all series or classes may be called by the Trustees from time to time for the purpose of taking action upon any matter requiring the vote or authority of the Shareholders of such series or classes as herein provided or upon any other matter deemed by the Trustees to be necessary or desirable, or as may be prescribed by law. A meeting of Shareholders may be held at any place designated by the Trustees. Notice of any meeting of Shareholders, stating the time and place of the meeting, shall be given or caused to be given by the Trustees to each Shareholder entitled to vote at such meeting by mailing such notice, postage prepaid, at least seven days before such meeting to the Shareholders address as it appears on the records of the Trust, or by facsimile or other electronic transmission, at least seven days before such meeting, to the telephone or facsimile number or e-mail or other electronic address most recently furnished to the Trust (or its agent) by the Shareholder. Notice of a meeting need not be given to any Shareholder if a written waiver of notice, executed before or after the meeting by such Shareholder or his attorney thereunto authorized, is filed with the records of the meeting, or to any Shareholder who attends the meeting without protesting prior thereto or at its commencement the lack of notice to him or her.
Section 3. Quorum and Required Vote. Except when a larger quorum is required by law, by the Bylaws or by this Declaration of Trust, 30% of the Shares entitled to vote on a particular matter shall constitute a quorum at a Shareholders meeting, except that where any provision of law or of this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws requires that holders of any series or class shall vote as an individual series or class, then 30% of the aggregate number of Shares of that series or class entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by that series or class. Any lesser number shall be sufficient for adjournments. Any adjourned session or sessions may be held, within a reasonable time after the date set for the original meeting, without further notice. Except when a larger vote is required by any provision of law or of this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws, when a quorum is present at any meeting, a majority of the Shares voted shall decide any questions and a plurality shall elect a Trustee, provided that where any provision of law or of this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws requires that the holders of any series or class shall vote as an individual series or class then a majority of the Shares of that series or class voted on the matter (or a plurality with respect to the election of a Trustee) shall decide that matter insofar as that series or class is concerned.
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Section 4. Action by Written Consent. Any action taken by Shareholders may be taken without a meeting if Shareholders holding a majority of the shares entitled to vote on the matter (or such larger proportion thereof as shall be required by any express provision of this Declaration of Trust or by the Bylaws) consent to the action in writing and such written consents are filed with the records of the meetings of Shareholders. Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of Shareholders.
Section 5. Additional Provisions. The Bylaws may include further provisions, not inconsistent with this Declaration of Trust, regarding Shareholders voting powers, the conduct of meetings and related matters.
ARTICLE VI
Distributions, Redemptions and Repurchases
Section 1. Distributions. The Trustees may each year, or more frequently if they so determine, distribute to the Shareholders of each series out of the assets of such series such amounts as the Trustees may determine. Any such distribution to the Shareholders of a particular series shall be made to said Shareholders pro rata in proportion to the number of Shares of such series held by each of them, except to the extent otherwise required or permitted by the preferences and special or relative rights and privileges of any classes of Shares of that Series, and any distribution to the Shareholders of a particular class of Shares shall be made to such Shareholders pro rata in proportion to the number of Shares of such class held by each of them. Such distributions shall be made in cash, Shares or other property, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Trustees. Any such distribution paid in Shares will be paid at the net asset value thereof as determined in accordance with the Bylaws.
Section 2. Redemptions and Repurchases. The Trust shall purchase such Shares as are offered by any Shareholder for redemption, upon the presentation of a proper instrument of transfer together with a request directed to the Trust or a person designated by the Trust that the Trust purchase such Shares, or in accordance with such other procedures for redemption as the Trustees may from time to time authorize; and the Trust will pay therefor the net asset value thereof, as next determined in accordance with the Bylaws, less any redemption charge fixed by the Trustees. Payment for said Shares shall be made by the Trust to the Shareholder within seven days after the date on which the request is made. The obligation set forth in this Section 2 is subject to the provision that in the event that at any time the New York Stock Exchange is closed for other than weekends or holidays, or, if permitted by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, during periods when trading on the Exchange is restricted or during any emergency which makes it impractical for the Trust to dispose of the investments of the applicable series or to determine fairly the value of the net assets belonging to such series or attributable to any class thereof, or during any other period permitted by order of the Securities and Exchange Commission for the protection of investors, such obligations may be suspended or postponed by the Trustees. The Trust may also purchase or repurchase Shares at a price not exceeding the net asset value of such Shares in effect when the purchase or repurchase or any contract to purchase or repurchase is made.
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The redemption price may in any case or cases be paid wholly or partly in kind, except to the extent prohibited by the laws of any jurisdiction in which Shares are registered for sale, if the Trustees determine that such payment is advisable in the interest of the remaining Shareholders of the series the Shares of which are being redeemed. The fair value, selection and quantity of any securities or other property so paid or delivered as all or part of the redemption price may be determined by or under authority of the Trustees. In no event shall the Trust be liable for any delay of any corporation or other person in transferring securities or other property selected for delivery as all or part of any payment in kind.
Section 3. Redemption at the Option of the Trust. The Trust shall have the right at its option and at any time to redeem Shares of any Shareholder at the net asset value thereof as determined in accordance with the Bylaws: (i) if at such time such Shareholder owns fewer Shares of any series or class than, or Shares having an aggregate net asset value of less than, an amount determined from time to time by the Trustees, in which case the Trust may redeem all Shares owned by such Shareholder or only so many of such Shares as may be required to compensate the Trust for any fee fixed from time to time by the Trustees for the maintenance of small accounts; (ii) to the extent that such Shareholder owns Shares of a particular series of Shares equal to or in excess of a percentage of the outstanding Shares of that series determined from time to time by the Trustees; (iii) to the extent that such Shareholder owns Shares of the Trust representing a percentage equal to or in excess of such percentage of the aggregate number of outstanding Shares of the Trust or the aggregate net asset value of the Trust determined from time to time by the Trustees; (iv) if such Shareholder fails to supply appropriate personal and tax identification information requested by the Trust; (v) if such Shareholder fails to meet or maintain the qualifications for ownership of a particular series or class; or (vi) if the Trustees determine for any other reason, in their sole discretion, that the ownership of Shares by a Shareholder is not in the best interests of the remaining Shareholders of the Trust or of the applicable series or class.
ARTICLE VII
Compensation and Limitation of Liability of Trustees
Section 1. Compensation. The Trustees as such shall be entitled to reasonable compensation from the Trust; they may fix the amount of their compensation. Nothing herein shall in any way prevent the employment of any Trustee for advisory, management, legal, accounting, investment banking or other services and payment for the same by the Trust.
Section 2. Limitation of Liability. A Trustee shall be liable for his or her own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee, and for nothing else, and shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. The Trustees shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any neglect or wrongdoing of any officer, agent, employee, manager or principal underwriter of the Trust, nor shall any Trustee be responsible for the act or omission of any other Trustee. The appointment, designation or identification of a Trustee as an officer of the Trustees or of any
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committee of the Trustees, or as an expert with respect to certain matters (including without limitation identification of a Trustee as an audit committee financial expert) shall not impose on that person any duty, obligation or liability that is greater than the duties, obligations and liabilities imposed on that person as a Trustee in the absence of such appointment, designation or identification, and no Trustee who has special skills or expertise or who is appointed, designated or identified as aforesaid, shall be held to a higher standard of care by virtue thereof or be limited in any way with respect to any right or privilege to which such person would otherwise be entitled as a Trustee hereunder, including without limitation the right of indemnification. Nothing in this Declaration of Trust shall protect any Trustee against any liability to which such Trustee 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.
ARTICLE VIII
Indemnification
Section 1. Trustees, Officers, etc. The Trust shall indemnify each of its Trustees and officers (including persons who serve at the Trusts request as directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise) (hereinafter referred to as a Covered Person) against all liabilities and expenses, including but not limited to amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and counsel fees reasonably incurred by any Covered Person in connection with the defense or disposition of any threatened, pending or contemplated action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative or investigative and whether formal or informal before any court or administrative or legislative or other body, in which such Covered Person may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which such Covered Person may be or may have been threatened, while in office or thereafter, 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 except with respect to any matter as to which such Covered Person shall have been finally adjudicated in any such action, suit or other proceeding (a) not to have acted in good faith, (b) not to have acted in the reasonable belief that such Covered Persons action was in (or not opposed to) the best interests of the Trust, (c) in the case of a criminal proceeding, to have had reasonable cause to believe his or her action was unlawful or (d) to be liable to the Trust 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 (each of such exceptions being referred to hereinafter as Disabling Conduct). Expenses, including counsel fees so incurred by any such Covered Person (but excluding amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines or penalties), shall be paid from time to time by the Trust in advance of the final disposition of any such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person to repay amounts so paid to the Trust if it is ultimately determined that indemnification of such expenses is not authorized under this Article, provided, however, that either (a) such Covered Person shall have provided appropriate security for such undertaking, (b) the Trust shall be insured against losses arising from any such advance payments or (c) either a majority of the disinterested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the disinterested Trustees then in office act on the matter), or independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall have determined, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial type inquiry) that there is reason to believe that such Covered
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Person will be found entitled to indemnification under this Article. For purposes of the determination or opinion referred to in clause (c), the majority of the disinterested Trustees acting on the matter or independent legal counsel, as the case may be, shall afford the Covered Person a rebuttable presumption that the Covered Person did not engage in Disabling Conduct.
Section 2. Compromise Payment. As to any matter disposed of (whether by a compromise payment, pursuant to a consent decree or otherwise) without an adjudication by a court, or by any other body before which the action, suit or proceeding was brought, that such Covered Person engaged in Disabling Conduct, indemnification shall be provided if (a) approved as in the best interests of the Trust, after notice that it involves such indemnification, by at least a majority of the disinterested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the disinterested Trustees then in office act on the matter) upon a determination, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial type inquiry) that such Covered Person did not engage in Disabling Conduct, or (b) there has been obtained an opinion in writing of independent legal counsel, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial type inquiry) to the effect that such Covered Person did not engage in Disabling Conduct. Any approval pursuant to this Section shall not prevent the recovery from any Covered Person of any amount paid to such Covered Person in accordance with this Section as indemnification if such Covered Person is subsequently adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to have engaged in Disabling Conduct.
Section 3. Right Not Exclusive. The right of indemnification hereby provided shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any such Covered Person may be entitled. As used in this Article VIII, the term Covered Person shall include such persons heirs, executors and administrators and a disinterested Trustee is a Trustee who is not an interested person of the Trust as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act (or who has been exempted from being an interested person by any rule, regulation or order of the Securities and Exchange Commission) and against whom none of the actions, suits or other proceedings in question or another action, suit or other proceeding on the same or similar grounds is then or has been pending. Nothing contained in this Article shall affect any rights to indemnification to which personnel of the Trust, other than Trustees or officers, and other persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law, nor the power of the Trust to purchase and maintain liability insurance on behalf of any such person.
Section 4. Shareholders. In case any Shareholder or former Shareholder shall be held to be personally liable solely by reason of his or her being or having been a Shareholder of the Trust or of a particular series or class and not because of his or her acts or omissions or for some other reason, the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or his or her heirs, executors, administrators or other legal representative or, in the case of a corporation or other entity, its corporate or other general successor) shall be entitled out of the assets of the series (or attributable to the class) of which he or she is a Shareholder or former Shareholder to be held harmless from and indemnified against all loss and expense arising from such liability.
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ARTICLE IX
Miscellaneous
Section 1. Trustees, Shareholders, etc. Not Personally Liable for Obligations of the Trust; Notice. All persons extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against the Trust or a particular series or class shall look only to the assets of the Trust or, to the extent that the liability of the Trust may have been expressly limited by contract to the assets of a particular series or attributable to a particular class, only to the assets belonging to the relevant series or attributable to the relevant class, for payment under such credit, contract or claim, and neither the Shareholders nor the Trustees, nor any of the Trusts officers, employees or agents, whether past, present or future, shall be personally liable therefor.
Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking and every other act or thing whatsoever executed or done by any Trustee, officer, employee or agent on behalf of the Trust or the Trustees or any of them in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively deemed to have been executed or done only in or with respect to such persons capacity as a Trustee, officer, employee or agent, and such person shall not be personally liable thereon.
Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking made or issued on behalf of the Trust by any Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall give notice that this Declaration of Trust is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and shall recite that the same was executed or made by or on behalf of the Trust or by them as Trustees, officers, employees, agents of the Trust or otherwise and not individually and that the obligations of such instrument are not binding upon any of them or the Shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Trust or upon the assets belonging to the series or attributable to the class for the benefit of which the Trustees have caused the note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking to be made or issued, and may contain such further recitals as the person so executing may deem appropriate, but any omission of such notice or recitals shall not operate to bind any such Trustee, officer, employee or agent or the Shareholders individually.
Section 2. Trustees Faith Actions Binding; Expert Advice; No Bond or Surety. The exercise by the Trustees of their powers and discretions hereunder shall be binding upon everyone interested. The Trustees may take advice of counsel or other experts with respect to the meaning and operation of this Declaration of Trust, and shall be under no liability for any act or omission in accordance with such advice or for failing to follow such advice. The Trustees shall not be required to give any bond as such, nor any surety if a bond is required.
Section 3. Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustees. No person dealing with the Trustees shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction made or to be made by the Trustees or to see to the application of any payments made or property transferred to the Trust or upon its order.
Section 4. Duration and Termination of Trust or any Series or Class. Unless terminated as provided herein, the Trust and each series and class shall continue without limitation of time. The Trust or any series or class of any series may be terminated at any time (i) by the Trustees by written notice to the Shareholders of the Trust or to the Shareholders of the particular series or
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class, as the case may be, or (ii) by the affirmative vote of the lesser of (1) more than 50% of the outstanding Shares of each series or class entitled to vote, or (2) 67% or more of the Shares of each series or class entitled to vote and present at a meeting called for this purpose if more than 50% of the outstanding Shares of each series or class entitled to vote are present at the meeting in person or by proxy.
Upon termination of the Trust (or of any series or class, as the case may be), after paying or otherwise providing for all charges, taxes, expenses and liabilities belonging, severally, to each series (or to the applicable series or attributable to the particular class, as the case may be), whether due or accrued or anticipated as may be determined by the Trustees, the Trust shall, in accordance with such procedures as the Trustees consider appropriate, reduce the remaining assets of the Trust, or of the particular series or class, as the case may be, to distributable form in cash or shares or other property, or any combination thereof, and distribute the proceeds to the Shareholders of the Trust, or of the particular series or class, ratably according to the number of Shares of such series or class held by the several Shareholders of such series or class on the date of termination, except to the extent otherwise required or permitted by the preferences and special or relative rights and privileges of any classes of Shares of that series or class.
Section 5. Merger, Consolidation, Sale of Assets and Other Reorganizations. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, the Trustees may, without Shareholder approval, authorize the Trust or any series or class to merge, consolidate or reorganize with any other entity (including another series or class of the Trust), or to sell or exchange all or substantially all of the assets of the Trust or of any series or class, in each case upon such terms and for such consideration as they may determine to be in the best interests of the Trust or of the particular series or class. The authority provided by this Section shall be in addition to the powers granted to the Trustees under any other provision of this Declaration of Trust.
Section 6. Filing and Copies, References, Headings. The original or a copy of this instrument and of each amendment hereto shall be kept at the office of the Trust where it may be inspected by any Shareholder. A copy of this instrument and of each amendment hereto shall be filed by the Trust with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and with the Boston City Clerk, as well as any other governmental office where such filing may from time to time be required. Anyone dealing with the Trust may rely on a certificate by an officer of the Trust as to whether or not any such amendments have been made and as to any matters in connection with the Trust hereunder, and, with the same effect as if it were the original, may rely on a copy certified by an officer of the Trust to be a copy of this instrument or of any such amendments. In this instrument and in any such amendment, references to this instrument and all expressions like herein, hereof and hereunder shall be deemed to refer to this instrument as amended or affected by any such amendments. Headings are placed herein for convenience of reference only and shall not be taken as a part hereof or to control or affect the meaning, construction or effect of this instrument. This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original.
Section 7. Applicable Law. This Declaration of Trust is created under and is to be governed by and construed and administered according to the laws of said Commonwealth. The Trust shall be of the type commonly called a Massachusetts business trust and, without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers which are ordinarily exercised by such a trust.
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Section 8. Amendments. This Declaration of Trust may be amended at any time by an instrument in writing signed by a majority of the then Trustees when authorized to do so by a vote of the Shareholders, provided that Shareholder authorization shall not be required in the case of any amendment (i) having the purpose of changing the name of the Trust or of any series or class of Shares or of supplying any omission, curing any ambiguity or curing, correcting or supplementing any defective or inconsistent provision contained herein or (ii) which is determined by the Trustees in their sole discretion not to have a material adverse effect on the Shareholders of any series or class of Shares.
Section 9. Addresses. As of the date hereof, the principal address of the Trust and the address of the Trustees is c/o The Northern Trust Company, 50 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603, and the name and address of the resident agent of the Trust in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is Corporation Service Company, 84 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109. The Trustees may change the principal address of the Trust to any location within or without the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, each Trustee may change his or her address, and the Trustees may appoint a new or successor resident agent of the Trust, in each case at any time and in their, his or her sole discretion.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, all of the Trustees as aforesaid do hereto set their hands this 3rd day of March, 2020.
/s/ Ryan D. Burns |
Ryan D. Burns |
/s/ JoAnn S. Lilek |
JoAnn S. Lilek |
/s/ Patricia A. Weiland |
Patricia A. Weiland |
/s/ Lloyd A. Wennlund |
Lloyd A. Wennlund |
/s/ David M. Whitaker |
David M. Whitaker |
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Exhibit (b)(i)
BYLAWS OF
DATUM ONE SERIES TRUST
(Dated as of February 28, 2020)
ARTICLE 1
Agreement and Declaration of Trust and Principal Office
1.1 Agreement and Declaration of Trust. These Bylaws shall be subject to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as from time to time in effect (the Declaration of Trust) of Datum One Series Trust (the Trust), the Massachusetts business trust established by the Declaration of Trust. Capitalized terms used but not defined in these Bylaws have the meanings given to them in the Declaration of Trust.
1.2 Principal Office of the Trust. The principal office of the Trust shall be located in [Boston, Massachusetts]. The Trust may have other principal offices within or without the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as the Trustees may from time to time determine.
ARTICLE 2
Meetings of Trustees
2.1 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Trustees may be held without call or notice at such places and at such times as the Trustees may from time to time determine, provided that notice of the first regular meeting following any such determination shall be given to absent Trustees.
2.2 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Trustees may be held at any time and at any place designated in the call of the meeting when called by the Chair of the Trustees, the President, the Executive Vice President or the Treasurer or by two or more Trustees, sufficient notice thereof being given to each Trustee by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or by the officer or the Trustees calling the meeting.
2.3 Notice of Special Meetings. It shall be sufficient notice to a Trustee of a special meeting: (a) to send notice (i) by mail or courier at least forty-eight hours before the meeting, or (ii) by electronic mail (e-mail), telegram, facsimile or other electronic means at least twenty-four hours before the meeting, in each case addressed to the Trustee at his or her usual or last known business or residence address (or e-mail address, facsimile number or other appropriate address); or (b) to give notice to him or her in person or by telephone at least twenty-four hours before the meeting. Notice of a special meeting need not be given to any Trustee if a written waiver of notice, executed by him or her before or after the meeting, is filed with the records of the meeting, or to any Trustee who attends the meeting without protesting prior thereto or at its commencement the lack of notice to him or her. Any written waiver of notice may be provided and delivered to the Trust by mail, courier, e-mail, facsimile or other electronic means. Except as required by law, neither notice of a meeting nor a waiver of a notice need specify the purposes of the meeting. All notices shall be deemed to be given when sent.
2.4 Quorum. At any meeting of the Trustees a majority of the Trustees then in office shall constitute a quorum. Once a quorum has been validly established for a meeting, it cannot be broken by Trustees withdrawing from the meeting. Any meeting may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of the votes cast upon the question, whether or not a quorum is present, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice to any Trustee who was present at the time of such adjournment; notice of the time and place of any adjourned session of such meeting shall, however, be given in the manner provided in Section 2.3 of these Bylaws to each Trustee who was not present at the time of such adjournment.
2.5 Presence through Communications Equipment. Except as required by law, the Trustees may participate in a meeting of Trustees by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time and participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.
2.6 Action by Vote. When a quorum is present at any meeting, a majority of Trustees present may take any action, except when a larger vote is expressly required by law, by the Declaration of Trust or by these Bylaws.
2.5 Action by Writing. Except as required by law, any action to be taken at any meeting of the Trustees may also be taken without a meeting if a majority of the Trustees (or such larger proportion thereof as shall be required by any express provision of the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws) consent to the action in writing. Any written consent may be given by mail, courier, e-mail, facsimile or other electronic means. Copies of such written consents shall be filed with the records of the proceedings of the Trustees. Such consents shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of the Trustees.
If in accordance with the provisions of the Declaration of Trust and these Bylaws any action is taken by the Trustees by written consents of less than all of the Trustees, then prompt notice of any such action shall be furnished to each Trustee who did not execute such written consent, provided that the effectiveness of such action shall not be impaired by any delay or failure to furnish such notice.
ARTICLE 3
Officers
3.1 Enumeration; Qualification. The officers of the Trust shall be a President, a Treasurer, a Secretary and such other officers (including Vice President, which shall include the office of Executive Vice President), if any, as the Trustees from time to time may in their discretion elect. The Trust may also have such agents as the Trustees from time to time may in their discretion appoint. In addition, a Chair of the Trustees, who will be considered an officer of the Trustees and not of the Trust, may be elected. The Chair of the Trustees shall be a Trustee and may but need not be a Shareholder; any officer of the Trust may be but need not be a Trustee or a Shareholder. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.
3.2 Election. The Chair of the Trustees, the President, the Treasurer and the Secretary shall each be elected by the Trustees upon the occurrence of any vacancy in any such office. Other officers, if any, may be elected or appointed by the Trustees at any time. Vacancies in any such other office may be filled at any time.
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3.3 Tenure. The Chair of the Trustees, the President, the Treasurer and the Secretary shall hold office in each case until his or her successor is elected or qualified, or until he or she sooner dies, resigns, is removed or becomes disqualified. The Chair of the Trustees, the President, the Treasurer, the Secretary and each other officer shall hold office, and each agent shall retain authority, at the pleasure of the Trustees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the tenure of any officer of the Trust who is an employee or officer of the Trusts administrator, investment manager or their affiliates shall automatically terminate contemporaneously with the termination of such persons employment with, or service as officer of, the Trusts administrator, investment manager or affiliates, as applicable.
3.4 Powers. Subject to the other provisions of these Bylaws, each officer shall have, in addition to the duties and powers set forth in these Bylaws and in the Declaration of Trust, such duties and powers as are commonly incident to the office occupied by him or her as if the Trust were organized as a Massachusetts business corporation and such other duties and powers as the Trustees may from time to time designate.
3.5 Chair. Unless the Trustees otherwise provide, the Chair of the Trustees shall preside at all meetings of the Trustees. The Chair of the Trustees shall have such other duties and powers relating to the operations of the Trustees as the Trustees may from time to time designate, but shall have no individual authority to act for the Trust as an officer of the Trust. The Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, may appoint one or more persons to perform the duties of the Chair of the Trustees in the event of his or her absence at any meeting or in the event of his or her disability. The Chair of the Trustees shall also have the power to appoint one or more persons to perform the duties of the Chair of the Trustees in the event of his or her absence at any meeting.
3.6 President. The President shall have the duties and powers specified in these Bylaws and shall have such other duties and powers as may be determined by the Trustees. Unless the Trustees otherwise provide by vote or otherwise, the President shall be the principal executive officer of the Trust.
3.7 Treasurer. Unless the Trustees otherwise provide by vote or otherwise, the Treasurer shall be the principal financial and accounting officer of the Trust, and shall, subject to the provisions of the Declaration of Trust and to any arrangement made by the Trustees with a custodian, investment manager, administrator or transfer, Shareholder servicing or similar agent, be in charge of the valuable papers, books of account and accounting records of the Trust, and shall have such other duties and powers as may be designated from time to time by the Trustees or by the principal executive officer of the Trust.
3.8 Secretary. The Secretary shall record all proceedings of the Shareholders and the Trustees in books to be kept therefor, which books or a copy thereof shall be kept at the principal office of the Trust. In the absence of the Secretary from any meeting of the Shareholders or Trustees (or a Committee thereof), an Assistant Secretary, or if there be none or if he or she is absent, a temporary Secretary chosen at such meeting by the chair of such meeting, shall record the proceedings thereof in the aforesaid books.
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3.9 Resignations and Removals. Any officer may resign at any time by written instrument signed by him or her and delivered to the Chair of the Trustees, the President or the Secretary or to a meeting of the Trustees. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless specified to be effective at some other time. The Trustees may remove any officer elected or appointed by them with or without cause. Except to the extent expressly provided in a written agreement with the Trust, no officer resigning and no officer removed shall have any right to any compensation for any period following his or her resignation or removal, or any right to damages on account of such removal.
ARTICLE 4
Committees
4.1 Quorum; Voting. Except as provided below or as otherwise specifically provided in the votes or charter constituting a Committee of the Trustees and providing for the conduct of its meetings, a majority of the members of any Committee of the Trustees shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business (which quorum once validly established cannot be broken by Trustees withdrawing from the meeting), and any action of such a Committee may be taken by a vote of a majority of the members of such Committee (a) present at a meeting of such Committee (a quorum being present), including any meeting held by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time (participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting), or (b) evidenced by one or more written consents, including written consents submitted by mail, courier, e-mail, facsimile or other electronic means. Copies of such written consents shall be filed with the records of the proceedings of such Committee. Such consents shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of such Committee. If in accordance with the provisions of the Declaration of Trust and these Bylaws any action is taken by written consents of less than all of the Committees members, then prompt notice of any such action shall be furnished to each member who did not execute such written consent, provided that the effectiveness of such action shall not be impaired by any delay or failure to furnish such notice.
Except as specifically provided in the votes or charter constituting a Committee of the Trustees and providing for the conduct of its meetings, Section 2.3 of these Bylaws relating to special meetings shall govern the notice requirements for Committee meetings.
4.2 Authority of Trustees. The Trustees have the power to rescind any action of any Committee, but no such rescission shall have retroactive effect unless determined so by the Trustees.
ARTICLE 5
Reports
5.1 General. The Trustees and officers shall render reports at the time and in the manner required by the Declaration of Trust or any applicable law. Officers and Committees shall render such additional reports as they may deem desirable or as may from time to time be required by the Trustees.
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ARTICLE 6
Fiscal Year
6.1 General. Except as from time to time otherwise provided by the Trustees, the fiscal year of the Trust shall end on March 31 in each year.
ARTICLE 7
Seal
7.1 General. The seal of the Trust, if any, shall consist of a flat-faced die with the word Massachusetts, together with the name of the Trust and the year of its organization cut or engraved thereon but, unless otherwise required by the Trustees, the seal need not be placed on, and its absence shall not impair the validity of, any document, instrument or other paper executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Trust.
ARTICLE 8
Execution of Papers
8.1 General. Except as the Trustees may generally or in particular cases authorize the execution thereof in some other manner, all deeds, leases, contracts, checks, notes, drafts and other obligations made, accepted or endorsed by the Trust, and all registration statements and amendments thereto and all applications and amendments thereto to the Securities and Exchange Commission shall be signed by the Chair of the Trustees, the President, a Vice President or the Treasurer or any of such other officers or agents as shall be designated for that purpose by a vote of the Trustees, and need not bear the seal of the Trust.
ARTICLE 9
Issuance of Shares and Share Certificates
9.1 Sale of Shares. Except as otherwise determined by the Trustees, the Trust will issue and sell for cash or securities from time to time full and fractional Shares, such Shares to be issued and sold at a price of not less than the par value per share, if any, and not less than the net asset value per share as from time to time determined in accordance with procedures adopted by the Trustees and, in the case of fractional Shares, at a proportionate reduction in such price. In the case of Shares sold for securities, such securities shall be valued in accordance with procedures approved by the Trustees for determining the value of the assets of the Trust. The officers of the Trust are severally authorized to take all such actions as may be necessary or desirable to carry out this Section 9.1.
9.2 Share Certificates. In lieu of issuing certificates for Shares, the Trustees or the transfer agent may either issue receipts therefor or may keep accounts upon the books of the Trust for the record holders of such Shares, who shall in either case be deemed, for all purposes hereunder, to be the holders of certificates for such Shares as if they had accepted such certificates and shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms hereof.
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The Trustees may at any time authorize the issuance of Share certificates. In that event, each Shareholder shall be entitled to a certificate stating the number of Shares of each class owned by him or her, in such form as shall be prescribed from time to time by the Trustees. Such certificate shall be signed by the President or a Vice President and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer. Such signatures may be facsimile if the certificate is signed by a transfer agent or by a registrar. In case any officer who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed on such certificate shall cease to be such officer before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Trust with the same effect as if he or she were such officer at the time of its issue.
9.3 Loss of Certificates. The transfer agent of the Trust, with the approval of any two officers of the Trust, is authorized to issue and countersign replacement certificates for the Shares of the Trust which have been lost, stolen or destroyed upon (i) receipt of an affidavit or affidavits of loss or non-receipt and of an indemnity agreement executed by the registered holder or his or her legal representative and supported by an open penalty surety bond, said agreement and said bond in all cases to be in form and content satisfactory to and approved by the President or the Treasurer, or (ii) receipt of such other documents as may be approved by the Trustees.
9.4 Issuance of New Certificate to Pledgee. A pledgee of Shares transferred as collateral security shall be entitled to a new certificate if the instrument of transfer substantially describes the debt or duty that is intended to be secured thereby. Such new certificate shall express on its face that it is held as collateral security, and the name of the pledgor shall be stated thereon, who alone shall be liable as a Shareholder and entitled to vote thereon.
9.5 Discontinuance of Issuance of Certificates. The Trustees may at any time discontinue the issuance of Share certificates and may, by written notice to each Shareholder whom the Trust believes to hold a Share certificate, require the surrender of Share certificates to the Trust for cancellation. Such surrender and cancellation shall not affect the ownership of Shares in the Trust.
ARTICLE 10
Shareholders
10.1 Call of a Meeting. The Secretary shall provide notice of a meeting of the Shareholders whenever ordered by the Trustees or requested in writing by the holder or holders of at least one-tenth of the outstanding Shares entitled to vote at such meeting. If the Secretary, when so ordered or requested, refuses or neglects for more than 30 days to provide such notice, the Trustees or the Shareholders so requesting may, in the name of the Secretary, call the meeting by giving notice thereof in the manner required when notice is given by the Secretary. Any previously scheduled meeting of Shareholders may be postponed or cancelled by the Trustees upon public notice given prior to the time previously scheduled for such meeting.
10.2 Adjournment. Any meeting of Shareholders may, by action of the chair of the meeting, be adjourned from time to time without notice other than announcement at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken with respect to one or more matters to be considered at such meeting, whether or not a quorum is present with respect to such matter. Upon motion of the chair of the meeting, the question of adjournment may be (but is not required by these Bylaws to be) submitted to a vote of the Shareholders, and in that case, any adjournment with respect to one or
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more matters must be approved by the vote of holders of a majority of the Shares present and entitled to vote with respect to the matter or matters adjourned and, if approved, such adjournment shall take place without further notice other than announcement at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. Unless a proxy is otherwise limited in this regard, any Shares present and entitled to vote at a meeting, including any Shares that are represented by broker non-votes, may, at the discretion of the proxies named therein, be voted in favor of such an adjournment. Any proposal for which sufficient favorable votes have been received may (but need not) be acted upon and considered final and effective regardless of whether the meeting is adjourned to permit additional solicitation with respect to any other proposal that is properly before the meeting.
10.3 Conduct of Meetings. Meetings of the Shareholders shall be presided over by the Chair of the Trustees, or, if the Chair is not present at the meeting, then by a Trustee or officer designated by the Chair or authorized by the Trustees, or if there is no such person present at the meeting, then by any officer of the Trust present at the meeting, and such person shall be deemed for all purposes the chair of the meeting. The chair of the meeting shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chair, are necessary, appropriate or convenient for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, establishing: an agenda or order of business for the meeting; rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; conditions on the recording of the meeting; limitations on participation in such meeting to Shareholders of record of the Trust and their duly authorized and constituted proxies, and such other persons as the chair shall permit; restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants; conditions for the removal of any Shareholder or any other person who refuses to comply with meeting procedures, rules or guidelines as set forth by the chair of the meeting; and regulations for the opening and closing of the polls for balloting on matters which are to be voted on by ballot. For any matter to be properly before any meeting of Shareholders, the matter must be a proper matter for Shareholder action under the Declaration of Trust, these Bylaws and applicable law and must be specifically identified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of a majority of the Trustees then in office or otherwise brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the chair of the meeting, in the chairs sole discretion. With the exception of Shareholder proposals submitted in accordance with, and otherwise meeting the requirements of, Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor provisions, only matters proposed by the Trustees may be included in the Trusts proxy materials. At all meetings of Shareholders, unless voting is conducted by inspectors, all questions relating to the qualification of voters and the validity of proxies and the acceptance or rejection of votes shall be decided by the chair of the meeting. The chair of the meeting shall determine, in the chairs sole discretion, whether to appoint an inspector for any meeting. Unless otherwise determined by the chair of the meeting, meetings shall not be required to be held in accordance with any rules of parliamentary procedure.
10.4 Access to Shareholder List. Shareholders of record may apply in writing to the Trustees for assistance in communicating with other Shareholders for the purpose of calling a meeting in order to vote upon the question of removal of a Trustee. With respect to any series as to which the Trust has given such an undertaking in its registration statement, and only such a series, or for any other series as the Trustees may determine in their sole discretion, when ten or more
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Shareholders of record who have been such for at least six months preceding the date of application and who hold in the aggregate Shares having a net asset value of at least $25,000 so apply, the Trustees shall within five business days either:
(i) afford to such applicants access to a list of names and addresses of all Shareholders as recorded on the books of the Trust; or
(ii) inform such applicants of the approximate number of Shareholders of record and the approximate cost of mailing material to them, and, within a reasonable time thereafter, mail, at the applicants expense, materials submitted by the applicants, to all such Shareholders of record. The Trustees shall not be obligated to mail materials which they believe to be misleading or in violation of applicable law.
10.5 Record Dates. For the purpose of determining the Shareholders of any class or series of Shares of the Trust who are entitled to vote or act at any meeting or any adjournment thereof, or who are entitled to receive payment of any dividend or of any other distribution, the Trustees (or their designees) may from time to time fix a time, which shall be not more than 90 days before the date of any meeting of Shareholders or more than 60 days before the date of payment of any dividend or of any other distribution, as the record date for determining the Shareholders of such class or series having the right to notice of and to vote at such meeting and any adjournment thereof or the right to receive such dividend or distribution, and in such case only Shareholders of record on such record date shall have such right notwithstanding any transfer of Shares on the books of the Trust after the record date; or without fixing such record date the Trustees may for voting and/or distribution purposes close the register or transfer books for one or more series or classes for all or any part of the period prior to a meeting of Shareholders or the payment of a distribution. Nothing in this Section shall be construed as precluding the Trustees from setting different record dates for different series or classes.
10.6 Communications with Shareholders. Any notices, reports, statements or other communications with Shareholders of any kind required under the Declaration of Trust, these Bylaws or applicable law may be sent, delivered or made available in any reasonable manner as may be determined by the Trustees or officers if not otherwise prohibited by applicable law, including, without limitation, by mail, courier, e-mail, facsimile or other electronic means or by posting on a website; and such communications may be sent, delivered or otherwise made available to Shareholders in accordance with householding or other similar rules under which a single copy of such notice or report may be sent to Shareholders who reside at the same address. No communication need be given to any Shareholder who shall have failed to inform the Trust of the Shareholders current address and the Trustees may from time to time adopt, or may authorize the officers or agents of the Trust to adopt, procedures or policies with respect to communications to Shareholders that are returned to the Trust or its agents as undeliverable and similar matters. Any Shareholder may waive receipt of any notice or other communication.
10.7 Proxies. The placing of a Shareholders name on a proxy pursuant to telephonic or electronically transmitted instructions (including instructions submitted via the Internet) obtained pursuant to procedures reasonably designed to verify that such instructions have been authorized by such Shareholder shall constitute execution of such proxy by or on behalf of such Shareholder.
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ARTICLE 11
11.1 Inspection of Books. The Trustees shall from time to time determine whether and to what extent, at what times and places and under what conditions and regulations any of the accounts and books of the Trust or any series thereof shall be open to the inspection of the Shareholders, and no Shareholder shall have any right to inspect any account or book or document of the Trust or any series thereof except as conferred by law or otherwise by the Trustees or by these Bylaws.
ARTICLE 12
Amendments to the Bylaws
13.1 General. These Bylaws may be amended or repealed, in whole or in part, by a majority of the Trustees then in office at any meeting of the Trustees, or by written consent in lieu thereof. These Bylaws may not be amended by Shareholders.
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Exhibit (d)(i)
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made this 3rd day of March, 2020, between DATUM ONE SERIES TRUST (the Trust), a Massachusetts business trust having its principal place of business at 50 S. LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603, on behalf of each series of the Trust listed on Schedule A (each series is individually referred to herein as a Fund and collectively as the Funds) and Polar Capital LLP (the Manager), an investment manager having its principal place of business at 16 Palace Street, London, SW1E 5JD, United Kingdom.
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) as an open-end, management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act);
WHEREAS, the Manager is registered with the Commission as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the Advisers Act); and
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain the Manager to furnish investment advisory and related services to the Fund(s), and the Manager represents that it is willing and possesses legal authority to so furnish such services without violation of applicable laws and regulations;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, it is agreed between the parties hereto as follows with respect to the Fund(s):
1. |
Appointment. The Trust hereby appoints the Manager to act as investment manager to the Fund(s) for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Manager accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish the services herein set forth for the compensation herein provided. Additional series of the Trust may from time to time be added to those covered by this Agreement by the parties executing a new Schedule A, which shall become effective upon its execution (subject to the approval procedures in Section 12) and shall supersede any Schedule A having an earlier date. |
The Manager shall for all purposes herein be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, unless otherwise expressly provided or authorized, have no authority to act for or represent the Trust or the Fund(s) in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Trust or the Fund(s).
2. |
Delivery of Documents. The Trust has furnished the Manager with copies, properly certified or authenticated, of each of the following: |
(a) |
the Trusts Declaration of Trust, filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on February 28, 2020, and any and all amendments thereto or restatements thereof (such Declaration, as presently in effect and as it shall from time to time be amended or restated, is herein called the Declaration of Trust); |
(b) |
the Trusts By-Laws and any amendments thereto; |
(c) |
resolutions of the Trusts Board of Trustees (the Board) authorizing the appointment of the Manager and approving this Agreement; |
(d) |
the Trusts Notification of Registration on Form N-8A under the 1940 Act, as filed with the Commission, and all amendments thereto; and |
(e) |
the most recent Prospectus, Summary Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the Fund(s), as applicable (such Prospectus, Summary Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, as presently in effect, and all amendments and supplements thereto, are herein collectively referred to as the Prospectus). |
The Trust will furnish the Manager from time to time with copies of all amendments of or supplements to the foregoing.
3. |
The Managers Representations. The Manager represents, warrants and agrees that: |
(a) |
It has all requisite power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement, and has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize its execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement; |
(b) |
It is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and will continue to be so registered during the term of this Agreement; |
(c) |
It maintains professional errors and omissions liability insurance with insurance carriers approved by the Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust covering services provided hereunder by the Manager in an appropriate amount; |
(d) |
It has adopted and implemented a written code of ethics complying with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act (the Code of Ethics) and, if it has not already done so, will provide the Trust with a copy of such Code of Ethics and any amendments thereto. Within 60 days following the end of the last quarter of each calendar year that this Agreement is in effect, a duly authorized officer of the Manager shall certify to the Chief Compliance Officer of the Fund that the Manager has complied with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 during the previous calendar year and that there has been no material violation of the Managers code of ethics or, if such a violation has occurred, that appropriate action was taken in response to such violation; |
(e) |
It has appointed a chief compliance officer under Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act and adopted and implemented written policies and procedures, as required by Rule 206(4)-7, which are reasonably designed to prevent violations of federal securities laws by the Manager, its employees, officers and agents, to detect violations that have occurred, and to correct promptly any violations that have occurred (Compliance Procedures) and, if it has not already done so, will provide the Trust with a copy of the Compliance Procedures and any material amendments thereto and will provide promptly notice of any material violations relating to the Fund to the Chief Compliance Officer of the Fund; |
(f) |
It will vote all proxies for securities held by a Fund and exercise all other voting rights with respect to such securities in accordance with the Managers written proxy voting policies and procedures, and will file claims in class action settlements related to securities currently or previously held by the Fund(s); |
(g) |
It has delivered to the Trust copies of its Form ADV as most recently filed with the Commission and will provide the Trust with a copy of any future filings of Form ADV or any amendments thereto; |
(h) |
It is not prohibited by the 1940 Act or the Advisers Act from performing the services contemplated by this Agreement and will promptly notify the Trust of the occurrence of any event that would disqualify the Manager from serving as an investment manager to a Fund pursuant to Section 9(a) of the 1940 Act or other applicable law, rule or regulation; |
(i) |
It 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 self-regulatory agency, necessary to be met by the Manager in order to perform its services contemplated by this Agreement; and |
(j) |
This Agreement, when executed and delivered, will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Manager, enforceable against the Manager in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties. |
4. |
The Trusts Representations. The Trust represents, warrants and agrees that: |
(a) |
This Agreement has been duly authorized by appropriate action of the Trust and its shareholders to the extent required under the 1940 Act; |
(b) |
It has received a copy of Part 2A of the Managers Form ADV as is currently in effect as of the date of this Agreement. |
5. |
Plenary Authority of the Board of Trustees. The Manager acknowledges that each Fund is a mutual fund that operates as a series of the Trust under the supervision and direction of the Board. |
6. |
Management. Subject to the supervision of the Trusts Board, the Manager will provide a continuous investment program for the Fund(s), with respect to all securities and investments and cash equivalents in the Fund(s). The Manager will determine from time to time what securities and other investments will be purchased, retained or sold by the Trust with respect to the Fund(s). The Manager will provide the services under this Agreement in accordance with: (A) the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, as applicable to the Fund(s), and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations; (B) each Funds investment objectives, policies, and restrictions as stated in the each Funds registration statement (including each Funds Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information); (C) resolutions , instructions and directions of the Trusts Board of Trustees; and (D) the compliance policies and procedures of the Trust and the Compliance Procedures. The Manager further agrees that it: |
(a) |
Will use the same skill and care in providing such services as it uses in providing services to its other similar accounts for which it has investment responsibilities; |
(b) |
Will conform with all applicable Rules and Regulations of the Commission under the 1940 Act and, in addition, will conduct its activities under this Agreement in accordance with any applicable regulations of any governmental authority pertaining to the investment advisory activities of the Manager; |
(c) |
Will place or cause to be placed orders for the Fund(s) either directly with the issuer or with such persons, brokers, dealers or futures commission merchants (including, but not limited to, broker-dealers that are affiliated with Manager) as may be selected by Manager; provided, however, that such orders shall be consistent with the brokerage policy set forth in the applicable Funds registration statement, or approved by the Board of the Trust; conform with federal securities laws; and be consistent with seeking best execution. Subject to the provisions of Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Manager may effect securities transactions which cause the Fund(s) to pay an amount of commission in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged, provided that the Manager determined in good faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of brokerage and research services provided by the broker or dealer utilized by the Manager. However, a brokers or dealers sale or promotion of each Funds shares shall not be a factor considered by the Manager or its personnel responsible for selecting brokers or dealers to effect securities transactions on behalf of the Fund(s), nor shall the Manager enter into any agreement or understanding under which it will direct brokerage transactions or revenue generated by those transactions to brokers or dealers to pay for distribution of each Funds shares. In no instance will portfolio securities be purchased from or sold to the Trusts principal underwriter, the Manager, or any affiliated person of the Trust, the Trusts principal underwriter, or the Manager, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and the Commission; |
(d) |
Will use its best efforts to assist the Trust in connection with the Trusts compliance with the Federal securities laws, as such term is defined in Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act, (Federal Securities Laws), including, without limitation [and upon reasonable request], providing the Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust with: |
(i) |
Compliance Procedures, as may be amended from time to time (including prompt notice of any material changes thereto); |
(ii) |
a summary of the Compliance Procedures in connection with the annual review thereof by the Trust; |
(iii) |
a certificate of the chief compliance officer of the Manager to the effect that the policies and procedures of the Manager are reasonably designed to prevent violation of the Federal Securities Laws; |
(iv) |
direct access to the Managers chief compliance officer, as reasonably requested by the Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust; |
(v) |
a completed quarterly informational questionnaire regarding the Managers compliance program; and |
(vi) |
quarterly certifications indicating whether there were Material Compliance Matters (as that term is defined by Rule 38a-1) that arose under the compliance policies and procedures of the Trust and/or Compliance Procedures in such detail as may be reasonably requested by the Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust. |
(e) |
Shall provide pricing and valuation information at the request of the Trust from time to time with respect to particular securities it has purchased for each Fund if the Trust has determined that such pricing and valuation information is not otherwise reasonably available to it through standard pricing services. In the event that the Manager believes a valuation provided by a pricing service for a security it has purchased for a Fund is materially inaccurate, the Manager agrees to promptly notify the Trust. |
(f) |
Will from time to time at the request of the Trust: |
(i) |
meet, either in person or via teleconference, with such other persons as the Trust may designate, including the Board or outside legal counsel to the Trust, on reasonable notice and at reasonable times and locations, to discuss general economic conditions, performance, investment strategy and other matters relating to the Fund(s); and/or |
(ii) |
provide written materials to the Trust, including the Board, on reasonable notice, discussing general economic conditions, performance, investment strategy and other matters relating to each Fund. |
(g) |
Shall be responsible for timely filing any required reports on its behalf with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the 1934 Act) and the rules and regulations thereunder. |
(h) |
Will maintain all books and records with respect to the securities transactions of the Fund(s) and will furnish the Trusts Board of Trustees with such periodic and special reports as the Board may reasonably request; and |
(i) |
Will treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Trust all records and other information relative to the Trust and the Fund(s), including each Funds prior, present, or potential shareholders, and will not use such records and information for any purpose other than performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder, except after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld where the Manager 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. For the avoidance of doubt, the performance of the Fund(s) and related portfolio holdings shall not be treated as confidential. However, publication and distribution of such portfolio holdings must comply with the 1940 Act and other applicable laws and the Funds policies with respect to the disclosure of portfolio holdings. To the extent permitted under applicable law, performance,portfolio holdings, investment strategy and approach may be used by the Manager to market the related strategy and/or to be combined in a performance composite. |
The Manager may not appoint a sub-manager or a sub-adviser to provide the services contemplated hereunder.
