FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
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|
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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Pre-Effective Amendment No.
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☐
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Post-Effective Amendment No. 3
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☒
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and/or
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|
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
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|
UNDER
THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
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|
Amendment No. 8
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☒
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(Check appropriate box or boxes.)
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Name and Address of Agent for Service of Process
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With copies to:
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Barbara J. Nelligan
The Northern Trust Company
50 S. LaSalle Street, B-9
Chicago, Illinois 60603
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John Loder
Jessica Reece
Ropes & Gray LLP
800 Boylston Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02199
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Approximate date of proposed public offering:
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It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
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☐
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Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
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☒
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On July 29, 2021 pursuant to paragraph (b)
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☐
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60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
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☐
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On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
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☐
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75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
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☐
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On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485.
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If appropriate, check the following box:
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☐
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This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.
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Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of
offering price)
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None
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Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of amount
redeemed)
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None
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Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed)
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None
|
|
|
Management Fee
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1.00%
|
Other Expenses(1)
|
0.22%
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
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1.22%
|
Fee Waivers and Reimbersements(2)
|
0.00%
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and
Reimbursement
|
1.22%
|
1 year
|
3 years
|
5 years
|
10 years
|
$124
|
$387
|
$670
|
$1,477
|
Highest
|
Q2 2020
|
21.19%
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Lowest
|
Q1 2020
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-22.79%
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Year to Date Total Return
|
June 30, 2021
|
10.36%
|
|
1-Year
|
5-Year
|
Ten
Years
|
Before taxes
|
14.88%
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13.96%
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9.50%
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After Taxes on Distributions(1)
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14.79%
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12.84%
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7.85%
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After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund
Shares(1)
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9.09%
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10.97%
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7.26%
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MSCI All Country World NR Index (reflects no
deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)
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16.26%
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12.26%
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9.13%
|
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|
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of
offering price)
|
None
|
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of amount
redeemed)
|
None
|
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed)
|
None
|
|
|
Management Fee
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1.00%
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Other Expenses(1)
|
0.24%
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Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
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1.24%
|
Fee Waivers and Reimbersements(2)
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0.00%
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and
Reimbursement
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1.24%
|
1 year
|
3 years
|
5 years
|
10 years
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$126
|
$393
|
$681
|
$1,500
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Highest
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Q2 2020
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18.62%
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Lowest
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Q1 2020
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-16.73%
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Year to Date Total Return
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June 30, 2021
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8.01%
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1-Year
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5-Year
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Since
Inception
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Before taxes
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19.63%
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12.91%
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9.65%
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After Taxes on Distributions(1)
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19.13%
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12.29%
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8.99%
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After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund
Shares(1)
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11.69%
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10.16%
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7.64%
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MSCI ACWI ex-USA Index (reflects no
deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)
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10.65%
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8.93%
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6.92%
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Management
Fee Rate
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Phaeacian Global Value Fund
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1.00%
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Phaeacian Accent International Value Fund
|
1.00%
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|
Six
Months
Ended
March 31,
2021(a)
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Year Ended September 30,
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||||
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2020
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2019
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2018
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2017
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2016
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|
Per share operating performance:
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Net asset value at beginning of period
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$21.94
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$21.12
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$23.06
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$21.30
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$17.36
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$15.42
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Income from investment operations:
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Net investment income (loss)(b)
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$(0.02)
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$0.21
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$0.13
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$0.12
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$0.08
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$0.18
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Net realized and unrealized gain on investment
securities
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4.31
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2.23
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0.13
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1.72
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4.04
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1.84
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Total Investment from operations
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$4.29
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$2.44
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$0.26
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$1.84
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$4.12
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$2.02
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Less distributions:
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|
|
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Distributions from net investment income
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$(0.20)
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$(0.12)
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$(0.12)
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$(0.08)
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$(0.18)
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$(0.08)
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Distributions from net realized
capital gains
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—
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(1.50)
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(2.08)
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—
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—
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—
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Total distributions
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$(0.20)
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$(1.62)
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$(2.20)
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$(0.08)
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$(0.18)
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$(0.08)
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Redemption fees
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—
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—
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—
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—
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—(c)
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—(c)
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Net asset value, end of period
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$26.03
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$21.94
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$21.12
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$23.06
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$21.30
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$17.36
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Total investment return(d), (e)
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19.58%
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11.69%
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2.69%
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8.65%
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23.92%
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13.19%
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Ratios/supplemental data:
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|
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Net assets, end of period (in $000’s)
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$186,556
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$161,019
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$163,995
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$180,293
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$174,131
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$149,050
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Ratio of expenses to average net assets
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Before waiver/reimbursement
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1.22%(f)
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1.40%
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1.36%
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1.35%
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1.44%
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1.43%
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After waiver/reimbursement
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1.21%(f)
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1.29%
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1.29%
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1.29%
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1.29%
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1.29%
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Ratio of net investment income
to average net assets:
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Before waiver/reimbursement
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(0.16)%(f)
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0.91%
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0.54%
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0.46%
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0.27%
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0.99%
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After waiver/reimbursement
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(0.15)%(f)
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1.02%
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0.61%
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0.52%
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0.41%
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1.13%
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Portfolio turnover rate(d)
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45%
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96%
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62%
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79%
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72%
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52%
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(a)
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Formerly the FPA Paramount Fund. As part of the Reorganization, the Board of Trustees approved a change in fiscal year end
for the Fund from September 30 to March 31 (Note 1).