7. |
Certain Ongoing Certification(s). As requested, the Manager shall timely provide to the Fund (i) information and commentary for the Funds annual and semi-annual reports, registration statements and other disclosure documents, and shall (A) certify that such information and commentary discuss the factors that materially affected the performance of the Fund, including the relevant market conditions and the investment techniques and strategies used, and do 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, and (B) provide additional certifications related to the Managers management of the Fund in order to support the Funds regulatory filings and other disclosure documents, and the Funds Principal Executive Officers and Principal Financial Officers certifications under Rule 30a-2 under the 1940 Act, thereon; and (ii) a quarterly sub-certification with respect to compliance matters related to the Manager and the Managers management of the Fund, in a format reasonably requested by the Chief Compliance Officer of the Fund, as it may be amended from time to time. |
8. |
Services Not Exclusive. The investment management services furnished by the Manager hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Manager shall be free to furnish similar services to others so long as its services under this Agreement are not impaired thereby. |
(a) |
Aggregation of Trades. On occasions when the Manager deems the purchase or sale of a security or other asset to be in the best interest of a Fund as well as other clients of the Manager, the Manager, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the securities or other asset to be sold or purchased in order to seek best execution. In such event, Manager will make allocation of the securities or other asset so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, in the manner the Manager considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Fund and to such other clients and in accordance with its Best Execution Policy. |
9. |
Expenses. During the term of this Agreement, the Manager will pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its activities under this Agreement. Specifically, but not intended as an exhaustive list, the Manager will pay the expenses of printing and distributing copies of a Funds prospectus, statement of additional information and sales and advertising materials (but not the legal, auditing or accounting fees attendant thereto) to prospective investors (but not to existing shareholders) to the extent such expenses are not covered by any applicable plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (each, a 12b-1 Plan); the costs of any special Board meetings or shareholder meetings convened for the primary benefit of, and requested by, the Manager; and any costs of liquidating or reorganizing the Fund(s) if the liquidation or reorganization is made at the request of the Manager (unless such cost is otherwise allocated by the Board). |
If the Manager has agreed to limit the operating expenses of a Fund, the Manager also shall be responsible on a monthly basis for any operating expenses that exceed the agreed upon expense limit, subject to the terms of such agreement.
The Manager shall not be obligated under this Agreement to pay expenses of or for the Trust or the Fund(s) expressly assumed by the Trust or the Fund(s) in this Section 9. The Manager may voluntarily assume certain expenses by separate written agreement.
The Fund(s) shall pay all brokers commissions and other charges relating to the purchase and sale of portfolio securities and other investments for its own account. The Fund(s) shall pay its pro rata share of expenses of its operation related to the following: all charges of depositories, custodians and other agencies for the safekeeping and servicing of its cash, securities and other property and of its transfer agents and registrars and its dividend disbursing and redemption agents, if any; all expenses in determination of daily price computations; all charges of legal counsel and of independent accountants; all compensation of independent Trustees and all expenses incurred in connection with their services to the Fund(s); all costs of borrowing money; all expenses of publication of notices and reports to its shareholders and to governmental bodies or regulatory agencies; all expenses of proxy solicitations of the Fund(s) or of the Board of Trustees (unless such expenses are a direct result of actions taken by the Manager insofar as such action has not been initiated by the Board of Trustees); all expenses of shareholder meetings (unless such expenses are a direct result of actions taken by the Manager insofar as such action has not been initiated by the Board of Trustees); all expenses of typesetting of each Funds prospectuses and of printing and mailing copies of the prospectuses furnished to each then-existing shareholder or beneficial owner; all taxes and fees payable to federal, state or other governmental agencies, domestic or foreign; all stamp or other similar taxes; all expenses of printing and mailing certificates for shares of the Fund(s); all expenses of bond and insurance coverage required by law or deemed advisable by the Board of Trustees; all expenses of qualifying and maintaining qualification of shares of the Fund(s) under the securities laws of such United States jurisdictions as the Trust may from time to time reasonably designate; and all expenses of maintaining the registration of the Trust under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act.
10. |
Compensation. For the services provided and the expenses assumed pursuant to this Agreement, the Fund(s) will pay the Manager and the Manager will accept as full compensation therefor a fee as set forth on Schedule A hereto. The obligation of the Fund(s) to pay the above-described fee to the Manager will begin as of the date of the initial public sale of shares in the Fund(s). The fee attributable to a Fund shall be the obligation of that particular Fund and not of any other Fund or any other series of the Trust. |
11. |
Liability; Standard of Care. |
(a) |
The Manager shall have responsibility for the accuracy and completeness (and liability for the lack thereof) of any information with respect to the Manager, its personnel or a Funds strategies provided in writing to the Trust for inclusion in each Funds offering materials (including the registration statement, statutory prospectus, statement of additional information, summary prospectus and advertising and sales materials). |
(b) |
The Manager shall act at all times in the best interests of each Fund and shall discharge its duties with the care, skill, prudence and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of a similar enterprise. The Manager shall not be liable to the Trust, a Fund or a Funds shareholders for any action or inaction of the Manager relating to any event whatsoever in the absence of bad faith, willful misfeasance or [gross] negligence in the performance of, or the reckless disregard of, the Managers duties or obligations under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, federal securities laws and certain state laws impose liabilities under certain circumstances on persons who have acted in good faith, and therefore nothing herein shall in any way constitute a waiver or limitation of any rights which the Trust, a Fund or any shareholder of the Fund may have under federal securities laws or state laws. |
(c) |
In no event shall the Manager be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in performance of its obligations under this Agreement arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control including, without limitation, acts of civil or military authority, national emergencies, labor difficulties (other than those related to the Managers employees), fire, mechanical breakdowns, flood or catastrophe, acts of God, insurrection, war, riots or failure of the mails, transportation, communication or power supply. |
(d) |
The Manager, and its affiliates, agents and employees shall not be liable to the Trust or a Fund for failure to act or any action taken in good faith reliance upon: |
(i) |
The Funds directions to the custodian, or brokers, dealers or others with respect to the making, retention or sale of any investment or reinvestment hereunder; or |
(ii) |
Acts or omissions of the custodian or a Fund, or their respective affiliates, agents or employees. |
(e) |
No party to this Agreement shall be liable to another party for consequential damages under any provision of this Agreement. |
(f) |
The Manager shall not be deemed by virtue of this Agreement to have made any representation or warranty that any level of investment performance or level of investment results will be achieved. |
(g) |
Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, each party to this Agreement (as an Indemnifying Party) shall indemnify and hold harmless the other party and the shareholders, directors, officers and employees of the other parties (any such person, an Indemnified Party) against any direct loss, liability, claim, damage or expense (including the reasonable cost of investigating and defending any alleged loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense and reasonable legal counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) arising out of the Indemnifying Partys performance or nonperformance of any duties under this Agreement, provided, however, that indemnification shall not be paid hereunder with respect to any |
matter to the extent to which the loss, liability, claim, damage or expense was caused by the Indemnified Partys willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of duties hereunder or reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement, and provided further, however, that the Manager shall only be required to indemnify and hold harmless an Indemnified Party to the extent the loss, liability, claim, damage or expense of such Indemnified Party was attributable to (i) the Managers willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of duties hereunder or reckless disregard of the Managers obligations or duties hereunder; (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the registration statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature or other materials pertaining to the Fund or the omission to state therein a material fact known to Manager which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and was made in reliance upon written information furnished by Manager for use therein; or (iii) any violation of federal or state statutes or regulations by the Manager. |
(h) |
If indemnification is to be sought hereunder, then the Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Indemnifying Party of the assertion of any claim or the commencement of any action or proceeding in respect thereof and will keep the Indemnifying Party advised with respect to all developments concerning such claim, action or proceeding; provided, however, that the failure so to notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party from any liability that it may otherwise have to the Indemnified Party provided such failure shall not affect in a material adverse manner the position of the Indemnifying Party or the Indemnified Party with respect to such claim. Following such notification, the Indemnifying Party may elect in writing to assume the defense of such action or proceeding and, upon such election, it shall not be liable for any legal costs incurred by the Indemnified Party (other than reasonable costs of investigation previously incurred) in connection therewith, unless (i) the Indemnifying Party has failed to provide legal counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party in a timely manner or (ii) legal counsel which has been provided by the Indemnifying Party reasonably determines that its representation of the Indemnified Party would present it with a conflict of interest. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Indemnified Party shall be entitled to employ separate legal counsel at its own expense and, in such event, the Indemnified Party may participate in such defense as it deems necessary. The Indemnified Party shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any case in which the Indemnifying Party may be required to indemnify it except with the Indemnifying Partys prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed; notwithstanding this Section 11, in the event the Indemnified Party has not secured such consent, the Indemnifying Party will have no obligation to indemnify the Indemnified Party. Upon request and at the Indemnifying Partys expense, the Indemnified Party shall provide reasonable assistance to the Indemnifying Party so that the Indemnifying Party can defend against such claim, action or proceeding. |
(i) |
The provisions of Sections 11(g) and (h) shall not apply in any action where the Indemnified Party is the party adverse, or one of the parties adverse, to the other party. |
12. |
Duration and Termination. This Agreement will become effective with respect to each Fund listed on Schedule A as of the date first written above (or, if a particular Fund is not in existence on that date, on the date Schedule A hereto is amended to add such Fund), provided that it shall have been approved by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such Fund and approved by the vote of a majority of those members of the Trusts Board of Trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any party to this Agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, in accordance with the requirements under the 1940 Act, and, unless sooner terminated as provided herein, shall continue in effect for the two-year period from the effective date for a Fund. Thereafter, if not terminated, this Agreement shall continue in effect for successive one-year terms, provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (a) by the vote of a majority of those members of the Trusts Board of Trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any party to this Agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and (b) by the vote of a majority of the Trusts Board of Trustees or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such Fund. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated as to a particular Fund at any time (i) on 60 days written notice or (ii) upon material breach by a party 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, in each case without the payment of any penalty, by the Trust (by vote of the Trusts Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such Fund) or by the Manager. The Trust may terminate this Agreement immediately if, in the reasonable judgment of the Trust, the Manager becomes unable to discharge its duties and obligations under this Agreement, including circumstances such as the insolvency of the Manager or other circumstances that could adversely affect the Fund. This Agreement will immediately terminate in the event of its assignment. As used in this Agreement, the terms majority of the outstanding voting securities, interested persons, and assignment shall have the same meanings as ascribed to such terms in the 1940 Act. |
13. |
Use of Name. The Trust and the Manager acknowledge that all rights to the name DATUM ONE SERIES TRUST or any variation thereof belong to the Trust. The Trust and the Manager acknowledge that all rights to the name POLAR CAPITAL and POLAR CAPITAL STARS or any variations thereof belong to the Manager and that the Trust is being granted a limited license to use POLAR CAPITAL and POLAR CAPITAL STARS in the name of the Fund(s) or in the name of any class of shares of the Fund(s). In the event that the Manager ceases to be a manager to a Fund, the Funds right to the use of the name POLAR CAPITAL and POLAR CAPITAL STARS shall automatically cease on the ninetieth (90th) day following the termination of this Agreement. The right to POLAR CAPITAL and POLAR CAPITAL STARS may also be withdrawn by the Manager during the term of this Agreement upon ninety (90) days written notice by the Manager to the Trust. Nothing contained herein shall impair or diminish in any respect the Managers right to use the name POLAR CAPITAL and POLAR CAPITAL STARS in the name of, or in connection with, any other business enterprises with which the Manager is or may become associated. There is no charge to the Fund(s) or the Trust for the right to use this name. |
14. |
Confidentiality. Without the prior consent of the other party, no party shall disclose Confidential Information (as defined below) of any other party received in connection with the services provided under this Agreement. The receiving party shall use the same degree of care as it uses to protect its own confidential information of like nature, but no less than a reasonable degree of care, to maintain in confidence the Confidential Information of the disclosing party. The foregoing provisions shall not apply to any information that (i) is, at the time of disclosure, or thereafter becomes, part of the public domain through a source other than the receiving party, (ii) is subsequently learned from a third party that, to the knowledge of the receiving party, is not under an obligation of confidentiality to the disclosing party, (iii) was known to the receiving party at the time of disclosure, (iv) is generated independently by the receiving party, or (v) is disclosed pursuant to applicable law, subpoena, applicable professional standards, request of a governmental or regulatory agency, or other process after reasonable notice to the other party. The parties further agree that a breach of this provision would irreparably damage the other party and accordingly agree that each of them is entitled, in addition to all other remedies at law or in equity, to an injunction or injunctions without bond or other security to prevent breaches of this provision. |
For the purpose of this Agreement, Confidential Information shall mean NPPI (as defined below), any information identified by either party as Confidential and/or Proprietary or which, under all of the circumstances, ought reasonably to be treated as confidential and/or proprietary, or any nonpublic information obtained hereunder concerning the other party.
Nonpublic personal information relating to shareholders of the Trust (NPPI) provided by, or at the direction of, the Trust to the Manager, or collected or retained by the Manager in the course of performing its duties and responsibilities under this Agreement, shall remain the sole property of the Trust. The Manager shall not give, sell or in any way transfer NPPI to any person or entity, other than affiliates of the Manager except in connection with the performance of the Managers duties and responsibilities under this Agreement, at the direction of the Trust or as required or permitted by law (including applicable anti-money laundering laws). The Manager represents, warrants and agrees that it has in place and will maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards reasonably designed to protect the security, confidentiality and integrity of, and to prevent unauthorized access to or use of records and information relating to shareholders of the Trust. The Manager represents to the Trust that it has adopted a statement of its privacy policies and practices as required by Regulation S-P and agrees to provide the Trust with a copy of that statement annually.
The parties agree to comply with any and all regulations promulgated by the Commission or other applicable laws regarding the confidentiality of shareholder information.
The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
15. |
Books and Records. In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, the Manager hereby agrees that all records which it maintains for the Fund(s) are the property of the Trust and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the Trusts request. Notwithstanding the foregoing, |
the Manager may retain copies of any and all records necessary to comply with applicable law and regulations. The Manager further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act the records required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act. |
16. |
Records and Reports. |
(a) |
The Manager will provide all services necessary to maintain complete records relating to the portfolio transactions of the Fund(s) implemented by the Manager. On each business day, the Manager shall provide to the Funds custodian and the Funds administrator information relating to all transactions concerning the Funds assets and shall provide the Board with such information upon the Boards request. |
(b) |
The Manager shall provide to the Trust, on a monthly, quarterly or such other basis as the Trust and the Manager may agree, statements of the investment portfolio of the Fund(s) as soon as reasonably possible following the completion of each reporting period together with all such additional information (including, without limitation, information as to illiquid assets, related issuers and debentures secured by real estate) requested by the Trust to determine compliance with the investment objectives of the Fund(s). |
(c) |
The Manager shall review on a regular basis and certify semi-annually to the Trust that all provisions of a Funds registration statement, including the investment objectives of each Fund, have been complied with by the Manager. |
(d) |
Representatives of the Manager will meet with the Board, on a quarterly basis, or as requested by the Board, to discuss the investment philosophy and investment policy of the Fund(s) and to report on past results. |
(e) |
The Manager agrees that the Trust and their respective agents, auditors and representatives shall be entitled to examine all records maintained by or on behalf of the Manager with respect its services as provided for under this Agreement. |
(f) |
Upon termination of this Agreement, or upon request by the Trust, the Manager shall forthwith deliver to the Trust all records, documents and books of account in respect of the Fund(s), which are in the possession or control of the Manager and relate directly or indirectly to the performance by the Manager of its obligations under this Agreement; provided, however, that the Manager may retain notarial or other copies of such records, documents and books of accounts. |
17. |
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance. The Manager acknowledges that, in compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended, the USA PATRIOT Act, and any implementing regulations thereunder (together, AML Laws), the Trust has adopted an Anti-Money Laundering Policy. The Manager agrees to cooperate with the Trust in connection with the Trusts compliance with the Trusts Anti-Money Laundering Policy and the AML Laws by providing the Trust and/or each Funds administrator such reports, certifications and contractual assurances as may be reasonably requested upon reasonable notice by the Trust in order for the Trust and each Funds administrator to fulfill its obligations under the AML Laws provided that nothing herein shall impose any obligation on the Manager to provide any reports, |
certifications or assurances with respect to the beneficial owners of the Trust. The Trust may disclose information regarding the Manager to governmental and/or regulatory or self-regulatory authorities to the extent required by applicable law or regulation and may file reports with such authorities as may be required by applicable law or regulation. |
18. |
Certifications; Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Manager acknowledges that, in compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), and the implementing regulations promulgated thereunder, the Trust and each Fund are required to make certain certifications and have adopted disclosure controls and procedures. To the extent reasonably requested by the Trust, the Manager agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to assist the Trust and each Fund in complying with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and implementing the Trusts disclosure controls and procedures. The Manager agrees to inform the Trust of any material development related to the services it provides to a Fund that the Manager reasonably believes is relevant to the Funds certification obligations under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. |
19. |
Amendment of this Agreement. No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, and no amendment of this Agreement shall be effective until approved by the Trusts Board of Trustees, including a majority of the trustees who are not interested persons of the Manager or of the Trust, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and (if required under interpretations of the 1940 Act by the Commission or its staff) by vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund to which the amendment relates. |
20. |
Notification. The Manager agrees that it will provide prompt notice to the Trust about material changes in the employment status of key investment management personnel involved in the management of the Fund(s), material changes in the investment process used to manage the Fund(s) and any changes in senior management, operations or ownership of the Manager. |
21. |
Notices. Notices and other communications required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing, shall be deemed to be effectively delivered when actually received, and may be delivered by U.S. mail (first class, postage prepaid), by facsimile transmission, by hand or by commercial overnight delivery service, addressed as follows: |
MANAGER: |
POLAR CAPITAL LLP | |||
16 Palace Street, London, SW1E 5JD, United Kingdom | ||||
Tel: +44 (0)20 7227 2700 | ||||
Fax: +44 (0)20 7227 2799 | ||||
FUND: |
DATUM ONE SERIES TRUST | |||
50 S. Lasalle Street, Chicago, IL 60603 | ||||
Tel: (312) 557-4100 |
22. |
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. |
23. |
Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and its provisions shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois. All actions arising from or related to this Agreement shall be brought in the state and federal courts sitting in the City of Chicago, and the parties hereby submit themselves to the exclusive jurisdiction of those courts. |
24. |
Forum for Adjudication of Disputes. Any legal action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement or the services provided hereunder or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect hereof brought by the other party hereto or its successors or assigns may be brought and determined in the state courts of the State of Illinois, and each party hereto submits with regard to any action or proceeding for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts. Each party hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement, (a) any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts for any reason other than the failure to lawfully serve process, (b) that it or its property is exempt or immune from the jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise), and (c) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, that (i) the suit, action or proceeding in any such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (ii) the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper and (iii) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts. |
25. |
Partial Invalidity. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the parties shall immediately negotiate in good faith in order to agree upon a new provision which is either (i) the economic equivalent of the invalid provision or (ii) acceptable to the party adversely affected by the invalidity of the prior provision. |
26. |
Limitation of Shareholder and Trustee Liability. This Agreement is executed by or on behalf of the Trust with respect to the Fund(s) and[, notwithstanding clause 14 and 16(b)] the obligations hereunder are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders of the Trust individually but are binding only upon the Fund to which such obligations pertain and the assets and property of such Fund. The Manager agrees that in asserting any rights or claims under this Agreement, it shall look only to the assets and property of the Fund to which the Managers rights or claims relate in settlement of such rights or claims, and not to the Trustees of the Trust or the shareholders of any Fund or other series of the Trust, nor to the assets of any other series of the Trust. |
27. |
No Third-Party Beneficiaries. No shareholder or any person other than the Fund and the Manager is a party to this Agreement or shall be entitled to any right or 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 shareholder or person other than the Fund(s) in question (including without limitation any shareholder in any Fund) any direct, indirect, derivative or other rights against the Manager, or (ii) create or give rise to any duty or obligation on the part of the Manager (including without limitation any fiduciary duty) to any shareholder or person other than the Fund, all of which rights, benefits, duties and obligations are hereby expressly excluded. |
28. |
Miscellaneous. A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust establishing the Trust is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed by the Trust on behalf of the Fund(s) by an officer of the Trust as an officer and not individually and that the obligations of or arising out of this Agreement are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property belonging to the Fund(s), as set forth in Section 26 hereof. |
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.
DATUM ONE SERIES TRUST |
By: | /s/ Barbara J. Nelligan |
Name: | Barbara J. Nelligan | |
Title: | President | |
POLAR CAPITAL LLP |
By: | /s/ Nicholas Farren |
Name: | Nicholas Farren | |
Title: | COO |
DATED: March 3, 2020
SCHEDULE A
TO THE
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
BETWEEN DATUM ONE SERIES TRUST
AND
POLAR CAPITAL LLP
Name of Fund | Compensation* | |
Polar Capital Emerging Market Stars Fund | 1.00% |
DATUM ONE SERIES TRUST |
By: | Barbara J. Nelligan |
Name: | Barbara J. Nelligan | |
Title: | President | |
POLAR CAPITAL LLP |
By: | /s/ Nicholas Farren |
Name: | Nicholas Farren | |
Title: | COO |
* |
All fees are computed daily and paid monthly. |
Exhibit (e)(i)
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of , 20 by and between Datum One Series Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the Client) and Foreside Financial Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Distributor).
WHEREAS, the Client is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as an open-end management investment company, and is authorized to issue shares of beneficial interest (Shares) in separate series, with each such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets;
WHEREAS, the Client desires to retain the Distributor as principal underwriter in connection with the offering of the Shares of each series of the Client listed on Exhibit A hereto (as amended from time to time) (each a Fund and collectively the Funds);
WHEREAS, the Distributor is registered as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act), and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA);
WHEREAS, this Agreement has been approved by a vote of the Clients board of trustees (the Board) and its trustees who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) in conformity with Section 15(c) of the 1940 Act; and
WHEREAS, the Distributor is willing to act as principal underwriter for the Client on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants herein contained, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, do hereby agree as follows:
1. Appointment of Distributor. The Client hereby appoints the Distributor as its principal underwriter for the distribution of Shares of the Funds, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and the Distributor hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the services and duties set forth in this Agreement.
2. Services and Duties of the Distributor.
A. The Distributor agrees to act as the principal underwriter of the Client for the distribution of the Shares of the Funds, upon the terms and at the current offering price (plus sales charge, if any) described in the Prospectus. As used in this Agreement, the term Prospectus shall mean the current prospectus, including the statement of additional information, as both may be amended or supplemented, relating to any of the Funds and included in the currently effective registration statement(s) or post-effective amendment(s) thereto (the Registration Statement) of the Client under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 1933 Act), and the 1940 Act.
B. During the continuous public offering of Shares of the Funds, the Distributor shall use commercially reasonable efforts to distribute the Shares. All orders for Shares shall be made through financial intermediaries or submitted directly to the applicable Fund or its designated agent. Such purchase orders shall be deemed effective at the time and in the manner set forth in the Prospectus. The Client or its designated agent will confirm orders and subscriptions upon receipt, will make appropriate book entries and, upon receipt of payment therefor, will issue the appropriate number of Shares in uncertificated form.
C. The Distributor shall maintain membership with the National Securities Clearing Corporation (NSCC) and any other similar successor organization to sponsor a participant number for the Funds so as to enable the Shares to be traded through NSCCs Fund/SERV System (FundSERV). The Client acknowledges and agrees that the Distributor shall not be responsible for any operational matters associated with FundSERV or Networking transactions, including but not limited to taking orders from financial intermediaries.
D. The Distributor acknowledges and agrees that it is not authorized to provide any information or make any representations regarding the Funds other than as contained in the Prospectus and any marketing materials specifically approved in writing by the Client or the investment manager to the Fund(s).
E. The Distributor agrees to review all proposed marketing materials provided by the Client for compliance with applicable Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and FINRA advertising rules and regulations, and shall timely file with FINRA those marketing materials it believes are in compliance with such applicable laws and regulations. The Distributor agrees to furnish to the Client any comments provided by regulators with respect to such marketing materials.
F. At the request of the Client, the Distributor shall enter into the Standard Dealer Agreement (as defined below), and may, in its discretion, enter into non-standard dealer agreements with financial intermediaries as the Client may select, in order that such broker-dealers and other intermediaries may sell Shares of the Funds. The Funds form of dealer agreement and/or selling agreement shall be in a form similar to that attached at Exhibit C. Such form, material changes to the form, and any compensation proposed to be paid pursuant to a dealer agreement shall be approved by the Clients Board (Standard Dealer Agreement).
G. The Client acknowledges and agrees that the Distributor shall not be obligated to make any payments to any broker-dealers, other financial intermediaries or other third parties, unless (i) the Distributor has received an authorized corresponding payment from the applicable Funds plan of distribution adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (Plan), the Funds adviser and (ii) such Plan been approved by the Clients Board.
H. The Distributor shall not be obligated to sell any certain number of Shares.
I. The Distributor shall prepare and deliver reports to the Board regarding its activities under this Agreement at least quarterly and more frequently as may be reasonably requested by the Board, including reports regarding the use of 12b-1 payments received by the Distributor, if any.
2
J. The Distributor may enter into agreements (Subcontracts) with qualified third parties to carry out some or all of the Distributors obligations under this Agreement, with the prior written consent of the Client, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld; provided that execution of a Subcontract shall not relieve the Distributor of any of its responsibilities hereunder.
K. The services furnished by the Distributor hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive and the Distributor shall be free to furnish similar services to others so long as its services under this Agreement are not impaired thereby.
L. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Distributor shall not be required to register as a broker or dealer in any specific jurisdiction or to maintain its registration in any jurisdiction in which it is now registered
M. The Distributor undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are expressly set forth herein, or expressly incorporated herein by reference, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Distributor.
3. Duties of the Client.
A. The Client agrees to redeem or repurchase Shares tendered by shareholders of the Funds in accordance with the Clients obligations in the Prospectus and the Registration Statement. The Client reserves the right to suspend such redemption or repurchase right upon written notice to the Distributor or to refuse at any time or times to sell Shares or Shares of any class.
B. The Client shall take, or cause to be taken, all necessary action to register the Shares under the federal and all applicable state securities laws and to maintain an effective Registration Statement for such Shares in order to permit the sale of Shares as herein contemplated. The Client authorizes the Distributor and any financial intermediaries with whom the Distributor has entered into a selling agreement to use the Prospectus, in the form furnished to the Distributor by the Client from time to time, in connection with the sale of Shares.
C. The Client agrees to advise the Distributor promptly in writing:
(i) |
of any material action, correspondence, or other communication from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or its staff, FINRA or a state securities regulator in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares; |
(ii) |
in the event of the issuance by the SEC of any stop-order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement then in effect or the initiation of any proceeding for that purpose; |
3
(iii) |
of any supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus and the happening of any event which makes untrue any statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement or Prospectus; |
(iv) |
in the event that it determines to suspend the sale of Shares at any time in response to conditions in the securities markets or otherwise or to suspend the redemption of Shares of any Fund at any time as permitted by the 1940 Act or the rules of the SEC; and |
(v) |
of the commencement of any material litigation or proceedings against the Client or any of its officers or trustees in connection with the issue and sale of any of the Shares. |
D. The Client shall file such reports and other documents as may be required under applicable federal and state laws and regulations, including state blue sky laws, and shall notify the Distributor in writing of the states in which the Shares may be sold and of any changes to such information.
E. The Client agrees to file from time to time such amendments to its Registration Statement and Prospectus as may be necessary in order that its Registration Statement and Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
F. The Client shall reasonably cooperate in the efforts of the Distributor to distribute the Shares. In addition, the Client shall keep the Distributor reasonably informed of its affairs related to the activities contemplated by this Agreement and shall provide to the Distributor from time to time copies of information regarding the Funds that the Distributor may reasonably request for use in connection with the distribution of Shares, including, without limitation, copies of any annual and semi-annual shareholder reports (which shall include the financial statements prepared for the Funds by its independent public accountants) and such reasonable number of copies of the most current Prospectus, statement of additional information and any supplements thereto as the Distributor may reasonably request. The Client shall forward a copy of any SEC filings, including without limitation, amendments to its Registration Statement to the Distributor within one business day after filing. The Client represents that it will not use or authorize the use of any marketing materials unless and until such marketing materials have been approved and authorized for use by the Distributor.
G. The Client shall provide, or direct each other agent or service provider to the Client, including the Clients transfer agent and investment manager, to provide to Distributor in a timely and accurate manner all such information (and in such reasonable medium) that the Distributor may reasonably request as being necessary for the Distributor to perform its duties under this Agreement.
4
H. The Client shall not file any amendment to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that materially amends any provision therein which pertains to Distributor, the distribution of the Shares or the applicable sales loads or public offering price without giving Distributor reasonable advance notice thereof; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Agreement shall in any way limit the Clients right to file at any time such amendments to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, of whatever character, as the Client may deem advisable, such right being in all respects absolute and unconditional.
I. The Client shall not list the Distributor as the principal underwriter or distributor in any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, which is filed for the purpose of creating a new Fund, without receiving prior written permission from the Distributor. At or before such time as a new Fund becomes effective, Client and Distributor agree to amend this Agreement for purposes of updating Exhibit A.
4. Representations and Warranties of the Client.
A. |
The Client hereby represents and warrants to the Distributor, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, that: |
(i) |
it is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and is registered as an open-end management investment company under the 1940 Act; |
(ii) |
this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Client and, when executed and delivered, will constitute a valid and legally binding obligation of the Client, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties; |
(iii) |
it is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its Declaration of Trust, bylaws or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement; |
(iv) |
the Shares are validly authorized and, when issued in accordance with the description in the Prospectus, will be fully paid and nonassessable; |
(v) |
the Registration Statement and Prospectus included therein have been prepared in conformity with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; |
5
(vi) |
the Registration Statement and Prospectus and any marketing materials prepared by the Client or its agent do not and shall not contain any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and that all statements or information furnished to the Distributor pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects; and |
(vii) |
the Client owns, possesses, licenses or has other rights to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks and service marks, trademark and service mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets, technology, know-how and other intellectual property (collectively, Intellectual Property) necessary for or used in the conduct of the Clients business and for the offer, issuance, distribution and sale of the Shares in accordance with the terms of the Prospectus and this Agreement, and such Intellectual Property does not and will not breach or infringe the terms of any Intellectual Property owned, held or licensed by any third party. |
B. |
The Client has adopted policies and procedures pursuant to Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, as may be modified from time to time. In this regard, the Client (and relevant agents) shall have in place and maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards reasonably designed to protect the security, confidentiality and integrity of, and to prevent the unauthorized access to or use of, records and information relating to the Client and the owners of the Shares. |
5. Representations and Warranties of the Distributor.
A. The Distributor hereby represents and warrants to the Client, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, that:
(i) |
it is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder; |
(ii) |
this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Distributor and, when executed and delivered, will constitute a valid and legally binding obligation of the Distributor, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties; |
(iii) |
it is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, operating agreement or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement; and |
(iv) |
it is registered as a broker-dealer under the 1934 Act and is a member in good standing of FINRA.; |
6
B. In connection with all matters relating to this Agreement, the Distributor will comply with the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act, the regulations of FINRA and all other applicable federal or state laws and regulations to the extent such laws, rules, and regulations relate to Distributors role as the principal underwriter of the Funds.
C. The Distributor shall promptly notify the Client, unless prohibited by law of (i) the commencement of any material litigation or proceedings against the Distributor or any of its managers, officers or directors and (ii) any material correspondence or other communication from the SEC or its staff, FINRA or a state securities regulator in connection with the issue and sale of any of the Shares.
6. Compensation.
A. In consideration of the Distributors services in connection with the distribution of Shares of each Fund and Class thereof, the Distributor shall receive the compensation set forth in Exhibit B.
B. Except as specified in Section 5A, the Distributor shall be entitled to no compensation or reimbursement of expenses from the Client for the services provided by the Distributor pursuant to this Agreement. Any such compensation or reimbursement of expenses shall be paid or reimbursed by the Funds investment manager pursuant to an Agreement between the investment manager and the Distributor.
7. Expenses.
A. The Client shall bear all costs and expenses in connection with registration of the Shares with the SEC and the applicable states, as well as all costs and expenses in connection with the offering of the Shares and communications with shareholders of its Funds, including but not limited to (i) fees and disbursements of its counsel and independent public accountants; (ii) costs and expenses of the preparation, filing, printing and mailing of Registration Statements and Prospectuses and amendments thereto, as well as related marketing material, (iii) costs and expenses of the preparation, printing and mailing of annual and interim reports, proxy materials and other communications to shareholders of the Funds; and (iv) fees required in connection with the offer and sale of Shares in such jurisdictions as shall be selected by the Client pursuant to Section 3(D) hereof.
B. The Distributor shall only bear the expenses of registration or qualification of the Distributor as a dealer or broker under federal or state laws and the expenses of continuing such registration or qualification. The Distributor does not assume responsibility for any expenses not expressly assumed hereunder.
8. Limitation of Liability
A. The Distributor shall be under no duty to take any action except as specifically set forth herein or as may be specifically agreed to by the Distributor in writing.
7
B. The Distributor shall not be liable for any action taken, or failure to act, based in good faith or reasonable reliance upon:
i. |
the advice of the Trust, or counsel to the Trust; |
ii. |
any oral instruction which it receives and which it reasonably believes in good faith was transmitted by the person or persons authorized by the Board to give such oral instruction (the Distributor shall have no duty or obligation to make any inquiry or effort of certification of such oral instruction); |
iii. |
any written instruction or certified copy of any resolution of the Board, and the Distributor may rely upon the genuineness of any such document or copy thereof reasonably believed in good faith by the Distributor to have been validly executed; or |
iv. |
any signature, instruction, request, letter of transmittal, certificate, opinion of counsel, statement, instrument, report, notice, consent, order, or other document reasonably believed in good faith by the Distributor to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the Trust or other proper party or parties; and the Distributor shall not be under any duty or obligation to inquire into the validity or invalidity or authority or lack thereof of any statement, oral or written instruction, resolution, signature, request, letter of transmittal, certificate, opinion of counsel, instrument, report, notice, consent, order, or any other document or instrument which the Distributor reasonably believes in good faith to be genuine. |
9. Indemnification.
A. The Client shall indemnify, defend and hold the Distributor, its affiliates and each of their respective members, managers, directors, officers, employees, representatives and any person who controls or previously controlled the Distributor within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the Distributor Indemnitees), free and harmless from and against any and all losses, claims, demands, liabilities, damages and expenses (including the reasonable costs of investigating or defending any alleged losses, claims, demands, liabilities, damages or expenses and any reasonable and documented counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) (collectively, Losses) that any Distributor Indemnitee may incur under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act any other statute (including Blue Sky laws) or any rule or regulation thereunder, or under common law or otherwise, arising out of or relating to (i) the Distributor serving as distributor of the Funds pursuant to this Agreement and in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement; (ii) the Clients material breach of any of its obligations, representations, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement; (iii) the Clients material failure to comply in all material respects with any applicable securities laws or regulations; (iv) any claim that the Registration Statement, Prospectus, shareholder reports, marketing materials or other information filed or made public by the Client (as from time to time amended) include or included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading under the 1933 Act, or any other statute or the common law or any rule of FINRA or of the SEC or any other jurisdiction wherein
8
Shares of the Funds are sold; or (v) any liability to which the Distributor becomes subject by reason of Clients willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties (or failure to perform such duties) under this Agreement or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement, provided, however, that the Clients obligation to indemnify any of the Distributor Indemnitees shall not be deemed to cover any Losses arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, Prospectus, annual or interim report, or any such marketing material in reasonable reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the Distributor furnished to the Client or its counsel by the Distributor or its affiliates in writing for use in the Registration Statement, Prospectus, annual or interim report, or any marketing materials.
B. The Distributor shall indemnify, defend and hold the Client, its affiliates, and each of their respective directors, officers, employees, representatives, and any person who controls or previously controlled the Client within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the Client Indemnitees), free and harmless from and against any and all Losses that any Client Indemnitee may incur under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act, any other statute (including Blue Sky laws) or any rule or regulation thereunder, or under common law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon (i) the Distributors material breach of any of its obligations, representations, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement; (ii) the Distributors failure to comply in all material respects with any applicable securities laws or regulations; (iii) any claim that the Registration Statement, Prospectus, marketing materials or other information filed or made public by the Client (as from time to time amended) include or included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements not misleading, insofar as such statement or omission was made in reasonable reliance upon, and in conformity with, information furnished to the Client by the Distributor in writing for use in such Registration Statement, Prospectus, marketing materials or other information filed or made public by the Client; or (iv) any other liability to which the Client becomes subject by reason of the Distributors willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in its performance its duties (or failure to perform such duties) under the Agreement or by reason of the Distributors reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
C. In no case (i) is the indemnification provided by an indemnifying party to be deemed to protect against any liability the indemnified party would otherwise be subject to by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, or (ii) is the indemnifying party to be liable under this Section with respect to any claim made against any indemnified party unless the indemnified party notifies the indemnifying party in writing of the claim within a reasonable time after the summons or other first written notification giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon the indemnified party (or after the indemnified party shall have received notice of service on any designated agent).
D. Failure by the indemnified party to notify the indemnifying party of any claim shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability that it may have to the indemnified party against whom such action is brought, on account of this Section, unless failure or delay to so notify the indemnifying party prejudices the indemnifying partys ability to defend against such claim. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense or, if it so
9
elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce the claim, but if the indemnifying party elects to assume the defense, the defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it and satisfactory to the indemnified party. In the event that indemnifying party elects to assume the defense of any suit and retain counsel, the indemnified party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by them. If the indemnifying party does not elect to assume the defense of any suit, it will reimburse the indemnified party for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them.
E. No indemnified party shall settle any claim against it for which it intends to seek indemnification from the indemnifying party, under the terms of section 9(a) or 9(b) above, without prior written notice to and consent from the indemnifying party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. No indemnified or indemnifying party shall settle any claim unless the settlement contains a full release of liability with respect to the other party in respect of such action.
F. No person shall be obligated to provide indemnification under this Section 9 if such indemnification would be impermissible under the 1940 Act, the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or the rules of the FINRA; provided, however, in such event indemnification shall be provided under this Section 9 to the maximum extent so permissible.
10. Conversions; Dealer Agreement Indemnification.
A. Conversions. The Client acknowledges and agrees that the Distributor may enter into, assume, or become a party to, certain dealer and/or selling agreements (Conversion Agreement) as the result of the conversion of the Client to Distributor from another principal underwriter or distributor. Such Conversion Agreements may contain certain obligations or duties more appropriately allocated to the Funds transfer agent, the Funds adviser, or one of the Funds other service providers. The Client agrees to perform, or cause to perform, any and all duties and obligations under those Conversion Agreements to the extent that such duties and obligations are not required to be performed by the Distributor under the Standard Dealer Agreement (Non-Standard Duties).
B. Non-Standard Dealer Agreements. The Client acknowledges and agrees that the Distributor may, subject to the review and approval by the Client, enter into dealer and/or selling agreements (Non-Standard Dealer Agreements) that contain certain representations, duties, undertakings and indemnification that are not included in the Standard Dealer Agreement, or lack certain representations, duties, and indemnification included in the Standard Dealer Agreement (Non-Standard Obligations, and collectively with Non-Standard Duties, Non-Standard Obligations). The Client agrees to perform, or cause to perform, all such Non-Standard Obligations under any Non-Standard Dealer Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, any dealer or selling agreement that materially deviates from the Standard Agreement shall be considered a Non-Standard Dealer Agreement.
C. Indemnification. To the extent that the Distributor (i) assumes, or becomes a party to, any Conversion Agreement, or (ii) after the review and approval by the Client, enters into any Non-Standard Dealer Agreement, the Client shall indemnify, defend and hold the Distributor Indemnitees free and harmless from and against any and all Losses that any Distributor Indemnitee
10
may incur arising out of or relating to (a) any failure to perform any Non-Standard Obligations under any Conversion Agreement or Non-Standard Dealer Agreement; (b) any representations made by the Distributor in any Non-Standard Dealer Agreement or Conversion Agreement to the extent that the Distributor is not required to make such representations in the Standard Dealer Agreement; (c) any indemnification provided by the Distributor under a Conversion Agreement or Non-Standard Dealer Agreement to the extent that such indemnification is beyond the indemnification that the Distributor provides to intermediaries in the Standard Dealer Agreement. In no event shall anything contained herein be so construed as to protect the Distributor Indemnitee against any liability to the Client or its shareholders to which such Distributor Indemnitee would otherwise be subject by reason of its willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance or reckless disregard of its obligations or duties under the Non-Standard Dealer Agreement to the extent that such duties and obligations are the responsibility of the Distributor in the Standard Dealer Agreement.
11. Limitations on Damages. Neither party shall be liable for any consequential, special or indirect losses or damages suffered by the other party, whether or not the likelihood of such losses or damages was known by the party.
12. Force Majeure. Neither party shall be liable for losses, delays, failure, errors, interruption or loss of data occurring directly or indirectly by reason of circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of nature (including fire, flood, earthquake, storm, hurricane or other natural disaster); action or inaction of civil or military authority; acts of foreign enemies; war; terrorism; riot; insurrection; sabotage; epidemics; labor disputes; civil commotion; or interruption, loss or malfunction of utilities, transportation, computer or communications capabilities; provided, however, that in each specific case such circumstance shall be beyond the reasonable control of the party seeking to apply this force majeure clause.
13. Duration and Termination.
A. This Agreement shall become effective with respect to each Fund listed on Exhibit A hereof as of the date hereof and, with respect to each Fund not in existence on that date, on the date an amendment to Exhibit A to this Agreement relating to that Fund is executed. Unless sooner terminated as provided herein, this Agreement shall continue in effect for two years from the date hereof. Thereafter, if not terminated, this Agreement shall continue automatically in effect as to each Fund for successive one-year periods, provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the Clients Board or (ii) the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund, in accordance with Section 15 of the 1940 Act, provided that in either event the continuance is also approved by a majority of the trustees who are not parties to this Agreement and who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any party to this Agreement and who have no direct or implied financial interest in the operation of this Agreement, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, in accordance with Section 15 of the 1940 Act.
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B. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated, without the payment of any penalty, with respect to a particular Fund (i) through a failure to renew this Agreement at the end of a term or (ii) upon mutual consent of the parties. Further, this Agreement may be terminated upon no less than 60 days written notice, by either the Client through a vote of a majority of the members of the Board who are not interested persons, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of this Agreement or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund, or by the Distributor.
C. This Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder).
D. This Agreement automatically and immediately terminates in the event of the Distributors expulsion or suspension by FINRA.
14. Anti-Money Laundering Compliance.
A. Each of Distributor and Client acknowledges that it is a financial institution subject to the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 and the Bank Secrecy Act (collectively, the AML Acts), which require, among other things, that financial institutions adopt compliance programs to guard against money laundering. Each represents and warrants to the other that it is in compliance with and will continue to comply with the AML Acts and applicable regulations in all relevant respects to the extent applicable to it.
B. Each of Distributor and Client agrees that it will take such further steps, and cooperate with the other as may be reasonably necessary, to facilitate compliance with the AML Acts, including but not limited to the provision of copies of its written procedures, policies and controls related thereto (AML Operations). Distributor undertakes that it will grant to the Client, the Clients anti-money laundering compliance officer and appropriate regulatory agencies, reasonable access to copies of Distributors AML Operations, and related books and records to the extent they pertain to the Distributors services hereunder. It is expressly understood and agreed that the Client and the Clients compliance officers shall have no access to any of Distributors AML Operations, books or records pertaining to other clients or services of Distributor.
15. Privacy
In accordance with Regulation S-P, the Distributor will not disclose any non-public personal information, as defined in Regulation S-P, received from the Client or any Fund and their agents regarding any Fund shareholder; provided, however, that the Distributor may disclose such information to any party as necessary in the ordinary course of business to carry out the purposes for which such information was disclosed to the Distributor. The Distributor shall have in place and maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards reasonably designed to protect the security, confidentiality and integrity of, and to prevent unauthorized access to or use of, records and information relating to the Funds.
The Client represents to the Distributor that it has adopted a Statement of its privacy policies and practices as required by Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-P and agrees to provide to the Distributor a copy of that statement annually. The Distributor agrees to use reasonable precautions to protect, and prevent the unintentional disclosure of, such non-public personal information.
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16. Confidentiality. During the term of this Agreement, the Distributor and the Client may have access to confidential information relating to such matters as either partys business, trade secrets, systems, procedures, manuals, products, contracts, personnel, and clients. As used in this Agreement, Confidential Information means information belonging to the Distributor or the Client which is of value to such party and the disclosure of which could result in a competitive or other disadvantage to either party, including, without limitation, financial information, business practices and policies, know-how, trade secrets, market or sales information or plans, customer lists, business plans, and all provisions of this Agreement. Confidential Information does not include: (i) information that was known to the receiving party before receipt thereof from or on behalf of the disclosing party; (ii) information that is disclosed to the receiving party by a third person who has a right to make such disclosure without any obligation of confidentiality to the party seeking to enforce its rights under this Section; (iii) information that is or becomes generally known in the trade without violation of this Agreement by the receiving party; or (iv) information that is independently developed by the receiving party or its employees or affiliates without reference to the disclosing partys information.
Each party will protect the others Confidential Information with at least the same degree of care it uses with respect to its own Confidential Information, and will not use the other partys Confidential Information other than in connection with its obligations hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a party may disclose the others Confidential Information if (i) required by law, regulation or legal process or if requested by any Agency; (ii) it is advised by counsel that it may incur liability for failure to make such disclosure; (iii) requested to by the other party; provided that in the event of (i) or (ii) the disclosing party shall give the other party reasonable prior notice of such disclosure to the extent reasonably practicable and unless otherwise prohibited by law and will cooperate with the other party (at such other partys expense) in any efforts to prevent such disclosure. The parties agree that the procedures and restrictions set forth herein shall not apply to disclosures of Confidential Information to Distributors applicable regulatory authorities in connection with routine regulatory examinations or requests for information with respect to which Distributor shall be permitted to disclose such Confidential Information necessary to respond to such examinations or requests. The Distributor will advise such regulatory authorities of the confidential nature of such information.
17. Notices. Any notice or other communication authorized or required by this Agreement to be given to either party shall be in writing and deemed to have been given when delivered in person or by confirmed facsimile, email, or posted by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the following address (or such other address as a party may specify by written notice to the other):
(i) To Distributor: | (ii) If to the Client: | |
Foreside Financial Services, LLC Attn: Legal Department Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100 Portland, ME 04101 |
Datum One Series Trust Attn: Barbara Nelligan 50 South LaSalle Street Chicago, Illinois 60603 |
|
Telephone: (207) 553-7110 Email:legal@foreside.com
With a copy to: dealerservices@foreside.com |
Telephone: (312) 557-4100 Email:bjj1@ntrs.com |
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18. Modifications. The terms of this Agreement shall not be waived, altered, modified, amended or supplemented in any manner whatsoever except by a written instrument signed by the Distributor and the Client. If required under the 1940 Act, any such amendment must be approved by the Clients Board, including a majority of the Clients Board who are not interested persons, as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, of any party to this Agreement, by vote cast in person at a meeting for the purpose of voting on such amendment.
19. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflicts of law principles thereof.
20. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto and supersedes all prior communications, understandings and agreements relating to the subject matter hereof, whether oral or written.
21. Survival. The provisions of Sections 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16 and 20 of this Agreement shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
22. Miscellaneous. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or delimit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. Any provision of this Agreement which may be determined by competent authority to be prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors. This Agreement has been negotiated and executed by the parties in English. In the event any translation of this Agreement is prepared for convenience or any other purpose, the provisions of the English version shall prevail.
23. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, and all of the counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same document.
24. Massachusetts Business Trust Matters. A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Client is on file with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The obligations of or arising out of this instrument are not binding upon any of Clients trustees, officers, employees, agents or shareholders individually, but are binding solely upon the assets and property of the Client or upon the assets belonging to the series or class of the Client for the benefit of which the Client has entered into this Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by a duly authorized officer on one or more counterparts as of the date first above written.
FORESIDE FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC | ||
By: | ||
Mark A. Fairbanks, Vice President |
DATUM ONE SERIES TRUST | ||
By: | ||
Barbara J. Nelligan, President |
15
EXHIBIT A
Fund Names
Polar Capital Emerging Market Stars Fund
A-1
EXHIBIT B
Compensation
SALES LOADS*:
1. With respect to Class A Shares (i) that part of the sales charge which is retained by the Distributor after reallowance of discounts to dealers as set forth, if required, in the Registration Statement, including the Prospectus, filed with the SEC and in effect at the time of the offering, as amended.