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(b)
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Per share amount is based on average shares outstanding.
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(c)
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Rounds to less than $0.01 per share.
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(d)
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Not annualized for periods less than a year.
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(e)
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Return is based on net asset value per share, adjusted for reinvestment of distributions, and does not reflect deduction of the
sales charge.
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(f)
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Annualized.
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Three
Months
Ended
March 31,
2021(a)
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Year Ended December 31,
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||||
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2020(a)
|
2019
|
2018
|
2017
|
2016
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|
Per share operating performance:
|
|
|
|
|
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Net asset value at beginning of period
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$18.98
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$16.08
|
$13.54
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$15.45
|
$12.21
|
$11.52
|
Income from investment operations:
|
|
|
|
|
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Net investment income (loss)(b)
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$(0.02)
|
$0.07
|
$0.01
|
$0.06
|
$(0.01)
|
$0.22
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on
investment securities
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0.52
|
3.04
|
3.24
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(1.73)
|
3.32
|
0.82
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Total Investment from operations
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$0.50
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$3.11
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$3.25
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$(1.67)
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$3.31
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$1.04
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Less distributions:
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|
|
|
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Distributions from net investment income
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$—
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$(0.13)
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$(0.71)
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$(0.14)
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$(0.07)
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$(0.35)
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Distributions from net realized
capital gains
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—
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(0.08)
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—
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(0.10)
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—
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—
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Total distributions
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$—
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$(0.21)
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$(0.71)
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$(0.24)
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$(0.07)
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$(0.35)
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Redemption fees
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—
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—
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—
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—
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—(c)
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—(c)
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Net asset value, end of period
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$19.48
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$18.98
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$16.08
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$13.54
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$15.45
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$12.21
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Total investment return(d), (e)
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2.63%
|
19.63%
|
24.05%
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(10.81)%
|
27.12%
|
9.05%
|
Ratios/supplemental data:
|
|
|
|
|
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Net assets, end of period (in $000’s)
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$389,239
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$362,796
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$271,894
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$219,347
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$254,886
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$262,274
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Ratio of expenses to average net assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waiver/reimbursement
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1.24%(f)
|
1.25%
|
1.34%
|
1.35%
|
1.31%
|
1.28%
|
After waiver/reimbursement
|
1.24%(f)
|
1.25%
|
1.29%
|
1.29%
|
1.29%
|
1.28%
|
Ratio of net investment income
to average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waiver/reimbursement
|
(0.37)%(f)
|
0.43%
|
0.03%
|
0.33%
|
(0.11)%
|
1.86%
|
After waiver/reimbursement
|
(0.37)%(f)
|
0.43%
|
0.09%
|
0.39%
|
(0.09)%
|
1.86%
|
Portfolio turnover rate(d)
|
35%
|
176%
|
88%
|
120%
|
146%
|
93%
|
|
|
(a)
|
Formerly the FPA International Value Fund. As part of the Reorganization, the Board of Trustees approved a change in fiscal
year end for the Fund from December 31 to March 31 (Note 1).