2. With respect to Class C Shares (i) that part of any front-end sales charge which is retained by the Distributor after allowance of discounts to dealers as set forth, if required, in the Registration Statement, including the Prospectus, filed with the SEC and in effect at the time of the offering, as amended, and (ii) the contingent deferred sales charge payable with respect to Class C Shares sold through the Distributor as set forth in the Registration Statement, including the Prospectus, filed with the SEC and in effect at the time of sale of such Class C Shares.
3. With respect to Class I Shares, if any, the Distributor shall not be entitled to any compensation.
4. With respect to any future Class of Shares, the Distributor shall be entitled to such consideration as the Fund and the Distributor shall agree at the time such Class of Shares is established.
* |
All Sales Loads received by the Distributor shall be held to be used solely for distribution-related expenses and shall not be retained as profit. |
12b-1 PAYMENTS:
The Distributor shall be obligated to make 12b-1 payments only after, for so long as, and to the extent that the Distributor receives such payments from the applicable Fund.
* |
All 12b-1 payments received by the Distributor shall be held to be used solely for distribution-related expenses and shall not be retained as profit by the Distributor. |
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EXHIBIT C
FORSIDE FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC
DEALER AGREEMENT
Re: [Funds] | Date: |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
As the distributor of the shares (Shares) of the investment company referenced above (collectively, Company) and series thereof (each a Fund) which may be amended by us from time to time, Foreside Financial Services, LLC (Distributor) hereby invites you to participate in the selling group with respect to the Company on the following terms and conditions. In this agreement, the terms we, us, and similar words refer to the Distributor, and the terms you, your, and similar words and Dealer refer to the dealer executing this agreement, including its associated persons.
1. Dealer. You hereby represent that you are a broker-dealer properly registered and qualified under all applicable federal, state and local laws to engage in the business and transactions described in this agreement, and that you are a member in good standing of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). You agree that it is your responsibility to determine the suitability of any Fund Shares as investments for your customers, and that we have no responsibility for such determination. You further agree to maintain all records required by Applicable Laws (as defined below) or that are otherwise reasonably requested by us relating to your transactions in Fund Shares. In addition, you agree to notify us immediately in the event your status as a member of FINRA or SIPC changes. You agree that you will at all times comply with (i) the provisions of this agreement related to compliance with all applicable rules and regulations; and (ii) the terms of each registration statement and prospectus for the Funds.
2. Qualification of Shares. The Fund will make available to you a list of the states or other jurisdictions in which Fund Shares are registered for sale or are otherwise qualified for sale, which may be revised by the Fund from time to time. You will make offers of Shares to your customers only in those states, and you will ensure that you (including your associated persons) are appropriately licensed and qualified to offer and sell Shares in any state or other jurisdiction that requires such licensing or qualification in connection with your activities.
3. Orders. All orders you submit for transactions in Fund Shares shall reflect orders received from your customers or shall be for your account for your own bona fide investment, and you will date and time-stamp your customer orders and forward them promptly each day and in any event prior to the time required by the applicable Fund prospectus (the Prospectus, which for purposes of this agreement includes the Statement of Additional Information incorporated therein). As agent for your customers, you shall not withhold placing customers orders for any Shares so as to profit yourself or your customer as a result of such withholding. You are hereby authorized to: (i) place your orders directly with the Company for the purchase of Shares and (ii) tender Shares directly to the Company for redemption, in each case subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus and any operating procedures and policies established by us or the Fund (directly or through its Transfer Agent) from time to time. All purchase orders you submit are subject to acceptance or rejection, and we reserve the right to suspend or limit the sale of Shares. You are not authorized to make any representations concerning Shares of any Fund except such representations
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as are contained in the Prospectus and in such supplemental written information that the Fund or the Distributor (acting on behalf of the Fund) may provide to you with respect to a Fund. All orders that are accepted for the purchase of Shares shall be executed at the next determined public offering price per share (i.e., the net asset value per share plus the applicable sales load, if any) and all orders for the redemption of Shares shall be executed at the next determined net asset value per share and subject to any applicable redemption fee or contingent deferred sales load, in each case as described in the Prospectus.
4. Compliance with Applicable Laws; Distribution of Prospectus and Reports; Confirmations. In connection with its respective activities hereunder, each party agrees to abide by the Conduct Rules of FINRA and all other rules of self-regulatory organizations of which the relevant party is a member, as well as all laws, rules and regulations, including federal and state securities laws, that are applicable to the relevant party (and its associated persons) from time to time in connection with its activities hereunder (Applicable Laws). You are authorized to distribute to your customers the current Prospectus, as well as any supplemental sales material received from the Fund or the Distributor (acting on behalf of the Fund) (on the terms and for the period specified by us or stated in such material). You are not authorized to distribute, furnish or display any other sales or promotional material relating to a Fund without our prior written approval, but you may identify the Funds in a listing of mutual funds available through you to your customers. Unless otherwise mutually agreed in writing, you shall deliver or cause to be delivered to each customer who purchases shares of any Funds from or through you, copies of all annual and interim reports, proxy solicitation materials, and any other information and materials relating to such Funds and prepared by or on behalf of the Funds or us. If required by Rule 10b-10 under the Securities Exchange Act or other Applicable Laws, you shall send or cause to be sent confirmations or other reports to your customers containing such information as may be required by Applicable Laws.
5. Sales Charges and Concessions. On each purchase of Shares by you (but not including the reinvestment of any dividends or distributions), you shall be entitled to receive such dealer allowances, concessions, sales charges or other compensation, if any, as may be set forth in the Prospectus. Sales charge reductions and discounts may be available as provided in the Prospectus. To obtain any such reductions, the Company or its transfer agent must be notified promptly when a transaction or transactions would qualify for the reduced charge and you must submit information that is sufficient (in the discretion of the Company) to substantiate qualification therefor. The foregoing shall include advising us of any Letter of Intent signed by your customer or of any Right of Accumulation available to such customer. If you fail to so advise the Fund, you will be liable for the return of any commissions plus interest thereon. Rights of Accumulation (including rights under a Letter of Intent) are available, if at all, only as set forth in the Prospectus, and you authorize any adjustment to your account (and will be liable for any refund) to the extent any allowance, discount or concession is made and the conditions therefor are not fulfilled. Each price is always subject to confirmation, and will be based upon the net asset value next determined after receipt of an order that is in good form. If any Shares purchased are tendered for redemption or repurchased by the Fund for any reason within seven business days after confirmation of the purchase order for such Shares, you agree to promptly refund the full sales load or other concession and you will forfeit the right to receive any compensation allowable or payable to you on such Shares. The Fund reserves the right to waive sales charges. You represent that you are eligible to receive any such sales charges and concessions paid to you under this section.
6. Transactions in Fund Shares. With respect to all orders you place for the purchase of Fund Shares, unless otherwise agreed, settlement shall be made with the Company within three (3) business days after acceptance of the order. If payment is not so received or made, the transaction may be cancelled. In this event or in the event that you cancel the trade for any reason, you agree to be responsible for any loss resulting to the Funds or to us from your failure to make payments as aforesaid. You shall not be entitled to any gains generated thereby. You also assume responsibility for any loss to a Fund caused by any order placed by you on an as-of basis subsequent to the trade date for the order, and will immediately pay such
B-2
loss to the Fund upon notification or demand. Such orders shall be acceptable only as permitted by the Company and shall be subject to the Companys policies pertaining thereto, which may include receipt of an executed Letter of Indemnity in a form acceptable to the Fund and /or to us prior to the Companys acceptance of any such order.
7. Accuracy of Orders; Customer Signatures. You shall be responsible for the accuracy, timeliness and completeness of any orders transmitted by you on behalf of your customers by any means, including wire or telephone. In addition, you agree to guarantee the signatures of your customers when such guarantee is required by the Company and you agree to indemnify and hold harmless all persons, including us and the Funds transfer agent, from and against any and all loss, cost, damage or expense suffered or incurred in reliance upon such signature guarantee.
8. Indemnification. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless us and our officers, directors, agents and employees from and against any claims, damages, liabilities, expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees) and losses resulting from any failure by you to comply with Applicable Laws in connection with activities performed under this agreement or any unauthorized representation made by you concerning an investment in Fund Shares.
We agree to indemnify and hold harmless you and your officers, directors, agents and employees from and against any claims, damages, liabilities, expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees) and losses resulting from (i) any failure by us to comply with Applicable Laws in connection with our activities as Distributor under this agreement or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact set forth in a Funds Prospectus or supplemental sales material provided to you by us (and used by you on the terms and for the period specified by us or stated in such material), or omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein to make the statements therein not misleading.
9. Multi-Class Distribution Arrangements. You understand and acknowledge that the Funds may offer Shares in multiple classes, and you represent and warrant that you have established compliance procedures designed to ensure that your customers are made aware of the terms of each available class of Fund Shares, to ensure that each customer is offered only Shares that are suitable investments for him or her, to ensure that each customer is availed of the opportunity to obtain sales charge break points as detailed in the Prospectus, and to ensure proper supervision of your representatives in recommending and offering the Shares of multiple classes to your customers.
10. Anti-Money Laundering Compliance. Each party to this agreement acknowledges that it is a financial institution subject to the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 and the Bank Secrecy Act (collectively, the AML Acts), which require, among other things, that financial institutions adopt compliance programs to guard against money laundering. Each party represents and warrants that it is in compliance and will continue to comply with the AML Acts and applicable rules thereunder (AML Laws), including FINRA Rule 3310, in all relevant respects. You agree to cooperate with us to satisfy AML due diligence policies of the Company and Distributor, which may include annual compliance certifications and periodic due diligence reviews and/or other requests deemed necessary or appropriate by us or the Company to ensure compliance with AML Laws. Dealer also agrees to provide for screening its own new and existing customers against the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) list and any other government list that is or becomes required under the AML Acts.
11. Privacy. The parties agree that any Non-Public Personal Information, as the term is defined in Regulation S-P (Reg S-P) of the Securities and Exchange Commission, that may be disclosed hereunder is disclosed for the specific purpose of permitting the other party to perform the services set forth in this agreement. Each party agrees that, with respect to such information, it will comply with Reg S-P and that it will not disclose any Non-Public Personal Information received in connection with this agreement to any other party, except to the extent required to carry out the services set forth in this agreement or as otherwise permitted by law.
B-3
12. Distribution and/or Service Fees. Subject to and in accordance with the terms of each Prospectus and the Distribution Plan and/or Service Plan, if any, adopted by resolution of the Board pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act), we may pay financial institutions with which we have entered into an agreement in substantially the form annexed hereto as Appendix A or such other form as may be approved from time to time by the Funds Board (the Fee Agreement) such fees as may be determined in accordance with such Fee Agreement, for distribution, shareholder or administrative services, as described therein.
13. Order Processing. In accordance with NASD Notice to Members 03-50 (reminding members of their responsibility to ensure that they have in place policies and procedures reasonably designed to detect and prevent the occurrence of mutual fund transactions that would violate Rule 22c-1 under the 1940 Act, FINRA Rule 2010 and other applicable rules and regulations), you represent that you have reviewed your policies and procedures to ensure that they are adequate with respect to preventing violations of law and prospectus requirements related to timely order-taking and market timing activity, in that such policies and procedures (i) prevent the submission of any order received after the deadline for submission of orders in each day that are eligible for pricing at that days net asset value per share (NAV); and (ii) prevent the purchase of Fund Shares by an individual or entity whose stated objectives are not consistent with the stated policies of a Fund in protecting the best interests of longer-term investors, particularly where such investor may be seeking market timing or arbitrage opportunities through such purchase. You represent that you will be responsible for the collection and payment to the Company of any Redemption Fees based upon the terms outlined in the Companys prospectus.
14. Amendments. This agreement may be amended from time to time by the following procedure. We will mail a copy of the amendment to you at your address shown below or as registered as your main office from time to time with FINRA. If you do not object to the amendment within fifteen (15) days after its receipt, the amendment will become a part of this agreement. Your objection must be in writing and be received by us within such fifteen (15) days. All amendments shall be in writing and except as provided above shall be executed by both parties.
15. Termination. This agreement may be terminated by either party, without penalty, upon ten days prior written notice to the other party. Dealers expulsion from FINRA will automatically terminate this agreement without notice. Dealers suspension from FINRA or Dealers violation of Applicable Laws will terminate this agreement effective upon the date of Distributors mailing notice to Dealer of such termination. Any unfulfilled obligations hereunder, and all obligations of indemnification, shall survive the termination of this agreement.
16. Assignment. This agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns. No party may assign this agreement nor any rights, privileges, duties or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other parties, except that we may assign or transfer this agreement to any broker-dealer which becomes the underwriter of the Company without obtaining your written consent. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties agree that a change of control of the Distributor shall not constitute an assignment of this agreement.
17. Notices. All notices and communications to us shall be sent to us at Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101, Attn: Legal Dept., or at such other address as we may designate in writing. All notices and other communication to you shall be sent to you at the address set forth below or at such other address as you may designate in writing. All notices required or permitted to be given pursuant to this agreement shall be given in writing and delivered by personal delivery, by postage prepaid mail, electronic mail, or by facsimile or similar means of same-day delivery, with a confirming copy by mail.
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18. Authorization. Each party represents to the other that all requisite corporate proceedings have been undertaken to authorize it to enter into and perform under this agreement as contemplated herein, and that the individual that has signed this agreement below on its behalf is a duly elected officer that has been empowered to act for and on behalf of such party with respect to the execution of this agreement.
19. Directed Brokerage Prohibitions. The Distributor and Dealer agree that neither of them shall direct Fund portfolio securities transactions or related remuneration to satisfy any compensation obligations under this agreement. The Distributor also agrees that it will not directly or indirectly compensate the Dealer executing this agreement in contravention of Rule 12b-1(h) of the 1940 Act.
20. Shareholder Information. The Dealer executing this agreement agrees to comply with the requirements set forth on Appendix B attached hereto regarding the provision of shareholder information pursuant to Rule 22c-2 of the 1940 Act.
21. Miscellaneous. This agreement supersedes any other agreement between the parties with respect to the offer and sale of Fund Shares and other matters covered herein. The invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other term or provision hereof. This agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to conflict of laws principles, and shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This agreement has been negotiated and executed by the parties in English. In the event any translation of this agreement is prepared for convenience or any other purpose, the provisions of the English version shall prevail.
[The Balance of this Page is Intentionally Left Blank]
* * * *
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If the foregoing corresponds with your understanding of our agreement, please sign this document and the accompanying copies thereof in the appropriate space below and return the same to us, whereupon this agreement shall be binding upon each of us.
Foreside Financial Services, LLC | ||
By: |
Name: |
Title: |
Agreed to and Accepted:
[Insert Dealer Name]
By: |
Name: |
Title: |
Address of Dealer: | ||
Operations Contact: |
Name: |
Phone: |
Email: |
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APPENDIX A
FORESIDE FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC
DISTRIBUTION/SERVICE FEE AGREEMENT
Re: [Funds] | Date: ________________________ |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This Fee Agreement (Agreement) confirms our understanding and agreement with respect to Rule 12b-1 payments to be made to you in accordance with the Dealer Agreement between you and us (the Dealer Agreement), which entitles you to serve as a selected dealer of certain Funds for which we serve as Distributor. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Dealer Agreement.
1. From time to time during the term of this Agreement, we may make payments to you pursuant to one or more distribution and service plans (the Plans) adopted by certain of the Funds pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act). You agree to furnish sales and marketing services and/or shareholder services to your customers who invest in and own Fund Shares, including, but not limited to, answering routine inquiries regarding the Funds, processing shareholder transactions, and providing any other shareholder services not otherwise provided by a Funds transfer agent. With respect to such payments to you, we shall have only the obligation to make payments to you after, for as long as, and to the extent that, we receive from the Fund an amount equivalent to the amount payable to you. The Fund reserves the right, without prior notice, to suspend or eliminate the payment of such Rule 12b-1 Plan payments or other dealer compensation by amendment, sticker or supplement to the then-current Prospectus of the Fund or other written notice to you.
2. Any such fee payments shall reflect the amounts described in the Funds prospectus. Payments will be based on the average daily net assets of Fund Shares which are owned by those customers of yours whose records, as maintained by the Funds or the transfer agent, designate your firm as the customers dealer of record. No such fee payments will be payable to you with respect to shares purchased by or through you and redeemed by the Funds within seven business days after the date of confirmation of such purchase. You represent that you are eligible to receive any such payments made to you under the Plans.
3. You agree that all activities conducted under this Agreement will be conducted in accordance with the Plans, as well as all applicable state and federal laws, including the 1940 Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Securities Act of 1933 and any applicable rules of FINRA.
4. Upon request, on a quarterly basis, you shall furnish us with a written report describing the amounts payable to you pursuant to this Agreement and the purpose for which such amounts were expended. We shall provide quarterly reports to the Funds Board of amounts expended pursuant to the Plans and the purposes for which such expenditures were made. You shall furnish us with such other information as shall reasonably be requested by us in connection with our reports to the Board with respect to the fees paid to you pursuant to this Agreement.
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5. This Agreement shall continue in effect until terminated in the manner prescribed below or as provided in the Plans or in Rule 12b-1. This Agreement may be terminated, with respect to one or more Funds, without penalty, by either of us, upon ten days prior written notice to the other party. In addition, this Agreement will be terminated with respect to any Fund upon a termination of the relevant Plan or the Dealer Agreement, if a Fund closes to new investments, or if our Distribution Agreement with the Funds terminates.
6. This Agreement may be amended by us from time to time by the following procedure. We will mail a copy of the amendment to you at your address shown below or as registered from time to time with FINRA. If you do not object to the amendment within fifteen (15) days after its receipt, the amendment will become a part of this Agreement. Your objection must be in writing and be received by us within such fifteen days.
7. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date when it is executed and dated by us below. This Agreement and all the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of laws principles.
8. All notices and other communications shall be given as provided in the Dealer Agreement.
If the foregoing is acceptable to you, please sign this Agreement in the space provided below and return the same to us.
Foreside Financial Services, LLC
Agreed to and Accepted: | ||||||||
[Name and Address of Dealer] | ||||||||
By: | ||||||||
Name: | ||||||||
Title: | ||||||||
By: | ||||||||
Name: | ||||||||
Title: |
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APPENDIX B
Information Regarding the Provision of Shareholder Information Pursuant to Rule 22c-2
(a). Agreement to Provide Information. Dealer agrees to provide the Fund, upon request, the taxpayer identification number (TIN), if known, (or in the case of a non U.S. shareholder, if the TIN is unavailable, the International Taxpayer Identification Number or other government issued identifier) of any or all Shareholder(s) who have purchased, redeemed, transferred, or exchanged fund shares held through an account with Dealer and the amount, date, name or other identifier of any investment professional(s) associated with the Shareholder(s) or account (if known), and transaction type (purchase, redemption, transfer, or exchange) of every purchase, redemption, transfer, or exchange of Shares held through an account maintained by the Dealer during the period covered by the request.
i. Period Covered by Request. Requests must set forth a specific period, not to exceed 90 days from the date of the request, for which transaction information is sought. The Fund may request transaction information older than 90 days from the date of the request as it deems necessary to investigate compliance with policies established by the Fund for the purpose of eliminating or reducing any dilution of the value of the outstanding shares issued by the Fund.
ii. Form and Timing of Response. Dealer agrees to transmit the requested information that is on its books and records to the Fund or its designee promptly, but in any event not later than five business days, after receipt of a request. If the requested information is not on the Dealers books and records, Dealer agrees to use best efforts to: (x) provide or arrange to provide to the Fund the requested information from shareholders who hold an account with an indirect intermediary, including a determination on whether any specific person about whom Dealer has received information, is itself a financial intermediary; or (y) if directed by the Fund, restrict or prohibit further purchases or exchanges of Fund Shares by a shareholder who has been identified by the Fund as having engaged in transactions of Fund shares (directly or indirectly) that violate policies established by the Fund for the purpose of eliminating or reducing any dilution of the value of the outstanding securities issued by the Fund. In such instance, Dealer agrees to inform the Fund whether it plans to perform (x) or (y). Responses required by this paragraph must be communicated in writing and in a format mutually agreed upon by the parties. To the extent practicable, the format for any transaction information provided to the Fund should be consistent with the NSCC Standardized Data Reporting Format. For purposes of this provision, an indirect intermediary has the same meaning as in SEC Rule 22c-2 under the Investment Company Act.
iii. Limitations on Use of Information. The Fund agrees not to use the information received for marketing or any other similar purpose without the prior written consent of the Dealer.
(b) Agreement to Restrict Trading. Dealer agrees to execute written instructions from the Fund to restrict or prohibit further purchases or exchanges of Fund shares by a Shareholder who has been identified by the Fund as having engaged in transactions of the Funds Shares (directly or indirectly through the Dealers account) that violate policies established by the Fund for the purpose of eliminating or reducing any dilution of the value of the outstanding Shares issued by the Fund.
i. Form of Instructions. Instructions must include the TIN, if known, and the specific restriction(s) to be executed. If the TIN is not known, the instructions must include an equivalent identifying number of the Shareholder(s) or account(s) or other agreed upon information to which the instruction relates.
B-9
ii. Timing of Response. Dealer agrees to execute instructions as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than five business days after receipt of the instructions by the Dealer.
iii. Confirmation by Dealer. Dealer must provide written confirmation to the Fund that instructions have been executed. Dealer agrees to provide confirmation as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than ten business days after the instructions have been executed.
(c) |
Definitions. For purposes of this Appendix B: |
i. The term Fund includes the funds investment manager, principal underwriter and transfer agent. The term does not include any excepted funds as defined in SEC Rule 22c-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.1
ii. The term Shares means the interests of Shareholders corresponding to the redeemable securities of record issued by the Fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940 that are held by the Dealer.
iii. The term Shareholder means the beneficial owner of Shares, whether the Shares are held directly or by the Dealer in nominee name or, alternatively, for use with retirement plan recordkeepers, the term means the Plan participant notwithstanding that the Plan may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of Shares.
iv. The term written includes electronic writings and facsimile transmissions.
v. The term Dealer shall mean a financial intermediary as defined in SEC Rule 22c-2.
1 |
As defined in SEC Rule 22c-2(b), the term excepted fund means any: (1) money market fund; (2) fund that issues securities that are listed on a national exchange; and (3) fund that affirmatively permits short-term trading of its securities, if its prospectus clearly and prominently discloses that the fund permits short-term trading of its securities and that such trading may result in additional costs for the fund. |
B-10
FORESIDE FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC
SELLING GROUP MEMBER AGREEMENT
Re: [Funds] | Date: ____________________ |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
As the distributor of the shares (Shares) of each series (each a Fund and, collectively, the Funds) of the investment company referenced above (collectively, Company), Foreside Financial Services, LLC (Distributor) hereby invites you to participate in the selling group on the following terms and conditions. In this agreement, the terms we, us, and similar words refer to the Distributor, and the terms you, your, and similar words, Selling Group Member and Intermediary refer to the intermediary executing this agreement, including its associated persons.
1. Selling Group Member. You hereby represent that you are properly qualified under all applicable federal, state and local laws to engage in the business and transactions described in this agreement. In addition, you agree to comply with the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) as if they were applicable to you in connection with your activities under this agreement. You agree that it is your responsibility to determine the suitability of any Fund Shares as investments for your customers, and that we have no responsibility for such determination. You further agree to maintain all records required by Applicable Laws (as defined below) or that are otherwise reasonably requested by us relating to your transactions in Fund Shares and agree, upon the request of a Fund or its designated agent, to make available such records promptly. You agree that you will at all times comply with (i) the provisions of this agreement related to compliance with all applicable rules and regulations; and (ii) the terms of each registration statement and prospectus for the Funds; and (iii) Applicable Laws.
2. Qualification of Shares. The Fund will make available to you a list of the states or other jurisdictions in which Fund Shares are registered for sale or are otherwise qualified for sale, which may be revised by the Fund from time to time. You will make offers of Shares to your customers only in those states, and you will ensure that you (including your associated persons) are appropriately licensed and qualified to offer and sell Shares in any state or other jurisdiction that requires such licensing or qualification in connection with your activities. Neither we nor the Funds shall have any obligation or responsibility to make Fund Shares available for sale in any jurisdiction (or to maintain such availability).
3. Orders. All orders you submit for transactions in Fund Shares shall reflect orders received from your customers or shall be for your account for your own bona fide investment, and you will date and time-stamp your customer orders and forward them promptly each day and in any event prior to the time required by the applicable Fund prospectus (the Prospectus, which for purposes of this agreement includes the Statement of Additional Information incorporated therein). As agent for your customers, you shall not withhold placing customers orders for any Shares so as to profit yourself or your customer as a result of such withholding. You are hereby authorized to: (i) place your orders directly with the Company for the purchase of Shares and (ii) tender Shares directly to the Company for redemption, in each case subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus and any operating procedures and policies established by us or the Fund (directly or through its Transfer Agent) from time to time. All purchase orders you submit are subject to acceptance or rejection, and we reserve the right to suspend or limit the sale of Shares. You are not authorized to make any representations concerning Shares of any Fund except such representations as are contained in the Prospectus and in such supplemental written information that the Fund or the
Distributor (acting on behalf of the Fund) may provide to you with respect to a Fund. All orders that are accepted for the purchase of Shares shall be executed at the next determined public offering price per share (i.e., the net asset value per share plus the applicable sales load, if any) and all orders for the redemption of Shares provided timely and in good order shall be executed at the next determined net asset value per share and subject to any applicable redemption fee, in each case as described in the Prospectus.
4. Compliance with Applicable Laws; Distribution of Prospectus and Reports; Confirmations. In connection with its respective activities hereunder, each party agrees to abide by the Conduct Rules of FINRA and all other rules of self-regulatory organizations of which the relevant party is a member, as well as all laws, rules and regulations, including federal and state securities laws, that are applicable to the relevant party (and its associated persons) from time to time in connection with its activities hereunder (Applicable Laws). You are authorized to distribute to your customers the current Prospectus, as well as any supplemental sales material received from the Fund or the Distributor (acting on behalf of the Fund) (on the terms and for the period specified by us or stated in such material). You are not authorized to distribute, furnish or display any other sales or promotional material relating to a Fund without our prior written approval, but you may identify the Funds in a listing of mutual funds available through you to your customers.
Unless otherwise mutually agreed in writing, you shall deliver or cause to be delivered to each customer who purchases shares of any Funds from or through you, copies of all annual and interim reports, proxy solicitation materials, and any other information and materials relating to such Funds and prepared by or on behalf of the Funds or us. If required by Rule 10b-10 under the Securities Exchange Act or other Applicable Laws, you shall send or cause to be sent confirmations or other reports to your customers containing such information as may be required by Applicable Laws.
5. Sales Charges and Concessions. [not applicable].
6. Transactions in Fund Shares. With respect to all orders you place for the purchase of Fund Shares, unless otherwise agreed, settlement shall be made with the Company within three (3) business days after acceptance of the order. If payment is not so received or made, the transaction may be cancelled. In this event or in the event that you cancel the trade for any reason, you agree to be responsible for any loss, including loss of profit, resulting to the Funds, your clients or to us from your failure to make payments or provide documents as aforesaid. You shall not be entitled to any gains generated thereby. You also assume responsibility for any loss to a Fund caused by any order placed by you on an as-of basis subsequent to the trade date for the order, and will immediately pay such loss to the Fund upon notification or demand. Such orders shall be acceptable only as permitted by the Company and shall be subject to the Companys policies pertaining thereto, which may include receipt of an executed Letter of Indemnity in a form acceptable to the Fund and /or to us prior to the Companys acceptance of any such order.
7. Accuracy of Orders; Customer Signatures. You shall be responsible for the accuracy, timeliness and completeness of any orders transmitted by you on behalf of your customers by any means, including wire or telephone. You agree that neither the Funds, the Distributor, nor any of their affiliates will have any responsibility or liability to review any purchase or redemption request that is presented by you to determine whether such request is accurate, genuine or authorized by your customer. You agree to be responsible for any orders transmitted by you on behalf of your customers that are not delivered to the Funds timely. In addition, you agree to guarantee the signatures of your customers when such guarantee is required by the Company and you agree to indemnify and hold harmless all persons, including us and the Funds transfer agent, from and against any and all loss, cost, damage or expense suffered or incurred in reliance upon such signature guarantee.
8. Indemnification. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless us (and our respective affiliates, divisions, subsidiaries, officers, directors, agents, employees and permitted assigns) from and against any claims, liabilities, expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees) and losses resulting from (i) any failure by you to comply with Applicable Laws in connection with activities performed under this agreement, or (ii) any unauthorized representation made by you concerning an investment in Fund Shares.
We agree to indemnify and hold harmless you and your officers, directors, agents and employees from and against any claims, liabilities, expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees) and losses resulting from (i) any failure by us to comply with Applicable Laws in connection with our activities as Distributor under this agreement, or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact set forth in a Funds Prospectus or supplemental sales material provided to you by us (and used by you on the terms and for the period specified by us or stated in such material), or omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein to make the statements therein not misleading.
9. Multi-Class Distribution Arrangements. You understand and acknowledge that the Funds may offer Shares in multiple classes, and you represent and warrant that you have established compliance procedures designed to ensure that your customers are made aware of the terms of each available class of Fund Shares, to ensure that each customer is offered only Shares that are suitable investments for him or her, and to ensure proper supervision of your representatives in recommending and offering the Shares of multiple classes to your customers.
10. Anti-Money Laundering Compliance. Each party to this agreement acknowledges that it is a financial institution subject to the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 and the Bank Secrecy Act (collectively, the AML Acts), which require, among other things, that financial institutions adopt compliance programs to guard against money laundering. Each party represents and warrants that it is in compliance and will continue to comply with the AML Acts and applicable rules thereunder (AML Laws), including FINRA Rule 3310, in all relevant respects. You agree to cooperate with us to satisfy AML due diligence policies of the Company and Distributor, which may include annual compliance certifications and periodic due diligence reviews and/or other requests deemed necessary or appropriate by us or the Company to ensure compliance with AML Laws. You also agree to provide for screening its own new and existing customers against the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) list and any other government list that is or becomes required under the AML Acts.
11. Privacy. The parties agree that any Non-Public Personal Information, as the term is defined in Regulation S-P (Reg S-P) of the Securities and Exchange Commission, that may be disclosed hereunder is disclosed for the specific purpose of permitting the other party to perform the services set forth in this agreement. Each party agrees that, with respect to such information, it will comply with Reg S-P and that it will not disclose any Non-Public Personal Information received in connection with this agreement to any other party, except to the extent required to carry out the services set forth in this agreement or as otherwise permitted by law.
12. |
Service Fees. Subject to and in accordance with the terms of each Prospectus and the Distribution Plan and/or Service Plan, if any, adopted by resolution of the Board pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act), we may pay financial institutions with which we have entered into an agreement in substantially the form annexed hereto as Appendix A or such other form as may be approved from time to time by the Funds Board (the Fee Agreement) such fees as may be determined in accordance with such Fee Agreement, for shareholder or administrative services, as described therein. You hereby represent that you are permitted under applicable laws to receive all payments for shareholder services contemplated herein. |
13. Order Processing. You represent that you have reviewed your policies and procedures to ensure that they are reasonably designed to prevent violations of law and Prospectus requirements related to timely order-taking and market timing activity, and that such policies and procedures (i) prevent the submission of any order received after the deadline for submission of orders in each day that are eligible for pricing at that days net asset value per share (NAV); and (ii) prevent the purchase of Fund Shares by an individual or entity whose stated objectives are not consistent with the stated policies of a Fund in protecting the best interests of longer-term investors, particularly where such investor may be seeking market timing or arbitrage opportunities through such purchase. You represent that you will be responsible for the collection and payment to the Company of any Redemption Fees based upon the terms outlined in the Companys Prospectus
14. Amendments. This agreement may be amended from time to time by the following procedure. We will mail a copy of the amendment to you at your address shown below. If you do not object to the amendment within fifteen (15) days after its receipt, the amendment will become a part of this agreement. Your objection must be in writing and be received by us within such fifteen (15) days. All amendments shall be in writing and except as provided above shall be executed by both parties.
15. Termination. This agreement may be terminated by either party, without penalty, upon ten days prior written notice to the other party. Any unfulfilled obligations hereunder, and all obligations of indemnification, shall survive the termination of this agreement.
16. Assignment. This agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns. No party may assign this agreement nor any rights, privileges, duties or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other parties, except that we may assign or transfer this Agreement to any broker-dealer which becomes the underwriter of the Company without obtaining your written consent. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties agree that a change of control of the Distributor shall not constitute an assignment of this agreement.
17. Notices. All notices and communications to us shall be sent to us at Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101, Attn: Legal Dept., or at such other address as we may designate in writing. All notices and other communication to you shall be sent to you at the address set forth below or at such other address as you may designate in writing. All notices required or permitted to be given pursuant to this agreement shall be given in writing and delivered by personal delivery, by postage prepaid mail, electronic mail, or by facsimile or similar means of same-day delivery, with a confirming copy by mail.
18. Authorization. Each party represents to the other that all requisite corporate proceedings have been undertaken to authorize it to enter into and perform under this agreement as contemplated herein, and that the individual that has signed this agreement below on its behalf is a duly elected officer that has been empowered to act for and on behalf of such party with respect to the execution of this agreement.
19. Directed Brokerage Prohibitions. The Distributor and Selling Group Member agree that neither of them shall direct Fund portfolio securities transactions or related remuneration to satisfy any compensation obligations under this agreement. The Distributor also agrees that it will not directly or indirectly compensate the Selling Group Member executing this agreement in contravention of Rule 12b-1(h) of the 1940 Act.
20. Shareholder Information. The Selling Group Member executing this agreement agrees to comply with the requirements set forth on Appendix B attached hereto regarding the provision of shareholder information pursuant to Rule 22c-2 of the 1940 Act.
21. Miscellaneous. This agreement supersedes any other agreement between the parties with respect to the offer and sale of Fund Shares and other matters covered herein. The invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other term or provision hereof. This agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to conflict of laws principles, and shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This agreement has been negotiated and executed by the parties in English. In the event any translation of this agreement is prepared for convenience or any other purpose, the provisions of the English version shall prevail.
* * * *
If the foregoing corresponds with your understanding of our agreement, please sign this document and the accompanying copies thereof in the appropriate space below and return the same to us, whereupon this agreement shall be binding upon each of us.
Foreside Financial Services, LLC | ||
By: |
Insert Name: |
Title: |
Agreed to and Accepted:
________________________________ [Insert Intermediary Name]
By: |
Print Name: |
Title: |
Address of Intermediary: | ||
Operations Contact: | ||
Name: | ||
Phone: | ||
Email: |
APPENDIX A
FOREIDE FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC
SERVICE FEE AGREEMENT
Re: [Funds] | Date: ____________________ |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This Fee Agreement (Agreement) confirms our understanding and agreement with respect to Rule 12b-1 payments to be made to you in accordance with the Selling Group Member Agreement between you and us (the Selling Group Member Agreement), which entitles you to serve as a selling group member of certain Funds for which we serve as Distributor. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Selling Group Member Agreement.
1. From time to time during the term of this Agreement, we may make payments to you pursuant to one or more distribution and service plans (the Plans) adopted by certain of the Funds pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act). You agree to furnish sales and marketing services and/or shareholder services to your customers who invest in and own Fund Shares, including, but not limited to, answering routine inquiries regarding the Funds, processing shareholder transactions, and providing any other shareholder services not otherwise provided by a Funds transfer agent. With respect to such payments to you, we shall have only the obligation to make payments to you after, for as long as, and to the extent that, we receive from the Fund an amount equivalent to the amount payable to you. The Fund reserves the right, without prior notice, to suspend or eliminate the payment of such Rule 12b-1 Plan payments or other compensation by amendment, sticker or supplement to the then-current Prospectus of the Fund or other written notice to you.
2. Any such fee payments shall reflect the amounts described in the Funds Prospectus. Payments will be based on the average daily net assets of Fund Shares which are owned by those customers of yours whose records, as maintained by the Funds or the transfer agent, designate your firm as the customers intermediary of record. No such fee payments will be payable to you with respect to shares purchased by or through you and redeemed by the Funds within seven business days after the date of confirmation of such purchase. You represent that you are eligible to receive any such payments made to you under the Plans.
3. You agree that all activities conducted under this Agreement will be conducted in accordance with the Plans, as well as all applicable state and federal laws, including the 1940 Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Securities Act of 1933 and any applicable rules of FINRA.
4. Upon request, on a quarterly basis, you shall furnish us with a written report describing the amounts payable to you pursuant to this Agreement and the purpose for which such amounts were expended. We shall provide quarterly reports to the Funds Board of amounts expended pursuant to the Plans and the purposes for which such expenditures were made. You shall furnish us with such other information as shall reasonably be requested by us in connection with our reports to the Board with respect to the fees paid to you pursuant to this Agreement.
5. This Agreement shall continue in effect until terminated in the manner prescribed below or as provided in the Plans or in Rule 12b-1. This Agreement may be terminated, with respect to one or more Funds, without penalty, by either of us, upon ten days prior written notice to the other party. In addition, this Agreement will be terminated with respect to any Fund upon a termination of the relevant Plan or the Selling Group Member Agreement, if a Fund closes to new investments, or if our Distribution Agreement with the Funds terminates.
6. This Agreement may be amended by us from time to time by the following procedure. We will mail a copy of the amendment to you at your address shown below. If you do not object to the amendment within fifteen (15) days after its receipt, the amendment will become a part of this Agreement. Your objection must be in writing and be received by us within such fifteen days.
7. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date when it is executed and dated by us below. This Agreement and all the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of laws principles.
8. All notices and other communications shall be given as provided in the Selling Group Member Agreement.
If the foregoing is acceptable to you, please sign this Agreement in the space provided below and return the same to us.
Foreside Financial Services, LLC
Agreed to and Accepted: | ||||
[Name and Address of Intermediary]
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By: | ||||
Insert Name: | ||||
Title: |
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Insert Name: | |||
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Title: |
APPENDIX B
Information Regarding the Provision of Shareholder Information Pursuant to Rule 22c-2
(a). Agreement to Provide Information. Intermediary agrees to provide the Fund, upon request, the taxpayer identification number (TIN), if known, (or in the case of a non U.S. shareholder, if the TIN is unavailable, the International Taxpayer Identification Number or other government issued identifier) of any or all Shareholder(s) who have purchased, redeemed, transferred, or exchanged fund shares held through an account with Intermediary and the amount, date, name or other identifier of any investment professional(s) associated with the Shareholder(s) or account (if known), and transaction type (purchase, redemption, transfer, or exchange) of every purchase, redemption, transfer, or exchange of Shares held through an account maintained by the Intermediary during the period covered by the request.
i. Period Covered by Request. Requests must set forth a specific period, not to exceed 90 days from the date of the request, for which transaction information is sought. The Fund may request transaction information older than 90 days from the date of the request as it deems necessary to investigate compliance with policies established by the Fund for the purpose of eliminating or reducing any dilution of the value of the outstanding shares issued by the Fund.
ii. Form and Timing of Response. Intermediary agrees to transmit the requested information that is on its books and records to the Fund or its designee promptly, but in any event not later than five business days, after receipt of a request. If the requested information is not on the Intermediarys books and records, Intermediary agrees to use best efforts to: (x) provide or arrange to provide to the Fund the requested information from shareholders who hold an account with an indirect intermediary, including a determination on whether any specific person about whom Intermediary has received information, is itself a financial intermediary; or (y) if directed by the Fund, restrict or prohibit further purchases or exchanges of Fund Shares by a shareholder who has been identified by the Fund as having engaged in transactions of Fund shares (directly or indirectly) that violate policies established by the Fund for the purpose of eliminating or reducing any dilution of the value of the outstanding securities issued by the Fund. In such instance, Intermediary agrees to inform the Fund whether it plans to perform (x) or (y). Responses required by this paragraph must be communicated in writing and in a format mutually agreed upon by the parties. To the extent practicable, the format for any transaction information provided to the Fund should be consistent with the NSCC Standardized Data Reporting Format. For purposes of this provision, an indirect intermediary has the same meaning as in SEC Rule 22c-2 under the Investment Company Act.
iii. Limitations on Use of Information. The Fund agrees not to use the information received for marketing or any other similar purpose without the prior written consent of the Intermediary.
(b) Agreement to Restrict Trading. Intermediary agrees to execute written instructions from the Fund to restrict or prohibit further purchases or exchanges of Fund shares by a Shareholder who has been identified by the Fund as having engaged in transactions of the Funds Shares (directly or indirectly through the Intermediarys account) that violate policies established by the Fund for the purpose of eliminating or reducing any dilution of the value of the outstanding Shares issued by the Fund.
i. Form of Instructions. Instructions must include the TIN, if known, and the specific restriction(s) to be executed. If the TIN is not known, the instructions must include an equivalent identifying number of the Shareholder(s) or account(s) or other agreed upon information to which the instruction relates.
ii. Timing of Response. Intermediary agrees to execute instructions as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than five business days after receipt of the instructions by the Intermediary.
iii. Confirmation by Intermediary. Intermediary must provide written confirmation to the Fund that instructions have been executed. Intermediary agrees to provide confirmation as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than ten business days after the instructions have been executed.
(c) Definitions. For purposes of this Appendix B:
i. The term Fund includes the funds investment manager, principal underwriter and transfer agent. The term does not include any excepted funds as defined in SEC Rule 22c-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.2
ii. The term Shares means the interests of Shareholders corresponding to the redeemable securities of record issued by the Fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940 that are held by the Intermediary.
iii. The term Shareholder means the beneficial owner of Shares, whether the Shares are held directly or by the Intermediary in nominee name or, alternatively, for use with retirement plan recordkeepers, the term means the Plan participant notwithstanding that the Plan may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of Shares.
iv. The term written includes electronic writings and facsimile transmissions.
v. The term Intermediary shall mean a financial intermediary as defined in SEC Rule 22c-2.
2 |
As defined in SEC Rule 22c-2(b), the term excepted fund means any: (1) money market fund; (2) fund that issues securities that are listed on a national exchange; and (3) fund that affirmatively permits short-term trading of its securities, if its prospectus clearly and prominently discloses that the fund permits short-term trading of its securities and that such trading may result in additional costs for the fund. |
Exhibit (e)(ii)
DISTRIBUTION SERVICES AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT made this day of , 20 , by and between Polar Capital LLP, a United Kingdom limited liability partnership (the Adviser), and Foreside Financial Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Distributor).
WHEREAS, the Distributor and Datum One Series Trust (the Trust) have entered in to a distribution agreement dated as of March 3, 2020 (the Distribution Agreement) whereby the Distributor acts as the principal underwriter of certain series (the Funds) of the Trust, as listed in Exhibit A to the Distribution Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Adviser has agreed to compensate the Distributor to the extent that the Funds are not authorized to so compensate the Distributor;
NOW THEREFORE, the Adviser and the Distributor hereby agree as follows:
1. Compensation and Expenses.
The Distributor has agreed to provide the services set forth in the Distribution Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit A, and the Adviser has agreed to pay the Distributor the compensation set forth in Exhibit B.
2. Term and Termination.
(a) This Agreement will become effective upon the date first set forth above, will continue in effect throughout the term of the Distribution Agreement, and will terminate automatically upon any termination of the Distribution Agreement; provided, however, that, notwithstanding such termination of the Distribution Agreement, the Adviser will continue to pay to Distributor all fees and expenses to which Distributor is entitled pursuant to the Distribution Agreement for services performed through such termination date.
(b) This Agreement may be terminated by the Adviser upon 60 days written notice to the Distributor in the event the Adviser no longer serves as investment adviser to the Funds; provided that prior to or on such termination date, the Adviser pay to Distributor all compensation due as of such termination date.
3. Limitation of Liability
The Distributor shall not be liable to the Adviser for any action taken or omitted by it in the absence of bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard by it (or its agents or employees) of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
4. Payment of Fees to Financial Intermediaries
Adviser acknowledges and agrees that the Distributor may enter into, assume, or become a party to certain agreements (Non-Standard Dealer Agreements) which require the Distributor to pay fees or make payments in excess of funds made available to the Distributor through the Funds 12b-1 Plan (Fees). To the extent that the Distributor is required to pay Fees under any
1
Non-Standard Agreement, the Adviser hereby agrees to make all such payments. Adviser hereby agrees to pay all such Fees required pursuant to such Non-Standard Agreements, including the reimbursement of any costs and expenses of the applicable financial intermediary, to the Distributor at least 10 days in advance of the date on which such payments are due from Distributor to the applicable financial intermediary, or in the alternative, to pay such Fees directly to the applicable financial intermediary on or before the date on which such payments are due.
5. Notices. Any notice or other communication authorized or required by this Agreement to be given to either party shall be in writing and deemed to have been given when delivered in person or by confirmed facsimile, email, or posted by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the following address (or such other address as a party may specify by written notice to the other):
(i) To Distributor: |
(ii) If to the Adviser: |
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Foreside Financial Services, LLC Attn: Legal Department Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100 Portland, Maine 04101 Telephone: (207) 553-7110 Email:legal@foreside.com |
Polar Capital LLP Attn: 16 Palace Street London, United Kingdom SW1E 5JD Telephone: Email: |
6. Assignment.
This Agreement and the rights and duties hereunder shall not be assignable with respect to a Fund by either of the parties hereto except by the specific written consent of the other party. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
7. Governing Law.
This Agreement shall be governed by, and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware.
8. Miscellaneous.
(a) Paragraph headings in this Agreement are included for convenience only and are not to be used to construe or interpret this Agreement.
(b) This Agreement constitutes the complete agreement of the parties hereto as to the subject matter covered by this Agreement, and supersedes all prior negotiations, understandings and agreements bearing upon the subject matter covered by this Agreement.
(c) If any part, term or provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, in conflict with any law or otherwise invalid, the remaining portion or portions shall be considered severable and not be affected, and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be construed and enforced as if this Agreement did not contain such part, term or provision.
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(d) This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original but all of which, taken together, shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(e) No amendment to this Agreement shall be valid unless made in writing and executed by both parties hereto.
(f) Invoices for fees and expenses due to Distributor hereunder and as set forth in Exhibit B hereto shall be sent by Distributor to the address furnished above in Section 5(ii) unless and until changed by Adviser (Adviser to provide reasonable advance notice of any change of billing address to Distributor).
(g) This Agreement has been negotiated and executed by the parties in English. In the event any translation of this Agreement is prepared for convenience or any other purpose, the provisions of the English version shall prevail.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed all as of the day and year first above written.
POLAR CAPITAL LLP | FORESIDE FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC | |||||||
By: | By: | |||||||
Name: | Name: | Mark Fairbanks | ||||||
Title: | Title: | Vice President |
- 3 -
Exhibit (e)(ii)
EXHIBIT A
Distribution Agreement
A-1
Exhibit (g)(i)
CUSTODY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT dated as of March 3, 2020, between Datum One Series Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the Trust), having its principal office and place of business at 50 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, IL 60603 on behalf of each series of the Trust listed on Schedule B hereto, as it may be amended from time to time (each, a Fund and, collectively, the Funds), and The Northern Trust Company (the Custodian), an Illinois company with its principal place of business at 50 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603.