|
(b)
|
Per share amount is based on average shares outstanding.
|
(c)
|
Rounds to less than $0.01 per share.
|
(d)
|
Not annualized for periods less than a year.
|
(e)
|
Return is based on net asset value per share, adjusted for reinvestment of distributions, and does not reflect deduction of the
sales charge.
|
(f)
|
Annualized.
|
Name, Address*
and Year of Birth
of Independent
Trustee
|
Position(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
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Trustee
|
Indefinite/
March, 2020 to
present
|
Advisory Board Member,
Milton’s Distributing, 2019
to present; Advisory Board
Member, Gordon Logistics,
2019 to present;
Independent Contractor
2018 to present; Chief
Financial Officer, Accretive
Solutions, Inc, 2010 to 2018;
Chief Operating Officer,
Accretive Solutions, Inc,
2016 to 2018.
|
3
|
Amalgamated Financial
Corporation and
Amalgamated Bank.
|
Patricia A. Weiland
Year of Birth: 1959
|
Trustee
|
Indefinite/
March, 2020 to
present
|
Consultant, PAW Consulting
LLC, 2014 to present.
|
3
|
None
|
Lloyd A. Wennlund
Year of Birth: 1957
|
Trustee
|
Indefinite/
March, 2020 to
present
|
Independent Contractor,
June 2017 to present;
Executive Vice President,
The Northern Trust
Company, 1989 to 2017.
|
3
|
Calamos Funds (18
Funds), 2018 to
present.
|
Name, Address*
and Year of Birth
of Interested
Trustee
|
Position(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
|
Ryan D. Burns(1)
Year of Birth: 1976
|
Trustee
|
Indefinite/
March, 2020 to
present
|
Senior Vice President, The
Northern Trust Company,
1998 to present.
|
3
|
None
|
David M. Whitaker(2)
Year of Birth: 1971
|
Trustee
|
Indefinite/
March, 2020 to
present
|
President, Foreside Financial
Group, 2007 to present.
|
3
|
Advisers Investment
Trust (4 Funds), 2018
to present.
|
Name, Address* and
Year of
Birth of Officer
|
Position(s) Held
with Trust
|
Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served
|
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.
|
Tracy L. Dotolo
Year of Birth: 1976
|
Treasurer
|
Indefinite/
March, 2020 to
present
|
Director, Foreside Fund Officer Services, LLC, 2016 to present.
|
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
|
Vice President, Global Fund Services Fund Governance Solutions,
The Northern Trust Company 2020 to present; Second Vice
President, Global Fund Services Fund Governance Solutions, The
Northern Trust Company 2018 to 2020; Officer, Global Fund
Services Fund Governance Solutions, The Northern Trust Company
2016 to 2018; Associate, RSM US LLP, 2015 to 2016.
|
Name of Trustee
|
Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in the Fund
|
Aggregate Dollar Range
of Equity Securities in
All Funds within the Trust
Overseen by Trustee
|
Ryan D. Burns
|
None
|
None
|
JoAnn S. Lilek
|
None
|
None
|
Patricia A. Weiland
|
None
|
None
|
Lloyd A. Wennlund
|
None
|
None
|
David M. Whitaker
|
None
|
None
|
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
|
Fund, Shareholder Name, Address
|
% Ownership
|
Phaeacian Accent International Value Fund
Charles Schwab and Co. Inc.*
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94104
|
41.82%
|
Phaeacian Accent International Value Fund
National Financial Services*
499 Washington Blvd
Jersey City, NJ 07310
|
22.14%
|
Phaeacian Accent International Value Fund
RBC Capital Markets LLC
60 South Sixth Street
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
|
7.05%
|
Phaeacian Accent International Value Fund
Pershing LLC
1 Pershing Plaza
Jersey City, NJ 07399
|
6.04%
|
Phaeacian Global Value Fund
Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company*
1401 Livingston Lane
Jackson, Mississippi 39213-8098
|
39.47%
|
Phaeacian Global Value Fund
Charles Schwab and Co. Inc.*
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94104
|
6.11%
|
Phaeacian Global Value Fund
National Financial Services*
499 Washington Blvd
Jersey City, NJ 07310
|
6.46%
|
|
Fiscal Period Ended
March 31, 2021
|
||
Fund
|
Transfer
Agent
Fees
and Expenses
|
Custodian
Fees
|
Fund Accounting and Administrative
Services Fees
|
Phaeacian Accent International
Value Fund
|
$24,806
|
$15,112
|
$71,674
|
Phaeacian Global Value Fund
|
$16,169
|
$11,097
|
$67,601
|
|
Number of Accounts
|
Assets Under Management
(in millions)
|
||
Account Type
|
Total
|
Subject to a
Performance Fee
|
Total
|
Subject to a
Performance Fee
|
Registered Investment Companies
|
0
|
0
|
$0
|
$0
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
|
0
|
0
|
$0
|
$0
|
Other Accounts
|
0
|
0
|
$0
|
$0
|
|
Number of Accounts
|
Assets Under Management
(in millions)
|
||
Account Type
|
Total
|
Subject to a
Performance Fee
|
Total
|
Subject to a
Performance Fee
|
Registered Investment Companies
|
0
|
0
|
$0
|
$0
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
|
2
|
1
|
$101.25
|
$99.26
|
Other Accounts
|
0
|
0
|
$0
|
$0
|
Name of Portfolio Manager
|
Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in
Phaeacian Global Value Fund
|
Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in
Phaeacian Accent International
Value Fund
|
Gregory A. Herr
|
$50,001 - $100,000
|
$0
|
Pierre O. Py
|
$10,001 - $50,000
|
Over $1,000,000
|
Fund
|
Fiscal Period Ended
March 31, 2021
|
Phaeacian Accent International Value Fund
|
$135,633
|
Phaeacian Global Value Fund
|
$124,702
|
(a)
|
Articles of Incorporation.
|
|
|
(i)
|
|
|
(ii)
|
|
(b)
|
By-Laws.
|
|
|
(i)
|
|
(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)
|
|
|
(ii)
|
|
(e)
|
Underwriting Contracts.
|
|
|
(i)
|
|
|
(ii)
|
|
|
(iii)
|
|
|
(iv)
|
|
|
(v)
|
|
(f)
|
Bonus or Profit Sharing Contracts. None.
|
|
(g)
|
Custodial Agreement.
|
|
|
(i)
|
|
|
(ii)
|
|
(h)
|
Other Material Contracts.
|
|
|
(i)
|
|
(ii)
|
|
|
(iii)
|
|
|
(iv)
|
|
|
(v)
|
|
|
(vi)
|
|
|
(vii)
|
|
|
(viii)
|
|
|
(ix)
|
|
|
(x)
|
|
|
(xi)
|
|
|
(xii)
|
|
|
(xiii)
|
|
|
(xiv)
|
|
|
(xv)
|
|
|
(xvi)
|
|
(i)
|
Legal Opinion and Consent.
|
|
|
(i)
|
|
(j)
|
Other Opinions.
|
|
|
(i)
|
|
(k)
|
Omitted Financial Statements. None.
|
|
(l)
|
Initial Capital Agreements.
|
|
|
(i)
|
|
(m)
|
Rule 12b-1 Plan. None.
|
|
(n)
|
Rule 18f-3 Plan. None.
|
|
(o)
|
Reserved.
|
(p)
|
Code of Ethics.