W I T N E S S E T H:
That for and in consideration of the mutual promises hereinafter set forth, the Trust and the Custodian agree as follows:
1. |
DEFINITIONS. |
Whenever used in this Agreement or in any Schedules to this Agreement, the following words and phrases, unless the context otherwise requires, shall have the following meanings:
(a) |
Articles of Incorporation shall mean the Declaration of Trust of the Trust, including all amendments thereto. |
(b) |
Authorized Person shall be deemed to include the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, the President, and any Vice President, the Secretary, the Treasurer or any other person, whether or not any such person is an officer or employee of the Trust, duly authorized by the Board of Trustees to give Instructions on behalf of the Trust and the Funds and listed in the certification annexed hereto as Schedule A or such other certification as may be received by the Custodian from time to time pursuant to Section 24(a). |
(c) |
Board of Trustees shall mean the Board of Trustees of the Trust. |
(d) |
Book-Entry System shall mean the Federal Reserve/Treasury book-entry system for United States and federal agency securities, its successor or successors and its nominee or nominees. |
(e) |
Delegate of the Trust shall mean and include any entity to whom the Board of Trustees of the Trust has delegated responsibility under Rule 17f-5 of the 1940 Act. |
(f) |
Depository shall mean The Depository Trust Company, a clearing agency registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 17(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, its successor or successors and its nominee or nominees, the use of which is hereby specifically authorized. The term Depository shall further mean and include any other person named in an Instruction and approved by the Trust to act as a depository in the manner required by Rule 17f-4 of the 1940 Act, its successor or successors and its nominee or nominees. |
(g) |
Eligible Securities Depository shall have the same meaning as set forth in Rule 17f-7(b)(1). |
(h) |
Fund refers to each of the separate and distinct series of the Trust which the Trust and the Custodian shall have agreed in writing shall be subject to this Agreement, as identified in Schedule B hereto, as that schedule may be amended from time to time. |
(i) |
Instruction shall mean written (including telecopied, telexed, or electronically transmitted in a form that can be converted to print) or oral instructions actually received by the Custodian which the Custodian reasonably believes were given by an Authorized Person. An Instruction shall also include any instrument in writing actually received by the Custodian which the Custodian reasonably believes to be genuine and to be signed by any two officers of the Trust, whether or not such officers are Authorized Persons. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, Instructions may include instructions given on a standing basis. |
(j) |
1940 Act shall mean the Investment Company Act of 1940, and the Rules and Regulations thereunder, all as amended from time to time. |
(k) |
Prospectus shall include each current prospectus and summary prospectus, as applicable, and statement of additional information of the Trust with respect to a Fund. |
(l) |
Rule 17f-5 shall mean Rule 17f-5 under the 1940 Act. |
(m) |
Rule 17f-7 shall mean Rule 17f-7 under the 1940 Act. |
(n) |
Shares refers to the shares of a Fund. |
(o) |
Security or Securities shall be deemed to include bonds, debentures, notes, stocks, shares, evidences of indebtedness, and other securities, commodity interests and investments from time to time owned and held in a Fund. |
(p) |
Sub-Custodian shall mean and include (i) any branch of the Custodian, and (ii) any eligible foreign custodian, as that term is defined in Rule 17f-5 under the 1940 Act, approved by the Trust or a Delegate of the Trust in the manner required by Rule 17f-5. For the avoidance of doubt, the term Sub-Custodian shall not include any central securities depository or clearing agency. |
(q) |
Transfer Agent shall mean the person who serves as the transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent and shareholder servicing agent for the Trust. |
2. |
APPOINTMENT OF CUSTODIAN. |
(a) |
The Trust hereby constitutes and appoints the Custodian as custodian of all the Securities and moneys owned by or in the possession of a Fund during the period of this Agreement. |
(b) |
The Custodian hereby accepts appointment as such custodian and agrees to perform the duties thereof as hereinafter set forth. |
3. |
APPOINTMENT AND REMOVAL OF SUB-CUSTODIANS. |
(a) |
The Custodian may appoint one or more Sub-Custodians to act as sub-custodian or sub-custodians of Securities and moneys at any time held in any Fund, upon the terms and conditions specified in this Agreement. The Custodian shall oversee the maintenance by any Sub-Custodian of any Securities or moneys of any Fund. |
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(b) |
The Agreement between the Custodian and each Sub-Custodian described in clause (ii) of Section 1(p) and acting hereunder shall contain any provisions necessary to comply with Rule 17f-5 under the 1940 Act. |
(c) |
Prior to the Custodians use of any Sub-Custodian described in clause (ii) of Section 1(p), the Trust or a Delegate of the Trust must approve such Sub-Custodian in the manner required by Rule 17f-5 and provide the Custodian with satisfactory evidence of such approval. |
(d) |
The Custodian shall promptly take such steps as may be required to remove any Sub-Custodian that has ceased to be an eligible foreign custodian or has otherwise ceased to meet the requirements under Rule 17f-5. If the Custodian intends to remove any Sub-Custodian previously approved by the Trust or a Delegate of the Trust pursuant to paragraph 3(c), and the Custodian proposes to replace such Sub-Custodian with a sub-custodian that has not yet been approved by the Trust or a Delegate of the Trust, it will so notify the Trust or a Delegate of the Trust and provide it with information reasonably necessary to determine such proposed sub-custodians eligibility under Rule 17f-5, including a copy of the proposed agreement with such sub-custodian. The Trust shall at the meeting of the Board of Trustees next following receipt of such notice and information, or a Delegate of the Trust shall promptly after receipt of such notice and information, determine whether to approve the proposed sub-custodian and will promptly thereafter give written notice of the approval or disapproval of the proposed action. |
(e) |
The Custodian hereby represents to the Trust that in its opinion, after due inquiry, the established procedures to be followed by each Sub-Custodian in connection with the safekeeping of property of a Fund pursuant to this Agreement afford reasonable care for the safekeeping of such property based on the standards applicable in the relevant market. |
3A. |
DELEGATION OF FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGEMENT. |
(a) |
The Trust hereby delegates to the Custodian the responsibilities set forth in subparagraph (b) below of this Section 3A, in accordance with Rule 17f-5 with respect to foreign custody arrangements for the Trusts existing and future investment Funds, except that the Custodian shall not have such responsibility with respect to central depositories and clearing agencies or with respect to custody arrangements in the countries listed on Schedule D, attached hereto, as that Schedule may be amended from time to time by notice to the Trust. |
(b) |
With respect to each arrangement with any Sub-Custodian regarding the assets of any Fund for which the Custodian has responsibility under this Section 3A (a Foreign Custodian), the Custodian shall: |
(i) |
determine that the Funds assets will be subject to reasonable care, based on the standards applicable to custodians in the relevant market, if maintained with the Foreign Custodian, after considering all factors relevant to the safekeeping of such assets; |
(ii) |
determine that the written contract with such Foreign Custodian governing the foreign custody arrangements complies with the requirements of Rule 17f-5 and will provide reasonable care for the Funds assets; |
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(iii) |
establish a system to monitor the appropriateness of maintaining the Funds assets with such Foreign Custodian and the contract governing the Funds foreign custody arrangements; |
(iv) |
provide to the Trusts Board of Trustees, at least annually, written reports notifying the Board of the placement of the Funds assets with a particular Foreign Custodian and periodic reports of any material changes to the Funds foreign custodian arrangements; and |
(v) |
withdraw the Funds assets from any Foreign Custodian as soon as reasonably practicable, if the foreign custody arrangement no longer meets the requirement of Rule 17f-5. |
4. |
USE OF SUB-CUSTODIANS AND SECURITIES DEPOSITORIES. |
With respect to property of a Fund which is maintained by the Custodian in the custody of a Sub-Custodian pursuant to Section 3:
(a) |
The Custodian will identify on its books as belonging to the particular Fund any property held by such Sub-Custodian. |
(b) |
In the event that a Sub-Custodian permits any of the Securities placed in its care to be held in a foreign securities depository, such Sub-Custodian will be required by its agreement with the Custodian to identify on its books such Securities as being held for the account of the Custodian as a custodian for its customers. |
(c) |
Any Securities held by a Sub-Custodian will be subject only to the instructions of the Custodian or its agents; and any Securities held in a foreign securities depository for the account of a Sub-Custodian will be subject only to the instructions of such Sub-Custodian. |
(d) |
The Custodian will only deposit property of a Fund in an account with a Sub-Custodian which includes exclusively the assets held by the Custodian for its customers, and will cause such account to be designated by such Sub-Custodian as a special custody account for the exclusive benefit of customers of the Custodian. |
(e) |
Before any Securities are placed in a foreign securities depository, the Custodian shall provide the Trusts Board of Trustees with an analysis of the custody risks associated with maintaining assets with the Eligible Securities Depository. |
(f) |
The Custodian or its agent shall continue to monitor the custody risks associated with maintaining the Securities with each Eligible Securities Depository and shall promptly notify the Trusts Board of Trustees of any material changes in said risks. |
5. |
COMPENSATION. |
(a) |
The Trust, on behalf of each Fund, will compensate the Custodian for its services rendered under this Agreement in accordance with the fees set forth in the fee schedule annexed hereto as Schedule C (the Fee Schedule) and incorporated herein. Such Fee Schedule does not include reasonable out-of-pocket disbursements of the Custodian for which the Custodian shall be entitled to bill separately. |
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(b) |
If the Trust requests that the Custodian act as Custodian for any Fund hereafter established, at the time the Custodian commences serving as such for said Fund, the compensation for such services shall be reflected in a fee schedule for that Fund, dated and signed by an officer of each party hereto, which shall be attached to or otherwise reflected in Schedule C of this Agreement. |
(c) |
Any compensation agreed to hereunder may be adjusted from time to time by attaching to Schedule C, or replacing Schedule C with, a revised Fee Schedule, dated and signed by an officer of each party hereto. |
(d) |
The Custodian will bill the Trust for its services to each Fund hereunder as soon as practicable after the end of each month, and said billings will be detailed in accordance with the Fee Schedule for the Trust. The relevant Fund will promptly pay to the Custodian the amount of such billing. The Custodian shall have a claim of payment against the property in each Fund for any compensation or expense amount owing to the Custodian in connection with such Fund from time to time under this Agreement. |
(e) |
The Custodian (not the Trust and not the Funds) will be responsible for the payment of the compensation of each Sub-Custodian. |
6. |
CUSTODY OF CASH AND SECURITIES. |
(a) |
Receipt and Holding of Assets. The Trust will deliver or cause to be delivered to the Custodian and any Sub-Custodians all Securities and moneys of any Fund at any time during the period of this Agreement and shall specify the Fund to which the Securities and moneys are to be specifically allocated. The Custodian will not be responsible for such Securities and moneys until actually received by it or by a Sub-Custodian. The Trust may, from time to time in its sole discretion, provide the Custodian with Instructions as to the manner in which, and in what amounts, Securities and moneys of a Fund are to be held on behalf of such Fund in the Book-Entry System or a Depository. Securities and moneys of a Fund held in the Book-Entry System or a Depository will be held in accounts which include only assets of the Custodian that are held for its customers. |
(b) |
Accounts and Disbursements. The Custodian shall establish and maintain a separate account for each Fund and shall credit to the separate account all moneys received by it or a Sub-Custodian for the account of such Fund and shall disburse, or cause a Sub-Custodian to disburse, the same only: |
1. |
In payment for Securities purchased for the relevant Fund, as provided in Section 7 hereof; |
2. |
In payment of dividends or distributions with respect to the Shares of such Fund, as provided in Section 12 hereof; |
3. |
In payment of original issue or other taxes with respect to the Shares of such Fund, as provided in Section 13(c) hereof; |
4. |
In payment for Shares which have been redeemed by such Fund, as provided in Section 13 hereof; |
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5. |
In payment of fees and in reimbursement of the expenses and liabilities of the Custodian attributable to the Funds, as provided in Sections 5 and 17(h) hereof; |
6. |
Pursuant to Instructions setting forth the name of the relevant Fund and the name and address of the person to whom the payment is to be made, the amount to be paid and the purpose for which payment is to be made. |
(c) |
Fail Float. In the event that any payment made for a Fund under this Section 6 exceeds the funds available in that Funds account, the Custodian or relevant Sub-Custodian, as the case may be, may, in its discretion, advance such Fund an amount equal to such excess and such advance shall be deemed an overdraft from the Custodian or such Sub-Custodian to that Fund payable on demand, bearing interest at the rate of interest customarily charged by the Custodian or such Sub-Custodian on similar overdrafts. |
(d) |
Confirmation and Statements. At least monthly, the Custodian shall furnish the Trust with a detailed statement of the Securities and moneys held by it and all Sub-Custodians for each Fund. Such statements comprise the accounting book of record for the assets of each Fund for which the Custodian acts as custodian. Where securities purchased for a Fund are in a fungible bulk of securities registered in the name of the Custodian (or its nominee) or shown on the Custodians account on the books of a Depository, the Book-Entry System or a Sub-Custodian, the Custodian shall maintain such records as are necessary to enable it to identify the quantity of those securities held for such Fund. In the absence of the filing in writing with the Custodian by the Trust of exceptions or objections to any such statement within 60 days after the date that a material defect is reasonably discoverable, the Trust shall be deemed to have approved such statement; and in such case or upon written approval of the Trust of any such statement, the Custodian shall, to the extent permitted by law and provided the Custodian has met the standard of care in Section 17 hereof, be released, relieved and discharged with respect to all matters and things set forth in such statement as though such statement had been settled by the decree of a court of competent jurisdiction in an action in which the Trust and all persons having any equity interest in the Trust were parties. |
(e) |
Registration of Securities and Physical Separation. All Securities held for a Fund which are issued or issuable only in bearer form, except such Securities as are held in the Book-Entry System, shall be held by the Custodian or a Sub-Custodian in that form; all other Securities held for a Fund may be registered in the name of that Fund, in the name of any duly appointed registered nominee of the Custodian or a Sub-Custodian as the Custodian or such Sub-Custodian may from time to time determine, or in the name of the Book-Entry System or a Depository or their successor or successors, or their nominee or nominees. The Trust reserves the right to instruct the Custodian as to the method of registration and safekeeping of the Securities. The Trust agrees to furnish to the Custodian appropriate instruments to enable the Custodian or any Sub-Custodian to hold or deliver in proper form for transfer, or to register in the name of its registered nominee or in the name of the Book-Entry System or a Depository, any Securities which the Custodian or a Sub-Custodian may hold for the account of a Fund and which may from time to time be registered in the name of a Fund. The Custodian shall hold all such Securities specifically allocated to a Fund which are not held in the Book-Entry System or a Depository in a separate account for such Fund in the name of such Fund and physically segregated at all times from those of any other person or persons. |
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(f) |
Segregated Accounts. Upon receipt of an Instruction, the Custodian will establish segregated accounts on behalf of a Fund to hold liquid or other assets as it shall be directed by such Instruction and shall increase or decrease the assets in such segregated accounts only as it shall be directed by subsequent Instruction. |
(g) |
Collection of Income and Other Matters Affecting Securities. Except as otherwise provided in an Instruction, the Custodian, by itself or through the use of the Book-Entry System or a Depository with respect to Securities therein maintained, shall, or shall instruct the relevant Sub-Custodian to: |
1. |
Collect all income due or payable with respect to Securities in accordance with this Agreement; |
2. |
Present for payment and collect the amount payable upon all Securities which may mature or be called, redeemed or retired, or otherwise become payable; |
3. |
Surrender Securities in temporary form for derivative Securities; |
4. |
Execute any necessary declarations or certificates of ownership under the federal income tax laws or the laws or regulations of any other taxing authority now or hereafter in effect; and |
5. |
Hold directly, or through the Book-Entry System or a Depository with respect to Securities therein deposited, for the account of each Fund all rights and similar Securities issued with respect to any Securities held by the Custodian or relevant Sub-Custodian for each Fund. |
(h) |
Delivery of Securities and Evidence of Authority. Upon receipt of an Instruction, the Custodian, directly or through the use of the Book-Entry System or a Depository, shall, or shall instruct the relevant Sub-Custodian to: |
1. |
Execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered to such persons as may be designated in such Instructions, proxies, consents, authorizations, and any other instruments whereby the authority of the Trust or a Fund as owner of any Securities may be exercised; |
2. |
Deliver or cause to be delivered any Securities held for a Fund in exchange for other Securities or cash issued or paid in connection with the liquidation, reorganization, refinancing, merger, consolidation or recapitalization of any corporation, or the exercise of any conversion privilege; |
3. |
Deliver or cause to be delivered any Securities held for a Fund to any protective committee, reorganization committee or other person in connection with the reorganization, refinancing, merger, consolidation or recapitalization or sale of assets of any corporation, and receive and hold under the terms of this Agreement in the separate account for each such Fund certificates of deposit, interim receipts or other instruments or documents as may be issued to it to evidence such delivery; |
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4. |
Make or cause to be made such transfers or exchanges of the assets specifically allocated to the separate account of a Fund and take such other steps as shall be stated in written Instructions to be for the purpose of effectuating any duly authorized plan of liquidation, reorganization, merger, consolidation or recapitalization of a Fund; |
5. |
Deliver Securities upon sale of such Securities for the account of a Fund pursuant to Section 7; |
6. |
Deliver Securities upon the receipt of payment in connection with any repurchase agreement related to such Securities entered into on behalf of a Fund; |
7. |
Deliver Securities of a Fund to the issuer thereof or its agent when such Securities are called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable; provided, however, that in any such case the cash or other consideration is to be delivered to the Custodian or Sub-Custodian, as the case may be; |
8. |
Deliver Securities in connection with any loans of securities made by a Fund, but only against receipt of adequate collateral as agreed upon from time to time by the Custodian and the Trust, which may be in the form of cash or obligations issued by the United States Government, its agencies or instrumentalities or other acceptable collateral as agreed upon; |
9. |
Deliver Securities as security in connection with any borrowings by a Fund requiring a pledge of Fund assets, but only against receipt of the amounts borrowed; |
10. |
Deliver Securities to the Transfer Agent or its designee or to the holders of Shares in connection with distributions in kind, in satisfaction of requests by holders of Shares for repurchase or redemption; |
11. |
Deliver Securities for any other proper business purpose, but only upon receipt of, in addition to written Instructions, a copy of a resolution or other authorization of the Trust certified by the Secretary of the Trust, specifying the Securities to be delivered, setting forth the purpose for which such delivery is to be made, declaring such purpose to be a proper business purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom delivery of such Securities shall be made. |
(i) |
Endorsement and Collection of Checks, Etc. The Custodian is hereby authorized to endorse and collect all checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money received by the Custodian for the account of a Fund. |
(j) |
Taxes. The Custodian is hereby authorized to pay or withhold any income or other taxes required to be withheld on investments or transactions of a Fund. The Custodian shall use reasonable efforts to reduce withholding at source, where available under applicable tax treaties, laws and regulations, or with respect to non-U.S. source income, to file for and obtain refunds of any taxes withheld to which a Fund may be entitled under applicable tax treaties, laws and regulations. The Trust shall provide the Custodian with any documentation and information the Custodian may reasonably require to perform its duties under this paragraph, and the Custodian may rely upon such documentation and information without further inquiry. Except as provided above, the Custodian shall have no duty to file any tax information, reports, returns or other filings of any kind except where it is directed by the Trust and the Custodian consents in writing to do so. |
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(k) |
Execution of Required Documents. The Custodian is hereby authorized to execute any and all applications or other documents required by a regulatory agency or similar entity as a condition of making investments in the foreign market under such entitys jurisdiction. |
7. |
PURCHASE AND SALE OF SECURITIES. |
(a) |
Promptly after the purchase of Securities, the Trust or its designee shall deliver to the Custodian an Instruction specifying with respect to each such purchase: (1) the name of the Fund to which such Securities are to be specifically allocated; (2) the name of the issuer and the title of the Securities; (3) the number of shares or the principal amount purchased and accrued interest, if any; (4) the date of purchase and settlement; (5) the purchase price per unit; (6) the total amount payable upon such purchase; and (7) the name of the person from whom or the broker through whom the purchase was made, if any. The Custodian or specified Sub-Custodian shall receive the Securities purchased by or for a Fund and upon receipt thereof (or upon receipt of advice from a Depository or the Book-Entry System that the Securities have been transferred to the Custodians account) shall pay to the broker or other person specified by the Trust or its designee out of the moneys held for the account of such Fund the total amount payable upon such purchase; provided that the same conforms to the total amount payable as set forth in such Instruction. |
(b) |
Promptly after the sale of Securities, the Trust or its designee shall deliver to the Custodian an Instruction specifying with respect to each such sale: (1) the name of the Fund to which the Securities sold were specifically allocated; (2) the name of the issuer and the title of the Securities; (3) the number of shares or principal amount sold, and accrued interest, if any; (4) the date of sale; (5) the sale price per unit; (6) the total amount payable to the Fund upon such sale; and (7) the name of the broker through whom or the person to whom the sale was made. The Custodian or relevant Sub-Custodian shall deliver or cause to be delivered the Securities to the broker or other person designated by the Trust upon receipt of the total amount payable to such Fund upon such sale; provided that the same conforms to the total amount payable to such Fund as set forth in such Instruction. Subject to the foregoing, the Custodian or relevant Sub-Custodian may accept payment in such form as shall be satisfactory to it, and may deliver Securities and arrange for payment in accordance with the customs prevailing among dealers in Securities. |
(c) |
Notwithstanding (a) and (b) above, cash in any of the Funds may be invested by the Custodian for short term purposes pursuant to standing Instructions from the Trust. |
8. |
LENDING OF SECURITIES. |
If the Trust and the Custodian enter into a separate written agreement authorizing the Custodian to lend Securities, the Custodian may lend Securities pursuant to such agreement. Such agreement must be approved by the Trust in the manner required by any applicable law, regulation or administrative pronouncement, and may provide for the payment of additional reasonable compensation to the Custodian.
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9. |
INVESTMENT IN FUTURES, OPTIONS ON FUTURES AND OPTIONS. |
The Custodian shall, pursuant to Instructions (which may be standing instructions), (i) with respect to futures or options on futures, transfer initial margin to a futures commission merchant or safekeeping bank or, with respect to options, transfer collateral to a broker; (ii) pay or demand variation margin to or from a designated futures commission merchant or other broker based on daily marking to market calculations and in accordance with accepted industry practices; and (iii) subject to the Custodians consent, enter into separate procedural, safekeeping or other agreements with respect to the custody of initial margin deposits or collateral in transactions involving futures contracts or options, as the case may be. The Custodian shall have no custodial or investment responsibility for any assets transferred to a safekeeping bank, futures commission merchant or broker pursuant to this paragraph. In addition, in connection with options transactions in a Fund, the Custodian is authorized to pledge assets of such Fund as collateral for such transactions in accordance with industry practice.
10. |
PROVISIONAL CREDITS AND DEBITS. |
(a) |
The Custodian is authorized, but shall not be obligated, to credit the account of a Fund provisionally on payable date with interest, dividends, distributions, redemptions or other amounts due. Otherwise, such amounts will be credited to the relevant Fund on the date such amounts are actually received and reconciled to such Fund. In cases where the Custodian has credited a Fund with such amounts prior to actual collection and reconciliation, such Fund acknowledges that the Custodian shall be entitled to recover any such credit on demand from such Fund and further agrees that the Custodian may reverse such credit if and to the extent that Custodian does not receive such amounts in the ordinary course of business. |
(b) |
The Trust recognizes that any decision to effect a provisional credit or an advancement of the Custodians own funds under this agreement will be an accommodation granted entirely at the Custodians option and in light of the particular circumstances, which circumstances may involve conditions in different countries, markets and classes of assets at different times. A Fund shall make the Custodian whole for any loss which it may incur from granting such accommodations and acknowledges that the Custodian shall be entitled to recover any relevant amounts from such Fund on demand. All amounts thus due to the Custodian shall be paid by the Trust from the account of the relevant Fund unless otherwise paid on a timely basis and in that connection the Trust grants to the Custodian a continuing security interest and lien on all assets of such Fund to secure such payments and agrees that the Custodian may apply or set off against such amounts any amounts credited by or due from the Custodian to such Fund. If funds in a Fund are insufficient to make any such payment, such Fund shall promptly deliver to the Custodian the amount of such deficiency in immediately available funds when and as specified by the Custodians written or oral notification to such Fund. |
11. |
CASH. |
(a) |
In connection with the Custodians custody service, intra-day United States dollar cash receipts, holdings and disbursements of the Funds will be held by the Custodian on its balance sheet in Chicago. Intra-day cash receipts, holdings and disbursements of any Fund denominated in currencies other than United States dollars will be held by the Custodian on the balance sheet of its London Branch. All cash held on the balance sheet of the Custodians Chicago office or any of its foreign branches will be held by the Custodian as depository bank. Such cash may be commingled with the Custodians own cash and the cash of its other clients. The Custodians liability to the Trust and the Funds in respect of cash of any Fund maintained on the balance sheet of the Custodians Chicago office or foreign branch shall be that of debtor. |
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(b) |
At the end of each business day, a Fund may direct (by standing instruction or otherwise) that United States dollars that remain in such Fund be invested in an off-balance sheet investment vehicle offered by the Custodian for such purpose or invested in interest-bearing deposit obligations of one of the Custodians foreign branches, provided that the availability of any such on-balance sheet investment option will be in the Custodians discretion. The Custodian reserves the right to amend the interest rate applicable to United States dollar deposits in respect of which it pays interest. United States dollar cash that is not invested in an off-balance sheet, short-term investment vehicle or in an interest-bearing deposit obligation of the Custodians foreign branch described above will remain uninvested on the balance sheet of the Custodians Chicago office. Further, with respect to non-United States dollars that remain in any Fund at the end of each business day, each Fund hereby directs that such non-United States dollars shall be invested in an interest-bearing deposit account at the Custodians London Branch unless the Custodian receives other written instructions from such Fund. The Trust acknowledges that: (i) the availability of such on-balance sheet investment option will be available for eligible currencies only and will be in the Custodians discretion and (ii) the Custodian reserves the right to amend the interest rate applicable to any currency in respect of which the Custodian pays interest. |
In connection with the foregoing and to the extent a Fund maintains cash deposits, intra-day or otherwise, of a global separate account at the Custodians London Branch, the Trust acknowledges and agrees that deposit accounts maintained at foreign branches of United States banks (including, if applicable, accounts in which customer funds for the purchase of securities are held on and after contractual settlement date), are not payable at any office of The Northern Trust Company in the United States; are not insured by the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; may not be guaranteed by any local or foreign governmental authority; are unsecured general credit liabilities; and in the event of the Custodians insolvency, may be subordinated in priority of payment to deposits payable in the United States. Therefore, beneficial owners of such foreign branch deposits may be unsecured creditors of The Northern Trust Company. Deposit account balances that are owned by United States residents are expected to be maintained in an aggregate amount of at least $100,000 or the equivalent in other currencies.
(c) |
The Trust further acknowledges and agrees that cash deposits maintained at any of the Custodians foreign branches are payable only in the currency in which an applicable deposit is denominated, are payable only on the Trusts demand at the branch where the deposit is maintained, and are not payable at any of the Custodians offices in the United States. The Custodian does not promise or guarantee in any manner any such payment in the United States. |
The Trust further acknowledges and agrees that foreign branch deposits are subject to cross-border risk. The Custodian will have no obligation to make payment of foreign branch deposits if and to the extent that the Custodian is prevented from doing so by reason of applicable law or regulation or any Sovereign Risk event affecting the foreign branch or the currency in which the applicable deposit is denominated. Sovereign Risk for this purpose means nationalization, expropriation, devaluation, revaluation, confiscation, seizure, cancellation, destruction or similar action by any governmental authority, de facto or de jure; or enactment, promulgation, imposition or enforcement by
Page 11
any such governmental authority of currency restrictions, exchange controls, taxes, levies or other charges affecting the property rights of persons who are not residents of the affected jurisdiction; or acts of war, terrorism, insurrection or revolution; or any other act or event beyond the Custodians control.
12. |
PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS OR DISTRIBUTIONS. |
(a) |
In the event that the Board of Trustees of the Trust (or a committee thereof) authorizes the declaration of dividends or distributions with respect to a Fund, an Authorized Person shall provide the Custodian with Instructions specifying the record date and the date of payment of such distribution and the total amount payable to the Transfer Agent or its designee on such payment date. |
(b) |
Upon the payment date specified in such Instructions, the Custodian shall pay the total amount payable to the Transfer Agent or its designee out of the moneys specifically allocated to and held for the account of the appropriate Fund. |
13. |
SALE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES. |
(a) |
Whenever a Fund shall sell any Shares, such Fund shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Custodian an Instruction specifying the name of the Fund whose Shares were sold and the amount to be received by the Custodian for the sale of such Shares. |
(b) |
Upon receipt of such amount from the Transfer Agent or its designee, the Custodian shall credit such money to the separate account of the Fund specified in the Instruction described in paragraph (a) above. |
(c) |
Upon issuance of any Shares in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 13, the Custodian shall pay all original issue or other taxes required to be paid in connection with such issuance upon the receipt of an Instruction specifying the amount to be paid. |
(d) |
Except as provided hereafter, whenever any Shares are redeemed, the Trust shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Custodian an Instruction specifying the name of the Fund whose Shares were redeemed and the total amount to be paid for the Shares redeemed. |
(e) |
Upon receipt of an Instruction described in paragraph (d) above, the Custodian shall pay to the Transfer Agent (or such other person as the Transfer Agent directs) the total amount specified in such Instruction. Such payment shall be made from the separate account of the Fund specified in such Instruction. |
14. |
INDEBTEDNESS. |
(a) |
The relevant Fund or its designee will cause to be delivered to the Custodian by any bank (excluding the Custodian) from which such Fund borrows money, using Securities as collateral, a notice or undertaking in the form currently employed by any such bank setting forth the amount which such bank will loan to such Fund against delivery of a stated amount of collateral. The relevant Fund shall promptly deliver to the Custodian an Instruction stating with respect to each such borrowing: (1) the name of the Fund for which the borrowing is to be made; (2) the name of the bank; (3) the amount and terms of the borrowing, which may be set forth by incorporating by reference an attached |
Page 12
promissory note, duly endorsed by the Fund, or other loan agreement; (4) the time and date, if known, on which the loan is to be entered into (the borrowing date); (5) the date on which the loan becomes due and payable; (6) the total amount payable to the Fund on the borrowing date; (7) the market value of Securities to be delivered as collateral for such loan, including the name of the issuer, the title and the number of shares or the principal amount of any particular Securities; (8) whether the Custodian is to deliver such collateral through the Book-Entry System or a Depository; and (9) a statement that such loan is in conformance with the 1940 Act and the Prospectus. |
(b) |
Upon receipt of the Instruction referred to in paragraph (a) above, the Custodian shall deliver on the borrowing date the specified collateral and the executed promissory note, if any, against delivery by the lending bank of the total amount of the loan payable; provided that the same conforms to the total amount payable as set forth in the Instruction. The Custodian may, at the option of the lending bank, keep such collateral in its possession, but such collateral shall be subject to all rights therein given the lending bank by virtue of any promissory note or loan agreement. The Custodian shall deliver as additional collateral in the manner directed by the Trust from time to time such Securities specifically allocated to such Fund as may be specified in the Instruction to collateralize further any transaction described in this Section 14. The Trust shall cause all Securities released from collateral status to be returned directly to the Custodian, and the Custodian shall receive from time to time such return of collateral as may be tendered to it. In the event that the Trust fails to specify in such Instruction all of the information required by this Section 14, the Custodian shall not be under any obligation to deliver any Securities. Collateral returned to the Custodian shall be held hereunder as it was prior to being used as collateral. |
15. |
CORPORATE ACTION. |
(a) |
Whenever the Custodian or any Sub-Custodian receives information concerning Securities held for a Fund which requires discretionary action by the beneficial owner of the Securities (other than a proxy), such as subscription rights, bond issues, stock repurchase plans and rights offerings, or legal notices or other material intended to be transmitted to Securities holders (Corporate Actions), the Custodian will give the Trust or its designee notice of such Corporate Actions to the extent that the Custodians central corporate actions department has actual knowledge of a Corporate Action in time to notify the Trust. |
(b) |
The Custodian shall act on Corporate Actions solely as directed by the Trust or its designee. If a Fund receives a distribution of rights, the Custodian shall hold to expiration, sell or exercise such rights solely as directed by the Trust or its designee. If a corporation whose common stock shares are held in the Fund declares a dividend in such stock, and payment of such dividend results in a fractional share, the Custodian shall promptly sell such fraction in any global market where such fractional share is not permitted. |
(c) |
The Custodian will deliver proxies to the Trust or its designated agent pursuant to special arrangements which may have been agreed to in writing between the parties hereto. Such proxies shall be executed in the appropriate nominee name relating to Securities registered in the name of such nominee but without indicating the manner in which such proxies are to be voted; and where bearer Securities are involved, proxies will be delivered in accordance with an applicable Instruction, if any. |
Page 13
16. |
PERSONS HAVING ACCESS TO THE FUNDS. |
(a) |
Neither the Trust nor any officer, director, employee or agent of the Trust, the Funds investment adviser, or any sub-investment adviser, shall have physical access to the assets of any Fund held by the Custodian or any Sub-Custodian or be authorized or permitted to withdraw any investments of a Fund, nor shall the Custodian or any Sub-Custodian deliver any assets of a Fund to any such person. No officer, director, employee or agent of the Custodian who holds any similar position with a Funds investment adviser, with any sub-investment adviser of a Fund or with a Fund shall have access to the assets of any Fund. |
(b) |
Nothing in this Section 16 shall prohibit any Authorized Person from giving Instructions to the Custodian so long as such Instructions do not result in delivery of or access to assets of a Fund prohibited by paragraph (a) of this Section 16. |
(c) |
The Custodian represents that it maintains a system that is reasonably designed to prevent unauthorized persons from having access to the assets that it holds (by any means) for its customers. |
17. |
CONCERNING THE CUSTODIAN. |
(a) |
Scope of Services. The Custodian shall be obligated to perform only such services as are set forth in this Agreement or expressly contained in an Instruction given to the Custodian which is not contrary to the provisions of this Agreement. |
(b) |
Standard of Care. |
1. |
The Custodian will use reasonable care, prudence and diligence with respect to its obligations under this Agreement and the safekeeping of property of the Funds. The Custodian shall be liable to, and shall indemnify and hold harmless, the Trust and the Funds from and against any loss which shall occur as the result of the failure of the Custodian or a Sub-Custodian to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence with respect to their respective obligations under this Agreement and the safekeeping of such property. The determination of whether the Custodian or Sub-Custodian has exercised reasonable care, prudence and diligence in connection with their obligations under this Agreement shall be made in light of prevailing standards applicable to professional custodians in the jurisdiction in which such custodial services are performed. In the event of any loss to the Trust and the Funds by reason of the failure of the Custodian or a Sub-Custodian to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence, the Custodian shall be liable to the Trust and the Funds only to the extent of the Trusts and the Funds direct damages and expenses, which damages, for purposes of property only, shall be determined based on the market value of the property which is the subject of the loss at the date of discovery of such loss and without reference to any special condition or circumstances. |
2. |
The Custodian will not be responsible for any act, omission or default of, or for the solvency of, any central securities depository or clearing agency. |
Page 14
3. |
The Custodian will not be responsible for any act, omission or default of, or for the solvency of, any broker or agent (not referred to in paragraph (b)(2) above) which it or a Sub-Custodian appoints and uses unless such appointment and use is made or done negligently or in bad faith. In the event such an appointment and use is made or done negligently or in bad faith, the Custodian shall be liable to the Trust and the Funds only for direct damages and expenses (determined in the manner described in paragraph (b)(1) above) resulting from such appointment and use and, in the case of any loss due to an act, omission or default of such agent or broker, only to the extent that such loss occurs as a result of the failure of the agent or broker to exercise reasonable care (reasonable care for this purpose to be determined in light of the prevailing standards applicable to agents or brokers, as appropriate, in the jurisdiction where the services are performed). |
4. |
The Custodian shall be entitled to rely, and may act, upon the advice of counsel (who may be counsel for the Trust and the Funds) on any matter in connection with an instruction, direction or request by the Trust or concerning any of the Custodians duties in connection with this Agreement and shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted in good faith and without negligence pursuant to such advice. |
5. |
The Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon any Instruction it receives pursuant to the applicable Sections of this Agreement that it reasonably believes to be genuine and to be from an Authorized Person. In the event that the Custodian receives oral Instructions, the Trust and the Funds or their respective designees shall cause to be delivered to the Custodian, by the close of business on the same day that such oral Instructions were given to the Custodian, written Instructions confirming such oral Instructions, whether by hand delivery, telex or otherwise. The Trust agrees that the fact that no such confirming written Instructions are received by the Custodian shall in no way affect the validity of the transactions or enforceability of the transactions hereby authorized by the Trust. The Trust agrees that the Custodian shall incur no liability to the Trust and the Funds in connection with (i) acting in good faith upon oral Instructions given to the Custodian hereunder; provided such instructions reasonably appear to have been received from an Authorized Person or (ii) deciding in good faith not to act solely upon oral Instructions; provided that the Custodian first contacts the giver of such oral Instructions and requests written confirmation immediately following any such decision not to act. |
6. |
The Custodian shall supply the Trust and the Funds or their designees with such daily information regarding the cash and Securities positions and activity of each Fund as the Custodian and the Trust or its designee shall from time to time agree. It is understood that such information will not be audited by the Custodian and the Custodian represents that such information will be the best information then available to the Custodian. The Custodian shall have no responsibility whatsoever for the pricing of Securities, accruing for income, valuing the effect of Corporate Actions, or for the failure of the Trust or its designee to reconcile differences between the information supplied by the Custodian and information obtained by the Trust or its designee from other sources, including but not limited to pricing vendors and a Funds investment adviser. Subject to the foregoing, to the extent that any miscalculation by the Trust or its designee of a Funds net asset value is attributable to the willful misconduct, bad faith or negligence of the Custodian (including any Sub-Custodian) in supplying or omitting to supply the Trust or its designee with information as aforesaid, the Custodian shall be liable to the Trust and the Funds for any resulting loss (subject to such de minimis rule of change in value as the Board of Trustees may from time to time adopt). |
Page 15
(c) |
Limit of Duties. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Custodian shall be under no duty or obligation to inquire into, and shall not be liable for: |
1. |
The validity of the issue of any Securities purchased by any Fund, the legality of the purchase thereof, or the propriety of the amount specified by the Trust or its designee for payment therefor; |
2. |
The legality of the sale of any Securities by any Fund or the propriety of the amount of consideration for which the same are sold; |
3. |
The legality of the issue or sale of any Shares, or the sufficiency of the amount to be received therefor; |
4. |
The legality of the redemption of any Shares, or the propriety of the amount to be paid therefor; |
5. |
The legality of the declaration or payment of any dividend or distribution by the Trust; or |
6. |
The legality of any borrowing. |
(d) |
Blanket Bond. The Custodian need not maintain any insurance for the exclusive benefit of the Trust, but hereby warrants that as of the date of this Agreement it is maintaining a bankers Blanket Bond and hereby agrees to notify the Trust in the event that such bond is canceled or otherwise lapses. |
(e) |
Further Limitation of Duties. Consistent with and without limiting the language contained in Section 17(b), it is specifically acknowledged that the Custodian shall have no duty or responsibility to: |
1. |
Question any Instruction or make any suggestions to the Trust or an Authorized Person regarding any Instruction; |
2. |
Supervise or make recommendations with respect to investments or the retention of Securities; |
3. |
Subject to Section 17(b)(3) hereof, evaluate or report to the Trust or an Authorized Person regarding the financial condition of any broker, agent or other party to which Securities are delivered or payments are made pursuant to this Agreement; or |
4. |
Review or reconcile trade confirmations received from brokers. |
(f) |
Amounts Due from or to Transfer Agent. The Custodian shall not be under any duty or obligation to take action to effect collection of any amount due to any Fund from the Transfer Agent or its designee nor to take any action to effect payment or distribution by the Transfer Agent or its designee of any amount paid by the Custodian to the Transfer Agent in accordance with this Agreement. |
Page 16
(g) |
No Duty to Ascertain Authority. The Custodian shall not be under any duty or obligation to ascertain whether any Securities at any time delivered to or held by it for a Fund are such as may properly be held by such Fund under the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation and the Prospectus. |
(h) |
Indemnification. The Trust and the Funds each agree to indemnify and hold the Custodian harmless from all loss, cost, taxes, charges, assessments, claims, and liabilities (including, without limitation, liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the 1940 Act and state or foreign securities laws) and expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees and disbursements) arising directly or indirectly from any action taken or omitted by the Custodian (i) at the request or on the direction of or in reliance on the advice of the Trust or in reasonable reliance upon the Prospectus or (ii) upon an Instruction; provided, that the foregoing indemnity shall not apply to any loss, cost, tax, charge, assessment, claim, liability or expense to the extent the same is attributable to the Custodians or any Sub-Custodians negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith or reckless disregard of duties and obligations under this Agreement or any other agreement relating to the custody of Fund property. |
(i) |
Taxes. The Trust agrees to hold the Custodian harmless from any liability or loss resulting from the imposition or assessment of any taxes or other governmental charges on a Fund. |
(j) |
Custodian Not Liable for Certain Losses. Without limiting the foregoing, the Custodian shall not be liable for any loss which results from: |
1. |
the general risk of investing; |
2. |
subject to Section 17(b) hereof, investing or holding property in a particular country including, but not limited to, losses resulting from nationalization, expropriation or other governmental actions; regulation of the banking or securities industry; currency restrictions, devaluations or fluctuations; and market conditions which prevent the orderly execution of securities transactions or affect the value of property held pursuant to this Agreement; or |
3. |
consequential, special or punitive damages for any act or failure to act under any provision of this Agreement, even if advised of the possibility thereof. |
(k) |
Force Majeure. No party shall be liable to the other for any delay in performance, or non- performance, of any obligation hereunder to the extent that the same is due to forces beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to delays, errors or interruptions caused by the other party or third parties, any industrial, juridical, governmental, civil or military action, acts of terrorism, insurrection or revolution, nuclear fusion, fission or radiation, failure or fluctuation in electrical power, heat, light, air conditioning or telecommunications equipment, or acts of God. |
(l) |
Inspection of Books and Records. The Custodian shall create and maintain all records relating to its activities and obligations under this Agreement in such manner as will meet the obligations of the Trust under the 1940 Act, with particular attention to Section 31 thereof and Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 thereunder, and under applicable federal and state laws. All such records shall be the property of the Trust and shall at all times during regular business hours of the Custodian be open for inspection by duly authorized |
Page 17
officers, employees and agents of the Trust and by the appropriate employees of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Custodian shall, at the Trusts request, supply the Trust with a tabulation of Securities and shall, when requested to do so by the Trust and for such compensation as shall be agreed upon between the Trust and the Custodian, include certificate numbers in such tabulations. |
(m) |
Accounting Control Report. The Custodian shall provide, promptly, upon request of the Trust, such reports as are available concerning the internal accounting controls and financial strength of the Custodian. |
18. |
TERM AND TERMINATION. |
(a) |
This Agreement shall become effective on the date first set forth above (the Effective Date) and shall continue in effect thereafter for an initial two (2) year period from that date, unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 18(b) or Section 18(c). Unless terminated earlier, the Agreement shall remain in full force from year to year thereafter, subject to annual review by the Board. |
(b) |
This Agreement may be terminated at any time by either party by providing the other party with at least ninety (90) days written notice of termination, specifying the date of such termination. |
(c) |
Either of the parties hereto may terminate this Agreement immediately upon notice to the other party (the defaulting party) for cause. For purposes of this Agreement, cause shall mean (a) a material breach of this Agreement by the defaulting party that has not been remedied for thirty (30) days following written notice of such breach from the non-breaching party; or (b) a receiver, receiver and manager, examiner or liquidator is appointed by the defaulting party, or the defaulting party makes any composition or arrangement with its creditors. |
(d) |
Upon the date set forth in such notice under Section 18(b) or Section 18(c), this Agreement shall terminate to the extent specified in such notice, and the Custodian shall, upon receipt of a notice of acceptance by a successor custodian, deliver directly to the successor custodian all Securities and moneys then held by the Custodian and specifically allocated to the Fund or Funds specified, after deducting all fees, expenses and other amounts for the payment or reimbursement of which it shall then be entitled with respect to such Fund or Funds. If the Trust fails to designate a successor custodian with respect to any Fund, the Trust shall, upon the date specified in the notice of termination of this Agreement and upon the delivery by the Custodian of all Securities (other than Securities held in the Book-Entry System which cannot be delivered to the Trust) and moneys of such Fund, be deemed to be its own custodian and the Custodian shall thereby be relieved of all duties and responsibilities pursuant to this Agreement, other than the duty with respect to Securities held in the Book-Entry System which cannot be delivered to the Trust. The Trust shall also pay the Custodian such compensation and any out-of-pocket or other reimbursable expenses which may become due or payable under the terms hereof as of the date of termination or after the date that the provision of services ceases, whichever is later. |
Page 18
19. |
CONFIDENTIALITY. |
(a) |
Confidential Information means any information, correspondence, data, documents, reports, projections, forecasts, statements, records and accounts, whether in written, pictorial, oral, computer printout and other forms, databases, computer programs, screen formats, screen designs, report formats, interactive design techniques, and other related information all of a confidential nature furnished to a party by the other party, for the purposes of this Agreement. |
(b) |
In connection with the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, each party may obtain certain Confidential Information of the other party and each party agrees that it shall use reasonable precautions in accordance with its established policies and procedures to keep such Confidential Information confidential; provided, however, that (i) a party may disclose Confidential Information with the other partys prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) and (ii) any of such Confidential Information may be disclosed to the other partys affiliates or to such other partys or its affiliates directors, officers, employees, advisors or agents who need to know such information in order for such other party to be able to perform its duties under this Agreement (Representatives) (it being understood that such Representatives shall be informed of the confidential nature of such information and shall be directed to treat such information in accordance with the terms of this Agreement). The above prohibition of disclosure shall not apply to the extent that the Transfer Agent must disclose such data to its subcontractor or the Trust agent for purposes of providing services under this Agreement. |
(c) |
Other than as permitted herein, each party shall be permitted to disclose the Confidential Information to the extent, and only to such extent, required by law or regulation or requested by any governmental agency or other regulatory authority or in connection with any legal proceedings after (i) promptly notifying the other party of such requirement in order to provide such other party with the opportunity to pursue legal or other action to prevent the release of such Confidential Information and (ii) receiving permission for the disclosure from such other party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, notification to the other party shall not be required in the event that such disclosure is requested by a regulatory authority with supervisory authority over the disclosing party or is prohibited by applicable law or legal process. |
(d) |
For purposes of this Agreement, Confidential Information does not include: (i) information that is or becomes publicly available other than as a result of disclosure by either party or its Representatives in violation of this Agreement, (ii) was within a partys possession prior to its being furnished pursuant hereto or becomes available on a non-confidential basis from a source other than either party or its Representatives, or (iii) was independently developed by the receiving party. |
20. |
NOTICES. |
Any notice required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed effective on the date of personal delivery (by private messenger, courier service or otherwise) or upon confirmed receipt of telex or facsimile, whichever occurs first, or upon receipt if by mail to the parties at the following address (or such other address as a party may specify by notice to the other):
If to the Trust:
Datum One Trust
50 LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60603
Attention: Datum One Trust
Page 19
If to the Custodian:
The Northern Trust Company
50 LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60603
Attention: Head of GFS North America
21. |
FORCE MAJEURE. |
Neither party shall not be responsible or liable for any harm, loss or damage suffered by the Trust, its shareholders or third parties or for any failure or delay in performance of either partys obligations under this Agreement arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond the relevant partys control, including, but not limited to, delays, errors or interruptions caused by the Trust or third parties, any industrial, juridical, governmental, civil or military action, acts of terrorism, insurrection or revolution, nuclear fusion, fission or radiation, failure or fluctuation in electrical power, heat, light, air conditioning or telecommunications equipment, or acts of God (collectively, force majeure). In the event of force majeure, any resulting harm, loss, damage, failure or delay by either party will not give the other party the right to terminate this Agreement. The Custodian agrees to act in accordance with its Business Continuity Plan in effect from time to time, when it is commercially reasonable to do so.