|
|
|
(i)
|
|
|
(ii)
|
|
|
(iii)
|
Name
|
Address
|
Position with Underwriter
|
Position 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
|
Teresa Cowan
|
111 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 2200,
Milwaukee, WI 53202
|
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
|
Datum One Series Trust
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Barbara J. Nelligan
Barbara J. Nelligan, President
|
Signature
|
Title
|
Date
|
|
/s/ Barbara J. Nelligan
Barbara J. Nelligan
|
President (Principal Executive Officer)
|
July 28, 2021
|
|
Ryan D. Burns
Ryan D. Burns*
|
Trustee
|
July 28, 2021
|
|
JoAnn S. Lilek
JoAnn S. Lilek*
|
Trustee
|
July 28, 2021
|
|
Patricia A. Weiland
Patricia A. Weiland*
|
Trustee
|
July 28, 2021
|
|
Lloyd A. Wennlund
Lloyd A. Wennlund*
|
Trustee
|
July 28, 2021
|
|
David M. Whitaker
David M. Whitaker*
|
Trustee
|
July 28, 2021
|
|
/s/ Tracy L. Dotolo
Tracy L. Dotolo
|
Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer)
|
July 28, 2021
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Barbara J. Nelligan
Barbara J. Nelligan, as Attorney-in-Fact
|
|
|
Exhibit (h)(v)
AMENDED EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of December 1, 2020, 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, and expenses associated with the investments in underlying investment companies (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 for 36 months following the waiver or reimbursement if the Fund is able to make the repayment without exceeding the lesser of (a) its current Maximum Operating Expense Limit or (b) 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: | /s/ Barbara J. Nelligan | By: | /s/ Nicholas Farren |
Name: | Barbara J. Nelligan | Name: | Nicholas Farren | |||||
Title: | President | Title: | COO |
Dated as of: December 1, 2020
SCHEDULE A
to the
AMENDED EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT
OPERATING EXPENSE LIMITS
Fund Name |
Class of Shares | Maximum Operating Expense Limit1 | ||||||
Polar Capital Emerging Market Stars Fund |
Institutional | 1.00 | % |
DATUM ONE SERIES TRUST | POLAR CAPITAL LLP | |||||||
By: | /s/ Barbara J. Nelligan | By: | /s/ Nicholas Farren |
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)(vi)
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of July 13, 2021, 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, and expenses associated with the investments in underlying investment companies (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 for 36 months following the waiver or reimbursement if the Fund is able to make the repayment without exceeding the lesser of (a) its current Maximum Operating Expense Limit or (b) 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.
Exhibit (h)(vi)
4. This Agreement shall be in effect until the last day of July 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: | /s/ Barbara J. Nelligan | By: | /s/ Nicholas Farren |
Name: | Barbara J. Nelligan | Name: | Nicholas Farren | |||||
Title: | President | Title: | COO |
Exhibit (h)(vi)
Dated as of: July 13, 2021
SCHEDULE A
to the
AMENDED EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT
OPERATING EXPENSE LIMITS
Fund Name |
Class of Shares | Maximum Operating Expense Limit1 | ||||||
Polar Capital Emerging Market Stars Fund |
Institutional | 1 | % |
DATUM ONE SERIES TRUST | POLAR CAPITAL LLP | |||||||
By: | /s/ Barbara J. Nelligan | By: | /s/ Nicholas Farren |
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)(viii)
AMENDED EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of December 1, 2020, 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 Phaeacian Partners LLC, 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 July 2, 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, and expenses associated with the investments in underlying investment companies (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 for 36 months following the waiver or reimbursement if the Fund is able to make the repayment without exceeding the lesser of (a) its current Maximum Operating Expense Limit or (b) 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 October 2023 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 | Phaeacian Partners LLC | |||||||
By: |
/s/ Barbara J. Nelligan |
By: |
/s/ Nicholas Farren |
|||||
Name: | Barbara J. Nelligan | Name: | Nicholas Farren | |||||
Title: | President | Title: | COO |
Dated as of: December 1, 2020
SCHEDULE A
to the
AMENDED EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT
OPERATING EXPENSE LIMITS
Fund Name |
Class of Shares | Maximum Operating Expense Limit1 | ||||||
Phaeacian Accent International Value Fund |
Institutional | 1.29 | % | |||||
Phaeacian Global Value Fund |
Institutional | 1.29 | % |
DATUM ONE SERIES TRUST | PHAEACIAN PARTNERS LLC | |||||||
By: |
/s/ Barbara J. Nelligan |
By: |
/s/ Nicholas Farren |
|||||
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)(xi)
TERMS SHEET
UNCOMMITTED and ON DEMAND
OVERDRAFT FACILITY AGREEMENT
The TRUST has requested and THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY acting in its capacity as overdraft provider (the BANK) has agreed to make available to the TRUST, on behalf of the accounts, series or portfolios of the TRUST which are set out in Schedule A of this Terms Sheet from time to time (each such account, series or portfolio, a BORROWER and together the BORROWERS) an overdraft facility on the basis of the terms and conditions specified in this terms sheet (the Terms Sheet) and the Terms and Conditions (as defined below) (together, the Agreement). The term Borrower shall be construed so as to include a reference to each account, series or portfolio, as applicable. Unless the context otherwise requires the terms Trust shall be construed as the Trust acting solely in respect of a Borrower.
This Agreement has been executed by the parties hereto on _10_ March, 2021 (the Effective Date) to signify their agreement to the terms and conditions set out in this Terms Sheet (including Schedules) and also the Terms and Conditions for Uncommitted and on Demand Overdraft attached hereto (the Terms and Conditions).
In the event of conflict between the Terms Sheet and the Terms and Conditions the Terms Sheet shall prevail.
Capitalised terms not defined in this Terms Sheet shall have the same meanings given to such terms in the Terms and Conditions. Any reference to Clause refers to a Clause in the Terms and Conditions.
Any reference to Bank or Custodian in the Agreement shall be construed so as to include its successors in title, permitted assigns and permitted transferees.
1
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties to this Terms Sheet in separate counterparts each of which, when executed and delivered, shall constitute an original, and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of this Agreement.
/s/ David J. Mitchell |
For and on behalf of The Northern Trust Company, as Bank
/s/ Barbara J. Nelligan |
For and on behalf of Datum One Series Trust, on behalf of each Borrower listed in Schedule A Part A
2
SCHEDULE A BORROWERS, INVESTMENT ADVISER AND NOTICE DETAILS
Part A Trust, Borrowers and Investment Adviser
TRUST |
Datum One Series Trust, a Massachusetts business trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end investment company, on behalf of each Borrower |
BORROWERS |
PORTFOLIO CODE |
|
Phaeacian Accent International Value Fund | VLC01 | |
Phaeacian Global Value Fund | VLF01 |
INVESTMENT ADVISER | Phaeacian Partners LLC |
Part B Notice Details
Bank |
Email Address |
Fax |
||
The Northern Trust Company, London Branch 50 Bank Street, Canary Wharf London, E14 5NT United Kingdom |
London_Credit@ntrs.com Attention: Julia De Almeida JD295@ntrs.com |
Trust |
Email Address |
Fax |
||
Datum One Series Trust 50 South LaSalle Street Chicago, IL 60603 |
Attention: Barbara Nelligan BJJ1@ntrs.com |
Investment Adviser |
Email Address |
Fax |
||
Phaeacian Partners LLC | Attention: Nicholas Farren | |||
880 Apollo Street | Nicholas.Farren@polarcapital.co.uk | |||
Suite 222 | ||||
El Segundo, California 90245 |
3
SCHEDULE B - COMMERCIAL TERMS
In relation to each of the Clauses below the Terms and Conditions are amended or supplemented as follows:
4
SCHEDULE C CONSTITUTIONAL DOCUMENTS
Part A
Current Prospectus for each Borrower |
Principal Underwriting and Administrative Services Agreement for each Borrower |
Investment Management Agreement in respect of the Borrowers] |
Current registration statement for each Borrower |
PART B CUSTODIAN AGREEMENTS
Custody Agreement, dated as of March 3, 2020 (the Custody Agreement), between Datum One Series Trust and The Northern Trust Company |
First Amended Schedule B to the Custody Agreement, effective July 2, 2020 |
5
SCHEDULE D CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
(a) |
A certified copy of resolutions of the board of trustees or directors, as the case may be, of the Trust authorizing (i) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and (ii) the overdrafts contemplated under this Agreement; |
(b) |
a copy of this Terms Sheet, duly signed by the Trust, on behalf of each Borrower, and a copy of the Terms and Conditions initialled by each party by way of acceptance of the terms and conditions of the entire Agreement; |
(c) |
a certified copy of an incumbency certificate showing the name and signature of the officer(s) signing this Agreement on behalf of the Trust; and |
(d) |
certified copies of the charter or certificate or other constitutive documents, as the case may be, and by-laws or similar organizational documents of the Trust. |
6
Exhibit (j)(i)
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Post-Effective Amendment to Registration Statement No. 333-237048 on Form N-1A of our report dated May 25, 2021, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights of Phaeacian Accent International Value Fund and Phaeacian Global Value Fund, each a series of Datum One Series Trust, appearing in the Annual Report on Form N-CSR of Datum One Series Trust for the periods ended March 31, 2021, and to the references to us under the headings Financial Highlights in the Prospectus and Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm in the Statement of Additional Information, which are part of such Registration Statement.