22. |
ASSIGNABILITY. |
This Agreement shall not be assigned by any of the parties hereto without the prior consent in writing of the other party, except that the Custodian may assign this Agreement to a successor of all or a substantial portion of its business, or to a party controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Custodian.
23. |
NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. |
Except as explicitly stated elsewhere in this Agreement, nothing under this Agreement shall be construed to give any rights or benefits in this Agreement to anyone other than the Custodian and the Trust, and the duties and responsibilities undertaken pursuant to this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Custodian and the Trust. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns.
24. |
PRIVACY REQUIREMENTS |
(a) |
The Custodian shall not collect, retain, use, sell, or disclose Personal Information (as defined in this Section) except as necessary to perform its responsibilities pursuant to the Agreement or as required by law. The Custodian shall not disclose Personal Information to any third party for monetary or other valuable consideration or retain, use, or disclose Personal information outside of the direct business relationship between the Custodian and the Trust. |
Page 20
(b) |
The Custodian has implemented, and shall maintain throughout the term of the Agreement, reasonable security procedures and practices appropriate to the nature of the Personal Information to protect the Personal Information. |
(c) |
Personal information is defined for purposes of this Section 14 as information about California residents (a consumer) that identifies, relates to, describes, is reasonably capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked, directly or indirectly, with a particular consumer or household (Personal Information). |
25. |
MISCELLANEOUS. |
(a) |
Authorized Persons. Annexed hereto as Schedule A is a certification signed by two of the present officers of the Trust setting forth the names of the present Authorized Persons. The Trust agrees to furnish to the Custodian a new certification in similar form in the event that any such present Authorized Person ceases to be such an Authorized Person or in the event that other or additional Authorized Persons are elected or appointed. Until such new certification is received by the Custodian, the Custodian shall be fully protected in acting under the provisions of this Agreement upon Instructions which the Custodian reasonably believes were given by an Authorized Person, as identified in the last delivered certification. Unless such certification specifically limits the authority of an Authorized Person to specific matters or requires that the approval of another Authorized Person is required, the Custodian shall be under no duty to inquire into the right of such person, acting alone, to give any instructions whatsoever under this Agreement. |
(b) |
Amendments. This Agreement may be modified or amended from time to time by mutual written agreement between the parties. No provision of this Agreement may be changed, discharged, or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the change, discharge or termination is sought. |
(c) |
Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, the balance of the Agreement shall remain in effect, and if any provision is inapplicable to any person or circumstance it shall nevertheless remain applicable to all other persons and circumstances. |
(d) |
Waiver. The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver nor shall it deprive such party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to the term of any term of this Agreement. Any waiver must be in writing signed by the waiving party. |
(e) |
Headings. All section headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, do not form a part of this Agreement and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. |
(f) |
Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois. |
(g) |
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall, together, constitute only one instrument. Any such counterpart, to the extent delivered by means of a facsimile machine or by .pdf, .tif, .gif, .jpg or similar attachment to electronic mail, shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original executed counterpart. |
Page 21
(h) |
Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties and supersedes all prior agreements and understanding between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof. |
(i) |
Personal Liability. The Trust and the Custodian agree that the obligations of the Trust and the Funds under this Agreement shall not be binding upon or any member of the Board of Trustees or any shareholder, nominee, officer, employee or agent, whether past, present or future, of the Trust, any Fund or other series of the Trust individually nor to the assets of any other series of the Trust, but are binding only upon the assets and property of the appropriate Fund(s) thereof. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been duly authorized by Trust and signed by an authorized officer of the Trust, acting as such, but neither such authorization by the Trust nor such execution and delivery by such officer shall be deemed to have been made by any member of the Board of Trustees or by any officer or shareholder of the Funds individually or to impose any liability on any of them personally, but shall bind only the assets and property of the appropriate Fund(s) thereof. |
[Signature Page Follows]
Page 22
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective representatives duly authorized as of the day and year first above written.
DATUM ONE SERIES TRUST | ||
By: | /s/ Barbara J. Nelligan | |
Name: | Barbara J. Nelligan | |
Title: | President |
The undersigned, Toni M. Bugni, does hereby certify that he/she is the duly elected, qualified and acting Secretary of Datum One Series Trust (the Trust) and further certifies that the person whose signature appears above is a duly elected, qualified and acting officer of the Trust with full power and authority to execute this Custody Agreement on behalf of the Trust and to take such other actions and execute such other documents as may be necessary to effectuate this Agreement.
/s/ Toni M. Bugni |
Secretary |
Datum One Series Trust |
THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY | ||
By: | /s/ Scott A. Denning | |
Name: | Scott A. Denning | |
Title: | Senior Vice President |
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SCHEDULE A
CERTIFICATION OF AUTHORIZED PERSONS
Pursuant to Sections 1(b) and 24(a) of the Agreement, the undersigned officers of Datum One Series Trust hereby certify that the person(s) whose name(s) appear(s) below have been duly authorized by the Board of Trustees to give Instructions on behalf of the Trust.
NAME
Barbara J. Nelligan
Jack P. Huntington
Tracy L. Dotolo
Toni M. Bugni
Matthew J. Broucek
Certified as of the 3rd day of March, 2020:
OFFICER: | OFFICER: | |||
/s/ Barbara J. Nelligan |
/s/ Toni M. Bugni |
|||
(Signature) | (Signature) | |||
Barbara J. Nelligan | Toni M. Bugni | |||
(Name) | (Name) | |||
President | Secretary | |||
(Title) | (Title) |
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SCHEDULE B
LIST OF FUNDS
Fund Name |
Investment Manager |
Fees |
||
Polar Capital Emerging Market Stars Fund |
Polar Capital LLP | As set forth in Part 1 and Part 2 Option A of Schedule C (Fee Schedule). |
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SCHEDULE D
(Countries for which Custodian shall not have responsibility under
Section 3A for managing foreign custody arrangements)
As identified as part of the Global Networks of Markets & Subcustodians available on Atlas Market Interactive
Page 26
Exhibit (h)(i)
TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICES AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
DATUM ONE SERIES TRUST
AND
THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section | Page | |||||
1. | TERMS OF APPOINTMENT AND DUTIES | 3 | ||||
2. | THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATORS FOR DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLANS | 6 | ||||
3. | FEES AND EXPENSES | 7 | ||||
4. | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE TRANSFER AGENT | 8 | ||||
5. | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE TRUST | 9 | ||||
6. | WIRE TRANSFER OPENING GUIDELINES/ARTICLE 4A OF THE UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE | 9 | ||||
7. | DATA ACCESS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION | 10 | ||||
8. | INDEMNIFICATION | 12 | ||||
9. | STANDARD OF CARE; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY | 13 | ||||
10. | CONFIDENTIALITY | 14 | ||||
11. | COVENANTS OF THE TRUST AND THE TRANSFER AGENT | 15 | ||||
12. | TERM AND TERMINATION | 15 | ||||
13. | NOTICES | 16 | ||||
14. | FORCE MAJEURE | 17 | ||||
15. | ASSIGNABILITY; SUBCONTRACTORS | 17 | ||||
16. | NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES | 18 | ||||
17. | MISCELLANEOUS | 18 | ||||
18. | ADDITIONAL FUNDS | 19 | ||||
19. | RELEASE | 19 | ||||
SCHEDULE A FUND LIST | 21 | |||||
SCHEDULE B FEES | 22 | |||||
SCHEDULE C AML DELEGATION | 24 | |||||
SCHEDULE D THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR PROCEDURES | 26 |
TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of March 3, 2020 (this Agreement), by and between Datum One Series Trust (the Trust), a Massachusetts business trust, acting on its own behalf and on behalf of each of the series of the Trust listed in Schedule A hereto, as it may be amended from time to time (each, a Fund, and collectively as the Funds), and The Northern Trust Company, a Illinois State Bank having its principal office and place of business at 50 S. LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603 (the Transfer Agent).
WHEREAS, the Trust is a Massachusetts business trust and is registered as an open-end, management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act); and
WHEREAS, the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, desires to appoint the Transfer Agent as its transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, registrar and agent in connection with certain other activities, and the Transfer Agent desires to accept such appointment.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. |
TERMS OF APPOINTMENT AND DUTIES. |
1.1 |
Transfer Agency Services. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, hereby employs and appoints the Transfer Agent to act as, and the Transfer Agent agrees to act as its transfer agent for each Funds authorized and issued shares of beneficial interest (Shares), dividend disbursing agent, registrar and agent in connection with any accumulation, open-account or similar plan provided to the shareholders of each of the respective Funds of the Trust (Shareholders) and set out in the currently effective prospectus(es) and statement(s) of additional information (prospectus) of the Trust on behalf of the Funds, including without limitation any periodic investment plan or periodic withdrawal program. In accordance with procedures established from time to time by agreement between the Trust on behalf of the Funds, as applicable, and the Transfer Agent, the Transfer Agent agrees that it will perform the following services: |
(a) |
Receive for acceptance, orders for the purchase of Shares; |
(b) |
Pursuant to purchase orders, issue the appropriate number of Shares and hold such Shares in the appropriate Shareholder account; |
(c) |
Receive for acceptance redemption requests and redemption directions and effect redemptions. Deliver the appropriate instructions thereof to the custodian. |
(d) |
In respect to the transactions in items (a), (b) and (c) above, the Transfer Agent shall execute transactions directly only with those broker-dealers approved in advance in writing by the Trust or its authorized principal underwriter; |
(e) |
At the appropriate time as and when it receives monies paid to it from the custodian with respect to any redemption, pay over or cause to be paid over in the appropriate manner such monies as instructed by the redeeming Shareholders; |
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(f) |
Effect transfers of Shares by the registered owners thereof upon receipt of appropriate instructions; |
(g) |
Prepare and transmit payments for dividends and distributions declared by the Trust on behalf of the applicable Fund; |
(h) |
Issue replacement checks and place stop orders on original checks based on a Shareholders representation that a check was not received or was lost. Such stop orders and replacements will be deemed to have been made at the request of the Trust, and the Trust shall be responsible for all losses or claims resulting from such replacement, provided that the Transfer Agent acted in good faith and without negligence or willful misconduct; |
(i) |
Maintain records of account for and advise the Trust and its Shareholders as to the foregoing; |
(j) |
Record the issuance of Shares of the Trust and maintain pursuant to SEC Rule 17Ad-10(e) a record of the total number of Shares of the Trust which are authorized, based upon data provided to it by the Trust, and issued and outstanding. The Transfer Agent shall also provide the Trust on a regular basis with the total number of Shares which are authorized and issued and outstanding and shall have no obligation, when recording the issuance of Shares, to monitor the issuance of such Shares or to take cognizance of any laws relating to the issue or sale of such Shares, which functions shall be the sole responsibility of the Trust; |
(k) |
Accept any information, records, documents, data, certificates, transaction requests by machine readable input, facsimile, CRT data entry, electronic instructions, including e-mail communications, which have been prepared, maintained or performed by the Trust or any other person or firm on behalf of the Trust or from broker-dealers of record or third-party administrators on behalf of individual Shareholders. With respect to transaction requests, the Transfer Agent may rely on the Trust to ensure that the original source documentation is in good order, which includes compliance with Rule 22c-1 under the 1940 Act, as amended, and the Trust will require the broker-dealers or TPAs to retain such documentation. E-mail exchanges on routine matters may be made directly with the Trusts contact at the Transfer Agent. The Transfer Agent will not act on any e-mail communications coming to it directly from Shareholders requesting transactions, including, but not limited to, monetary transactions, change of ownership, or beneficiary changes; |
(l) |
Maintain such bank accounts as the Transfer Agent shall deem necessary to the performance of its duties hereunder, including but not limited to, the processing of Share purchases and redemptions and the payment of Trust dividends; |
(m) |
Report abandoned property to state authorities as authorized by the Trust in accordance with the policies and procedures agreed upon by the Trust and the Transfer Agent; provided that the Trust agrees to pay the Transfer Agent for the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses associated with such services; |
(n) |
Provide coordination and assistance with respect to proxy statements of the Trust and Shareholder meetings; |
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(o) |
Research and provide Shareholders with their account information through various means, including but not limited to, telephone calls and correspondence; |
(p) |
Provide the Trust with periodic reports on trading activity in the Trust based on parameters provided to the Transfer Agent by the Trust, as amended from time to time. The services to be performed by the Transfer Agent for the Trust hereunder will be ministerial and/or administrative only and the Transfer Agent shall have no direct responsibility for monitoring or reviewing market timing activities; |
(q) |
Account for and administer the redemption fees if applicable on the redemption and exchange of Shares in accordance with written procedures agreed upon with the Trust; and |
(r) |
Answer telephone inquiries on such dates and times as the parties shall mutually agree. Such inquiries may include requests for information on account set-up and other general questions regarding operation of the Funds. |
1.2 |
Additional Services. In addition to, and neither in lieu nor in contravention of, the services set forth in the above Section 1.1, the Transfer Agent shall perform the following services: |
(a) |
Other Services. Perform the other services of a transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, registrar and, as relevant, agent in connection with accumulation, open-account or similar plan (including without limitation any periodic investment plan or periodic withdrawal program), including but not limited to: maintaining all Shareholder accounts, mailing Shareholder reports, prospectuses and, upon request, statements of additional information to current Shareholders, withholding taxes on U.S. resident and non-resident alien accounts, preparing and filing U.S. Treasury Department Forms 1099 and other appropriate forms required with respect to dividends and distributions by federal authorities for all Shareholders, preparing and mailing confirmation forms and statements of account to Shareholders for all purchases and redemptions of Shares and other confirmable transactions in Shareholder accounts, preparing and mailing activity statements for Shareholders, providing Shareholder account information, processing of 12b-1 fees upon authorization of the distributors, coordinate with NSCC, communicating with third-party financial intermediaries on behalf of the funds, tracking and billing in connection with as of gain/loss and providing the Trust with all such reports as the Trust or its agents may reasonably require and as the Transfer Agency system may support in accordance with the fee arrangement for such reports as set forth on Schedule B hereto. |
(b) |
Control Book (also known as Super Sheet). Maintain a daily record and produce a daily report for the Trust of all transactions and receipts and disbursements of money and securities and deliver a copy of such report for the Trust for each business day to the Trust no later than 10:00 AM Eastern Time on the next business day; |
(c) |
National Securities Clearing Corporation (the NSCC). (i) accept and effectuate the registration and maintenance of accounts through Networking and the purchase, redemption, transfer and exchange of shares in such accounts through Fund/SERV (Networking and Fund/SERV being programs operated by the NSCC on behalf of NSCCs participants, including the Trust), in accordance |
Page 5
with, instructions transmitted to and received by the Transfer Agent by transmission from NSCC on behalf of broker-dealers and banks which have been established by, or in accordance with, instructions of authorized persons, as hereinafter defined on the dealer file maintained by the Transfer Agent; (ii) issue instructions to the Trusts banks for the settlement of transactions between the Trust and NSCC (acting on behalf of its broker-dealer and bank participants); (iii) provide account and transaction information from the Trusts records on the Transfer Agency system in accordance with NSCCs Networking and Fund/SERV rules for those broker-dealers; and (iv) maintain Shareholder accounts on such system through Networking; |
(d) |
New Procedures. New procedures as to who shall provide certain of these services in Section 1 may be established in writing from time to time by agreement between the Trust and the Transfer Agent. The Transfer Agent may at times perform only a portion of these services and the Trust or its agent may perform these services on such Trusts behalf; |
(e) |
Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Delegation. If the Trust elects to delegate to the Transfer Agent certain AML duties under this Agreement, the parties will agree to such duties and terms as stated in the attached schedule (Schedule C entitled AML Delegation) which may be changed from time to time subject to mutual written agreement between the parties. In consideration of the performance of the duties by the Transfer Agent pursuant to Schedule C, the Trust agrees to pay the Transfer Agent the fees set forth on Schedule B hereto; and |
(f) |
Laws and Regulation. The Transfer Agent will take reasonable steps to stay informed of new securities and tax laws and regulations which apply to the Transfer Agents products and services hereunder and will take reasonable steps to update its products and/or services to comply with new securities and tax laws and regulations applicable to its transfer agency business in the time and manner as required by such laws and regulations. |
1.3 |
Fiduciary Accounts. With respect to certain retirement plans or accounts (such as individual retirement accounts (IRAs), Roth IRAs and Coverdell IRAs, such accounts, Fiduciary Accounts), the Transfer Agent, at the request of the Trust, shall arrange for the provision of appropriate prototype plans as well as provide for or arrange for the provision of various services to such plans and/or accounts, which services may include custodial services, account set-up maintenance, and disbursements as well as such other services as the parties hereto shall mutually agree in writing. |
1.4 |
Service Quality. The Transfer Agent shall maintain a quality control process designed to provide a consistent level of quality and timeliness for its call center, correspondence services and transaction processing. |
2. |
THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATORS FOR DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLANS. |
2.1 |
The Trust may decide to make available to certain of its customers, a qualified plan program (the Program) pursuant to which the customers (Employers) may adopt certain plans of deferred compensation (Plan or Plans) for the benefit of the individual Plan participant (the Plan Participant), such Plan(s) being qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code) and administered by third party administrators which may be plan administrators as defined in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (the TPA(s)). |
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2.2 |
In accordance with the procedures established Schedule D hereto, entitled Third Party Administrator Procedures, as may be amended by the Transfer Agent and the Trust from time to time, the Transfer Agent shall: |
(a) |
Treat Shareholder accounts established by the Plans in the name of the Plan trustees, Plans or TPAs as the case may be as omnibus accounts; |
(b) |
Maintain omnibus accounts on its records in the name of the TPA or its designee as the Plan trustee for the benefit of the Plan; and |
(c) |
Perform all services under Section 1 as transfer agent of the Trust and not as a record-keeper for the Plans. |
2.3 |
Transactions identified under Section 2 of this Agreement shall be deemed exception services (Exception Services) when such transactions: |
(a) |
Require the Transfer Agent to use methods and procedures other than those usually employed by the Transfer Agent to perform services under Section 1 of this Agreement. |
(b) |
Involve the provision of information to the Transfer Agent after the commencement of the nightly processing cycle of the Transfer Agency system; or |
(c) |
Require more manual intervention by the Transfer Agent, either in the entry of data or in the modification or amendment of reports generated by the Transfer Agency system than is usually required by non-retirement plans and pre-nightly transactions. |
3. |
FEES AND EXPENSES. |
3.1 |
Fee Schedule. For the performance by the Transfer Agent pursuant to this Agreement, the Trust agrees to pay the Transfer Agent the fees and expenses set forth in the attached fee schedule (Schedule B). |
3.2 |
Out-of-Pocket Expenses. In addition to the fee paid under Section 3.1 above, the Trust agrees to reimburse the Transfer Agent for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including but not limited to audio response, check writing, NSCC, CIP-related database searches, data communications equipment, disaster recovery, escheatment, express mail and delivery services, federal wire charges, forms and production, freight, household tape processing, lost shareholder searches, lost shareholder tracking, manual check pulls, microfiche, network products, postage, offsite storage, P.O. box rental, print/mail services, programming hours, regulatory compliance fee per CUSIP, returned checks, special mailing, statements, confirmations, supplies, tax reporting (federal and state), telephone (telephone and fax lines), transcripts, travel, and year-end processing. In addition, any other reasonable expenses incurred by the Transfer Agent at the request or with the consent of the Trust, will be reimbursed by the Trust. |
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3.3 |
Fulfillment Calls. The parties have agreed that the Transfer Agent shall handle fulfillment calls from individuals responding to Trust mailings. The parties anticipate that the Transfer Agent will receive calls from five percent (5%) or less of the recipients of any Trust mailing, the calculation for which the Trust will provide to the Transfer Agent in good faith. For the first year of this Agreement, the fee for such service is included in the annual fee set forth on Schedule B. After the first year of this Agreement, if the number of literature fulfillment calls being received by the Transfer Agent exceeds five percent (5%) of the recipients of any Trust mailing, additional fees may apply. |
3.4 |
Postage. Postage for mailing of dividends, proxies, Trust reports and other mailings to all Shareholder accounts shall be advanced to the Transfer Agent by the applicable Fund at least seven (7) days prior to the mailing date of such materials. |
3.5 |
Invoices. The Trust agrees to pay all fees and reimbursable expenses within thirty (30) days following the receipt of the respective invoice. |
3.6 |
Late Payments. The Trust is aware that its failure to pay all amounts in a timely fashion so that they will be received by the Transfer Agent on or before the Due Date will give rise to costs not contemplated by this Agreement, including but not limited to carrying, processing, and accounting charges. Accordingly, in the event that during any twelve month period the Trust pays any two (2) or more of its invoices after their respective Due Dates, then the Transfer Agent may charge and the Trust shall pay a late charge for any future invoice paid after the applicable Due Date. In such an event, the Trust shall pay the Transfer Agent interest thereon (from the due date to the date of payment) at a per annum rate equal to one percent (1.0%) plus the Prime Rate (that is, the base rate on corporate loans posted by large domestic banks) published by The Wall Street Journal (or, in the event such rate is not so published, a reasonably equivalent published rate selected in good faith by the Transfer Agent) on the first day of publication during the month when such amount was due. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, such interest rate shall be no greater than permitted under applicable provisions of Illinois law. |
4. |
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE TRANSFER AGENT. |
The Transfer Agent represents and warrants to the Trust that:
4.1 |
It is a banking corporation duly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of Illinois and shall remain so as long as this Agreement is in effect. |
4.2 |
It is duly qualified to carry on its business in each jurisdiction in which it does business where its activities would require such qualification. |
4.3 |
It is empowered under applicable laws and by its Charter and By-Laws to enter into and perform this Agreement. |
4.4 |
It is a transfer agent duly registered as a transfer agent pursuant to Section 17A(c)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) and shall remain so during the term of this Agreement. |
4.5 |
All requisite corporate actions have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement. |
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4.6 |
It shall comply in all material respects with all laws, rules and regulations, including all provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder and all state laws, rules and regulations applicable to its transfer agency business. |
5. |
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE TRUST. |
The Trust represents and warrants to the Transfer Agent that:
5.1 |
It is a business trust duly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. |
5.2 |
It is empowered under applicable law and by its organizational documents to enter into and perform this Agreement. |
5.3 |
All corporate actions required by said organizational documents have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement. |
5.4 |
It is an open-end and diversified management investment company registered under the 1940 Act, as amended. |
5.5 |
A registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended is currently effective and will remain effective, and appropriate state securities law filings have been made and will continue to be made, with respect to all Shares of the Funds being offered for sale excluding Funds that are only registered under the 1940 Act. |
6. |
WIRE TRANSFER OPENING GUIDELINES/ARTICLE 4A OF THE UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE. |
6.1 |
Obligation of Sender. The Transfer Agent is authorized to promptly debit the appropriate Trust account(s) upon the receipt of a payment order in compliance with the designated security procedure (the Security Procedure) chosen for Funds transfer and in the amount of money that the Transfer Agent has been instructed to transfer. The Transfer Agent shall execute payment orders in compliance with the Security Procedure and with the Trusts instructions on the execution date provided that such payment order is received by the customary deadline for processing such a request, unless the payment order specifies a later time. All payment orders and communications received after the customary deadline will be deemed to have been received the next business day. |
6.2 |
Account Numbers. The Transfer Agent shall process all payment orders on the basis of the account number contained in the payment order. In the event of a discrepancy between any name indicated on the payment order and the account number, the account number shall take precedence and govern. |
6.3 |
Rejection. The Transfer Agent reserves the right to decline to process or delay the processing of a payment which (a) is in excess of the collected balance in the account to be charged at the time of the Transfer Agents receipt of such payment order; (b) if initiating such payment order would cause the Transfer Agent, in the Transfer Agents sole judgment, to exceed any volume, aggregate dollar, network time, credit or similar limits which are applicable to the Transfer Agent; or (c) if the Transfer Agent, in good faith, is unable to satisfy itself that the transaction has been properly authorized. |
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6.4 |
Cancellation Amendment. The Transfer Agent shall use reasonable efforts to act on all authorized requests to cancel or amend payment orders received in compliance with the Security Procedure provided that such requests are received in a timely manner affording the Transfer Agent reasonable opportunity to act. However, the Transfer Agent assumes no liability if the request for amendment or cancellation cannot be satisfied, provided that it has used reasonable efforts as set forth above. |
6.5 |
Errors. The Transfer Agent shall assume no responsibility for failure to detect any erroneous payment order provided that the Transfer Agent complies with the payment order instructions as received and the Transfer Agent complies with the Security Procedure. The Security Procedure is established for the purpose of authenticating payment orders only and not for the detection of errors in payment orders. |
6.6 |
Interest. The Transfer Agent shall assume no responsibility for lost interest with respect to the refundable amount of any unauthorized payment order, unless the Transfer Agent is notified of the unauthorized payment order within thirty (30) days of notification by the Transfer Agent of the acceptance of such payment order. |
6.7 |
ACH Credit Entries/Provisional Payments. When the Trust initiates or receives Automated Clearing House credit and debit entries pursuant to these guidelines and the rules of the National Automated Clearing House Association, the Transfer Agent will act as an Originating Depository Financial Institution and/or Receiving Depository Financial Institution, as the case may be, with respect to such entries. Credits given by the Transfer Agent with respect to an ACH credit entry are provisional until the Transfer Agent receives final settlement for such entry from the Federal Reserve Bank. If the Transfer Agent does not receive such final settlement, the Trust agrees that the Transfer Agent shall receive a refund of the amount credited to the Trust in connection with such entry, and the party making payment to the Trust via such entry shall not be deemed to have paid the amount of the entry. |
6.8 |
Confirmation. Confirmation of Transfer Agents execution of payment orders shall be provided in accordance with Article 4A of the Uniform Commercial Code. |
7. |
DATA ACCESS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. |
7.1 |
The Trust acknowledges that the databases, computer programs, screen formats, report formats, interactive design techniques, and documentation manuals furnished to the Trust by the Transfer Agent as part of the Trusts ability to access certain Trust-related data (Client Data) maintained by the Transfer Agent on databases under the control and ownership of the Transfer Agent or other third party (Data Access Services) constitute copyrighted, trade secret, or other proprietary information (collectively, Proprietary Information) of substantial value to the Transfer Agent or other third party. In no event shall Proprietary Information be deemed Client Data. The Trust agrees to treat all Proprietary Information as proprietary to the Transfer Agent or other third party and further agrees that it shall not divulge any Proprietary Information to any person or organization except as may be provided hereunder. Without limiting the foregoing, the Trust agrees for itself and its employees and agents to: |
(a) |
Use such programs and databases (i) solely on the Trusts or the Trusts service providers computers, or (ii) solely from equipment at the location agreed to between the Trust and the Transfer Agent; and (iii) solely in accordance with the Transfer Agents applicable user documentation; |
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(b) |
Refrain from copying or duplicating in any way (other than in the normal course of performing processing on the Trusts computer(s)), the Proprietary Information; |
(c) |
Refrain from obtaining unauthorized access to any portion of the Proprietary Information, and if such access is inadvertently obtained, to inform the Transfer Agent in a timely manner of such fact and dispose of such information in accordance with the Transfer Agents instructions; |
(d) |
Refrain from causing or allowing information transmitted from the Transfer Agents computer to the Trusts computer to be retransmitted to any other computer or other device except as expressly permitted by the Transfer Agent (such permission not to be unreasonably withheld); and |
(e) |
Access only those authorized transactions as agreed to between the Trust and the Transfer Agent. |
7.2 |
Proprietary Information shall not include all or any portion of any of the foregoing items that: (i) are or become publicly available without breach of this Agreement; (ii) are released for general disclosure by a written release by the Transfer Agent; or (iii) are already in the possession of the receiving party at the time of receipt without obligation of confidentiality or breach of this Agreement. |
7.3 |
The Trust acknowledges that its obligation to protect the Transfer Agents or other third partys Proprietary Information is essential to the business interest of the Transfer Agent or other third party and that the disclosure of such Proprietary Information in breach of this Agreement would cause the Transfer Agent immediate, substantial and irreparable harm, the value of which would be extremely difficult to determine. Accordingly, the parties agree that, in addition to any other remedies that may be available in law, equity, or otherwise for the disclosure or use of the Proprietary Information in breach of this Agreement, the Transfer Agent shall be entitled to seek and obtain a temporary restraining order, injunctive relief, or other equitable relief against the continuance of such breach. |
7.4 |
If the Trust notifies the Transfer Agent that any of the Data Access Services do not operate in material compliance with the most recently issued user documentation for such services, the Transfer Agent shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to correct such failure. Organizations from which the Transfer Agent may obtain certain data included in the Data Access Services are solely responsible for the contents of such data and the Trust agrees to make no claim against the Transfer Agent arising out of the contents of such third-party data, including, but not limited to, the accuracy thereof. DATA ACCESS SERVICES AND ALL COMPUTER PROGRAMS AND SOFTWARE SPECIFICATIONS USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH ARE PROVIDED ON AN AS IS, AS AVAILABLE BASIS. THE TRANSFER AGENT EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES EXCEPT THOSE EXPRESSLY STATED HEREIN INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. |
7.5 |
If the transactions available to the Trust include the ability to originate any electronic instructions including in order to (but without limitation): (i) effect the transfer or movement of cash or Shares; (ii) transmit Shareholder information or other information; or (iii) establish new Shareholder accounts, then in such event the Transfer Agent shall be |
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entitled to rely on the validity and authenticity of such instruction without undertaking any further inquiry, the Trust in all cases shall be required to follow all security procedures reasonably established by the Transfer Agent from time to time, and Transfer Agent shall have no liability to the Trust or any Shareholder on account of any such action. |
7.6 |
Each party shall take reasonable efforts to advise its employees of their obligations pursuant to this Section 7. The obligations of this Section shall survive any termination of this Agreement. |
8. |
INDEMNIFICATION. |
8.1 |
The Transfer Agent shall not be responsible for, and the Trust shall indemnify and hold the Transfer Agent, its directors, officers, employees and agents (the Indemnitees) harmless from and against, any and all losses, damages, costs, reasonable attorneys fees and expenses, payments, expenses and liabilities that may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any of the Indemnitees in connection with or arising out of: |
(a) |
The Transfer Agents performance of the services in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; |
(b) |
All actions of the Transfer Agent, its directors, officers, employees, agents or subcontractors required to be taken pursuant to this Agreement, provided that such actions are taken in good faith and without negligence or willful misconduct; |
(c) |
The Trusts lack of good faith, negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement; |
(d) |
The reliance upon, and any subsequent use of or action taken or omitted, by the Transfer Agent, its directors, officers, employees, agents or subcontractors on: (i) any information, records, documents, data, or services, which are received by the Transfer Agent, its directors, officers, employees, agents or subcontractors by machine readable input, facsimile, CRT data entry, electronic instructions, or other similar means authorized by the Trust, and which have been prepared, maintained or performed by the Trust or any other person or firm on behalf of the Trust, including, but not limited to, any broker-dealer, TPA or previous transfer agent; (ii) any instructions or requests of the Trust or any of its officers; (iii) any instructions or opinions of legal counsel with respect to any matter arising in connection with the services to be performed by the Transfer Agent under this Agreement which are provided to the Transfer Agent after consultation with such legal counsel; or (iv) any paper or document, reasonably believed to be genuine, authentic, or signed by the proper person or persons; |
(e) |
The acceptance of e-mail and facsimile transaction requests on behalf of individual Shareholders received from broker-dealers, TPAs or the Trust, and the reliance by the Transfer Agent on the broker-dealer, TPA or the Trust to ensure that the original source documentation is in good order and properly retained; |
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(f) |
The offer or sale of Shares in violation of federal or state securities laws or regulations requiring that such Shares be registered or in violation of any stop order or other determination or ruling by any federal or any state agency with respect to the offer or sale of such Shares (unless such violation results from the Transfer Agents failure to comply with written instructions of the Trust or of any officer of the Trust that no offers or sales be input into the Trusts security holder records or to residents of such state); |
(g) |
The negotiation and processing of any checks, wires and ACH payments including without limitation for deposit into the Trusts demand deposit account maintained by the Transfer Agent, provided that the Transfer Agent has acted in good faith and without negligence or willful misconduct; |
(h) |
Upon the Trusts request entering into any agreements required by the NSCC for the transmission of Trust or Shareholder data through the NSCC clearing systems; or |
(i) |
The Trusts use of the Data Access Services furnished by the Transfer Agent or any other third party including without limitation the Trusts origination of electronic transactions as described in Section 7.5 herein, provided that the Transfer Agent has acted in good faith without negligence or willful misconduct. |
8.2 |
The indemnifications contained hereunder shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
8.3 |
In order that the Indemnification provisions contained in this Section 8 shall apply, upon the assertion of a claim for which the Trust may be required to indemnify the Transfer Agent, the Transfer Agent shall promptly notify the Trust of such assertion, and shall keep the Trust advised with respect to all developments concerning such claim. The Trust shall have the option to participate with the Transfer Agent in the defense of such claim or to defend against said claim in its own name or in the name of the Transfer Agent. The Transfer Agent shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any case in which the Trust may be required to indemnify the Transfer Agent except with the Trusts prior written consent. |
9. |
STANDARD OF CARE; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. |
9.1 |
In the performance of its duties hereunder, the Transfer Agent shall be obligated, as applicable, to exercise the due care and diligence of a professional transfer agent in providing the services called for in this Agreement and in all events shall act in good faith in performing the services provided for under this Agreement, |
9.2 |
The Transfer Agent shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss or expense suffered by the Trust or any Fund in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, except for a loss or expense directly caused by or resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence on the Transfer Agents part in the performance of or from reckless disregard by the Transfer Agent of the obligations and duties specifically set forth in this Agreement. The Transfer Agent shall not be liable for any special, indirect, incidental or consequential damages of any kind whatsoever (including, without limitation, attorneys fees) under any provision of this Agreement. |
9.3 |
The parties agree that any encoding or payment processing errors shall be governed by this standard of care and Section 4-209 of the Uniform Commercial Code is superseded by this Section 9 of this Agreement. This standard of care also shall apply to Exception Services, as defined in Section 2.3 herein, but such application shall take into consideration the manual processing involved in, and time sensitive nature of, Exception Services. |
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10. |
CONFIDENTIALITY. |
10.1 |
Confidential Information means any information, correspondence, data, documents, reports, projections, forecasts, statements, records and accounts, whether in written, pictorial, oral, computer printout and other forms, databases, computer programs, screen formats, screen designs, report formats, interactive design techniques, and other related information all of a confidential nature furnished to a party by the other party, for the purposes of this Agreement. |
10.2 |
In connection with the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, each party may obtain certain Confidential Information of the other party and each party agrees that it shall use reasonable precautions in accordance with its established policies and procedures to keep such Confidential Information confidential; provided, however, that (i) a party may disclose Confidential Information with the other partys prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) and (ii) any of such Confidential Information may be disclosed to the other partys affiliates or to such other partys or its affiliates directors, officers, employees, advisors or agents who need to know such information in order for such other party to be able to perform its duties under this Agreement (Representatives) (it being understood that such Representatives shall be informed of the confidential nature of such information and shall be directed to treat such information in accordance with the terms of this Agreement). The above prohibition of disclosure shall not apply to the extent that the Transfer Agent must disclose such data to its subcontractor or the Trust agent for purposes of providing services under this Agreement. In the event of breach of this Section 10 by a receiving party, the remedies provided by Section 7.3 shall be available to the disclosing party. |
10.3 |
Other than as permitted herein, each party shall be permitted to disclose the Confidential Information to the extent, and only to such extent, required by law or regulation or requested by any governmental agency or other regulatory authority or in connection with any legal proceedings after (i) promptly notifying the other party of such requirement in order to provide such other party with the opportunity to pursue legal or other action to prevent the release of such Confidential Information and (ii) receiving permission for the disclosure from such other party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, notification to the other party shall not be required in the event that such disclosure is requested by a regulatory authority with supervisory authority over the disclosing party or is prohibited by applicable law or legal process. |
10.4 |
For purposes of this Agreement, Confidential Information does not include: (i) information that is or becomes publicly available other than as a result of disclosure by either party or its Representatives in violation of this Agreement, (ii) was within a partys possession prior to its being furnished pursuant hereto or becomes available on a non-confidential basis from a source other than either party or its Representatives, or (iii) was independently developed by the receiving party. |
10.5 |
In the event that any requests or demands are made for the inspection of the Shareholder records of the Trust other than request for records of Shareholders pursuant to standard subpoenas from state or federal government authorities (i.e., divorce and criminal actions), the Transfer Agent will endeavor to notify the Trust and to secure instructions from an authorized officer of the Trust as to such inspection. The Transfer Agent expressly reserves the right, however, to exhibit the Shareholder records to any person whenever it is advised by counsel that it may be held liable for the failure to exhibit the Shareholder records to such person or if required by law or court order. |
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10.6 |
Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees that, subject to the reuse and re-disclosure provisions of Regulation S-P, 17 CFR Part 248.11, it shall not disclose the non-public personal information of Shareholders obtained under this Agreement, except as necessary to carry out the services set forth in this Agreement or as otherwise permitted by law or regulation. |
11. |
COVENANTS OF THE TRUST AND THE TRANSFER AGENT. |
11.1 |
The Trust shall promptly furnish to the Transfer Agent the following: |
(a) |
A certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Trust authorizing the appointment of the Transfer Agent and the execution and delivery of this Agreement; |
(b) |
A copy of the organizational documents of the Trust and all material amendments thereto; and |
(c) |
A copy of the written AML Program of the Trust. |
11.2 |
The Transfer Agent shall keep records relating to the services to be performed hereunder, in the form and manner as it may deem advisable, provided that the Transfer Agent shall comply with all laws, rules and regulations applicable to its transfer agency business with respect to the maintenance of such records. To the extent required by Section 31 of the 1940 Act, as amended, and the Rules thereunder, the Transfer Agent agrees that all such records prepared or maintained by the Transfer Agent relating to the services to be performed by the Transfer Agent hereunder are the property of the Trust and will be preserved, maintained and made available in accordance with such Section and Rules, and will be surrendered promptly to the Trust on and in accordance with its request. |
11.3 |
The Transfer Agent agrees to provide periodic reports and reasonable documentation to the Trusts Chief Compliance Officer in connection with Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act, as amended, with respect to services provided by the Transfer Agent and the Transfer Agents compliance with its operating policies and procedures. |
12. |
TERM AND TERMINATION. |
12.1 |
Term. This Agreement shall become effective on the date first set forth above (the Effective Date) and shall continue in effect thereafter for an initial two (2) year period from that date, unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 12.2(a) or Section 12.2(b). Unless terminated earlier, the Agreement shall remain in full force from year to year thereafter, subject to annual review by the Board. Notwithstanding the termination or non-renewal of this Agreement, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall continue to apply until the completion of Deconversion (as hereinafter defined). |
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12.2 |
Termination. |
(a) |
This Agreement may be terminated at any time by either party by providing the other party with at least ninety (90) days written notice of termination, specifying the date of such termination |
(b) |
Either of the parties hereto may terminate this Agreement immediately upon notice to the other party (the defaulting party) for cause. For purposes of this Agreement, cause shall mean (a) a material breach of this Agreement by the defaulting party that has not been remedied for thirty (30) days following written notice of such breach from the non-breaching party; or (b) a receiver, receiver and manager, examiner or liquidator is appointed by the defaulting party, or the defaulting party makes any composition or arrangement with its creditors. |
12.3 |
Effect of Termination. Upon the date set forth in such notice under Section 12(b) or Section 12(c), this Agreement shall terminate to the extent specified in such notice, and the Trust shall pay Northern such compensation and any out-of-pocket or other reimbursable expenses which may become due or payable under the terms hereof as of the date of termination or after the date that the provision of services ceases, whichever is later. In the event that the Trust serves notice of its intention to terminate the custody agreement in place between it and Northern or any affiliate of Northern with respect to any Fund, Northern may terminate this Agreement with respect to such Fund by notice in writing to the Trust, such termination to take effect on the same date as the termination of the aforementioned custody agreement. |
12.4 |
Deconversion. In the event that this Agreement is terminated or not renewed for any reason, the Transfer Agent agrees that, in order to provide for uninterrupted service to the Trust, the Transfer Agent, at the Trusts request, shall offer reasonable assistance to the Trusts in converting the Trusts records from the Transfer Agents systems to whatever services or systems are designated by the Trust (the Deconversion), subject to the recompense of the Transfer Agent for such assistance at its standard rates and fees in effect at the time. As used herein reasonable assistance shall not include requiring the Transfer Agent (i) to assist any new service or system provider to modify, to alter, to enhance, or to improve such providers system, or to provide any new functionality to such providers system, (ii) to disclose any protected information of the Transfer Agent, or (iii) to develop Deconversion software, to modify any of the Transfer Agents software, or to otherwise alter the format of the data as maintained on any providers system. |
12.5 |
Deconversion Costs and Post-Deconversion Support Fees. In the event of termination or non-renewal of this Agreement, the Trust shall pay the Transfer Agent the Deconversion costs as noted in Section 12.4 and all reasonable fees and expenses for providing any support services that the Trust requests the Transfer Agent to provide post Deconversion, including, but not limited to tax reporting and open issue resolution. |
13. |
NOTICES. |
Any notice required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed effective on the date of personal delivery (by private messenger, courier service or otherwise) or upon confirmed receipt of telex or facsimile, whichever occurs first, or upon receipt if by mail to the parties at the following address (or such other address as a party may specify by notice to the other):
If to the Trust:
Datum One Trust
50 LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60603
Attention: Datum One Trust
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If to Northern:
The Northern Trust Company
50 LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60603
Attention: Head of GFS North America
14. |
FORCE MAJEURE. |
Neither party shall not be responsible or liable for any harm, loss or damage suffered by the Trust, its shareholders or third parties or for any failure or delay in performance of either partys obligations under this Agreement arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond the relevant partys control, including, but not limited to, delays, errors or interruptions caused by the Trust or third parties, any industrial, juridical, governmental, civil or military action, acts of terrorism, insurrection or revolution, nuclear fusion, fission or radiation, failure or fluctuation in electrical power, heat, light, air conditioning or telecommunications equipment, or acts of God (collectively, force majeure). In the event of force majeure, any resulting harm, loss, damage, failure or delay by either party will not give the other party the right to terminate this Agreement. The Transfer Agent agrees to act in accordance with its Business Continuity Plan in effect from time to time, when it is commercially reasonable to do so.
15. |
ASSIGNABILITY; SUBCONTRACTORS. |
15.1 |
This Agreement shall not be assigned by any of the parties hereto without the prior consent in writing of the other party, except that the Transfer Agent may assign this Agreement to a successor of all or a substantial portion of its business, or to a party controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Transfer Agent; provided that success successor is also a duly registered as a transfer agent pursuant to Section 17A(c)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. |
15.2 |
The Transfer Agent may, without further consent on the part of the Trust, subcontract for the performance hereof with an affiliate of the Transfer Agent which is duly registered as a transfer agent pursuant to Section 17A(c)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or, with regard to print/mail services , with another affiliated or unaffiliated third party; provided, however that the Transfer Agent shall be fully responsible to the Trust for the acts and omissions of its affiliates as it is for its own acts and omissions. With regard to print/mail services or other services that are provided by a vendor not affiliated with the Transfer Agent, the Transfer Agent will use all reasonable commercial efforts to coordinate with such outside vendor and to timely and accurately provide all information requested by such vendor; provided, however, that the Transfer Agent shall not be held liable to the Trust or any affiliated party of the Trust for any act or failure to act by such outside vendor except where the Transfer Agents negligent acts or omissions were the proximate cause of such vendors non-performance. |
15.3 |
For purposes of this Agreement, unaffiliated third parties include, by way of example and not limitation, Federal Express, United Parcel Services, Airborne Services, the US Mails, DTCC and telecommunication companies, shall not be deemed to be subcontractors of the Transfer Agent. |
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16. |
NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. |
Except as explicitly stated elsewhere in this Agreement, nothing under this Agreement shall be construed to give any rights or benefits in this Agreement to anyone other than the Transfer Agent and the Trust, and the duties and responsibilities undertaken pursuant to this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Transfer Agent and the Trust. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns.
17. |
MISCELLANEOUS. |
17.1 |
Amendments. This Agreement may be modified or amended from time to time by mutual written agreement between the parties. No provision of this Agreement may be changed, discharged, or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the change, discharge or termination is sought. |
17.2 |
Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, the balance of the Agreement shall remain in effect, and if any provision is inapplicable to any person or circumstance it shall nevertheless remain applicable to all other persons and circumstances. |
17.3 |
Waiver. The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver nor shall it deprive such party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to the term of any term of this Agreement. Any waiver must be in writing signed by the waiving party. |
17.4 |
Headings. All section headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, do not form a part of this Agreement and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. |
17.5 |
Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois. |
17.6 |
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall, together, constitute only one instrument. Any such counterpart, to the extent delivered by means of a facsimile machine or by .pdf, .tif, .gif, .jpg or similar attachment to electronic mail, shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original executed counterpart. |
17.7 |
Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties and supersedes all prior agreements and understanding between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof. |
17.8 |
Personal Liability. The Trust and the Transfer Agent agree that the obligations of the Fund under this Agreement shall not be binding upon or any member of the Board of Trustees or any shareholder, nominee, officer, employee or agent, whether past, present or future, of the Trust individually, but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Trust or of the appropriate Fund(s) thereof. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been duly authorized by Trust and signed by an authorized officer of the |
Page 18
Trust, acting as such, but neither such authorization by the Trust nor such execution and delivery by such officer shall be deemed to have been made by any member of the Board of Trustees or by any officer or shareholder of the Trust individually or to impose any liability on any of them personally, but shall bind only the assets and property of the Trust or of the appropriate Fund(s) thereof. |
18. |
ADDITIONAL FUNDS. |
In the event that the Trust establishes one or more series of Shares, in addition to those listed on the attached Schedule A, with respect to which it desires to have the Transfer Agent render services as Transfer Agent under the terms hereof, it shall so notify the Transfer Agent in writing, and if the Transfer Agent agrees in writing to provide such services, such series of Shares shall become a Fund hereunder.
19. |
RELEASE. |
All parties hereto acknowledge and agree that any and all liabilities of the Trust arising, directly or indirectly, under this Agreement will be satisfied solely out of the assets of the Trust and that no Trustee or officer or shareholder of the Trust shall be personally liable for any such liabilities. All persons dealing with any Fund must look solely to the property belonging to the Fund for the enforcement of any claims against the Trust.
20. |
PRIVACY REQUIREMENTS. |
20.1 |
The Transfer Agent shall not collect, retain, use, sell, or disclose Personal Information (as defined in this Section) except as necessary to perform its responsibilities pursuant to the Agreement or as required by law. The Transfer Agent shall not disclose Personal Information to any third party for monetary or other valuable consideration or retain, use, or disclose Personal information outside of the direct business relationship between the Transfer Agent and the Trust. |
20.2 |
The Transfer Agent has implemented, and shall maintain throughout the term of the Agreement, reasonable security procedures and practices appropriate to the nature of the Personal Information to protect the Personal Information. |
20.3 |
Personal information is defined for purposes of this Section 20 as information about California residents (a consumer) that identifies, relates to, describes, is reasonably capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked, directly or indirectly, with a particular consumer or household (Personal Information) |
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective representatives duly authorized as of the day and year first above written.
DATUM ONE SERIES TRUST | ||
By: | /s/ Barbara J. Nelligan | |
Name: | Barbara J. Nelligan | |
Title: | President |
THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY | ||
By: | /s/ Scott A. Denning | |
Name: | Scott A. Denning | |
Title: | Senior Vice President |
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SCHEDULE A
FUND LIST
Fund Name |
Investment Manager |
Fees |
||
Polar Capital Emerging Market Stars Fund | Polar Capital LLP | As set forth in Part 1 and Part 2 Option A of Schedule B (Fee Schedule). |
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SCHEDULE C
AML DELEGATION
1. |
Delegation. |
1.1 |
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Agreement and this Schedule C, the Trust hereby delegates to the Transfer Agent those aspects of the Trusts Anti-Money Laundering (AML) program under U.S. law for accounts of the Trust (the Accounts) that are set forth in Section 4 of this Schedule below (the Delegated Duties). The Delegated Duties set forth in Section 4 of this Schedule may be amended, from time to time, by mutual agreement of the Transfer Agent and the Trust. |
1.2 |
The Transfer Agent agrees to perform such Delegated Duties, with respect to the Accounts for which the Transfer Agent maintains the applicable shareholder information, subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement. The Transfer Agent shall in no circumstances have any obligation to continue to perform such Delegated Duties with respect to any shareholder who the Transfer Agent has not received all information which it requires after due inquiry to the Trust. |
2. |
Consent to Examination. |
In connection with the performance by the Transfer Agent of the Delegated Duties, the Transfer Agent understands and acknowledges that the Trust remains responsible for assuring compliance with applicable AML requirements and that the records the Transfer Agent maintains for the Trust relating to the Delegated Duties may be subject, from time to time, to examination and/or inspection by regulators in order that the regulators may evaluate such compliance. The Transfer Agent hereby consents to such examination and/or inspection and agrees to cooperate with such regulators in connection with their review. For purposes of such examination and/or inspection, the Transfer Agent will make available, during normal business hours and on reasonable notice all required records and information for review by such regulators.
3. |
Limitation on Delegation. |
The Trust acknowledges and agrees that in accepting the delegation hereunder, the Transfer Agent is agreeing to perform only the Delegated Duties, as may be amended from time to time, and is not undertaking and shall not be responsible for any other aspect of AML compliance for the Trust or for the overall compliance by the Trust with applicable AML requirements or for any other matters that have not been delegated hereunder. Additionally, the parties acknowledge and agree that the Transfer Agent shall only be responsible for performing the Delegated Duties with respect to the ownership of, and transactions in, the Trust for which the Transfer Agent maintains the applicable shareholder information.
4. |
Delegated Duties. |
4.1 |
Consistent with the services provided by the Transfer Agent and with respect to the ownership of beneficial interests in the Trust for which the Transfer Agent maintains the applicable investor information, the Transfer Agent shall: |
(a) |
Perform the following customer identification and identity verification functions: |
(i) |
before establishing a relationship with a shareholder, collect all information regarding the shareholder as is necessary to permit the Trust to comply with U.S. laws, rules and regulations regarding customer identification programs applicable to registered mutual funds, unless the shareholder is of a type where such identification is not required by such applicable law, rule or regulation; |
Page 22
(ii) |
refuse to open a new account for a business, entity or shareholder that refuses to provide appropriate identification documentation and place holds on transactions in investor accounts or freeze assets in investor accounts in the event that information received from any prior service provider is deemed to be incomplete; |
(iii) |
verify shareholder identity through documentary evidence, non-documentary evidence, or both within a reasonable time after each shareholders Account has been opened; and |
(iv) |
if a government agency issues a list of known or suspected terrorists, insofar as required by law, rule or regulation applicable to registered mutual funds, check the list to determine whether a shareholder of the Trust appears thereon and comply with directives issued in connection with such lists that are applicable to registered mutual funds. |
(b) |
Determine whether any persons or entities engaging in a new account or registration maintenance transaction is listed on the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list (OFAC-Listed Entities) and such other lists or databases as may be required from time to time by law, rule or regulation applicable to registered mutual funds and take such other action as required by such applicable law, rule and regulation in the event of a match with OFAC-Listed Entities or such lists or databases. |
(c) |
Review and monitor transactions for suspicious activity, using criteria as agreed and defined in service level agreements. |
(d) Advise the Trusts AML Officer of any suspicious activity and provide any information required to facilitate the Trusts filing of a suspicious activity report (SAR). Advise the Trusts AML Officer of any cash equivalent transactions that would require the filing of IRS Form 8300 to facilitate the Trusts filing of such form.
(e) Compare account information to any FinCEN request received by the Trust and provided to the Transfer Agent pursuant to USA PATRIOT Act Sec. 314(a). Provide the Trust with documents/information necessary for the Trust to respond to requests under USA PATRIOT Act Sec. 314(a) within required time frames.
4.2 |
In the event that the Transfer Agent detects unusual or prohibited activity as a result of the foregoing procedures, the Transfer Agent shall immediately (unless prohibited by applicable law) notify the Trust and provide any information requested by the Trust so that the Trust can determine whether or not the Trust is required to file to a SAR, a Currency Transaction Report or other similar report or notice. In addition, the Trust acknowledges and agrees that (a) the Transfer Agent may deem it necessary or advisable pursuant to applicable law or The Northern Trust Companys internal policies to file a SAR, a Currency Transaction Report or other similar report or notice, without notice to or the consent of the Trust and (b) the Transfer Agent shall not confirm any such filing or decision not to make such filing to the Trust or any other party unless required by applicable law. |
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SCHEDULE D
THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR PROCEDURES
1. |
On each day on which both the New York Stock Exchange and the Trust are open for business (a Business Day), the TPA(s) shall receive, on behalf of and as agent of the Trust, Instructions (as hereinafter defined) from the Plan. Instructions shall mean as to the Trust (i) orders by the Plan for the purchases of Shares, and (ii) requests by the Plan for the redemption of Shares; in each case based on the Plans receipt of purchase orders and redemption requests by Participants in proper form by the time required by the terms of the Plan, but not later than the time of day at which the net asset value of the Trust is calculated, as described from time to time in the applicable Funds prospectus. Each Business Day on which the TPA receives Instructions shall be a Trade Date. |
2. |
The TPA(s) shall communicate the TPA(s)s acceptance of such Instructions to the applicable Plan. |
3. |
On the next succeeding Business Day following the Trade Date on which it accepted Instructions for the purchase and redemption of Shares, (TD+1), the TPA(s) shall notify the Transfer Agent of the net amount of such purchases or redemptions, as the case may be, for each of the Plans. In the case of net purchases by any Plan, the TPA(s) shall instruct the Trustees of such Plan to transmit the aggregate purchase price for Shares by wire transfer to the Transfer Agent on (TD+1). In the case of net redemptions by any Plan, the TPA(s) shall instruct the Trusts custodian to transmit the aggregate redemption proceeds for Shares by wire transfer to the Trustees of such Plan on (TD+1). The times at which such notification and transmission shall occur on (TD+1) shall be as mutually agreed upon by the Trust, the TPA(s), and the Transfer Agent. |
4. |
The TPA(s) shall maintain separate records for each Plan, which record shall reflect Shares purchased and redeemed, including the date and price for all transactions, and Share balances. The TPA(s) shall maintain on behalf of each of the Plans a single master account with the Transfer Agent and such account shall be in the name of that Plan, the TPA(s), or the nominee of either thereof as the record owner of Shares owned by such Plan. |
5. |
The TPA(s) shall maintain records of all proceeds of redemptions of Shares and all other distributions not reinvested in Shares. |
6. |
The TPA(s) shall prepare, and transmit to each of the Plans, periodic account statements showing the total number of Shares owned by that Plan as of the statement closing date, purchases and redemptions of Shares by the Plan during the period covered by the statement, and the dividends and other distributions paid to the Plan on Shares during the statement period (whether paid in cash or reinvested in Shares). |
7. |
The TPA(s) shall, at the request and expense of the Trust, transmit to the Plans prospectuses, proxy materials, reports, and other information provided by the Trust for delivery to its shareholders. |
8. |
The TPA(s) shall, at the request of the Trust, prepare and transmit to the Trust or any agent designated by it such periodic reports covering Shares of each Plan as the Trust shall reasonably conclude are necessary to enable the Trust to comply with state Blue Sky requirements. |
9. |
The TPA(s) shall transmit to the Plans confirmation of purchase orders and redemption requests placed by the Plans. |
10. |
The TPA(s) shall, with respect to Shares, maintain account balance information for the Plan(s) and daily and monthly purchase summaries expressed in Shares and dollar amounts. |
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11. |
Plan sponsors may request, or the law may require, that prospectuses, proxy materials, periodic reports and other materials relating to the Trust be furnished to Participants in which event the Transfer Agent or the Trust shall mail or cause to be mailed such materials to Participants. With respect to any such mailing, the TPA(s) shall, at the request of the Transfer Agent or the Trust, provide at the TPA(s)s expense a complete and accurate set of mailing labels with the name and address of each Participant having an interest through the Plans in Shares. |
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Exhibit (h)(ii)
FUND OFFICER AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made as of , 20 (Agreement) by and between Datum One Series Trust a Massachusetts business trust with its principal office and place of business at 50 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603 (the Fund Company), and Foreside Fund Officer Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, with its principal office and place of business at Three Canal Plaza, Portland, Maine 04101 (Foreside).
WHEREAS, the Fund Company is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as a pooled investment company and has created and issued shares in one or more series (each such series a Fund and collectively, the Funds); and
WHEREAS, the Fund Company desires that Foreside perform certain compliance services and Foreside is willing to provide those services on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
NOW THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Fund Company and Foreside hereby agree as follows:
SECTION |
1. PROVISION OF OFFICERS |
Subject to the approval of the Fund Companys Board of Trustees (Board), Foreside hereby agrees to provide an employee of Foreside to serve as the Funds (i) Chief Compliance Officer (CCO), as described in Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act (Rule 38a-1), and Anti-Money Laundering Officer (AMLO), and an employee to serve as the Funds (ii) Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer (PFO/Treasurer), for the period and on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement (the CCO, AMLO, and PFO, each an Officer and collectivity, Officers).
SECTION |
2. DUTIES |
(a) With respect to the Fund Company, the CCO/AMLO shall provide the services as set forth on Appendix A hereto (CCO/AMLO Services). For the sake of clarity, the Board shall make all decisions regarding the designation and termination of the CCO/AMLO and shall review and approve the compensation of the CCO/AMLO as provided by Rule 38a-1.
(b) With respect to the Fund Company, the PFO shall provide the services as set forth on Appendix A hereto (PFO Services and together with CCO/AMLO Services, Services).
(c) Foreside may provide other services and assistance relating to the affairs of the Fund Company as the Fund Company may, from time to time, request subject to mutually acceptable compensation and implementation agreements.
(d) Foreside shall maintain records relating to its services, such as compliance policies and procedures, relevant Board presentations, annual reviews, and other records, as are required to be maintained under the 1940 Act and/or Rule 38a-1 thereunder (collectively, the Records). Such Records shall be maintained in the manner and for the periods as are required under such laws and regulations. The Records shall be the property of the Fund Company. The Fund Company, or the Fund Companys authorized representatives, shall have access to the Records at all times during Foresides normal business hours. Upon the reasonable request of the Fund Company, copies of any of the Records shall be provided promptly by Foreside to the Fund Company or its authorized representatives at the Fund Companys expense.
(e) Nothing contained herein shall be construed to require Foreside to perform any service that could cause Foreside to be deemed an investment adviser for purposes of the 1940 Act or the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or that could cause any Fund to act in contravention of such Funds Prospectus or any provision of the 1940 Act. Further, while Foreside will provide consulting and other services under this Agreement to assist the Fund Company with respect to the Fund Companys obligations under and compliance with various laws and regulations, Fund Company understands and agrees that Foreside is not a law firm and that nothing contained herein shall be construed to create an attorney-client relationship between Foreside and Fund Company or to require Foreside to render legal advice or otherwise engage in the practice of law in any jurisdiction. Thus, except with respect to Foresides duties as set forth in this Section 2 and, except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the Fund Company assumes all responsibility for ensuring that the Fund Company and each of its Funds complies with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act), the 1940 Act and any laws, rules and regulations of governmental authorities with jurisdiction over the Fund Company or the Funds. All references to any law in this Agreement shall be deemed to include reference to the applicable rules and regulations promulgated under authority of the law and all official interpretations of such law or rules or regulations.
(f) Foreside does not offer legal or accounting services and does not provide substitute services for the services provided by legal counsel or that of a certified public accountant.
(g) Foreside will make every reasonable effort to provide the services described in this Agreement; however, Foreside does not guarantee that work performed by Foreside or the Officers would be favorably received by any regulatory agency.
(h) Fund Company shall provide to Foreside and/or each Officer with all necessary documents, records and other information, including any documents, records, or other information, reasonably requested by Foreside and/or such Officer, to enable Foreside and such Officer to perform the Services contemplated under this Agreement. In addition, Fund Company shall provide Foreside and/or such Officer with any amendments to, or other changes in, such documents, records, and other information in a reasonable time prior to such amendment or change becoming effective. The Fund Company also agrees to provide Foreside and/or such Officer all such documents, records, or other information referenced this Section in the manner, format, and in the reasonable timeframe specified by such Officer and/or Foreside.
2
(i) In order for Foreside and the Officers to perform the services required by this Section 2, the Fund Company shall (1) instruct all service providers of the Fund (Service Providers) to furnish any and all information to Foreside and/or the Officers as reasonably requested by Foreside and/or the Officers, and assist Foreside and/or the Officers as may be required, and (2) ensure that Foreside and each Officer has access to all records and documents maintained by the Fund Company or any Service Provider.
SECTION 3. STANDARD OF CARE; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION
(a) Foreside shall be under no duty to take any action except as specifically set forth herein or as may be specifically agreed to by Foreside in writing. Foreside shall use its best judgment and efforts in rendering the Services and shall not be liable to the Fund Company any Fund or any of the Funds shareholders for any action or inaction of Foreside or the Officers relating to any event whatsoever in the absence of bad faith, reckless disregard, gross negligence or willful misfeasance. Further, neither Foreside nor the Officers shall be liable to the Fund Company or any of the Funds shareholders for any action taken, or failure to act, in good faith reliance upon: (i) the advice and opinion of Fund counsel; and/or (ii) any certified copy of any resolution of the Board. Neither Foreside nor the Officers shall be under any duty or obligation to inquire into the validity or invalidity or authority or lack thereof of any statement, oral or written instruction, resolution, signature, request, letter of transmittal, certificate, opinion of counsel, instrument, report, notice, consent, order, or any other document or instrument which Foreside and/or the Officers reasonably believe in good faith to be genuine.
(b) The Fund Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Foreside, its affiliates and each of their respective directors, officers, employees and agents and any person who controls Foreside within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act (any of Foreside, its affiliates, their respective officers, employees, agents and directors or such control persons, for purposes of this paragraph, a Foreside Indemnitee) against any loss, liability, claim, damages or expense (including the reasonable cost of investigating or defending any alleged loss, liability, claim, damages or expense and reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) arising out of or based upon (i) Foresides performance of its duties under this Agreement, or (ii) the material breach of any obligation, representation or warranty under this Agreement by the Fund Company.
In no case (i) is the indemnity of the Fund Company in favor of any Foreside Indemnitee to be deemed to protect the Foreside Indemnitee against any liability to which the Foreside Indemnitee would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, or (ii) is the Fund Company to be liable with respect to any claim made against any Foreside Indemnitee unless the Foreside Indemnitee notifies the Fund Company in writing of the claim within a reasonable time after the summons or other first written notification giving information of the nature of the claim are served upon the Foreside Indemnitee (or after the Foreside Indemnitee receives notice of service on any designated agent).
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Failure to notify the Fund Company of any claim shall not relieve the Fund Company from any liability that it may have to any Foreside Indemnitee unless failure or delay to so notify the Fund Company prejudices the Fund Companys ability to defend against such claim. The Fund Company shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense, or, if it so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any claims, but if the Fund Company elects to assume the defense, the defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it and satisfactory to the Foreside Indemnitee, defendant or defendants in the suit. In the event the Fund Company elects to assume the defense of any suit and retain counsel, the Foreside Indemnitee, defendant or defendants in the suit, shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by them. If the Fund Company does not elect to assume the defense of any suit, it will reimburse the Foreside Indemnitee, defendant or defendants in the suit, for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them.
(c) Foreside agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund Company and each of its Trustees and officers and any person who controls the Fund Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act (for purposes of this paragraph, the Fund Company and each of its Trustees and officers and its controlling persons are collectively referred to as the Fund Company Indemnitees) against any loss, liability, claim, damages or expense (including the reasonable cost of investigating or defending any alleged loss, liability, claim, damages or expense and reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) arising out of or based upon (i) the material breach of any obligation, representation or warranty under this Agreement by Foreside, or (ii) Foresides failure to comply in any material respect with applicable securities laws.
In no case (i) is the indemnity of Foreside in favor of any Fund Company Indemnitee to be deemed to protect any Fund Company Indemnitee against any liability to which such Fund Company Indemnitee would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, or (ii) is Foreside to be liable under its indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph with respect to any claim made against any Fund Company Indemnitee unless the Fund Company Indemnitee notifies Foreside in writing of the claim within a reasonable time after the summons or other first written notification giving information of the nature of the claim are served upon the Fund Company Indemnitee (or after the Fund Company Indemnitee has received notice of service on any designated agent).
Failure to notify Foreside of any claim shall not relieve Foreside from any liability that it may have to the Fund Company Indemnitee against whom such action is brought unless failure or delay to so notify Foreside prejudices Foresides ability to defend against such claim. Foreside shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense or, if it so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce the claim, but if Foreside elects to assume the defense, the defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it and satisfactory to the Fund Company Indemnitee, defendant or defendants in the suit. In the event that Foreside elects to assume the defense of any suit and retain counsel, the Fund Company Indemnitee, defendant or defendants in the suit, shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by them. If Foreside does not elect to assume the defense of any suit, it will reimburse the Fund Company Indemnitee, defendant or defendants in the suit, for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them.
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(d) No indemnified party shall settle any claim against it for which it intends to seek indemnification from the indemnifying party, under the terms of Section 3(b) or 3(c) above, without prior written notice to and consent from the indemnifying party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. No indemnified or indemnifying party shall settle any claim unless the settlement contains a full release of liability with respect to the other party in respect of such action.
(e) Foreside shall not be liable for the errors of service providers to the Fund Company or their systems.
(f) The Fund Company agrees that Foreside, its employees, officers and directors shall not be liable to the Fund Company any Fund or any of the Funds shareholders for any actions, damages, claims, liabilities, costs, expenses or losses in any way arising out of or relating to the Services for an aggregate amount in excess of the fees paid by the Fund Company to Foreside in performing services hereunder. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply regardless of the form of action, damage, claim, liability, cost, expense or loss, whether in contract, statute, tort (including, without limitation, negligence) or otherwise.
In no event shall either party or their respective employees, officers, or Trustees be liable for consequential, special, indirect, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages, costs, expenses or losses (including, without limitation, lost profits and opportunity costs or fines).
SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
(a) |
Foreside covenants, represents and warrants to the Fund Company that: |
(i) |
it is a limited liability company duly organized and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware; |
(ii) |
it is empowered under applicable laws and by its Operating Agreement to enter into this Agreement and perform its duties under this Agreement; |
(iii) |
all requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into this Agreement and perform its duties under this Agreement; |
(iv) |
it has access to the necessary facilities, equipment, and personnel with the requisite knowledge and experience to assist each Officer in the performance of their respective duties and obligations under this Agreement; |
(v) |
this Agreement, when executed and delivered, will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of Foreside, enforceable against Foreside in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties; |
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(vi) |
it shall make available persons who are competent and knowledgeable regarding the federal securities laws and are otherwise reasonably qualified to act as Officers and who will, in the exercise of their duties to the Fund Company, act in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed by him or her to be in the best interests of the Funds; |
(vii) |
it shall compensate the CCO fairly, subject to the Boards right under any applicable regulation (e.g., Rule 38a-1) to approve the designation, termination and level of compensation of the CCO. In addition, it shall not retaliate against the CCO should the CCO inform the Board of a compliance failure or take aggressive action to ensure compliance with the federal securities laws by the Fund Company or a Service Provider; |
(viii) |
it shall report to the Board promptly if it learns of any Officer malfeasance or in the event an Officer is terminated as an Officer, as the case may be, by another Fund Company for cause or if such Officer is terminated by Foreside; |
(ix) |
it shall report to the Board if at any time an Officer, as the case may be, is subject to the disqualifications set forth in Section 15(b)(4) of the Exchange Act or Section 9 of the 1940 Act; and |
(x) |
it shall maintain policies of insurance reasonable and customary for its business. |
(b) |
The Fund Company covenants, represents and warrants to Foreside that: |
(i) |
it is a Massachusetts business trust duly organized and in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; |
(ii) |
it is empowered under applicable laws and by its Organizational Documents to enter into this Agreement and perform its duties under this Agreement; |
(iii) |
all requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into this Agreement and perform its duties under this Agreement; |
(iv) |
it is a pooled management investment company registered under the 1940 Act; |
(v) |
this Agreement, when executed and delivered, will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Fund Company, enforceable against the Fund Company in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties; |
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(vi) |
a registration statement under the Securities Act and the 1940 Act is effective and will remain effective and appropriate State securities law filings have been made and will continue to be made with respect to the Funds; |
(vii) |
Each Officer shall be covered by the Fund Companys Directors & Officers Liability Insurance Policy (the Policy), and the Fund Company shall use reasonable efforts to ensure that such coverage be (a) reinstated should the Policy be cancelled; (b) continued after such Officer ceases to serve as an officer of the Fund Company on substantially the same terms as such coverage is provided for all other Fund Company officers after such persons are no longer officers of the Fund Company; and (c) continued in the event the Fund Company merges or terminates, on substantially the same terms as such coverage is provided for all other Fund Company officers (and for a period of no less than six years). The Fund Company shall provide Foreside with proof of current coverage, including a copy of the Policy, and shall notify Foreside immediately should the Policy be cancelled or terminated; and |
(viii) |
Each Officer is a named officer in the Fund Companys corporate resolutions and subject to the provisions of the Fund Companys Organizational Documents regarding indemnification of its officers. |
SECTION 5. COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES
(a) In consideration of the compliance services provided by Foreside pursuant to this Agreement, the Fund Company shall pay Foreside the fees and expenses set forth in Appendix B hereto.
(b) Except as otherwise set forth in Appendix B hereto, all fees payable hereunder shall be accrued daily by the Fund Company and shall be payable monthly in arrears for services performed during the prior calendar month. All out-of-pocket charges incurred by Foreside shall be paid as incurred. If fees begin to accrue in the middle of a month or if this Agreement terminates before the end of any month, all fees for the period from that date to the end of that month or from the beginning of that month to the date of termination, as the case may be, shall be prorated according to the proportion that the period bears to the full month in which the effectiveness or termination occurs. Upon the termination of this Agreement, the Fund Company shall pay to Foreside such compensation as shall be due and payable as of the effective date of termination.
(c) Upon prior approval by Fund Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed, Foreside and each Officer may, with respect to questions of law relating to its services hereunder, apply to and obtain the advice and opinion of Fund Company counsel. The costs of any such advice or opinion shall be borne by the Fund Company.
(d) Each Officer is serving solely as an officer of the Fund Company and neither Foreside nor such Officer shall be responsible for, or have any obligation to pay, any of the expenses of the Fund Company or any of its Funds. All Fund Company expenses shall be the sole obligation of the Fund Company, which shall pay or cause to be paid all Fund expenses.
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SECTION 6. EFFECTIVENESS, DURATION, TERMINATION AND ASSIGNMENT
(a) This Agreement shall become effective on the date indicated above or at such time as Foreside commences providing services under this Agreement, whichever is later (the Effective Date). Upon the Effective Date, this Agreement shall constitute the entire agreement between the parties and shall supersede all previous agreements between the parties, whether oral or written, relating to the Fund Company.
(b) This Agreement shall continue in effect until terminated in accordance with the provisions hereof.
(c) This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty (i) by the Board on sixty (60) days written notice to Foreside or (ii) by Foreside on sixty (60) days written notice to the Fund Company, provided, however, that the Board will have the right and authority to remove any individual designated by Foreside as the Fund Companys Officers or the individual designated by Foreside as the Fund Companys CCO/AMLO at any time, with or without cause, without payment of any penalty. In this case, Foreside will designate another employee of Foreside, subject to approval of the Board and the disinterested Trustees, to serve in the place of such Officer until the earlier of: (i) the designation of a new permanent officer; or (ii) the termination of this Agreement.
(d) Should the employment of the individual designated by Foreside to serve as a Funds Officer be terminated for any reason, Foreside will immediately designate another qualified individual, subject to ratification by the Board and the independent Trustees, to serve as a temporary Officer until the earlier of: (i) the designation, and approval by the Board, of a new permanent officer; or (ii) the termination of this Agreement.
(e) The provisions of Sections 3, 7, 10, 11, and 12 shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
(f) This Agreement and the rights and duties under this Agreement shall not be assignable by either Foreside or the Company except by the specific written consent of the other party. All terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the respective successors and permitted assigns of the parties hereto.
SECTION 7. CONFIDENTIALITY
Each party shall comply with the laws and regulations applicable to it in connection with its use of confidential information, including, without limitation, Regulation S-P (if applicable). Each party agrees to treat all non-public or proprietary records and information related to the other party as proprietary information of the other party and, on behalf of itself and its employees, to keep confidential all such information, except that a party may release such other partys confidential information (a) as approved in writing by the other party, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld where the party is advised by
8
counsel that it may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to release the information (provided, however, that the party shall seek the approval of the other party as promptly as possible so as to enable the other party to pursue such legal or other action as it may desire to prevent the release of such information) or (b) when so requested by the other party. Subject to the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to authorize a party to waive any attorney-client, work product or other privilege of the other party or the investment adviser to the Fund Company.
SECTION 8. FORCE MAJEURE
Foreside shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in performance of its obligations under this Agreement arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control including, without limitation, acts of civil or military authority, national emergencies, fire, mechanical breakdowns, flood or catastrophe, acts of God, insurrection, war, riots or failure of the mails, transportation, communication system or power supply, provided, however, that Foreside has commercially reasonable business continuity and disaster recovery policies and procedures in place. In addition, to the extent Foresides obligations hereunder are to oversee or monitor the activities of third parties, Foreside shall not be liable for any failure or delay in the performance of Foresides duties caused, directly or indirectly, by the failure or delay of such third parties in performing their respective duties or cooperating reasonably and in a timely manner with Foreside.
SECTION 9. ACTIVITIES OF FORESIDE
(a) Except to the extent necessary to perform Foresides obligations under this Agreement, nothing herein shall be deemed to limit or restrict Foresides right, or the right of any of Foresides managers, officers or employees who also may be a director, trustee, officer or employee of the Fund Company (including, without limitation, each Officer), or who are otherwise affiliated persons of the Fund Company, to engage in any other business or to devote time and attention to the management or other aspects of any other business, whether of a similar or dissimilar nature, or to render services of any kind to any other corporation, trust, firm, individual or association.
(b) Upon prior written approval by the Fund Company, Foreside may subcontract any or all of its functions or responsibilities pursuant to this Agreement to one or more persons, which may be affiliated persons of Foreside who agree to comply with the terms of this Agreement; provided, that any such subcontracting shall not relieve Foreside of its responsibilities hereunder. Foreside may pay those persons for their services, but no such payment will increase Foresides compensation or reimbursement of expenses from the Fund Company.
SECTION 10. COOPERATION WITH THE FUNDS SERVICE PROVIDERS
Foreside and each Officer shall take reasonable steps to cooperate with the Fund Companys service providers, and shall take reasonable action to make all necessary information available to the Funds accountants, auditors, and/or counsel for the performance of such accountants, auditors, or counsels duties.
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SECTION 11. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
(a) It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that the obligations of the Fund Company hereunder shall not be binding upon any of the shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees or agents of the Fund Company personally, but shall bind only the trust property of the Fund Company, as provided in the Fund Companys Declaration of Trust. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been authorized by the Trustees of the Fund Company and signed by an officer of the Fund Company acting as such, and neither such authorization by such Trustees nor such execution and delivery by such officer shall be deemed to have been made by any of them individually or to impose any liability on any of them personally, but shall bind only the trust property of the Fund Company as provided in its Declaration of Trust. Separate and distinct records are maintained for each Fund of the Fund Company and the assets of any such Fund are held and accounted for separately from the other assets of the Fund Company, or any other Fund of the Fund Company.
(b) It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that the liabilities of each Fund shall be limited such that (i) the debts, liabilities, obligations, and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to a particular Fund shall be enforceable against the assets of that particular Fund only, and not against the assets of the Fund Company generally, or the assets of any other Fund, and (ii) none of the debts, liabilities, obligations, and expenses incurred, contracted for, or otherwise existing with respect to the Fund Company generally or any other Fund thereof shall be enforceable against the assets of such particular Fund.
SECTION 12. PRIVACY REQUIREMENTS
(a) Foreside shall not collect, retain, use, sell, or disclose personal information except as necessary to perform its responsibilities pursuant to the Agreement or as required by law. Foreside shall not disclose personal information to any third party for monetary or other valuable consideration or retain, use, or disclose personal information outside of the direct business relationship between Foreside and the Trust.
(b) Foreside has implemented, and shall maintain throughout the term of the Agreement, reasonable security procedures and practices appropriate to the nature of the personal information to protect the personal information.
SECTION 13. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by, and the provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted under and in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.
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(b) This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, and all of the counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.
(c) If any part, term or provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, in conflict with any law or otherwise invalid, the remaining portion or portions shall be considered severable and not be affected, and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be construed and enforced as if the Agreement did not contain the particular part, term or provision held to be illegal or invalid. This Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by both Foreside and Fund Company and no presumptions shall arise favoring any party by virtue of authorship of any provision of this Agreement.
(d) Section headings in this Agreement are included for convenience only and are not to be used to construe or interpret this Agreement.
(e) Any notice required or permitted to be given hereunder by either party to the other shall be deemed sufficiently given if in writing and personally delivered or sent by facsimile or registered, certified or overnight mail, postage prepaid, addressed by the party giving such notice to the other party at the address furnished below unless and until changed by Foreside or the Fund Company, as the case may be. Notice shall be given to each party at the following address:
(i) To Foreside: | (ii) To Fund Company: | |
Foreside Fund Officer Services, LLC | Datum One Series Trust | |
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100 | 50 South LaSalle Street | |
Portland, ME 04101 | Chicago, Illinois 60603 | |
Attention: Legal Department | Attn: Barb Nelligan | |
Phone: 207.553.7110 | Phone: (312) 557-4100 | |
Fax: 207.553.7151 | Email: bjj1@ntrs.com |
(f) Invoices for fees and expenses due to Foreside hereunder and as set forth in Appendix B hereto shall be sent by Foreside to the address furnished below unless and until changed by the Fund Company (Fund Company to provide reasonable advance notice of any change of billing address to Foreside):
Datum One Series Trust
Attn: Tracy Dotolo
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100
Portland, ME 04101
Phone: 617.224.0721
Email: tdotolo@foreside.com
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(g) Nothing contained in this Agreement is intended to or shall require Foreside, in any capacity hereunder, to perform any functions or duties on any day other than a Fund Company business day, unless otherwise required by law, or upon the reasonable request of the Fund Company.
(h) The term affiliate and all forms thereof used herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the 1940 Act.
(i) No amendment to this Agreement shall be valid unless made in writing and executed by all parties hereto.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed in their names and on their behalf by and through their duly authorized officers, as of the day and year first above written.
DATUM ONE SERIES TRUST | ||
By: | ||
Name: |
||
Title: |
FORESIDE FUND OFFICER SERVICES, LLC | ||
By: |
||
Charles S. Todd, Vice President |
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Appendix A
Foreside will propose qualified candidates to serve as each Funds chief compliance officer (CCO), anti-money laundering compliance officer (AMLCO) and principal financial officer (PFO), who will assume responsibility as Fund CCO/AMLCO and Fund PFO upon appointment by the Funds Board of Trustees (the Board).
A. FUND CCO/AMLCO SERVICES
The Fund CCO/AMLCO will perform the following services:
|
Develop, maintain and update from time to time compliance policies and procedures for the Funds, ensuring that they meet the requirements of Rule 38a-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act); |
|
Conduct periodic reviews of the adequacy of the Funds compliance policies and procedures and determine the effectiveness of their implementation; |
|
Conduct periodic reviews of the adequacy of the following service providers to the Funds and determine the effectiveness of their implementation: |
|
Adviser |
|
Sub-Advisers (as applicable) |
|
Distributor |
|
Administrator |
|
Transfer Agent |
|
Pursuant to the requirements of Rules 17f-5 and 17f-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, provide periodic reports to the Board regarding the Funds foreign custodial arrangements. |
|
Recommend the incorporation into the Funds compliance policies and procedures of any new or amended regulations or best practice initiatives that may be appropriate; |
|
Perform and document testing of certain key Fund and service provider compliance procedures, including collecting and organizing relevant compliance data and reviewing reports, investigating exceptions, and making inquiries of Fund management and the service providers; |
|
Conduct site visits to the Adviser and/or Sub-Advisers and other service providers as necessary; |
|
Meet periodically with Fund management, advisers and adviser CCOs on ad-hoc regulatory, operational, and other matters |
|
Prepare quarterly and annual CCO reports for the Funds Board and attend Board meetings (in-person and telephonic); |
|
Provide other services and assistance relating to the affairs of the Funds as the Board may, from time to time, reasonably request in connection with the CCOs compliance responsibilities; |
|
Maintain records relating to the compliance program as required by applicable laws and regulations; |
|
Represent the Fund Company as the Chief Compliance Officer at SEC examinations as required. |
|
Review daily reporting from the TA/custodian such as post-trade compliance reporting and NAV reports; |
|
Review, maintain and update as required from time to time, written policies and procedures comprising the Funds Anti-money Laundering Compliance Program |
|
Conduct, as needed in response to significant compliance events, changes in business arrangements and regulatory developments and, in no event less than annually, a review of the Funds Anti-money Laundering Compliance Program which will include a review of the adequacy of the policies and procedures and the effectiveness of their implementation. |
|
Provide a written report to the Board that, at a minimum addresses: |
|
The AMLCOs assessment of the operation of the policies and procedures of the Fund Company and each Service Provider, any material changes made to those policies and procedures since the date of the last report, and any material changes to the policies and procedures recommended as a result of the annual review conducted; |
|
The AMLCOs assessment of the adequacy of the policies and procedures and the effectiveness of their implementation. |
|
Provide the Board with any additional information specifically requested or otherwise reasonably necessary for the Board to review and evaluate the Funds Anti-money Laundering Compliance Program. |
|
Represent the Fund Company as the Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer at SEC examinations as required; |
B. FUND PFO SERVICES
The Fund PFO will perform the following services:
|
Along with the Funds Principal Executive Officer, establish, maintain and oversee disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940); |
|
Chair disclosure controls committee meetings to support Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) certifications on an agreed upon frequency; request and review sub-certifications from key service providers; |
|
Attend quarterly Board meetings and special Board meetings as may be requested by the Board (in-person and telephonic) and make relevant disclosures and present materials to the Board, the auditors and the audit committee, as required or requested; |
|
Assist with the planning and coordination of the annual financial statement audit including liaising with the Fund administrator, and independent auditors, serving as a signatory to management representation letters, representation letter requests of other service providers and trade confirmation requests; |
|
Review and comment on the Funds financial statements and shareholder reports as prepared by the Fund administrator (including semi-annual and annual reports and related SEC filings); |
|
Review and oversee daily Fund expense payment authorizations, periodic budget/accrual review and authorization, as required or requested; |
|
Review, comment and authorize SEC filings on Forms such as N-CSR, N-CSRS, N-PORT, N-CEN, N-1A, 24f-2 |
|
Review and comment on the annual update of the Fund Registration Statement / Prospectus & Statement of Additional Information; |
|
Certify and/or sign as Treasurer and authorize the filings listed above; |
|
Perform high level review of fund tax returns and sign as fund officer as required; |
|
Conduct periodic due diligence reviews/monitoring of control environment of certain key service providers; |
|
Oversee the expense budgeting and payment process by which the financial administrator will accrue and make expense payments on behalf of the Fund Company; and |
|
Represent the Fund Company as Chief Financial Officer in SEC examinations as required. |
Exhibit (h)(iii)
EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of , 20 , is made and entered into by and between Datum One Series Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the Trust), on behalf of each of the investment series set forth on Schedule A attached hereto (each a Fund and collectively the Funds); and Polar Capital LLP, an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the Manager).
WHEREAS, the Manager has been appointed the investment manager of each of the Fund(s) pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement between the Trust and the Manager dated as of March 3, 2020 (the Management Agreement); and
WHEREAS, the Trust and the Manager (collectively, the Parties) each desire to enter into the arrangements described herein relating to certain expenses of the Fund(s);
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
1. The Manager agrees, subject to Section 2 hereof, to reduce the fees payable under the Management Agreement (but not below zero) and/or reimburse other expenses of the Fund(s) (including, but not limited to, organizational and offering costs), to the extent necessary to limit the total operating expenses of each Fund (exclusive of brokerage costs, interest, taxes, dividends, litigation and indemnification expenses, expenses associated with the investments in underlying investment companies and extraordinary expenses (as determined under generally accepted principles) (Non-Waivable Expenses)), to the amount of the Maximum Operating Expense Limit applicable to each class of each Fund as set forth on the attached Schedule A. Schedule A may be amended to add or delete a Fund or class, or to increase or decrease the Maximum Operating Expense Limit applicable to a Fund, as provided in this Agreement.
2. Each Fund agrees to repay to Manager (i) the amount of fees (including any amounts foregone through limitation or reimbursed pursuant to Section 1 hereof) that, but for Section 1 hereof, would have been payable by the Fund to Manager pursuant to the Management Agreement and (ii) the amount of expenses reimbursed by Manager in accordance with Section 1 (the Deferred Fees), subject to the limitations provided in this Section. Such repayment shall be made monthly, but only if the operating expenses of the Fund (exclusive of Non-Waivable Expenses), without regard to such repayment, are at an annual rate equal to or less than the Maximum Operating Expense Limit for each respective class of shares of the Fund, as set forth on Schedule A. Furthermore, the amount of Deferred Fees paid by a Fund in any month shall be limited so that the sum of (a) the amount of such payment and (b) the other operating expenses of the Fund (exclusive of Non-Waivable Expenses) do not exceed the Maximum Operating Expense Limit for such Fund.
3. Deferred Fees are subject to repayment by a Fund within the three fiscal years following the fiscal year in which the expenses occurred if the Fund is able to make the repayment without exceeding its current Maximum Operating Expense Limit or the Maximum Operating Expense Limit at the time of the initial waiver and/or reimbursement. In no event will a Fund be obligated to pay any fees waived or deferred with respect to any other Fund of the Trust.
4. This Agreement shall be in effect until the last day of March 2022 and shall automatically renew upon the effective date of the annual update to the Funds registration statement (after the Funds second fiscal year end) and annually from year to year on the effective date of each subsequent annual update to the Funds registration statement, until such time as the Manager provides written notice of non-renewal to the Trust. Such annual renewal will have the effect of extending this Agreement for an additional one-year term. Any notice of non-renewal of this Agreement shall be prospective only, and shall not affect a Partys existing obligations under this Agreement.
5. No amendment or modification to this Agreement, or any Schedule thereto, shall be valid unless made in writing and executed by the Trust and the Manager.
6. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original.
7. A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust establishing the Trust is on file with the Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed by the Trust on behalf of the Fund by an officer of the Trust as an officer and not individually and that the obligations of or arising out of this Agreement are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property belonging to the Fund.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
DATUM ONE SERIES TRUST | POLAR CAPITAL LLP | |||||||
By: | By: | |||||||
Name: | Barbara J. Nelligan | Name: | Nicholas Farren | |||||
Title: | President | Title: | COO |
Dated as of:
SCHEDULE A
to the
EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT
OPERATING EXPENSE LIMITS
Fund Name |
Class of Shares |
Maximum Operating Expense Limit1 |
||
Polar Capital Emerging Market Stars Fund | n/a | 1.00% |
DATUM ONE SERIES TRUST | POLAR CAPITAL LLP | |||||||
By: | By: | |||||||
Name: | Barbara J. Nelligan | Name: | Nicholas Farren | |||||
Title: | President | Title: | COO |
1 |
Expressed as a percentage of a Funds average daily net assets. |
Exhibit (h)(iv)
FUND ADMINISTRATION AND
ACCOUNTING SERVICES AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
DATUM ONE SERIES TRUST
AND
THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
Exhibit (h)(iv)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section | Page | |||||
1. | APPOINTMENT | 1 | ||||
2. | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES | 1 | ||||
3. | DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS | 2 | ||||
4. | SERVICES PROVIDED | 2 | ||||
5. | FEES AND EXPENSES | 3 | ||||
6. | DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY | 4 | ||||
7. | AUTHORIZED INSTRUCTIONS | 6 | ||||
8. | CONFIDENTIALITY | 7 | ||||
9. | TERM AND TERMINATION | 8 | ||||
10. | NOTICES | 9 | ||||
11. | FORCE MAJEURE | 9 | ||||
12. | ASSIGNABILITY | 9 | ||||
13. | NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES | 9 | ||||
14. | MISCELLANEOUS | 9 | ||||
SCHEDULE A FEE SCHEDULE |
13 | |||||
SCHEDULE B FUND ADMINISTRATION SERVICES |
15 | |||||
SCHEDULE C FUND ACCOUNTING SERVICES |
17 | |||||
SCHEDULE D FUND LIST |
18 |
FUND ADMINISTRATION AND
ACCOUNTING SERVICES AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of March 3, 2020 (this Agreement) by and between Datum One Series Trust (the Trust), a Massachusetts business trust, on behalf of each of the series of the Trust listed on Schedule D hereto, as it may be amended from time to time (each, a Fund and, collectively, the Funds) and The Northern Trust Company (Northern), an Illinois corporation.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Trust is a Massachusetts business trust and is registered as an open-end, management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act); and
WHEREAS, the Trust wishes to retain Northern to provide certain fund accounting and administration services with respect to the Funds, and Northern is willing to furnish such services;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants herein contained, it is agreed between the parties hereto as follows:
1. APPOINTMENT. The Trust hereby appoints Northern to provide services as described hereinafter, for the Trust and on behalf of each of the Funds, for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. Northern accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish the services herein set forth in return for the compensation as provided in Section 5 of and Schedule A to this Agreement.
2. |
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. |
(a) |
Northern represents and warrants to the Trust that: |
(i) |
Northern is a corporation, duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Illinois; |
(ii) |
Northern is duly qualified to carry on its business in the State of Illinois; |
(iii) |
Northern is empowered under applicable laws and by its Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws to enter into and perform this Agreement; |
(iv) |
All requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to authorize Northern to enter into and perform this Agreement; |
(v) |
Northern has, and will continue to have, access to the facilities, personnel and equipment required to fully perform its duties and obligations hereunder; |
(vi) |
no legal or administrative proceedings have been instituted or threatened which would materially impair Northerns ability to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement; and |
(vii) |
Northerns entrance into this Agreement shall not cause a material breach or be in material conflict with any other agreement or obligation of Northern or any law or regulation applicable to Northern. |
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(b) |
The Trust represents and warrants to Northern that: |
(i) |
the Trust is a business trust, duly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; |
(ii) |
the Trust is an investment company properly registered under the 1940 Act; |
(iii) |
the Trust has the power under applicable laws and by its organizational documents to enter into and perform this Agreement; |
(iv) |
all requisite actions have been taken by the Trust to authorize the Trust to enter into and perform this Agreement; |
(v) |
no legal or administrative proceedings have been instituted or threatened which would impact the Trusts ability to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement; and |
(vi) |
the Trusts execution of this Agreement shall not cause a material breach or be in material conflict with any other agreement or obligation of the Trust or any law or regulation applicable to it. |
3. DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS. The Funds will promptly furnish to Northern such copies, properly certified or authenticated, of contracts, documents and other related information that Northern may reasonably request or require to properly discharge its duties. Such documents may include but are not limited to the following:
(a) |
actions of or on behalf of a Fund authorizing the appointment of Northern to provide certain services to the Fund and approving this Agreement; |
(b) |
the Trusts governing documents, e.g., By-Laws, Declaration of Trust, etc.; |
(c) |
the Trusts currently effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 1933 Act), and the 1940 Act and the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information relating to each Fund and all amendments and supplements thereto as in effect from time to time; |
(d) |
opinions of counsel, if any, and auditors reports; and |
(e) |
such other agreements, certificates and documents as the Funds may enter into from time to time including securities lending agreements, futures and commodities account agreements, brokerage agreements and options agreements as may be necessary for Northern to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement. |
4. SERVICES PROVIDED.
(a) |
Northern will provide the following services subject to the control, direction and supervision of the Trust or its designee and in compliance with the procedures which may be established from time to time between the Trust and Northern; and all reasonable resolutions and policies implemented by the Trust: |
(i) |
Fund Administration, and |
(ii) |
Fund Accounting. |
A general description of each of the above services is contained in Schedules B and C, respectively, to this Agreement.