/s/DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Chicago, Illinois
July 28, 2021
|
Exhibit (p)(ii)
Polar Capital Code of Ethics 2021 |
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.
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 T: +44 (0)20 7227 2721 F: +44 (0)20 7227 2799 E: investor-relations@polarcapital.co.uk W: www.polarcapital.co.uk |
1 |
|
Polar Capital Code of Ethics 2021 |
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 T: +44 (0)20 7227 2721 F: +44 (0)20 7227 2799 E: investor-relations@polarcapital.co.uk W: www.polarcapital.co.uk |
2 |
Exhibit (p)(ii)
CODE OF ETHICS
INTRODUCTION |
1 | |||||||
1. | STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT | 2 | ||||||
(a) | Fiduciary Duties | 2 | ||||||
(b) | Compliance with Laws | 2 | ||||||
(c) | Corporate Culture | 2 | ||||||
(d) | Professional Misconduct | 3 | ||||||
(e) | Disclosure of Conflicts | 3 | ||||||
(f) | Undue Influence | 3 | ||||||
(g) | Confidentiality and Protection of Material Nonpublic Information | 3 | ||||||
(h) | Personal Securities Transactions | 4 | ||||||
(i) | Gifts | 4 | ||||||
(j) | Service on Boards | 4 | ||||||
(k) | Prohibition Against Market Timing | 4 | ||||||
2. | WHO IS COVERED BY THIS CODE | 4 | ||||||
3. | PROHIBITED TRANSACTIONS | 5 | ||||||
(a) | Blackout Period | 5 | ||||||
(b) | Requirement for Pre-clearance | 5 | ||||||
(c) | Fund Officer Prohibition | 5 | ||||||
4. | REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OF ACCESS PERSONS | 6 | ||||||
(a) | Reporting | 6 | ||||||
(b) | Exceptions from Reporting Requirement of Section 4 | 6 | ||||||
(c) | Initial Holdings Reports | 6 | ||||||
(d) | Quarterly Transaction Reports | 6 | ||||||
(e) | New Account Opening; Quarterly New Account Report | 7 | ||||||
(f) | Annual Holdings Reports | 7 | ||||||
(g) | Alternative Reporting | 7 | ||||||
(h) | Report Qualification | 8 | ||||||
(i) | Providing Access to Account Information | 8 | ||||||
(j) | Confidentiality of Reports | 8 | ||||||
5. | ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE | 8 | ||||||
6. | REPORTING VIOLATIONS | 9 | ||||||
7. | TRAINING | 9 | ||||||
8. | REVIEW OFFICER | 9 | ||||||
(a) | Duties of Review Officer | 9 |
i
(b) |
Potential Trade Conflict | 10 | ||||||
(c) |
Required Records | 10 | ||||||
(d) |
Post-Trade Review Process | 11 | ||||||
(e) |
Submission to Fund Board | 11 | ||||||
(f) |
Report to the Risk Committee | 11 | ||||||
Appendix AForeside Companies |
13 | |||||||
Appendix BDefinitions |
14 | |||||||
Attachment AAccess Person Acknowledgement |
16 | |||||||
Attachment BPre-Clearance Request Form |
17 |
ii
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 |
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.
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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.
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 |
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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.
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(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.
(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.
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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.
(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.
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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.
(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.
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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; |
6
(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.
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(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.
(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:
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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 |
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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.
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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:
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Noncompliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations; |
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Fraud or illegal acts involving any aspect of the Companys business; |
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Material misstatements in regulatory filings, internal books and records, Fund records or reports; |
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Activity that is harmful to a Fund, including Fund shareholders; and |
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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. |
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; |
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(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; |
(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; |
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(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. |
(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.
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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) | |
Amended: | March 31, 2020 (updated Appendix A) | |
Amended: | August 14, 2020 (updated Appendix A) |
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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:
Compass Distributors, 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*
Quasar Distributors, LLC*
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.
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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. |
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(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. |
(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. |
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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: |
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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. |
Typeof 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
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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 |
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 |
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