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(b) |
Northern will also keep records relating to the services contemplated herein in such form and manner as Northern may deem appropriate or advisable. Northern agrees that all such records prepared or maintained by Northern relating to the services provided hereunder are the property of the Funds and will be preserved and maintained at the Funds expense, provided such costs are reasonable, and will be made available upon request of the Fund to which such records relate. |
5. FEES AND EXPENSES.
(a) |
As compensation for the services rendered to the Funds pursuant to this Agreement, each Fund shall cause to be paid to Northern monthly fees determined as identified in Schedule D (Fund List) opposite such Funds name and as set forth in Schedule A (Fee Schedule) with respect to the services provided hereunder. Such fees are to be billed monthly and shall be due and payable within four (4) weeks following the original issuance of such bill. Upon any termination of the provision of services under this Agreement before the end of any month, the fee for the part of the month before such termination shall be prorated according to the proportion which such part bears to the full monthly period and shall be payable upon the date of such termination. |
(b) |
For the purpose of determining fees calculated as a function of a Funds assets, the value of a Funds assets and net assets shall be computed as required by its Prospectus, generally accepted accounting principles, and resolutions of the Trusts Board of Trustees. |
(c) |
The Trust may request additional services, additional processing, or special reports which are not contemplated in this Agreement, and will provide such specifications and requirements documentation as may be reasonably required by Northern. If Northern elects to provide such services or arranges for such services to be provided, it shall be entitled to additional fees and expenses at its customary rates and charges as agreed upon in writing by the parties. |
(d) |
Northern will bear its own expenses in connection with the performance of the services under this Agreement, except as provided herein or as agreed to by the parties in writing. The Funds agree to promptly reimburse Northern for reasonable expenses incurred for any services, equipment or supplies ordered by or for a Fund through Northern and for any other expenses that Northern may incur on the Funds behalf at the Funds request or as consented to by the Fund. Such other expenses to be incurred in the operation of the Funds and to be borne by the Funds include, but are not limited to: taxes, interest, brokerage fees and commissions; salaries and fees, if any, of officers; processing services and related fees; postage and mailing costs; costs of share certificates; advisory and administration fees; charges and expenses of pricing and data services, independent public accountants and custodians; insurance premiums including fidelity bond premiums; legal expenses; consulting fees; customary bank charges and fees; costs of maintenance of trust existence; expenses of typesetting and printing of offering documents for regulatory purposes and for distribution to current and prospective shareholders of the Funds; expenses of printing and production costs of shareholder reports; costs and expenses of Fund stationery and forms; costs and expenses of special telephone and data lines and devices; costs associated with shareholder meetings; trade association dues and expenses; reprocessing costs to Northern caused by third party errors; and any extraordinary expenses and other customary Fund expenses. In addition, |
Page 3
Northern may utilize one or more independent pricing services to obtain securities prices and to act as backup to the primary pricing services in connection with determining the net asset values of the Funds. Each Fund will reimburse Northern for such Funds share of the cost of such services based upon the actual usage by the Fund of the services for the benefit of the Fund. |
(e) |
All fees, out-of-pocket expenses and additional charges of Northern shall be billed on a monthly basis and shall be due and payable upon receipt of the invoice. |
6. DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.
(a) |
Northern shall be responsible for the performance of only such duties as are set forth in this Agreement. In the performance of its duties hereunder, Northern shall be obligated, as applicable, to exercise the due care and diligence of a professional fund administrator, and fund accountant in providing the services called for in this Agreement, including the services referenced in Section 4 of this Agreement, and in all events shall act in good faith in performing the services provided for under this Agreement. |
(b) |
Northern shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss or expense suffered by the Fund in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, except for a loss or expense directly caused by or resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence on Northerns part in the performance of or from reckless disregard by Northern of the obligations and duties specifically set forth in this Agreement. Northern shall not be liable for any special, indirect, incidental or consequential damages of any kind whatsoever (including, without limitation, attorneys fees) under any provision of this Agreement. |
(c) |
Subject to Sections 6(a) and 6(b) above, Northern shall not be responsible for, and the Trust and the Funds shall indemnify and hold Northern, its directors, officers, employees and agents (the Indemnitees) harmless from and against, any and all losses, damages, costs, reasonable attorneys fees and expenses, payments, expenses and liabilities that may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any of the Indemnitees in connection with or arising out of: |
(i) |
Northerns performance of the services in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and any and all actions of Northern or its officers, employees or agents required to be taken pursuant to this Agreement; |
(ii) |
the reasonable reliance on or use by Northern or its officers, employees or agents of information, records or documents which are received by Northern or its officers, employees or agents and furnished to them by or on behalf of the Trust or any Fund, and which have been prepared or maintained by the Trust or any Fund, or any third party on behalf of the Trust or any Fund; |
(iii) |
the Trusts refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement or the Trusts lack of good faith, or its actions, or lack thereof, involving negligence or willful misfeasance; |
(iv) |
the breach of any representation or warranty of the Trust hereunder; |
Page 4
(v) |
the reasonable reliance by Northern on telephone or other electronic instructions of any person acting on behalf of a shareholder or shareholder account for which telephone or other electronic services have been authorized; |
(vi) |
the reasonable reliance on or the carrying out by Northern or its officers, employees or agents of any instructions reasonably believed to be given by a duly authorized person of the Trust or recognition by Northern of any certificates representing shareholder interests which are reasonably believed to bear the signatures of the officers of the Trust and the countersignature of any transfer agent or registrar of the Trust; |
(vii) |
any delays, inaccuracies, incompleteness of, errors in or omissions from information or data provided to Northern by data, corporate action or pricing services or securities brokers and dealers; |
(viii) |
the offer or sale of securities by a Fund in violation of any requirement under the Federal securities laws or regulations or the securities laws or regulations of any state, or in violation of any stop order or other determination or ruling by any Federal agency or any state agency with respect to the offer or sale of such shares in such state; |
(ix) |
any failure of the Trusts offering documents to comply with applicable laws, or any untrue statement therein of a material fact or omission of a material fact necessary to make any statement therein not misleading; |
(x) |
the failure of the Trust to comply with applicable securities, tax, commodities and other laws, rules and regulations, unless such failure was the result of the Trusts reasonable reliance on information provided by Northern; and |
(xi) |
all actions, inactions, omissions, or errors caused by or resulting from the willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence of third parties to whom Northern or the Trust has assigned any rights and/or delegated any duties under this Agreement at the request of or as required by the Trust, provided that each of such third parties was chosen by the Trust. |
(d) |
In performing its services hereunder, Northern shall be entitled to rely and shall have no liability for acting upon any Authorized Instructions, notices or other communications, including electronic transmissions, from the Trust and its custodian, officers and trustees, agents and other service providers which Northern reasonably believes to be genuine, valid and authorized, and shall be indemnified by the Trust for any loss or expense caused by such reasonable reliance. |
(e) |
Northern shall indemnify and hold the Trust harmless from and against any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, reasonable attorneys fees and expenses, payments, expenses and liabilities directly arising out of or attributable to Northerns refusal or failure to comply with the material terms of this Agreement; Northerns breach of any material representation made by it herein; or Northerns lack of good faith, or acts involving negligence, willful misfeasance or reckless disregard of the duties specifically set forth in this Agreement. |
(f) |
The indemnifications contained hereunder shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
Page 5
(g) |
Northern may, at the expense of the Trust, in connection with matters arising under this Agreement as a result of an instruction, request or information provided by the Trust, obtain the advice and opinion for the professional advisors to the Trust or its own professional advisors and Northern shall be entitled to rely on the advice or opinion of such professional advisors and, subject to Section 6(b) above, Northern shall not be liable for any loss suffered by any Fund as a result of any act taken by Northern in reliance upon such advice. |
(h) |
Northern is not, and nor shall be, responsible for the management of the investments or any other assets of the Funds, including (but not limited to) the management, verification and/or monitoring of adherence to the investment policies, objectives, guidelines and restrictions applicable thereto from time to time. Consequently, Northern is not, nor shall be, liable to a Fund or any other person for any loss or damage suffered by any such person as a result of any breach of investment policies, objectives, guidelines and/or restrictions applicable in respect of any Fund. Without prejudice to the foregoing, any procedures implemented by Northern to monitor or test compliance by a Fund with its investment policies, objectives, guidelines and/or restrictions shall not be relied upon by any Fund or any other person. |
(i) |
In calculating the Net Asset Value of a Fund, Northern shall not be liable for any loss suffered by any Fund by reason of any error resulting from any inaccuracy in the information provided by any pricing service. Where practicable, Northern shall use commercially reasonable efforts to confirm with third parties pricing information supplied by the Fund or any connected person thereof (including a connected person which is a broker, market maker or other intermediary) or its delegates. However, in certain circumstances it may not be possible or practicable for Northern to verify such information and in such circumstances Northern shall not be deemed to be negligent, fraudulent or in willful default of its obligations hereunder and shall not be liable for any loss suffered by a Fund or any other person by reason of any error in the calculation of the Net Asset Value resulting from any inaccuracy in the information provided by any Fund or its delegates. In circumstances where Northern is directed by a Fund to use particular pricing services, brokers, market makers or other intermediaries, Northern shall not be liable for any loss suffered by any Fund or any other person by reason of error in the calculation of Net Asset Value resulting from any inaccuracy in the information provided by such pricing services, brokers, market makers or other intermediaries. |
7. AUTHORIZED INSTRUCTIONS
(a) |
Where Northern is required under this Agreement (or otherwise agrees) to act on instructions from a Fund, or any party authorized by a Fund, Northern shall do so upon receipt of Authorized Instructions which may be standing Authorized Instructions. Any Authorized Instructions given to Northern shall bind the applicable Fund(s). |
(b) |
In acting on any Authorized Instructions, Northern is entitled to assume that (i) the Authorized Person providing such Authorized Instructions has complied with any relevant obligations set out in any governing documents of the Fund, and (b) such Authorized Instruction is in accordance with applicable law. Northern is under no obligation to review the propriety or legality of any Authorized Instructions received by it. |
Page 6
(c) |
The Trust acknowledges that the Authorized Persons are authorized to give Authorized Instructions to Northern on behalf of the applicable Fund for the purposes of this Agreement and Northern is entitled to rely on the authenticity of the signatures and Authorized Instructions given or purported to be given by a Funds Authorized Persons and Northern is not liable for any claim, damage, expense, loss or liability arising from such reasonable reliance. Such persons will continue to be Authorized Persons until such time as Northern receives Authorized Instructions from a Fund (or its agent) that any such person is no longer an Authorized Person. |
(d) |
Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, an Authorized Instruction continues in full force and effect until specifically cancelled or superseded by a subsequent Authorized Instruction. |
(e) |
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, instructions, directions and other communications provided under this Agreement may be given to Northern by letter, telex, SWIFT or other electronic or electro-mechanical means deemed acceptable by Northern, including the use of Northerns Northern Trust Passport® applications, subject to such additional terms and conditions as Northern may require. |
(f) |
Authorized Instructions means instructions, directions or other communications given to Northern pursuant to the terms of this Agreement in respect of any of the matters referred to in this Agreement. In instances indicated in advance by the Trust, Northern may also act pursuant to telephonic instructions given by designated persons and such telephonic instructions shall be deemed to be Authorized Instructions within the meaning of this definition. Any instructions, directions or other communications given to Northern by telephone shall promptly thereafter be confirmed in writing, but Northern will incur no liability for the Funds failure, or the failure of an investment manager, to send such written confirmation or for the failure of any such written confirmation to conform to the telephonic instruction received by Northern. |
(g) |
Authorized Person means, in respect of any instruction or communication, any person who Northern reasonably believes in good faith to be any person held out by or professing to have authority to act on behalf of Fund as being authorized by the Fund to issue instructions to Northern. |
8. CONFIDENTIALITY.
(a) |
Confidential Information means any information, correspondence, data, documents, reports, projections, forecasts, statements, records and accounts, whether in written, pictorial, oral, computer printout and other forms, databases, computer programs, screen formats, screen designs, report formats, interactive design techniques, and other related information all of a confidential nature furnished to a party by the other party, for the purposes of this Agreement. |
(b) |
In connection with the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, each party may obtain certain Confidential Information of the other party and each party agrees that it shall use reasonable precautions in accordance with its established policies and procedures to keep such Confidential Information confidential; provided, however, that (i) a party may disclose Confidential Information with the other partys prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) and (ii) any of such Confidential Information may be disclosed to the other partys affiliates or to such other partys or its affiliates directors, officers, employees, advisors or agents who need to know such information in order for such other party to be able to perform its duties under this Agreement (Representatives) (it being understood that such Representatives shall be |
Page 7
informed of the confidential nature of such information and shall be directed to treat such information in accordance with the terms of this Agreement). The above prohibition of disclosure shall not apply to the extent that the Transfer Agent must disclose such data to its subcontractor or the Trust agent for purposes of providing services under this Agreement. |
(c) |
Other than as permitted herein, each party shall be permitted to disclose the Confidential Information to the extent, and only to such extent, required by law or regulation or requested by any governmental agency or other regulatory authority or in connection with any legal proceedings after (i) promptly notifying the other party of such requirement in order to provide such other party with the opportunity to pursue legal or other action to prevent the release of such Confidential Information and (ii) receiving permission for the disclosure from such other party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, notification to the other party shall not be required in the event that such disclosure is requested by a regulatory authority with supervisory authority over the disclosing party or is prohibited by applicable law or legal process. |
(d) |
For purposes of this Agreement, Confidential Information does not include: (i) information that is or becomes publicly available other than as a result of disclosure by either party or its Representatives in violation of this Agreement, (ii) was within a partys possession prior to its being furnished pursuant hereto or becomes available on a non-confidential basis from a source other than either party or its Representatives, or (iii) was independently developed by the receiving party. |
9. TERM AND TERMINATION.
(a) |
This Agreement shall become effective on the date first set forth above (the Effective Date) and shall continue in effect thereafter for an initial two (2) year period from that date, unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 9(b) or Section 9(c). Unless terminated earlier, the Agreement shall remain in full force from year to year thereafter, subject to annual review by the Board. |
(b) |
This Agreement may be terminated at any time by either party by providing the other party with at least ninety (90) days written notice of termination, specifying the date of such termination |
(c) |
Either of the parties hereto may terminate this Agreement immediately upon notice to the other party (the defaulting party) for cause. For purposes of this Agreement, cause shall mean (a) a material breach of this Agreement by the defaulting party that has not been remedied for thirty (30) days following written notice of such breach from the non-breaching party; or (b) a receiver, receiver and manager, examiner or liquidator is appointed by the defaulting party, or the defaulting party makes any composition or arrangement with its creditors. |
(d) |
Upon the date set forth in such notice under Section 9(b) or Section 9(c), this Agreement shall terminate to the extent specified in such notice, and the Trust shall pay Northern such compensation and any out-of-pocket or other reimbursable expenses which may become due or payable under the terms hereof as of the date of termination or after the date that the provision of services ceases, whichever is later. In the event that the Trust serves notice of its intention to terminate the custody agreement in place between it and Northern or any affiliate of Northern with respect to any Fund, Northern may terminate this Agreement with respect to such Fund by notice in writing to the Trust, such termination to take effect on the same date as the termination of the aforementioned custody agreement. |
Page 8
10. NOTICES. Any notice required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed effective on the date of personal delivery (by private messenger, courier service or otherwise) or upon confirmed receipt of telex or facsimile, whichever occurs first, or upon receipt if by mail to the parties at the following address (or such other address as a party may specify by notice to the other):
If to the Trust:
Datum One Trust
50 LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60603
Attention: Datum One Trust
If to Northern:
The Northern Trust Company
50 LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60603
Attention: Head of GFS North America
11. FORCE MAJEURE. Neither Party shall not be responsible or liable for any harm, loss or damage suffered by the Trust, its shareholders or third parties or for any failure or delay in performance of either partys obligations under this Agreement arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond the relevant partys control, including, but not limited to, delays, errors or interruptions caused by the Trust or third parties, any industrial, juridical, governmental, civil or military action, acts of terrorism, insurrection or revolution, nuclear fusion, fission or radiation, failure or fluctuation in electrical power, heat, light, air conditioning or telecommunications equipment, or acts of God (collectively, force majeure). In the event of force majeure, any resulting harm, loss, damage, failure or delay by either party will not give the other party the right to terminate this Agreement. Northern agrees to act in accordance with its Business Continuity Plan in effect from time to time, when it is commercially reasonable to do so.
12. ASSIGNABILITY. This Agreement shall not be assigned by any of the parties hereto without the prior consent in writing of the other party, except that Northern may assign this Agreement to a successor of all or a substantial portion of its business, or to a party controlling, controlled by or under common control with Northern.
13. NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. Except as explicitly stated elsewhere in this Agreement, nothing under this Agreement shall be construed to give any rights or benefits in this Agreement to anyone other than Northern and the Trust, and the duties and responsibilities undertaken pursuant to this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of Northern and the Trust. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns.
14. PRIVACY REQUIREMENTS
(a) |
Northern shall not collect, retain, use, sell, or disclose Personal Information (as defined in this Section) except as necessary to perform its responsibilities pursuant to the Agreement or as required by law. Northern shall not disclose Personal Information to any third party for monetary or other valuable consideration or retain, use, or disclose Personal information outside of the direct business relationship between Northern and the Trust. |
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(b) |
Northern has implemented, and shall maintain throughout the term of the Agreement, reasonable security procedures and practices appropriate to the nature of the Personal Information to protect the Personal Information. |
(c) |
Personal information is defined for purposes of this Section 14 as information about California residents (a consumer) that identifies, relates to, describes, is reasonably capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked, directly or indirectly, with a particular consumer or household (Personal Information). |
15. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) |
Amendments. This Agreement may be modified or amended from time to time by mutual written agreement between the parties. No provision of this Agreement may be changed, discharged, or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the change, discharge or termination is sought. |
(b) |
Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, the balance of the Agreement shall remain in effect, and if any provision is inapplicable to any person or circumstance it shall nevertheless remain applicable to all other persons and circumstances. |
(c) |
Waiver. The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver nor shall it deprive such party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to the term of any term of this Agreement. Any waiver must be in writing signed by the waiving party. |
(d) |
Headings. All section headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, do not form a part of this Agreement and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. |
(e) |
Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois. |
(f) |
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall, together, constitute only one instrument. Any such counterpart, to the extent delivered by means of a facsimile machine or by .pdf, .tif, .gif, .jpg or similar attachment to electronic mail, shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original executed counterpart. |
(g) |
Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties and supersedes all prior agreements and understanding between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof. |
(h) |
Personal Liability. The Trust and Northern agree that the obligations of the Trust/Funds under this Agreement shall not be binding upon or any member of the Board of Trustees or any shareholder, nominee, officer, employee or agent, whether past, present or future, of the Trust individually, but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Trust or of the appropriate Fund(s) thereof. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been duly authorized by the Trust and signed by an authorized officer of the Trust, acting |
Page 10
as such, but neither such authorization by the Trust or such execution and delivery by such officer shall be deemed to have been made by any member of the Board of Trustees or by any officer or shareholder of the Trust individually or to impose any liability on any of them personally, but shall bind only the assets and property of the Trust or of the appropriate Fund(s) thereof. |
[Signature Page Follows]
Page 11
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective representatives duly authorized as of the day and year first above written.
DATUM ONE SERIES TRUST |
||
By: |
/s/ Barbara J. Nelligan |
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Name: |
Barbara J. Nelligan |
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Title: |
President |
The undersigned, Toni M. Bugni, does hereby certify that he/she is the duly elected, qualified and acting Secretary of Datum One Series Trust (the Trust) and further certifies that the person whose signature appears above is a duly elected, qualified and acting officer of the Trust with full power and authority to execute this Agreement on behalf of the Trust and to take such other actions and execute such other documents as may be necessary to effectuate this Agreement.
/s/ Toni M. Bugni |
Secretary |
THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY |
||
By: |
/s/ Scott A. Denning |
|
Name: |
Scott A. Denning |
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Title: |
Senior Vice President |
Page 12
SCHEDULE B
FUND ADMINISTRATION SERVICES
Northern shall provide the following services, in each case, subject to the direction of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and Fund management and in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the Trust:
Description of Administration Services on a Continuous Basis:
|
As requested, consult with the Trusts officers, independent accountants, legal counsel, custodian, fund accountant, distributor and transfer agent in establishing the financial administrative policies and procedures of the Trust; |
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Provide a President/Principal Executive Officer and Secretary. |
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Provide necessary office space and equipment for the day-to-day management of the Trust; |
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Maintain Board and regulatory filing calendars; |
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Prepare for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) the following documents (as required): Form N-CEN, Form N-CSR, Form N-PORT, Form N-PX, Form N-MFP, Form N-CR, Form N-LIQUID and all amendments to the Registration Statements, including annual updates of the Prospectus(es) and Statements Additional Information for each Fund and any supplements thereto; |
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Prepare and coordinate the filing of Rule 24f-2 notices, including coordination of related payment, if necessary; |
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Work with vendor and adviser to prepare and file necessary blue sky filings as required by the laws of individual states and U.S. jurisdictions; |
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Obtain and maintain the Trusts fidelity bond and directors and officers errors and omissions insurance policies at the expense of the Funds and coordinate the fidelity bond filing under Rule 17g-1 with the SEC; |
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Work with Fund counsel in the preparation and filing with the SEC of proxy statements; |
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Attend and assist in the conduct of shareholder meetings and prepare scripts for and minutes of such meetings; |
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Advise and consult with Trust management and the investment adviser on matters pertaining to new Fund launches or new share classes, and assist with the deregistration of a Fund/class when applicable; |
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Prepare and review with Fund counsel and Trust management the agenda, resolutions and notices for all requested Board of Trustees and Committee meetings, attend meetings as appropriate or requested, prepare minutes for Board and Committee meetings; |
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Maintain books and records for information under the control of or produced by Northern Trust for each Fund as required under Rule 31a-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), and comply with SEC requirements in advance of and during examinations; |
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Assist each Fund in the production of documentation for routine regulatory examinations of the Trust and each Fund relative to Board and Committee meetings and filings described herein and work closely with the legal counsel in response to any non-routine regulatory matters; |
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Maintain awareness of significant emerging regulatory and legislative developments that may affect the Trust or the Funds and update the Board, Trust management, and the applicable investment adviser on such developments; |
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Monitor each Funds status as a regulated investment company under Sub-Chapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and advise Trust management and the applicable investment adviser of any potential or actual violations; |
Page 15
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Provide periodic testing of the Fund(s) requirements under the 1940 Act and limitations contained in the Registration Statements as may be mutually agreed upon, including compliance reporting to the designated Officer(s) of the Trust; |
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Compute tax basis provisions for both excise and income tax purposes; |
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Facilitate and support the preparation of the Trust federal and state tax returns (including Form 1120-RIC, Form 8613, and any applicable state returns) and extension requests by the Trusts independent accountants, review the tax returns prepared by the Trusts independent accountants for consistency with Northerns tax provisions and knowledge of the Trust, and provide copies to the Trusts Treasurer for review, execution and filing; |
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Prepare any supplemental tax information that is required at calendar year-end for mailing to shareholders or designated parties (including the ICI primary and secondary layouts sent to the broker dealer community); |
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Calculate annual minimum distribution calculations (income and capital gain) prior to their declaration; |
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Coordinate the audit of the Trusts financial statements by the Trusts independent accountants and provide applicable fund information, as requested, and office facilities for audits as necessary; |
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Provide applicable fund information, as requested, in connection with audits and examinations by regulatory bodies; |
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Prepare the annual and semi-annual shareholder reports (not including any Shareholder Letters or Managements Discussion of Fund Performance); |
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Prepare for review by the designated Officer(s) of the Trust annual fund expense budgets, perform accrual analyses and roll forward calculations and recommend changes to fund expense accruals on a periodic basis, arrange for payment of the Trusts expenses and obtain authorization of accrual changes and expense payments; |
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Prepare and furnish total return performance information for the Fund(s), including such information on an after-tax basis, calculated in accordance with applicable U.S. securities laws and regulations, as may be reasonably requested by Trust management; |
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Provide sub-certifications in connection with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 with respect to services provided by Northern; |
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Provide Northerns Compliance Program for Registered Fund Clients annually; and |
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Provide the results of testing of the key controls of Northerns Compliance Program for Registered Fund Clients quarterly. |
Page 16
SCHEDULE C
FUND ACCOUNTING SERVICES
Northern shall provide the following services, in each case, subject to the direction of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and Fund management and in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the Trust:
Description of Accounting Services on a Continuous Basis:
|
As requested, consult with the Trusts officers, independent accountants, legal counsel, custodian, financial administrator, distributor and transfer agent in establishing the accounting policies and procedures of the Trust; |
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Maintain the books and records for the Trusts assets including records of all securities transactions; |
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Calculation of the Funds Net Asset Value per share utilizing prices obtained from mutually agreeable sources and transmitting valuation as required by the Trust and the investment adviser; |
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Execute Security Pricing in accordance with Trusts pricing policy; |
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Reconcile positions, entitlements, accruals and cash with custody records and provide the investment adviser with the beginning cash balance available for investment purposes; |
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Calculate monthly SEC yield, as applicable, and transmit information as required by the investment adviser; |
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Verify and timely record investment buy/sell trade tickets when received from the investment adviser for the Fund; |
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Compute, as appropriate, and in consultation with the Trusts auditors and tax advisors, the net income and capital gains and losses, dividend payables, dividend factors, yields and weighted average maturity; |
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Determine unrealized appreciation and depreciation on securities held by the Trust; |
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Amortize premiums and accrete discounts on securities purchased at a price other than face value as directed by the Trust; |
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Post Trust transactions to appropriate categories; |
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Accrue expenses as established in the expense budget of the Trust; |
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Determine the outstanding receivables and payables for all security trades, portfolio share transactions and income and expense accounts and distributions in accordance with the Trust policies and procedures; |
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Coordinate with the Trusts independent auditors and provide accounting reports in connection with the Trusts regular annual audit and other routine audits and examinations by regulatory agencies; and |
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Maintain historical tax lots for each security. |
Page 17
SCHEDULE D
FUND LIST
Fund Name |
Investment Manager |
Fees |
||
Polar Capital Emerging Market Stars Fund |
Polar Capital LLP | As set forth in Part 1 and Part 2 Option A of Schedule A (Fee Schedule). |
Page 18
Exhibit (p)(i)
DATUM ONE SERIES TRUST
CODE OF ETHICS
Adopted Under Rule 17j-1
The Datum One Series Trust (the Trust) is confident that its officers, Trustees and other persons involved with the Trusts business act with integrity and good faith. The Trust recognizes, however, that personal interests may conflict with the Trusts interests where officers, trustees and certain other persons:
|
Know about the Trusts present or future portfolio transactions; or |
|
Have the power to influence the Trusts portfolio transactions; and |
|
Engage in securities transactions in their personal account(s). |
In an effort to prevent conflicts of interest from arising, and in accordance with Rule 17j-l under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Trust has adopted this Code of Ethics (the Code) to address transactions and conduct that may create conflicts of interest, establish reporting requirements, and create enforcement procedures. Definitions of underlined terms used throughout the Code are included in Appendix I.
I. |
ABOUT THIS CODE OF ETHICS |
A. |
Who is Covered by the Code? |
The Trusts access persons are covered under this Code. The Trusts access persons generally are:
|
All Trustees of the Trust, both interested and independent; |
|
All Fund Officers; |
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Any Advisory Person of a Fund or a Funds investment Adviser; and |
|
Any natural persons in a control relationship to the Trust who obtain information concerning recommendations about the purchase or sale of a security by the Trust (Natural Control Persons). |
B. |
What Rules Apply to Me? |
|
This Code sets forth specific prohibitions and restrictions. They apply to all access persons of the Trust except where otherwise noted. The Code also sets out reporting requirements for access persons. For the reporting requirements that apply to you, please refer to Parts A, B and C, as indicated below: |
Independent Trustees |
Part A |
|
Interested Trustees and Fund Officers |
Part B |
|
Natural Control Persons |
Part C |
II. |
STATEMENT OF GENERAL PRINCIPLES |
In recognition of the trust and confidence placed in the Trust by shareholders, and because the Trust believes that its operations should benefit its shareholders, the Trust has adopted the following principles to be followed by its access persons:
A. |
The interests of the Trusts shareholders are paramount. You must place shareholder interests before your own. |
B. |
You must accomplish all personal securities transactions in a manner that avoids any conflict between your personal interests and the interests of the Trust or its shareholders. |
C. |
You must avoid actions or activities that allow you or your family to benefit from your position with the Trust, or that bring into question your independence or judgment. |
III. |
GENERAL PROHIBITION AGAINST FRAUD, DECEIT AND MANIPULATION |
The Trusts access persons may not, in connection with the purchase or sale, directly or indirectly, of a Security held or to be acquired by the Trust:
A. |
Employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud the Trust; |
B. |
Make to the Trust any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state to the Trust a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading; |
C. |
Engage in any act, practice or course of business that operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon the Trust; or |
D. |
Engage in any manipulative practice with respect to the Trust. |
IV. |
PROHIBITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS FOR ACCESS PERSONS |
(not applicable to Independent Trustees)
A. |
Blackout Period on Personal Securities Transactions. |
This restriction applies to: (i) access persons who, in connection with their regular duties, make, participate in, or obtain information regarding the purchase or sale of Securities by the Trust or whose functions relate to the making of any recommendations with respect to the purchases or sales and (ii) Natural Control Persons.
-2-
These persons may not purchase or sell, directly or indirectly, any Security in which they have (or by reason of such transaction acquire) any beneficial ownership on the same day as the same (or a related) Security is being purchased or sold by the Trust (or any series thereof).
B. |
Pre-Approval for IPOs and Limited Offerings. |
This restriction applies to: (i) access persons who, in connection with their duties, make or participate in making recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of any securities by the Trust and (ii) Natural Control Persons. These persons must obtain approval from the Trusts Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) before directly or indirectly acquiring beneficial ownership of any securities in an IPO or limited offering.
C. |
Limits on Accepting or Receiving Gifts. |
Access persons cannot accept or receive any gift of more than de minimis value from any person or entity in connection with the Trusts (or any series thereof) entry into a contract, development of an economic relationship, or other course of dealing by or on behalf of the Trust.
V. |
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS |
Access persons of the Trust must comply with the reporting requirements set forth in Parts A-C (attached), with the exception of those access persons reporting subject to Section VIII of this Code.
VI. |
REVIEW AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE CODE |
A. |
Chief Compliance Officer. |
The Trusts CCO shall perform the duties described below.
B. |
The CCOs Duties and Responsibilities. |
1. |
The CCO shall notify each person who becomes an access person of the Trust and who is required to report under this Code of Ethics of their reporting requirements no later than 10 days before the first quarter in which such person is required to begin reporting. |
2. |
The CCO will, on a quarterly basis, compare all reported personal securities transactions with the Trusts completed portfolio transactions during the period to determine whether a Code violation may have occurred. Before determining that a person has violated the Code, the CCO must give the person a reasonable opportunity to supply explanatory material. |
-3-
3. |
If the CCO finds that a material Code violation has occurred, or believes that a material Code violation may have occurred, the CCO must submit a written report regarding the possible violation, together with the confidential report and any explanatory material provided by the person, to the President. The CCO and the President will determine whether the person violated the Code and may consult legal counsel for the Trust in making this determination, as necessary. |
4. |
No person is required to participate in a determination of whether he or she has committed a Code violation or discuss the imposition of any sanction against himself or herself. |
5. |
The CCO will submit his or her own reports, if required, to the President who shall fulfill the duties of the CCO with respect to the CCOs reports. |
6. |
The CCO will create a written report detailing any approval(s) granted to access persons for the acquisition of securities offered in connection with an IPO or limited offering. The report must include the rationale supporting any decision to approve such an acquisition. |
C. |
Resolution; Sanctions. |
If the CCO and the President determine that a person has violated the Code pursuant to paragraph B(3) above, the CCO will impose upon the person a resolution of the situation and/or sanctions that the CCO deems appropriate. The CCO will submit the resolution, with a report of the violation, to the Board at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting unless, in the CCOs sole discretion, circumstances warrant an earlier report.
VII. |
ANNUAL WRITTEN REPORTS TO THE BOARD |
At least annually, the CCO, investment adviser(s) (including any sub-advisers), and principal underwriter(s) (if required) will provide written reports to the Trusts Board of Trustees as follows:
A. |
Issues arising under the Code. The reports must describe any issue(s) that arose during the previous year under the codes or procedures thereto, including any material code or procedural violations, and any resulting sanction(s). |
-4-
B. |
The CCO, investment adviser(s) (including any sub-advisers) and principal underwriter(s) may report to the Board more frequently as they deem necessary or appropriate and shall do so as requested by the Board. |
C. |
Certification. Each report must be accompanied by a certification to the Board that the Trust, investment adviser(s) (including any sub-advisers) and principal underwriter(s), as applicable, has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent their access persons from violating its code of ethics. |
VIII. |
INTERRELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER CODES OF ETHICS |
A. |
General Principle: Overlapping Responsibilities. |
A person who is both an access person of the Trust and an access person of an investment adviser, principal underwriter or specified service provider to the Trust is only required to report under and otherwise comply with the investment advisers, principal underwriters or specified service providers code of ethics, provided such code has been adopted pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 17j-l. Such report will satisfy any reporting obligations under this Code. These access persons, however, remain subject to the principles and prohibitions in Sections II and III hereof.
B. |
Procedures. |
Each such investment adviser, principal underwriter and specified service provider of the Trust must:
1. |
Submit to the Board of Trustees of the Trust a copy of its code of ethics adopted pursuant to or in compliance with Rule 17j-l; |
2. |
Promptly furnish to the Trust, upon request, copies of any reports made under its code of ethics by any person who is also covered by the Trusts Code; and |
3. |
Promptly report to the Trust in writing any material amendments to its code of ethics, along with the certification described under Section VII.C., above. |
IX. |
RECORDKEEPING |
The Trust will maintain the following records in accordance with Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act and the following requirements. They will be available for examination by representatives of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other regulatory agencies.
A. |
A copy of this Code and any other code adopted by the Trust, which is, or at any time within the past five years has been, in effect will be preserved in an easily accessible place. |
-5-
B. |
A record of any material Code violation and of any sanctions taken will be preserved in an easily accessible place for a period of at least five years following the end of the fiscal year in which the violation occurred. |
C. |
A copy of each Quarterly Transaction Report, Initial Holdings Report, and Annual Holdings Report submitted under this Code, including any information provided in lieu of any such reports made under the Code (see Parts A-C for more information about reporting), will be preserved for a period of at least five years from the end of the fiscal year in which it is made, for the first two years in an easily accessible place. |
D. |
A record of all persons, currently or within the past five years, who are or were required to submit reports under this Code, or who are or were responsible for reviewing these reports, will be maintained in an easily accessible place. |
E. |
A copy of each annual report required by Section VII of this Code must be maintained for at least five years from the end of the fiscal year in which it is made, for the first two years in any easily accessible place. |
F. |
A record of any decision, and the reasons supporting the decision, to approve the acquisition of securities acquired in an IPO or limited offering. |
X. |
MISCELLANEOUS |
A. |
Confidentiality. |
All reports and other information submitted to the Trust pursuant to this Code will be treated as confidential to the maximum extent possible, provided that such reports and information may be produced to the SEC and other regulatory agencies and to persons who have a need to know for purposes of administering this Code.
B. |
Interpretation of Provisions. |
The Board of Trustees may from time to time adopt such interpretations of this Code as it deems appropriate.
C. |
Compliance Certification. |
Within 10 days of becoming an access person of the Trust, and each year thereafter, each such person must complete the Compliance Certification, attached as Appendix V.
Adopted: [March 3, 2020]
-6-
PART AINDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
I. |
QUARTERLY TRANSACTION AND ACCOUNT REPORTS |
A. |
Subject to Section II. (B) below, each quarter, you must report all of your Securities transactions effected, as well as any securities accounts you established, during the quarter. You must submit your report to the CCO no later than 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter. A Quarterly Personal Securities Transactions Report Form is included as Appendix II. |
B. |
If you had no reportable transactions and did not open any securities accounts during the quarter, you are still required to submit a report. Please note on your report that you had no reportable items during the quarter, and return it, signed and dated. |
C. |
You need not submit a quarterly report if the report would duplicate information in broker trade confirmations or account statements received by the Trust, provided that all required information is contained in the broker trade confirmations or account statements and is received by the CCO no later than 30 days after the end of the calendar quarter. Please see the CCO for more information about this reporting mechanism. |
II. |
WHAT MUST BE INCLUDED IN YOUR QUARTERLY REPORTS? |
A. |
You must report all transactions in Securities that: (i) you directly or indirectly beneficially own or (ii) because of the transaction, you acquire direct or indirect beneficial ownership. In addition, you must also report any account you established during the quarter in which any securities were held for your direct or indirect benefit. |
B. |
Notwithstanding Section I above, reports of individual Securities transactions are required only if you knew at the time of the transaction, or in the ordinary course of fulfilling your official duties as a Trustee should have known, that during the 15-day period immediately preceding or following the date of your transaction, the same Security was purchased or sold, or was being considered for purchase or sale, by the Trust (or any series thereof). Also notwithstanding Section I above, you are required to report the opening of a securities account only if the account holds or held securities that are the subject of a report required under this paragraph B. |
A-1
The should have known standard does not:
|
imply a duty of inquiry; |
|
presume you should have deduced or extrapolated from discussions or memoranda dealing with the Trusts (or a series) investment strategies; or |
|
impute knowledge from your awareness of the Trusts (or a series) portfolio holdings, market considerations, or investment policies, objectives and restrictions. |
III. |
WHAT MAY BE EXCLUDED FROM YOUR QUARTERLY REPORTS? |
You are not required to detail or list the following items on your quarterly report:
A. |
Securities accounts, as well as purchases or sales effected for or Securities held in any account, over which you have no direct or indirect influence or control; |
B. |
Purchases you made solely with the dividend proceeds received in a dividend reinvestment plan or that are part of an automatic payroll deduction plan, where you purchased a Security issued by your employer; |
C. |
Purchases effected on the exercise of rights issued by an issuer pro rata to all holders of a class of its Securities, as long as you acquired these rights from the issuer, and sales of such rights; |
D. |
Purchases or sales which are non-volitional, including purchases or sales upon the exercise of written puts or calls and securities sold at a brokers discretion from a margin account pursuant to a bona fide margin call; and |
E. |
Purchases or sales of any of the following securities: |
|
Direct obligations of the U.S. government; |
|
Bankers acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements; and |
|
Shares issued by registered, open-end investment companies. |
You may include a statement in your report that the report shall not be construed as your admission that you have any direct or indirect beneficial ownership in the Security included in the report.
A-2
PART BINTERESTED TRUSTEES AND FUND OFFICERS
I. |
REQUIRED REPORTS |
A. |
Initial Holdings Report. |
You must submit a listing of all Securities you beneficially own, as well as all of your securities accounts, as of the date you first become subject to this Codes reporting requirements. You must submit this list to the CCO within 10 days of the date you first become subject to this Codes reporting requirements. An Initial Holdings Report Form is attached as Appendix III.
B. |
Annual Holdings Report. |
Each year, you must submit to the CCO a listing of all Securities you beneficially own, as well as all of your securities accounts. Your list must be current as of a date no more than 30 days before you submit the report. An Annual Holdings Report Form is attached as Appendix IV.
C. |
Quarterly Transaction and Account Reports. |
1. |
Each quarter, you must report all of your Securities transactions affected, as well as any securities accounts you established, during the quarter. You must submit your report to the CCO no later than 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter. A Quarterly Personal Securities Transactions Report Form is included as Appendix II. |
2. |
If you had no reportable transactions and did not open any securities accounts during the quarter, you are still required to submit a report. Please note on your report that you had no reportable items during the quarter, and return it, signed and dated. |
3. |
You need not submit a quarterly report if the report would duplicate information contained in broker trade confirmations or account statements received by the Trust, provided that all required information is contained in the broker trade confirmations or account statements and is received by the CCO no later than 30 days after the end of the calendar quarter. Please see the CCO for more information about this reporting mechanism. |
II. |
WHAT MUST BE INCLUDED IN YOUR REPORTS? |
You must report all transactions in Securities that: (i) you directly or indirectly beneficially own; or (ii) because of the transaction, you acquire direct or indirect beneficial ownership. In addition, you must also report all of your accounts in which any securities were held for your direct or indirect benefit.
B-1
III. |
WHAT MAY BE EXCLUDED FROM YOUR REPORTS? |
You are not required to detail or list the following items on your reports:
A. |
Securities accounts, as well as purchases or sales effected for or Securities held in any account, over which you have no direct or indirect influence or control; |
B. |
Purchases you made solely with the dividend proceeds received in a dividend reinvestment plan or that are part of an automatic payroll deduction plan, where you purchased a Security issued by your employer; |
C. |
Purchases effected on the exercise of rights issued by an issuer pro rata to all holders of a class of its Securities, as long as you acquired these rights from the issuer, and sales of such rights; |
D. |
Purchases or sales which are non-volitional, including purchases or sales upon the exercise of written puts or calls and securities sold at a brokers discretion from a margin account pursuant to a bona fide margin call; and |
E. |
Purchases or sales of any of the following securities: |
|
Direct obligations of the U.S. government; |
|
Bankers acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements; and |
|
Shares issued by registered, open-end investment companies. |
You may include a statement in your report that the report shall not be construed as your admission that you have any direct or indirect beneficial ownership in the Security included in the report.
B-2
PART CNATURAL CONTROL PERSONS
I. |
REQUIRED REPORTS |
A. |
Initial Holdings Report. |
You must submit a listing of all Securities you beneficially own, as well as all of your securities accounts, as of the date you first become subject to this Codes reporting requirements. You must submit this list to the CCO within 10 days of the date you first become subject to this Codes reporting requirements. An Initial Holdings Report Form is attached as Appendix III.
B. |
Annual Holdings Report. |
Each year, you must submit to the CCO a listing of all Securities you beneficially own, as well as all of your securities accounts. Your list must be current as of a date no more than 30 days before you submit the report. An Annual Holdings Report Form is attached as Appendix IV.
C. |
Quarterly Transaction and Account Reports. |
1. |
Each quarter, you must report all of your Securities transactions effected, as well as any securities accounts you established, during the quarter. You must submit your report to the CCO no later than 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter. A Quarterly Personal Securities Transactions Report Form is included as Appendix II. |
2 |
If you had no reportable transactions and did not open any securities accounts during the quarter, you are still required to submit a report. Please note on your report that you had no reportable items during the quarter, and return it, signed and dated. |
3. |
You need not submit a quarterly report if the report would duplicate information contained in broker trade confirmations or account statements received by the Trust, provided that all required information is contained in the broker trade confirmations or account statements and is received by the CCO no later than 30 days after the end of the calendar quarter. Please see the CCO for more information about this reporting mechanism. |
C-1
II. |
WHAT MUST BE INCLUDED IN YOUR REPORTS? |
You must report all transactions in Securities that: (i) you directly or indirectly beneficially own; or (ii) because of the transaction, you acquire direct or indirect beneficial ownership. In addition, you must also report all of your accounts in which any securities were held for your direct or indirect benefit.
III. |
WHAT MAY BE EXCLUDED FROM YOUR REPORTS? |
You are not required to detail or list the following items on your reports:
A. |
Securities accounts, as well as purchases or sales effected for or Securities held in any account, over which you have no direct or indirect influence or control; |
B. |
Purchases you made solely with the dividend proceeds received in a dividend reinvestment plan or that are part of an automatic payroll deduction plan, where you purchased a Security issued by your employer; |
C. |
Purchases effected on the exercise of rights issued by an issuer pro rata to all holders of a class of its Securities, as long as you acquired these rights from the issuer, and sales of such rights; |
D. |
Purchases or sales which are non-volitional, including purchases or sales upon the exercise of written puts or calls and securities sold at a brokers discretion from a margin account pursuant to a bona fide margin call; and |
E. |
Purchases or sales of any of the following securities: |
|
Direct obligations of the U.S. government; |
|
Bankers acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements; and |
|
Shares issued by registered, open-end investment companies. |
You may include a statement in your report that the report shall not be construed as your admission that you have any direct or indirect beneficial ownership in the Security included in the report.
C-2
APPENDIX I
DEFINITIONS
General Note
The definitions and terms used in this Code of Ethics are intended to mean the same as they do under the 1940 Act and the other federal securities laws. If a definition hereunder conflicts with the definition in the 1940 Act or other federal securities laws, or if a term used in this Code is not defined, you should follow the definitions and meanings in the 1940 Act or other federal securities laws, as applicable.
Access Person means:
|
Any Advisory Person of a Fund or of a Funds investment adviser. If an investment advisers primary business is advising Funds or other advisory clients, all of the investment advisers Trustees, officers, and general partners are presumed to be Access Persons of any Fund advised by the investment adviser. All of a Funds Trustees, officers, and general partners are presumed to be Access Persons of the Fund. |
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If an investment adviser is primarily engaged in a business or businesses other than advising Funds or other advisory clients, the term Access Person means any Trustee, officer, general partner or Advisory Person of the investment adviser who, with respect to any Fund, makes any recommendation, participates in the determination of which recommendation will be made, or whose principal function or duties relate to the determination of which recommendation will be made, or who, in connection with his or her duties, obtains any information concerning recommendations on Covered Securities being made by the investment adviser to any Fund. |
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An investment adviser is primarily engaged in a business or businesses other than advising Funds or other advisory clients if, for each of its most recent three fiscal years or for the period of time since its organization, whichever is less, the investment adviser derived, on an unconsolidated basis, more than 50 percent of its total sales and revenues and more than 50 percent of its income (or loss), before income taxes and extraordinary items, from the other business or businesses. |
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Any Trustee, officer or general partner of a principal underwriter who, in the ordinary course of business, makes, participates in or obtains information regarding, the purchase or sale of Covered Securities by the Fund for which the principal underwriter acts, or whose functions or duties in the ordinary course of business relate to the making of any recommendation to the Fund regarding the purchase or sale of Covered Securities. |
I-1
Advisory Person of a Fund or of a Funds investment adviser means:
|
Any Trustee, officer, general partner or employee of the Fund or investment advisor (or of any company in a control relationship to the Fund or investment advisor) who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes, participates, in or obtains information regarding, the purchase or sale of Covered Securities by a Fund, or whose functions relate to the making of any recommendations with respect to such purchases or sales; and |
|
Any natural person in a control relationship to the Fund or investment adviser who obtains information concerning recommendations made to the Fund with regard to the purchase or sale of Covered Securities by the Fund. |
Beneficial ownership means the same as it does under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 16a-1(a)(2) thereunder. You should generally consider yourself the beneficial owner of any securities in which you have a direct or indirect pecuniary interest. In addition, you should consider yourself the beneficial owner of securities held by your spouse, your minor children, a relative who shares your home, or other persons by reason of any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship that provides you with sole or shared voting or investment power.
Control means the same as it does under Section 2(a)(9) of the 1940 Act. Section 2(a)(9) provides that control means the power to exercise a controlling influence over the management or policies of a company, unless such power is solely the result of an official position with such company.
Ownership of more than 25% of a companys outstanding voting securities is presumed to give the holder of such securities control over the company. The SEC may determine, however, that the facts and circumstances of a given situation that may counter this presumption.
Fund officers mean any person lawfully elected by the Board of Trustees and authorized to act on behalf of the Trust. Additional information regarding the Trusts officers may be found in the Trusts Statement of Additional Information, respectively.
High quality short-term debt instrument means any instrument that has a maturity at issuance of less than 366 days and that is rated in one of the two highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (e.g., Moodys Investors Service).
Independent Trustee means a Trustee of the Trust who is not an interested person of the Trust within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.
IPO (i.e., initial public offering) means an offering of securities registered under the Securities Act of 1933, the issuer of which, immediately before registration, was not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Interested Trustee means a Trustee of the Trust who is an interested person of the Trust within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.
I-2
Limited offering means an offering that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Section 4(2), Section 4(6), Rule 504, Rule 505 or Rule 506 (e.g., private placements).
Purchase or sale of a Security includes, among other things, the writing of an option to purchase or sell a Security.
Security means the same as it does under Section 2(a)(36) of the 1940 Act, except that it does not include direct obligations of the U.S. government, bankers acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper, high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements, or shares issued by registered, open-end investment companies.
A Security held or to be acquired by the Trust means: (A) any Security that within the most recent 15 days (i) is or has been held by the Trust; or (ii) is being or has been considered by the Trusts adviser for purchase by the Trust; and (B) any option to purchase or sell, and any security convertible into or exchangeable for, any Security described in (A) of this definition.
A Security is being purchased or sold by the Trust from the time a purchase or sale program has been communicated to the person who places buy and sell orders for the Trust until the program has been fully completed or terminated.
A Security is being considered for purchase by the Trust when a Security is identified as such by the investment adviser to the Trust.
I-3
APPENDIX II
QUARTERLY PERSONAL SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS REPORT
Name of Reporting Person: |
||
Calendar Quarter Ended: |
||
Date Report Due: |
30, | |
Date Report Submitted: |
Securities Transactions
Date of
Transaction |
Name of Issuer
Title of Security |
No. of
Shares (if applicable) |
Principal Amount,
Maturity Date and Interest Rate (if applicable) |
Type of
Transaction |
Price |
Name of Broker, Dealer or Bank Effecting Transaction | ||||||
If you have no securities transactions to report for the quarter, please check here. ☐
If you do not want this report to be construed as an admission that you have beneficial ownership of one or more securities reported above, please describe below and indicate which securities are at issue.
. |
Securities Accounts
If you established a securities account during the quarter, please provide the following information:
Name of Broker, Dealer or Bank | Date Account was Established | Name(s) on and Type of Account | ||
If you did not establish a securities account during the quarter, please check here. ☐
I certify that I have included on this report all securities transactions and accounts required to be reported pursuant to the Code of Ethics.
|
||
Signature |
Date |
II-1
APPENDIX III
INITIAL HOLDINGS REPORT
Name of Reporting Person: |
||
Date Person Became Subject to the Codes Reporting Requirements: | ||
Information in Report Dated as of: |
[Note: Date person became subject | |
Date Report Due: |
and as of date should be the same.] | |
Date Report Submitted: |
Securities Holdings
Name of Issuer and Title of
Security |
No. of Shares/Par
amount (if
|
Principal Amount, Maturity Date and Interest Rate (if applicable) |
||
If you have no securities holdings to report, please check here. ☐
Securities Accounts:
Name of Broker,
Dealer or Bank |
Account # | Name(s) on and Type of Account |
Margin Account
attached to this Securities Account |
|||
Yes/No | ||||||
Yes/No | ||||||
Yes/No | ||||||
Yes/No |
If you have no securities accounts to report, please check here. ☐
I certify that I have included on this report all securities holdings and accounts required to be reported pursuant to the Code of Ethics.
|
||
Signature |
Date |
III-1
APPENDIX IV
ANNUAL HOLDINGS REPORT
Name of Reporting Person: |
||
Information in Report Dated as of: |
[Note: Information should be dated no | |
Date Report Due: | more than 30 days before report is | |
Date Report Submitted: |
submitted.] | |
Calendar Year Ended: |
December 31, |
Securities Holdings
Name of Issuer and Title of
Security |
No. of Shares
(if applicable) |
Principal Amount, Maturity Date and Interest Rate (if applicable) |
||
If you have no securities holdings to report, please check here. ☐
Securities Accounts as of December 31st:
Name of Broker,
Dealer or Bank |
Account # | Name(s) on and Type of Account |
Margin Account
attached to this Securities Account |
|||
Yes/No | ||||||
Yes/No | ||||||
Yes/No | ||||||
Yes/No |
If you have no securities accounts to report, please check here. ☐
I certify that I have included on this report all securities holdings and accounts required to be reported pursuant to the Code of Ethics.
|
||
Signature |
Date |
IV-1
APPENDIX V
COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATION
Initial Certification
I certify that I: | (i) have received, read and reviewed the Trusts Code of Ethics; | |
(ii) understand the policies and procedures in the Code; | ||
(iii) recognize that I am subject to such policies and procedures; | ||
(iv) understand the penalties for non-compliance; | ||
(v) will fully comply with the Trusts Code of Ethics; and | ||
(vi) have fully and accurately completed this Certificate. | ||
Signature: |
||
Name: |
(Please print) | |
Date Submitted: |
||
Date Due: |
Annual Certification
I certify that I: | (i) have received, read and reviewed the Trusts Code of Ethics; | |
(ii) understand the policies and procedures in the Code; | ||
(iii) recognize that I am subject to such policies and procedures; | ||
(iv) understand the penalties for non-compliance; | ||
(v) have complied with the Trusts Code of Ethics and any applicable reporting requirements during this past year; | ||
(vi) have fully disclosed any exceptions to my compliance with the Code below; | ||
(vii) will fully comply with the Trusts Code of Ethics; and | ||
(viii) have fully and accurately completed this Certificate. | ||
EXCEPTION(S): |
||
Signature: |
||
Name: |
(Please print) | |
Date Submitted: |
||
Date Due: |
V-1
DATUM ONE SERIES TRUST CODE OF ETHICS
INITIAL CERTIFICATION
TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Datum One Series Trust (the Trust) has adopted a code of ethics containing provisions reasonable necessary to prevent Access Persons from engaging in conduct prohibited by Rule 17j-l(b) and that it has adopted procedures reasonable necessary to prevent Access Persons from violating such code of ethics.
|
||||
Date | ||||
Chief Compliance Officer Datum One Series Trust |
V-1
Exhibit (p)(ii)
|
Polar Capital Code of Ethics 2020 |
Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (Advisers Act) requires all investment advisors registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to adopt codes of ethics that set forth standards of conduct and require compliance with federal securities laws. Polar Capital LLP (Polar Capital) is an investment advisor registered with the SEC. This code of ethics is intended to reflect fiduciary principles that govern the conduct of Polar Capital and its supervised persons in those situations where Polar Capital acts as an investment advisor as defined under the Advisers Act in providing investment advice to clients. It consists of an outline of policies regarding several key areas: standards of conduct and compliance with laws, rules and regulation, protection of material non-public information and personal securities trading. It also consists of specific information and guidance that is provided in company-wide policies and procedures, including the Polar Capital Compliance Manual and the Polar Capital Employee Handbook.
This Code applies to all Supervised Persons of Polar Capital who act as an investment advisor as defined by the Advisers Act in providing investment advice to advisory clients, unless otherwise noted below. The Advisers Act defines Supervised Person to means any partner, officer, director (or other person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions), or employee of an investment advisor, or other person who provides investment advice on behalf of the investment advisor and is subject to the supervision and control of the investment advisor.
1. Standard of Conduct and Compliance with Laws, Rules and Regulations
This Code hereby adopts and incorporates the Polar Capital Code of Conduct (see Appendix 1) which sets forth the standard of business conduct that is required of all employees of Polar Capital and its affiliates, as the standard of business conduct required by this Code.
All Supervised Persons are responsible for reviewing this Code and the company policies, including the Polar Capital Compliance Manual, Employee Handbook and Members Handbook, which are a part of this Code, and for acting in compliance with these policies in daily activities. All Supervised Persons also are reminded that each has agreed as a requirement of employment with Polar Capital to review and act in compliance with the company policies which are a part of this Code, Polar Capital Compliance Manual, Employee Handbook and Members Handbook and other company policies referenced in this document.
As noted in the Code, the foundation of Polar Capitals ethical standards is compliance with the letter and spirit of the law. We must respect and obey all of the laws, rules and regulations applicable to our business, including among others, SEC and FCA regulations and local laws. All Supervised Persons of Polar Capital are required to be familiar and comply with the Polar Capital Compliance Manual, Employee Handbook and Members Handbook. Likewise each Supervised Person is responsible for being familiar with complying with the procedures applicable to him or her. Although he or she is not expected to know the details of each law governing Polar Capitals business, he or she is expected to be familiar with and comply with the company-wide policies and procedures.
2. Personal Securities Trading and Access Persons
All Supervised Persons must be familiar with and abide by all employee trading policies and procedures as outlined in the Polar Capital Compliance Manual Personal Account Dealing Policy.
Rule 204A-1 of the Advisers Act requires all Access Persons of an investment advisor registered with the SEC to report, and the investment advisor to review, their personal securities transactions and holdings periodically. The Advisers Act defines Access Person to mean any supervised persons of an investment advisor who (1) has access to non-public information regarding any advisory clients purchase or sale of securities, or non-public information regarding the portfolio holdings of any reportable fund, or (2) is involved in making securities recommendations to advisory clients, or who has access to such recommendations that are non-public.
Based on access to non-public information and designated roles and responsibilities of certain Supervised Persons within Polar Capital, all Polar Capital staff are designated as Access Persons.
For professional client use only |
Polar Capital LLP 16 Palace Street, London, SW1E 5JD |
1 | ||
T: +44 (0)20 7227 2721 F: +44 (0)20 7227 2799 |
||||
E: investor-relations@polarcapital.co.uk W: www.polarcapital.co.uk |
|
Polar Capital Code of Ethics 2020 |
i. |
Initial and Annual Holding Reports |
All Polar staff are access persons, and therefore must submit both initial and annual holdings reports, to the Compliance Officer that disclose all covered securities held in any personal account. Each such report must contain, at a minimum:
|
the title and type of covered security, and as applicable, the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, number of shares, and principal amount of each covered security in any personal account; |
|
the name of any broker, dealer or bank with which the access person maintains any personal account; and |
|
the date on which the access person submits the report. |
Upon commencement of employment it is Polar Capitals policy that each access person provide the Compliance Officer with a list of all personal accounts. This information will be used by Polar Capital to send letters to the applicable brokerage firms requesting that they provide Polar Capital with duplicate copies of trade confirmations for all trades and account statements.
Every access person must submit a holdings report within the following time frames:
|
no later than 10 days after becoming an access person; and |
|
at least once every year thereafter within 30 days of the end of our fiscal year. |
The information contained in the report must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date of becoming an access person.
ii. |
Quarterly Transaction Reports |
Unless the access person has provided broker trade confirmations or account statements to the Compliance Officer, every access person must submit a quarterly transaction report, to the Compliance Officer for each covered securities transaction in any personal account. The report must contain, at a minimum, the following information for each transaction:
|
the date of the transaction, the title, and as applicable the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, interest rate and maturity date, number of share, and principal amount of each covered security involved; |
|
the nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition); |
|
the price of the covered 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 on which the access person submits the report. |
Unless the access person has provided broker trade confirmations or account statements to the Compliance Officer, Access Persons must report all transactions (i.e. excluding regular contributions and discretionary accounts) in Broker Accounts and investments that require either pre-clearance or one-off approval to Compliance within 30 days of the end of each calendar quarter. The information must be current as of no more than 45 days prior to submission and must contain the information listed in the Polar Capital, Personal Account Dealing Quarterly transaction report (see Compliance Forms Manual)
iii. |
Exceptions to the Reporting Requirement |
No access person is required to submit:
|
a quarterly transaction report with respect to transactions effected pursuant to an automatic investment plan (i.e., 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, including any dividend reinvestment plans; or |
|
a quarterly transaction report if the report would duplicate information contained in broker trade confirmations or account statements that we hold in our records so long as we receive such confirmations or statements no later than 30 days after the end of the applicable calendar quarter. |
Additionally, upon the commencement of employment, each access person must provide the Compliance Officer with a list of all personal accounts. This information will be used by us to send letters to the applicable brokerage firms requesting that they provide us with duplicate copies of trade confirmations for all trades and account statements.
For professional client use only |
Polar Capital LLP 16 Palace Street, London, SW1E 5JD |
2 | ||
T: +44 (0)20 7227 2721 F: +44 (0)20 7227 2799 |
||||
E: investor-relations@polarcapital.co.uk W: www.polarcapital.co.uk |
|
Polar Capital Code of Ethics 2020 |
3. Consequences for Failure to Comply and Reporting Certain Conduct
A Supervised Person can be subject to discipline up to and including termination of employment if he or she violates this Code and its component parts, which includes the Polar Capital Compliance Manual, Employee Handbook and Members Handbook. If you know of, or reasonably believe there is, a violation of applicable laws or this Code, you must report that information immediately to the Chief Legal and Compliance officer. You should not conduct preliminary investigations, unless authorized to do so by the Compliance Department. Anyone who in good faith raises an issue regarding a possible violation of law, regulation or company policy or any suspected illegal or unethical behaviour will be protected from retaliation.
4. Recordkeeping
Rule 204-2(a) (12) and (13) of the Advisers Act requires advisors to keep copies of all relevant material relating to the Code. Supplemental policies are reflected in the Polar Capital Compliance Manual.
DISCLAIMER
Please note that breaching this policy could result in a breach of the Conduct Rules. Please be mindful that this could have serious implications on your regulatory record and you must make Compliance aware of any suspected breaches as soon as you become aware of them. A copy of the Conduct Rules can be found in the Employee Manual.
For professional client use only |
Polar Capital LLP 16 Palace Street, London, SW1E 5JD |
3 | ||
T: +44 (0)20 7227 2721 F: +44 (0)20 7227 2799 |
||||
E: investor-relations@polarcapital.co.uk W: www.polarcapital.co.uk |
Exhibit (p)(iii)
CODE OF ETHICS
© Foreside Financial Group, LLC
CODE OF ETHICS
i
INTRODUCTION
This Code of Ethics (the Code) has been adopted by Foreside Financial Group, LLC (Foreside) and each of its affiliated entities and direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries as listed in Appendix A (each, a Company and collectively, the Companies). This Code pertains to the Companies distribution services to registered management investment companies or series thereof, as well as those funds for which certain employees of the Companies (or an affiliate thereof) serve as an officer or director of a registered investment company (Fund Officer) or have been designated an Access Person by the Review Officer1 (each a Fund and as set forth in the List of Access Persons & Reportable Funds). This Code:
1. |
establishes standards of professional conduct; |
2. |
establishes standards and procedures for the detection and prevention of activities by which persons having knowledge of the investments and investment intentions of a Fund may abuse their fiduciary duties to the Fund; and |
3. |
addresses other types of conflict of interest situations. |
Definitions of underlined terms are included in Appendix B.
Each Company, through its President, may impose internal sanctions should Access Persons of any Company (as identified on the List of Access Persons & Reportable Funds maintained by the Review Officer) violate these policies or procedures. A registered broker-dealer and its personnel may be subject to various regulatory sanctions, including censure, suspension, fines, expulsion or revocation of registration for violations of securities rules, industry regulations and the Companys internal policies and procedures. In addition, negative publicity associated with regulatory investigations and private lawsuits can negatively impact and severely damage business reputation.
Furthermore, failure to comply with this Code is a very serious matter and may result in internal disciplinary action being taken. Such action may include, among other things, warnings, reprimands, restrictions on activities and/or suspension or termination of employment. Violations also may result in referral to regulatory, civil or criminal authorities where appropriate.
Should Access Persons require additional information about this Code or have ethics-related questions, please contact the Review Officer, as defined under Section 8 below, directly.
1. |
STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT |
Each Company forbids any Access Person from engaging in any conduct that is contrary to this Code. Furthermore, certain persons subject to the Code are also subject to other restrictions or requirements that affect their ability to open securities accounts, effect securities transactions, report securities transactions, maintain information and documents in a confidential manner and other matters relating to the proper discharge of their obligations to the Company or to a Fund.
1 |
Each Company is adopting this Code pursuant to Rule 17j-1 with respect to certain funds that it distributes or for which an employee of the Company serves as a Fund Officer or has been designated as an Access Person. Pursuant to the exception noted under Rule 17j-1(c)(3), adopting and approving a Rule 17j-1 code of ethics with respect to a Fund, as well as the Codes administration, by a principal underwriter is not required unless: |
|
the principal underwriter is an affiliated person of the Fund or of the Funds adviser, or |
|
an officer, director or general partner of the principal underwriter serves as an officer, director or general partner of the Fund or of the Funds investment adviser. |
A Fund Officer is permitted to report as an Access Person under this Code with respect to the Funds listed on the List of Access Persons & Reportable Funds maintained by the Review Officer.
1
Each Company has always held itself and its employees to the highest ethical standards. Although this Code is only one manifestation of those standards, compliance with its provisions is essential. Each Company adheres to the following standards of professional conduct, as well as those specific policies and procedures discussed throughout this Code:
(a) Fiduciary Duties. Each Company and its Access Persons are fiduciaries and at all times shall:
|
act solely for the benefit of the Funds; and |
|
place each Funds interests above their own. |
(b) Compliance with Laws. Access Persons shall maintain knowledge of and comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations, and shall not knowingly participate or assist in any violation of such laws, rules or regulations.
It is unlawful for Access Persons to use any information concerning a security held or to be acquired by a Fund, or their ability to influence any investment decisions, for personal gain or in a manner detrimental to the interests of a Fund.
Access Persons shall not, directly or indirectly, in connection with the trading of a Funds shares or the purchase or sale of a security held or to be acquired by a Fund for which they are an Access Person:
(i) |
employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud a Fund or engage in any manipulative practice with respect to a Fund; |
(ii) |
make to a Fund any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state to a Fund a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading; |
(iii) |
engage in any act, practice, or course of business that operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon a Fund; or |
(iv) |
engage in any manipulative practice with respect to securities, including price manipulation. |
(c) Corporate Culture. Access Persons, through their words and actions, shall act with integrity, encourage honest and ethical conduct and adhere to a high standard of business ethics.
(d) Professional Misconduct. Access Persons shall not engage in any professional conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation, or commit any act that reflects adversely on their honesty, trustworthiness or professional competence. Access Persons shall not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to misrepresent, facts about a Company to a Fund, a Funds shareholders, regulators or any member of the public. Disclosure in reports and documents should be fair and accurate.
(e) Disclosure of Conflicts. As a fiduciary, each Company and Access Person has an affirmative duty of care, loyalty, honesty and good faith to act in the best interests of a Fund. Compliance with this duty can be achieved by trying to avoid conflicts of interest and by fully disclosing all material facts concerning any conflict that does arise with respect to any Fund. Access Persons must try to avoid situations that have even the appearance of conflict or impropriety.
This Code prohibits inappropriate favoritism of one Fund over another that would constitute a breach of fiduciary duty. Access Persons shall support an environment that fosters the ethical resolution of, and appropriate disclosure of, conflicts of interest, and shall comply with any prohibition on activities imposed by a Company if a conflict of interest exists. If any Access Person is (or becomes) aware of a personal interest that is, or might be, in conflict with the interest of a Fund, that Access Person must promptly disclose the situation or transaction and the nature of the conflict to the Review Officer for appropriate consideration.
2
(f) Undue Influence. Access Persons shall not cause or attempt to cause any Fund to purchase, sell or hold any security in a manner calculated to create any personal benefit to them or others whose accounts they hold a beneficial ownership interest (i.e., their spouse or domestic partner, minor children or relatives who reside in the Access Persons household) or over which they have direct or indirect influence or control.
(g) Confidentiality and Protection of Material Nonpublic Information. The term Material Nonpublic Information refers to information that is both material information and nonpublic information, and also may be referred to as Inside Information. Information is considered to be Nonpublic Information unless it has been publicly disclosed, for example, through public filing with a securities regulator, issuance of a press release or the issuance of a prospectus. The term Material Information has no specific definition, but, for the purposes of this Code, it shall refer to any information that might have an effect on the market for a security generally or any information that a reasonable person would consider important in a decision to buy, hold or sell a security. Examples of material nonpublic information may include, but are not limited to: sales results; earnings (or loss) estimates (including significant changes to previously released information); dividend actions; strategic plans; new products, discoveries or services; significant personnel changes; acquisition, merger and divestiture plans; liquidity issues; proposed securities offerings; major pending or threatened litigation or potential claims; restructurings and recapitalizations; and the negotiation or termination of major contracts or relationships.
Information concerning the identity of portfolio holdings and financial circumstances of a Fund is confidential. Access Persons are responsible for safeguarding such material nonpublic information about a Fund, including portfolio recommendations and fund holdings. Except as required in the normal course of carrying out their business responsibilities and as permitted by a Funds policies and procedures, Access Persons shall not reveal information relating to the investment intentions or activities of any Fund, or securities that are being considered for purchase or sale on behalf of any Fund.
Access Persons in possession of material nonpublic information must maintain the confidentiality of such information, and each Company shall be bound by a Funds policies and procedures with regard to disclosure of an investment companys identity, affairs and portfolio holdings. The obligation to safeguard such Fund information would not preclude Access Persons from providing necessary information to, for example, persons providing services to a Company or a Funds account such as brokers, accountants, custodians and fund transfer agents, or in other circumstances when the Fund consents, as long as such disclosure conforms to the Funds portfolio holdings disclosure policies and procedures.
In any case, Access Persons shall not:
|
trade based upon inside information, especially where Fund trades are likely to be pending or imminent; or |
|
use or share knowledge of any material nonpublic information of a Fund for personal gain or benefit or for the personal gain or benefit of others. |
(h) Personal Securities Transactions. All personal securities transactions shall be conducted in such a manner as to be consistent with this Code and to avoid any actual or potential conflict of interest or any abuse of any Access Persons position of trust and responsibility.
(i) Gifts. Access Persons shall not accept or provide anything in excess of $100.00 (per individual per year) or any other preferential treatment, in each case as a gift, to or from any broker-dealer or other entity with which a Company or a Fund does business.
3
(j) Service on Boards. Access Persons shall not serve on the boards of trustees (or directors) of publicly traded companies, absent prior authorization based upon a determination by the Review Officer that the board service would be consistent with the interests of the Company, a Fund and its shareholders.
(k) Prohibition Against Market Timing. Access Persons shall not engage in market timing of shares of Reportable Funds (a list of which are provided in the List of Access Persons & Reportable Funds maintained by the Review Officer). For purposes of this section, an Access Persons trades shall be considered market timing if made in violation of any stated policy in the Funds prospectus.
2. |
WHO IS COVERED BY THIS CODE |
All Access Persons, in each case only with respect to the Reportable Funds as listed on the List of Access Persons & Reportable Funds maintained by the Review Officer, shall abide by this Code. Access Persons are required to comply with specific reporting requirements as set forth in Sections 3 and 4 of this Code.
3. |
PROHIBITED TRANSACTIONS |
(a) Blackout Period. Access Persons shall not purchase or sell a Reportable Security in an account in their name, or in the name of others in which they hold a beneficial ownership interest or over which they have direct or indirect influence or control, if they had actual knowledge at the time of the transaction that, during the 24 hour period immediately preceding or following the transaction, the security was purchased or sold or was considered for purchase or sale by a Fund.
(b) Requirement for Pre-clearance. Access Persons must obtain prior written approval from the Review Officer before:
(i) |
directly or indirectly acquiring beneficial ownership in securities in an initial public offering for which no public market in the same or similar securities of the issue has previously existed; |
(ii) |
directly or indirectly acquiring beneficial ownership in securities in a private placement; and |
(iii) |
directly or indirectly purchasing, selling or acquiring shares of a Reportable Fund for which they are an Access Person. |
All requests for pre-clearance of securities transactions must be submitted to the Review Officer for review using the Pre-Clearance Request Form, in the form of Attachment B.
In determining whether to pre-clear the transaction, the Review Officer shall consider, among other factors, whether such opportunity is being offered to the Access Person by virtue of his or her position with the Fund or would result in a conflict of interest. Other factors to be considered may include: discussion with the Access Person concerning the reason for the requested transaction and how he or she became aware of the investment; the Access Persons work role; the size and holding period of the proposed investment; the market capitalization of the issuer; the liquidity of the security; and other relevant factors. The Review Officer granting or denying the request must document the basis for the decision and notify the requesting person whether the trading request is approved or denied.
A pre-clearance request should not be submitted for a transaction that the requesting person does not intend to execute. Pre-clearance trading authorization is valid only from the time when approval is granted through the next business day. If the transaction is not executed within this period, an explanation of why the pre-cleared transaction was not completed must be submitted to the Review Officer within five (5) days. With respect to any effected transaction, the Access Person must provide the Review Officer with a transaction report evidencing the transaction consistent with the reporting requirements of Section 4.
4
(c) Fund Officer Prohibition. No Fund Officer shall directly or indirectly seek to obtain information (other than that necessary to accomplish the functions of the office) from any Fund portfolio manager regarding (i) the status of any pending securities transaction for a Fund or (ii) the merits of any securities transaction contemplated by the Fund Officer.
4. |
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OF ACCESS PERSONS |
(a) Reporting. Access Persons must report the information described in this Section with respect to transactions in any Reportable Security in which they have, or by reason of such transaction acquire, any direct or indirect beneficial ownership. Access Persons must submit the appropriate reports to the Review Officer, unless they are otherwise required by a Fund, pursuant to a Code of Ethics adopted by the Fund, to report to the Fund or another entity.
(b) Exceptions from Reporting Requirement of Section 4. Access Persons need not submit:
(i) |
any report with respect to securities held in accounts over which the Access Person had no direct or indirect influence or control; |
(ii) |
a quarterly transaction report with respect to transactions effected pursuant to an automatic investment plan. However, any transaction that overrides the pre-set schedule or allocations of the automatic investment plan must be included in a quarterly transaction report; |
(iii) |
a quarterly transaction report with respect to transactions effected which were non-volitional on the part of the Access Person, including acquisitions of Reportable Securities by gift or inheritance; or |
(iv) |
a quarterly transaction report if the report would duplicate information contained in broker trade confirmations or account statements that the Company holds in its records so long as the Company receives the confirmations or statements no later than thirty (30) days after the end of the applicable calendar quarter. |
(c) Initial Holdings Reports. No later than ten (10) days after a person becomes an Access Person, the person must report the following information:
(i) |
the title, type of security, and as applicable the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, number of shares and principal amount of each Reportable Security (whether or not publicly traded) in which the person has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership as of the date the person became an Access Person; |
(ii) |
the name of any broker, dealer or bank with whom the person maintains an account in which any securities were held for the Access Persons direct or indirect benefit as of the date the person became an Access Person; and |
(iii) |
the date that the report is submitted by the Access Person. |
The information contained in the initial holdings report must be current as of a date no more than forty-five (45) days prior to the date the person becomes an Access Person.
(d) Quarterly Transaction Reports. No later than thirty (30) days after the end of a calendar quarter, each Access Person must submit a quarterly transaction report which includes, at a minimum, the following information with respect to any transaction during the quarter in a Reportable Security (whether or not publicly traded) in which the Access Person had any direct or indirect beneficial ownership:
(i) |
the date of the transaction, the title, and as applicable the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, the interest rate and maturity date (if applicable), the number of shares and the principal amount of each Reportable Security involved; |
5
(ii) |
the nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition); |
(iii) |
the price of the Reportable Security at which the transaction was effected; |
(iv) |
the name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through which the transaction was effected; and |
(v) |
the date that the report is submitted. |
(e) New Account Opening; Quarterly New Account Report. Each Access Person shall provide written notice to the Review Officer prior to opening any new account with any entity through which a Reportable Securities (whether or not publicly traded) transaction may be effected for which the Access Person has direct or indirect beneficial ownership.
In addition, no later than thirty (30) days after the end of a calendar quarter, each Access Person must submit a Quarterly New Account Report with respect to any account established by such a person in which any Reportable Securities (whether or not publicly traded) were held during the quarter for the direct or indirect benefit of the Access Person. The Quarterly New Account Report shall cover, at a minimum, all accounts at a broker-dealer, bank or other institution opened during the quarter and provide the following information:
(1) |
the name of the broker, dealer or bank with whom the Access Person has established the account; |
(2) |
the date the account was established; and |
(3) |
the date that the report is submitted by the Access Person. |
(f) Annual Holdings Reports. Annually, each Access Person must report the following information (which information must be current as of a date no more than forty-five (45) days before the report is submitted):
(i) |
the title, type of security, and as applicable the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, number of shares and principal amount of each Reportable Security (whether or not publicly traded) in which the Access Person had any direct or indirect beneficial ownership; |
(ii) |
the name of any broker, dealer or bank with whom the Access Person maintained an account in which any securities are held for the Access Persons direct or indirect benefit; and |
(iii) |
the date that the report is submitted by the Access Person. |
(g) Alternative Reporting. The submission to the Review Officer of duplicate broker trade confirmations and account statements on all securities transactions required to be reported under this Section shall satisfy the reporting requirements of Section 4. The annual holdings report may be satisfied by confirming annually, in writing, the accuracy of the information delivered by, or on behalf of, the Access Person to the Review Officer and recording the date of the confirmation.
(h) Report Qualification. Any report may contain a statement that the report shall not be construed as an admission by the person making the report that he or she has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership in the Reportable Securities to which the report relates.
6
(i) Providing Access to Account Information. Access Persons will promptly:
(i) |
provide full access to a Fund, its agents and attorneys to any and all records and documents which a Fund considers relevant to any securities transactions or other matters subject to the Code; |
(ii) |
cooperate with a Fund, or its agents and attorneys, in investigating any securities transactions or other matter subject to the Code; |
(iii) |
provide a Fund, its agents and attorneys with an explanation (in writing if requested) of the facts and circumstances surrounding any securities transaction or other matter subject to the Code; and |
(iv) |
promptly notify the Review Officer or such other individual as a Fund may direct, in writing, from time to time, of any incident of noncompliance with the Code by anyone subject to this Code. |
(j) Confidentiality of Reports. Transaction and holdings reports will be maintained in confidence, except to the extent necessary to implement and enforce the provisions of this Code or to comply with requests for information from regulatory or government agencies or law enforcement where applicable.
5. |
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE |
Each Access Person is required to acknowledge in writing, initially and annually (in the form of Attachment A), that the person has received, read and understands the Code (and in the case of any amendments thereto, shall similarly acknowledge such amendment) and recognizes that he or she is subject to the Code. Further, each such person is required to certify annually that he or she has:
|
read, understood and complied with all the requirements of the Code; |
|
disclosed or reported all personal securities transactions pursuant to the requirements of the Code; and |
|
not engaged in any prohibited conduct. |
If an Access Person is unable to make the above representations, he or she shall report any violations of this Code to the Review Officer.
6. |
REPORTING VIOLATIONS |
Access Persons shall report any violations of this Code promptly to the Review Officer, unless the violations implicate the Review Officer, in which case the individual shall report the violations to the Chief Risk Officer or Chief Executive Officer of Foreside, as appropriate. Such reports will be confidential, to the extent permitted by law, and investigated promptly and appropriately. Retaliation against an individual who reports a violation is prohibited and constitutes a further violation of this Code.
Reported violations of the Code will be investigated and appropriate actions will be taken. Types of reporting that are required include, but are not limited to:
|
Noncompliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations; |
|
Fraud or illegal acts involving any aspect of the Companys business; |
|
Material misstatements in regulatory filings, internal books and records, Fund records or reports; |
|
Activity that is harmful to a Fund, including Fund shareholders; and |
|
Deviations from required controls and procedures that safeguard a Fund or a Company. |
Access Persons should seek advice from the Review Officer with respect to any action or transaction that may violate this Code, and refrain from any action or transaction that might lead to the appearance of a violation. Access Persons should promptly report any apparent or suspected violations in addition to actual or known violations of this Code to the Review Officer.
7
7. |
TRAINING |
Training with respect to the Code will occur periodically and all Access Persons are required to attend any training sessions or read any applicable materials. Training may include, among other things, (1) periodic orientation or training sessions with new and existing personnel to remind them of their obligations under the Code and/or (2) certifications that Access Persons have read and understood the Code, and require re-certification that they have re-read, understand and have complied with the Code.
8. |
REVIEW OFFICER |
(a) Duties of Review Officer. The President of Foreside has been appointed by the President of each Company as the Review Officer to:
(i) |
review all securities transaction and holdings reports and maintain the names of persons responsible for reviewing these reports; |
(ii) |
identify all persons of each Company who are Access Persons subject to this Code, promptly inform each Access Person of the requirements of this Code and provide them with a copy of the Code and any amendments; |
(iii) |
compare, on a quarterly basis, all Reportable Securities transactions with each Funds completed portfolio transactions to determine whether a Code violation may have occurred; |
(iv) |
maintain signed acknowledgments and certifications by each Access Person who is then subject to this Code, in the form of Attachment A; |
(v) |
inform all Access Persons of their requirements to obtain prior written approval from the Review Officer prior to directly or indirectly acquiring beneficial ownership of a security in any private placement, initial public offering or Reportable Fund; |
(vi) |
ensure that Access Persons receive adequate training on the principles and procedures of this Code; |
(vii) |
review, at least annually, the adequacy of this Code and the effectiveness of its implementation; and |
(viii) |
submit a written report to a Funds Board and Foresides Risk Committee as described in Section 8(e) and (f), respectively. |
The Chief Risk Officer of Foreside shall review any reportable securities transactions of the Review Officer, and shall assume the responsibilities of the Review Officer in his or her absence. The Review Officer may delegate responsibilities described herein to an appropriate Foreside representative.
(b) Potential Trade Conflict. When there appears to be a Reportable Securities transaction that conflicts with the Code, the Review Officer shall request a written explanation from the Access Person with regard to the transaction. If, after post-trade review, it is determined that there has been a material violation of the Code, a report will be made by the Review Officer with a recommendation of appropriate action to be taken to the Risk Committee of Foreside, the President of each Company, where applicable, the Chief Compliance Officer of each Companys Broker-Dealer, where applicable, and a Funds Board of Trustees (or Directors), where applicable.
(c) Required Records. The Review Officer shall maintain and cause to be maintained:
(i) |
a copy of any code of ethics adopted by each Company that is in effect, or at any time within the past five (5) years was in effect, in an easily accessible place; |
8
(ii) |
a record of any violation of any code of ethics, and of any action taken as a result of such violation, in an easily accessible place for at least five (5) years after the end of the fiscal year in which the last entry was made on any such report, the first two (2) years in an easily accessible place; |
(iii) |
a copy of each holdings and transaction report (including duplicate confirmations and statements) made by anyone subject to this Code as required by Section 4 for at least five (5) years after the end of the fiscal year in which the report is made, the first two (2) years in an easily accessible place; |
(iv) |
a record of all written acknowledgements and certifications by each Access Person who is currently, or within the past five (5) years was, an Access Person (records must be kept for 5 years after individual ceases to be an Access Person under the Code); |
(v) |
a list of all persons who are currently, or within the past five years were, required to make reports or who were responsible for reviewing these reports pursuant to any code of ethics adopted by each Company, in an easily accessible place; |
(vi) |
a copy of each written report and certification required pursuant to Section 8(e) of this Code for at least five (5) years after the end of the fiscal year in which it is made, the first two (2) years in an easily accessible place; |
(vii) |
a record of any decision, and the reasons supporting the decision, approving the acquisition of securities by Access Persons under Section 3(b) of this Code, for at least five (5) years after the end of the fiscal year in which the approval is granted; and |
(viii) |
a record of any decision, and the reasons supporting the decision, granting an Access Person a waiver from, or exception to, the Code for at least five (5) years after the end of the fiscal year in which the waiver is granted. |
(d) Post-Trade Review Process. Following receipt of trade confirms and statements, transactions will be screened by the Review Officer (or his or her designee) for the following:
(i) |
same day trades: transactions by Access Persons occurring on the same day as the purchase or sale of the same security by a Fund for which they are an Access Person. |
(ii) |
blackout period trades: transactions by Access Persons occurring within 24 hours before or after the time as the purchase or sale of the same security by a Fund for which they are an Access Person. |
(iii) |
fraudulent conduct: transaction by Access Persons which, within the most recent fifteen (15) days, is or has been held by a Fund or is being or has been considered by a Fund for purchase by a Fund. |
(iv) |
market timing of Reportable Funds: transactions by Access Persons that appear to be market timing of Reportable Funds. |
(v) |
other activities: transactions which may give the appearance that an Access Person has executed transactions not in accordance with this Code or otherwise reflect patterns of abuse. |
(e) Submission to Fund Board.
(i) |
The Review Officer shall, at a minimum, annually prepare a written report to the Board of Trustees (or Directors) of a Fund listed in the List of Access Persons & Reportable Funds maintained by the Review Officer that: |
A. |
describes any issues under this Code or its procedures since the last report to the Trustees (or Directors), including, but not limited to, information about material violations of the code or procedures and sanctions imposed in response to the material violations; and |
B. |
certifies that each Company has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from violating this Code. |
9
(ii) |
The Review Officer shall ensure that this Code and any material amendments are submitted to the Board of Trustees (or Directors) for approval for those funds listed in the List of Access Persons & Reportable Funds maintained by the Review Officer. |
(f) |
Report to the Risk Committee. The Review Officer shall prepare a written report to the Risk Committee of Foreside (and the President of each Company, where applicable, and the Chief Compliance Officer of each Companys Broker-Dealer, where applicable) regarding any material issues that arose during the year under the Code, including, but not limited to, material violations of and sanctions under the Code. |
Adopted: |
May 1, 2009 |
|
Amended: |
October 14, 2009 (updated Appendix A) |
|
Amended: |
September 29, 2011 (updated Appendix A) |
|
Amended: |
March 15, 2012 (updated Appendix A) |
|
Amended: |
April 4, 2012 (updated Appendix A) |
|
Amended: |
July 5, 2012 (updated Appendix A) |
|
Amended: |
November 30, 2012 (updated Appendix A) |
|
Amended: |
December 24, 2013 (updated Appendix A) |
|
Amended: |
March 26, 2014 |
|
Amended: |
July 11, 2014 (updated Appendix A) |
|
Amended: |
June 10, 2015 (updated Appendix A) |
|
Amended: |
October 16, 2015 (updated Appendix A) |
|
Amended: |
December 30, 2015 |
|
Amended: |
April 26, 2016 (updated Appendix A) |
|
Amended: |
August 1, 2016 (updated Appendix A) |
|
Amended: |
August 31, 2017 (updated Appendix A) |
|
Amended: |
December 31, 2017 (updated Appendix A) |
|
Amended: |
February 28, 2018 (updated Appendices A and B) |
|
Amended: |
May 1, 2019 (updated Appendix A) |
|
Amended: |
August 6, 2019 (updated Appendix A) |
|
Amended: |
January 10, 2020 (updated Appendix A) |
10
CODE OF ETHICS
APPENDIX A
FORESIDE COMPANIES
The following affiliated entities and direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of Foreside are subject to the Code of Ethics:
BD Compliance Solutions, LLC (f/k/a IVA Funds Distributors, LLC)*
Compass Distributors, LLC*
Fairholme Distributors, LLC*
Foreside Advisory Services, LLC
Foreside Associates, LLC*
Foreside Consulting Services, LLC
Foreside Distribution Services, L.P.*
Foreside Distributors, LLC
Foreside Financial Services, LLC*
Foreside Fund Officer Services, LLC
Foreside Fund Partners LLC*
Foreside Fund Services, LLC*
Foreside Funds Distributors LLC*
Foreside Global Services Limited
Foreside Global Services, LLC*
Foreside Investment Services, LLC*
Foreside Management Services, LLC
Funds Distributor, LLC*
IMST Distributors, LLC*
MGI Funds Distributors, LLC*
Northern Funds Distributors, LLC*
Orbis Investments (U.S.), LLC*
Parnassus Funds Distributor, LLC*
PNC Funds Distributor, LLC* (Pending name change to Foreside Distribution Solutions, LLC anticipated in January 2020)
Sterling Capital Distributors, LLC*
VT Distributors LLC*
* |
FINRA-registered broker-dealer |
The companies listed on this Appendix A may be amended from time to time, as required.
11
CODE OF ETHICS
APPENDIX B
DEFINITIONS
(a) |
Access Person: |
(i)(1) |
of a Company means each director or officer of the Companies who in the ordinary course of business makes, participates in or obtains information regarding the purchase or sale of Reportable Securities for a Fund or whose functions or duties as part of the ordinary course of business relate to the making of any recommendation to a Fund regarding the purchase or sale of Reportable Securities. |
(ii)(2) |
of a Fund, whereby an employee or agent of a Company serves as an officer of a Fund (Fund Officer). Such Fund Officer is an Access Person of a Fund and is permitted to report under this Code unless otherwise required by a Funds Code of Ethics. |
(iii)(3) |
of a Company includes anyone else specifically designated by the Review Officer. |
(b) |
Beneficial Owner shall have the meaning as that set forth in Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except that the determination of direct or indirect beneficial ownership shall apply to all Reportable Securities that an Access Person owns or acquires. A beneficial owner of a security is any person who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares a direct or indirect pecuniary interest (the opportunity, directly or indirectly, to profit or share in any profit derived from a transaction in the subject securities) in a security. An Access Person is presumed to be a beneficial owner of securities that are held by his or her immediate family members sharing the Access Persons household. |
(c) |
Indirect pecuniary interest in a security includes securities held by a persons immediate family sharing the same household. Immediate family means any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law (including adoptive relationships). |
(d) |
Control means the power to exercise a controlling influence over the management or policies of an entity, unless this power is solely the result of an official position with the company. Ownership of 25% or more of a companys outstanding voting securities is presumed to give the holder thereof control over the company. This presumption may be rebutted by the Review Officer based upon the facts and circumstances of a given situation. |
(e) |
Purchase or sale includes, among other things, the writing of an option to purchase or sell a Reportable Security. |
(f) |
Reportable Fund (see List of Access Persons & Reportable Funds maintained by the Review Officer) means any fund that triggers the Companys compliance with a Rule 17j-1 Code of Ethics or any fund for which an employee or agent of the Company serves as a Fund Officer. |
12
(g) |
Reportable Security means any security such as a stock, bond, future, investment contract or any other instrument that is considered a security under Section 2(a)(36) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, except: |
(i) |
direct obligations of the Government of the United States; |
(ii) |
bankers acceptances and bank certificates of deposits; |
(iii) |
commercial paper and debt instruments with a maturity at issuance of less than 366 days and that are rated in one of the two highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization; |
(iv) |
repurchase agreements covering any of the foregoing; |
(v) |
shares issued by money market mutual funds; |
(vi) |
shares of SEC registered open-end investment companies (other than exchange-traded funds or Reportable Funds); and |
(vii) |
shares of unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or more open-end funds, none of which are exchange-traded funds or Reportable Funds. |
Included in the definition of Reportable Security are:
|
Shares of a Reportable Fund; |
|
Options on securities, on indexes, and on currencies; |
|
All kinds of limited partnerships; |
|
Foreign unit trusts, UCITs, SICAVs and foreign mutual funds; and |
|
Private investment funds, hedge funds and investment clubs. |
(h) |
Security held or to be acquired by the Fund means |
(i) |
any Reportable Security which, within the most recent fifteen (15) days (x) is or has been held by the applicable Fund or (y) is being or has been considered by the applicable Fund or its investment adviser for purchase by the applicable Fund; and |
(ii) |
and any option to purchase or sell, and any security convertible into or exchangeable for, a Reportable Security. |
13
CODE OF ETHICS
ATTACHMENT A
ACCESS PERSON ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I understand that I am an Access Person subject to the Foreside Code of Ethics (the Code) adopted by each Foreside Company. I hereby certify that I have read and understand the current Code, and will comply with it in all respects. In addition, I certify that I have complied with the requirements of the Code, and that I have disclosed or reported all personal securities accounts and transactions required to be disclosed or reported pursuant to the requirements of the Code.
Signature | Date | |||
Printed Name |
This form must be completed and returned to the Risk Management:
Foreside Financial Group, LLC | ||
ATTN: Review Officer (or his or her designee) | ||
Three Canal Plaza, Third Floor | ||
Portland, ME 04101 |
Received By: |
Date: |
14
CODE OF ETHICS
ATTACHMENT B
PRE-CLEARANCE REQUEST FORM
As an Access Person subject to the Code of Ethics (the Code) adopted by Foreside Financial Group, LLC (Foreside), I hereby request approval to purchase an initial public offering, private placement or shares of a Reportable Fund for which I am an Access Person. Pursuant to my request, I provide the following information concerning the security where applicable.
1. |
Name of security/investment: |
2. |
Type of security/interest: |
3. |
Name of brokerage firm/other entity: |
4. | Account number: |
5. |
Type of transaction (buy/sell/other-specify): |
6. |
Number of shares/interest: |
7. |
Price of each security/interest: |
8. |
Name of firm offering the investment opportunity: |
9. |
Please describe how you became aware of this investment opportunity: |
I understand that it is a violation of the Code to purchase an initial public offering, private placement or shares of a Reportable Fund for which I am an Access Person without receiving prior written approval from Foresides Review Officer. I further understand that (i) any pre-clearance trading authorization is valid only from the time when approval is granted through the next business day and (ii) an explanation of why the pre-cleared transaction was not completed must be submitted to the Review Officer within five (5) days if the transaction is not executed within the period. I also agree to provide the Review Officer with a transaction report evidencing the pre-cleared transaction consistent with the reporting requirements of Section 4. of the Code.
Signature | Date | |||||
Print Name | Job Title |
15
To be completed by Foresides Review Officer and returned to the Access Person.
Approval request granted:
Yes: |
No: |
The following criteria were considered in assessing the Access Persons pre-clearance request (use back of page if necessary): |
Authorized Signature | Date |
16
Exhibit (q)(i)
POWER OF ATTORNEY
WHEREAS, Datum One Series Trust, a statutory trust organized under the laws of the State of Massachusetts (the Trust), periodically files amendments to its Registration Statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and
WHEREAS, the undersigned is a Trustee of the Trust.
IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints John M. Loder, Jessica L. Reece, Barbara J. Nelligan, Toni M. Bugni, and Tracy L. Dotolo as attorneys for it and in its name, place and stead, and its capacity as a Trustee, to execute and file any Amendment or Amendments to the Trusts Registration Statement hereby giving and granting to said attorneys full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do if personally present at the time doing thereof, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys may or shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 3rd day of March, 2020.
/s/ Ryan D. Burns |
Ryan D. Burns |
Trustee |
STATE OF ILLINOIS | ) | |
) ss: | ||
COUNTY OF COOK | ) |
Signed and attested before me on March 3, 2020 by Ryan D. Burns.
/s/ Lindsey C. Thompson |
Notary Public |
Exhibit (q)(ii)
POWER OF ATTORNEY
WHEREAS, Datum One Series Trust, a statutory trust organized under the laws of the State of Massachusetts (the Trust), periodically files amendments to its Registration Statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and
WHEREAS, the undersigned is a Trustee of the Trust.
IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints John M. Loder, Jessica L. Reece, Barbara J. Nelligan, Toni M. Bugni, and Tracy L. Dotolo as attorneys for it and in its name, place and stead, and its capacity as a Trustee, to execute and file any Amendment or Amendments to the Trusts Registration Statement hereby giving and granting to said attorneys full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do if personally present at the time doing thereof, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys may or shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 3rd day of March, 2020.
/s/ JoAnn S. Lilek |
JoAnn S. Lilek |
Trustee |
STATE OF ILLINOIS | ) | |
) ss: | ||
COUNTY OF COOK | ) |
Signed and attested before me on March 3, 2020 by JoAnn S. Lilek.
/s/ Lindsey C. Thompson |
Notary Public |
Exhibit (q)(iii)
POWER OF ATTORNEY
WHEREAS, Datum One Series Trust, a statutory trust organized under the laws of the State of Massachusetts (the Trust), periodically files amendments to its Registration Statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and
WHEREAS, the undersigned is a Trustee of the Trust.
IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints John M. Loder, Jessica L. Reece, Barbara J. Nelligan, Toni M. Bugni, and Tracy L. Dotolo as attorneys for it and in its name, place and stead, and its capacity as a Trustee, to execute and file any Amendment or Amendments to the Trusts Registration Statement hereby giving and granting to said attorneys full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do if personally present at the time doing thereof, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys may or shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 3rd day of March, 2020.
/s/ Patricia A. Weiland |
Patricia A. Weiland |
Trustee |
STATE OF ILLINOIS | ) | |
) ss: | ||
COUNTY OF COOK | ) |
Signed and attested before me on March 3, 2020 by Patricia A. Weiland.
/s/ Lindsey C. Thompson |
Notary Public |
Exhibit (q)(iv)
POWER OF ATTORNEY
WHEREAS, Datum One Series Trust, a statutory trust organized under the laws of the State of Massachusetts (the Trust), periodically files amendments to its Registration Statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and
WHEREAS, the undersigned is a Trustee of the Trust.
IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints John M. Loder, Jessica L. Reece, Barbara J. Nelligan, Toni M. Bugni, and Tracy L. Dotolo as attorneys for it and in its name, place and stead, and its capacity as a Trustee, to execute and file any Amendment or Amendments to the Trusts Registration Statement hereby giving and granting to said attorneys full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do if personally present at the time doing thereof, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys may or shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 3rd day of March, 2020.
/s/ Lloyd A. Wennlund |
Lloyd A. Wennlund |
Trustee |
STATE OF ILLINOIS | ) | |
) ss: | ||
COUNTY OF COOK | ) |
Signed and attested before me on March 3, 2020 by Lloyd A. Wennlund.
/s/ Lindsey C. Thompson |
Notary Public |
Exhibit (q)(v)
POWER OF ATTORNEY
WHEREAS, Datum One Series Trust, a statutory trust organized under the laws of the State of Massachusetts (the Trust), periodically files amendments to its Registration Statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and
WHEREAS, the undersigned is a Trustee of the Trust.
IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints John M. Loder, Jessica L. Reece, Barbara J. Nelligan, Toni M. Bugni, and Tracy L. Dotolo as attorneys for it and in its name, place and stead, and its capacity as a Trustee, to execute and file any Amendment or Amendments to the Trusts Registration Statement hereby giving and granting to said attorneys full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do if personally present at the time doing thereof, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys may or shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 3rd day of March, 2020.
/s/ David M. Whitaker |
David M. Whitaker |
Trustee |
STATE OF ILLINOIS | ) | |
) ss: | ||
COUNTY OF COOK | ) |
Signed and attested before me on March 3, 2020 by David M. Whitaker.
/s/ Lindsey C. Thompson |
Notary Public |